Being an optomist - can I pull this with the wagon?

Imposter71

Sharpest Tool
Sep 23, 2009
235
NC Coast
First Name
Tom
Willys Model
  1. Wagon
Willys Year:
  1. 1963
Lots of "IFS" here but.....

Wife has been wanting to get a camper for a while. We have a friend selling one just like the one in this link. I don't want anything big b/c I think it will just be a hassle if it is too large. This camper looks like it might be a good compromise. Weighs 3500lbs though and I am afraid that is too much.

http://www.usedrvsforsale.com/112153/us ... xpandable/

I go camping/surfing every fall in the outer banks with a bunch of friends. Of course the goal is to have the wagon as my surf vehicle so it will be going there too. Provided I ever get the wagon going and the kinks worked out, do you think I could haul this camper with it? Wagon has stock drivetrain with an overdrive and already has the SBC ( 283 ) in it.

If I can't use the wagon to pull it when I go, I want a smaller camper....Check it out, like to have your opinions on this since a lot of you actually use or have used your wagons.
thanks!
tom
 
That wagon is a serious hunk of Iron.... It definitely has the weight, and you have a V8 so it should have the power. The only weak spot might be the original axles if that is what you are still running. I guess I would be more concerned about stopping! Trailer brakes for sure!

That trailer looks pretty light as far as trailers go.
 
Tom,
I think your wagon would probably pull that camper just fine. Especially with the SBC you have and the lack of hills in your area. Tongue weight might be a problem though, maybe try loading the back of the wag with a similar amount of weight and see how it looks and drives.

Getting it stopped though, with a 3500# trailer pushing, that could get very exciting very fast. :eek: :!: I am thinking it would be the kind of excitement none of us needs or wants. When I had my wagon on the road it was cool, but it was no great stopper. It will be interesting to see what the experience of the board has to say on this.
 
Tom you have to remember that you are producing about 100 HP at 2800 RPM with the 6-226 and the wagon weighs 3800 LBS and you probably have a top speed of 60 MPH. keepin all things constant while adding another 3500 LBS you will be traveling at about 45-50 MPH (approximately without doing exact calculations)! The rear bumper is not designed to handle that weight and neither will the standard shocks and the standard springs.

General rule of thumb is you can leaglely pull about half the gross weight of a vehicle with an OEM motor, rear axle and tranny. With upgrades to motor, axle, suspension and tranny and HP rating you can get away with 3/4 gross vehicle weight.
 
I wouldn't even think twice, put a brake controller in and go for it, might need some airbags on the springs.........hard to say. As long as your hitch point is up to it also.
 
He doesn't have a 226 power plant... :thumbup:

I do agree the rear bumper and frame on a wagon isn't stout enough for hauling stuff. A custom trailer hitch could fix all that.
 
thanks for all the responses - keep em coming :thumbupleft:

I have put the dual master kit on it from Herm and front discs, however my old rear master cyl blew right away so I have to fix that before I can see how well it stops. Plus like I mentioned before it has a 283 in it. Of course I have to get it stopping good to see how well that moves it down the road. Some previous owner has already built up a home made reciever hitch welded to the frame. I would go over that again and reinforce/replace as needed. Wanted a frame mounted hitch front and rear anyway for pulling a trailer and putting one of those cooler/rack things on there so I can carry more stuff to the beach!
 
trailer brakes will help. and heavier rear springs with heavy duty shocks. I've got standard shocks listed in my parts listing that Pete put up in the library. you can use those as a basic start at the auto parts places to find a heavier shock in that class.

Mark
 
with a v-8 and since you have disc brakes on front I would still go with a brake controller and make sure you have a good hitch and use sway bar hookup and I would check into air bags that trailer is almost too much weight (I am a retired truck driver) but if its your friend selling the trailer see if he will let you tow it around for a test fit and that would tell a lot like everbody said stopping is a major concern I would most diff do more research but asking here your heading in the right direction good luck :D
 
Tom,as has been said previously,trailer brakes are a must,I'm sure the trailer already has them and you will just need a controller and wire it in and plug the trailer in,a load equalizer hitch is a plus also.By the time you get it loaded with food clothes water and surf boards it will be up around 4000# or more,I think it will work fine with the improvements you have already done on your truck,good luck and enjoy.......Jim
 
Going to the outer banks is probably the only time I would want to use the wagon to pull it. We go a couple times a year and it is about a 5 hr trip. About 3 hrs of it is on a ferry so the actual driving is maybe a couple hundred miles one way. A lot of that is on small back roads and beach roads so traffic and speed aren't too much of a factor. We have a full size SUV that my wife drives which is what we would use to do any real traveling. The old stuff is just for me to play with and run around town, etc. The older I get the more I appreciate comfort! Sleeping in a camper is sure a lot more comfortable than laying on the ground in a tent! Ideally one day it would be cool to have a little, period correct camper to pull with the wagon just for the surf trips.

Went to a car show a while back and this older couple had that behind a big old chrysler or something, painted the same color and everything. It was really cool! :thumbup:
 
You need one of these:
web.jpg


But be ready for lots of attention. :eek:
 
Alrighty then: Now that you have all this good (and I do mean good) information here; go rent the Lucile Ball / Dezi Arnez movie THE LONG LONG TRAILER. Sit back, enjoy and feel instantly better about what you want to do. :)
Steve
 
I have a friend with a 62 pick up all original and he pulls his 3000lb boat and trailer no problem just sand to give himself room to break
 
There was a show on the travel channel one night and it was all about RVs. Had quite a few classic ones on there being pulled by old vehicles. I'll let you know what happens if we get it and when I get the wagon going and somewhat dependable.
 
DEPENDABLE??!! Where's the fun in that? No stalling? No cussing? No wrenching?? You own a Willys...right? :lol:

Sorry, I couldn't resist. :cheers:
 
OK, so maybe that is asking a lot. :lol:

I should probably start by being happy when I can make it the 5 miles to the beach and back!
 
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