Tow rig, does it have what it takes?

[automan2164]

Hey guys. Just want to say hello again, and I have found another potential truck. As some may remember, I was looking for a tow rig with some style, and recently considered an '89 GW, but gracefully bowed out at the advice from you guys on the price. Just recently, I found another FSJ. This time its an '84 J10, 4.2L, 4 speed, 4x4. Don't know too much about it at the moment. This is what I got from the current owner.

North Carolina truck, he flew down there, and drove it back to Milwaukee, WI ten years ago. Immediately got a "Professional undercoating and bedliner" on the return, and DD'd it except for when the snow flew... Recently, it has a rough idle with the choke off, but smooths out with the choke applied (Vacuum leak?). I haven't gotten the miles yet, but he sent some pics. He isn't sure what he wants at the moment, but thinks its going to be in the "$1000-1500" range.





Basically, I know a 360 would fit the bill a little better, but this thing is pretty clean, and might be a good deal. I might tow a vehicle from time to time, on a dolly more than a trailer, and only to shoot a project here and there (XJ's, MJ's... nothing full sized). Does this have what it takes? Or should I keep my eyes out for a 360 J20? I don't care about speed. What I do care about is taxing a vehicle, and overworking the drivetrain. So good deal? Pass? Keep looking?

Thanks in advance fellas.
Rob L.

[Long&Low]

IMHO, the six cylinders are not geared low enough for decent power for towing.

[rockin wagoneer]

It would depened on the motor is it the 304 or 358? if it the 304 it should b ok but your right the 360 prob would be better and also check the cabs.

[mdill]

Flat land towing a dune-buggy around my 77 J-10 (258 T-18 D-20) of yore, was OK.
not fast and I did not pull any hills, it had a hard enough time pulling Parley's canyon out of SLC Ut. with a snow mobile in the back.
But it had 4.11's and I don't think the later ones went that low.
I guess if you have short flat pulls to do it might be OK, but it won't
be a very robust tow rig.

Mike D.

[jason44406]

I don't think a 258 could pull a car+trailer without strain. It could probably do it, but sure wouldn't be happy about it.

The second pic looks like the bedside is bowing out?

[fulsizjeep]

The 81 shortbed J10 I owned back in the 80s was a 258 with 31s and I flat towed a Wagoneer a couple hundred miles behind it. Also towed a 65 Marlin 1600 miles behind it. I would hate to pull many hills that way but it got the job done. If I were looking for a tow rig, it would have to have a V8. We prefer to use our J20 w/401 for towing. Outside of age and potential for something to go wrong with a 33 year old Jeep, it gets the job done pretty well.

[tgreese]

My PO flat-towed his CJ-5 all over New England with my J-10. He said it was fine, if a little slow to get to speed. Just FYI, with a 1/2 ton truck, U-Haul will not rent a car trailer to you because the tongue weight will be too high with any car larger than, say, a Fiat 850.

Axle ratio in my truck is 3.54, and an '84 will be 3.31? The T-176 in an '84 is not as strong as my T-15, but first gear is lower (3.52 or 3.82 v. 3.00 with the T-15).

[CJ the noisemaker]

Like I said in another topic on this forum, the 258 is best pulling cars and early 80s Ford pickups with bigger engines that don't run and have a flat tire around the house. It's best to find those V8s with the 4 barrel carburetor factory installed. They were built for the job.

[threepiece188]

Like many posters said, the 258 will do what you want but you will have to be patient at times. I have towed other FSJ's many thousands of miles with my J10 and Wagoneer, both are equiped with the 258. Entering busy freeways when traffic is moving over 50 mph and maintaing speed up hills are my biggest concerns as far as power goes. I don't like towing with the Wagoneer. I think the wheel base is too short for such a heavy load. Setting the weight distribution on the trailer properly when towing with a Wagoneer is an important part of maintaining control of the trailer. It likes to have a little more tounge weight than the springs care to support.

I am currently building a J20 (which wasn't available for civilians with a 6 cyl. eng.) for work and towing duty. A 258 will be powering this truck too but my sense of paitence isn't lost when I get behind the wheel.
Dan

[fulsizjeep]

I agree with the Wagoneer wheel base comment. Both of these trips were slow and tedious coming down from north of here.

[joe]

What's going to hurt you in an 84 J10 is the crappy axle gearing std is 2.73 or opt 3.31's Neither are tow gears by any stretch of the imagination.

[fulsizjeep]

Originally Posted by joe

What's going to hurt you in an 84 J10 is the crappy axle gearing std is 2.73 or opt 3.31's Neither are tow gears by any stretch of the imagination.

INDEED! My 81 J10 mentioned above was 2.73. It hated the short ramps to the expressway.


The GW and J20 have 3.73 gears and 32/33" tires which work pretty good for the pull. The brakes on the GW are not suited for stopping the load coming off 10,000 mountain passes though.

[The PIG Smith]

IMHO, a great tow has a Diesel drivetrain!
HAHAHAHAHA (just kidding)


Here is Nathan and my Diesel Tow Rig Van ready to haul a J Truck Bed to Detroit, MI

My 3500 series van has the weight and long wheel base for a great tow rig.
It's 6.2L Diesel is not a powerhouse, but is thrifty on fuel.
The 14 bolt FF rear axle with its 4:10 gears helps a lot with towing.

[AMC-J/20]

6.2L Diesel . . .

Mike

[Artisan]

I drove a GMC C-4500 4X4 Kodiak pulling a 22' trailer from Los Angeles to the Texas Panhandle and back via every state park inbetween and I will NEVER be the same...some day, some day the money gods will find me in good and accepting health.

[CJ the noisemaker]

Wait, did pickups come with muscle grills and rims with gold inserts?

[mdill]

Jeep Pickups and Cherokees shared grills, Wagoneer/Grand_Wagoneer's got the High brow grill(s) to set them a part from the pedestrian Cherokee/J-truck crowd.

[CJ the noisemaker]

Originally Posted by mdill

Jeep Pickups and Cherokees shared grills, Wagoneer/Grand_Wagoneer's got the High brow grill(s) to set them a part from the pedestrian Cherokee/J-truck crowd.

Ok then. What are the brows lol

[automan2164]

Thanks for the input guys. I might go take a look at it just because its decent looking, but pass because of the 258. He figured out that he needed a carb to get it going right, and I know someone who has a stock carb off of a '70 something CJ-5. I am going to pick up the carb and run it up to him while I look at the truck.

Question though:
The guy with the stock carb also has a complete intake, and 4 barrel carb setup to convert a 258 to a 500 CFM 4 barrel for $450. If I bought that, and the j-10, assuming it has the optional 3.31's, could this be a viable option for occasional towing/trips around town? I guess what I should be asking is will it suck-less? Ha. Anyone else running a 4 barrel on their 258 with input?

Again, thanks guys, your knowlege always helps, and educates myself.
Rob L.

[letank]

Originally Posted by AMC-J/20

6.2L Diesel . . .

Mike

2X, for a tow rig, if going above 4000' altitude, a turbo is needed