Hello...I need a few suggestions and alot of help

[mike481]

First of I just want to say hello to everybody. I'm still pretty new to jeeps (I've been building my 2000 TJ for the last couple years) and pretty ignorant about FSJ's.

I was hoping to get suggestions about what year or type of FSJ to get based on what I want it for. I love early wagoneers but do not know if they will suit my needs. Basically, I want a four door with a v-8 and good towing capacity. I'm looking to tow a toy hauler or a trailer with my TJ on it. I don't expect to take it crawlin. If not hauling a trailer it will be hauling my camping gear.

Since I live in california it will have to be able to pass smog unless it is pre-73.

Thanks for any help guys


Mike

[wagger]

I have an 80 wagonner that I want to sell it needs some work, but it has a v8 and passed smog last time I smogged it. I comes with lots of extra parts and I could probably sell it resonably cheap. I am in Tehachapi if you want to see it. I have been reshearching parts an suppliers for awhile so I may be able to help with that as well. Let me know if you're interested. John

[88GWSteve]

Get any year wag, all years will suit your needs perfectly. I know my 88 does an excellent job hauling and I have no mods for it regarding crawling. Of course be prepared to see a low MPG rating for the wags, that may sway your decision regarding towing, etc.

[mike481]

What kind of tow rating do the waggy's have?

[Serious Johnson]

What kind of tow rating do the waggy's have?

I'm unsure of the spec on earlier models, but '80+ V8 Wags were rated at I think 3,500 lb in standard form, 5,000 with the tow package (basically 3.31 gears as opposed to 2.73, auxilliary trans cooler, etc). Those are pretty low numbers in today's context, but fairly realistic. Four main issues affect towing capacity of these rigs in stock form:
Short-ish wheelbase, marginal cooling, limited power and weak brakes.

All of these issues can be readily addressed by just getting a Suburban instead, but a Wag can be made to tow reasonably well with some modification. Question here is whether or not it's practical in a California emissions environment. I've towed 5,000 lb short distances with a stock '83 (rated at all of 129 HP), and it was no picnic. And I've easily towed 7,500 lb across the country with the same rig much modified -- but that thing could never be registered in California.

Hopefully, someone more knowledgable will ring-in on what CARB certified modifications are possible, and whether the're enough to make a Wag capable of towing your, what, 6,000 lb?

S.J.