Possible purchase for my Willys Wagon

willys522000

Bigger Hammer
Dec 6, 2016
101
Pennsylvania
First Name
Brett
Willys Model
  1. Wagon
Willys Year:
  1. 1962
My Wife has found a scotty that she is excited about for the back of my 62 Wagon. She said buy it or I will myself. It is a 69, complete and needs a little work as do most of them.

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OK that looks like fun.
As long as you're not in a hurry your Wagon will pull it just fine.
Congrats.
 
Never in a hurry John, I am planning a 4.3 vortec repower and an overdrive or comparable upgrade in the future. The master plan is to travel from Pa to Glacier NP and Yellowstone over 3-4 weeks in a few years from now.
 
Very cool. When cleaned up it will closely match my wagon. No problem towing with a 5.7 and overdrive, just need air shocks in back. Happy glamping.
Gary.
 
That is pretty neat Brett. This could be you!
 

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You will like my current project, a 56 Calcraft.
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I like it! I have a 69 Airstream Caravel, it's about 2800 lbs. I put air bags on the Willys, but not only for the trailer tongue weight. For that i bought a weight distributing hitch, trunnion style, which also controls sway. That, from my experience, is the single best investment I made.

The air bags help too, to firm up the ride and give me a bit more tire clearance - with my combination of a Scout II Dana 44 (a bit wider than Willys stock axle), plus 215/85 x 16, the tires will rub the inner fenders on very large bumps. The Air Lift bags I got were an expedient solution to that problem. I paid $225 for them and they were easy to install. They help firm things up when towing too. I'm also considering an anti-sway bar. Since I didn't put the Willys together there are some things that I have to work around as best I can. I got into one hairy/scary situation with a strong crosswind (not towing), as semis passed me on a two lane doing 70, me doing 60, the Willys was a handful.

I have a 350 GM crate motor with TH400 and 3.54, and it's right in the sweet spot torque-wise when on the road at 60.

I have only taken short trips with the Willys and Airstream, but I also tow with my 2014 Grand Cherokee. On my first trip with the weight distributing hitch I encountered 60 mph crosswinds, and it was astonishing how well it worked. I could take my hands off the wheel and it felt better than if I was not towing anything. I saw some scary tail wagging rigs passing me and thought I'd see then piled up down the way, thankfully not. I"m very safety concious - traveling with family I will do everything I can to make it right.

Here are a couple of pictures, before (with house in background) and after the distribution hitch was installed.

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Very cool. When cleaned up it will closely match my wagon. No problem towing with a 5.7 and overdrive, just need air shocks in back. Happy glamping.
Gary.
 
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It appears the Scotty is just under 1000 pounds so hopefully I can keep my weight pretty level, I learned a few things while driving semi that will come in handy during setup. Many pics to follow as the Wife already has spring fever and is collecting resources to tidy up the Scotty, we brought it home the day after Christmas.
 
There is a nice vintage trailer rally in march @ lost Dutchman state park (Arizona)


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I'd Love to Jim but that is quite a trip for me, perhaps when I retire, if I make it that far. :))
 
Tom, the need for the air shocks on my wagon for towing is that I have a TJ suspension on it. Coils have little weight carrying value.
 
Just an FYI for those interested, my build blog for this project is here: https://56calcraft.wordpress.com/


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I loved looking this over. I have been wanting a small trailer to rebuild for years now. Problem is I think my wife must have seen my computer history and noted me looking at this, because my honey do list grew by 3 pages this past week.[emoji12]

Thanks for sharing the journey.

Duane

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I am getting closer, not quite there yet but definitely sense victory. It is way to hot and humid today, now it is PBR time.




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So cool to see so many people either restoring these sweet old campers, or buying ones that look vintage. Bigger isn't necessarily better, eh? Still, I think you guys are really brave to tow one behind a Wagon with a 226 motor.
 
So cool to see so many people either restoring these sweet old campers, or buying ones that look vintage. Bigger isn't necessarily better, eh? Still, I think you guys are really brave to tow one behind a Wagon with a 226 motor.

Well may not a 226 [emoji23]


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