Hmm... the combination of my frustration with new trucks... and my love of Scouts has got my sick mind whirling with ideas... mainly of building a VERY nice SII and using it as a daily driver/tow rig for my other Scout (or whats left of it.)

For more details on the frustration, check this out:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43802

My question is... with a 345, some headers, a 4 barrel, a good cam, and some decent exhaust.... what would the pulling limits be? For the Scout I'm thinking probably some 32s or 33s, 727 tranny, 373 gears, etc.

My trail rig weighs quite a bit more than the average Scout because of the axles/tires/etc... so by the time we throw it on a trailer and hook it up to the back of the Scout.... how hard would that be on it?

Anyone do this? Any suggestions?

You'd have plenty of go-power, and enougth whoa-power, but I'd be VERY concerned about stability. Anti-sway bars would be a must. I'd think more about a Terra/Traveler. Drives like a SII, most all parts interchange, but more room for shit, and most importantly, MORE WHEELBASE. No more tires than 31's. It's a tow rig, not a rock crawler. You'd most certainly need a class III/IV hitch.

A D-series fullsize would be better....
If you have room for a land yatch.

Edit: With new brakes on 4 corners. Maybe not 4 whl disks, but good brakes, you'd be ok.

Originally posted by ScoutsHonor


My question is... with a 345, some headers, a 4 barrel, a good cam, and some decent exhaust.... what would the pulling limits be? For the Scout I'm thinking probably some 32s or 33s, 727 tranny, 373 gears, etc.

?

The problem is not getting it to move the load but stop the load!
I would have to say 5000, 6000 tops. add rear disc brakes to the scout and it will be a sooth cruize.

I used my Scout as a towrig and it's kinda of scary for towing, Although it's SOA with 35's and Locked. It pulls all day with a nice 345, 727, 4.56's but its just feels to tall and soft to pull a trailer on the highway at 65mph. Not to mention the locker opening and closing every time I let off the gas. It looks cool though.:)

The semi-floating rear end may be okay for an occasional tow but they are just not practical for towing on a regular basis if you're going to use a trailer.

Now if you were to covert the rear to a full floater or swap out axles for 3/4 or 1 ton.......:vader: :vader:

I certainly wouldn't tow a "wheeler" ScoutII with a Stock-ish ScoutII, I would look at a longer wider rig.

Originally posted by ScoutsHonor

My question is... with a 345, some headers, a 4 barrel, a good cam, and some decent exhaust.... what would the pulling limits be? For the Scout I'm thinking probably some 32s or 33s, 727 tranny, 373 gears, etc.


With a stock 304, close 4spd, stock manifolds/dual mufflers, 4.09 gears, 4" front/SOA rear, 33x12.50s, just a Tracklok rear.. 1/4deg negative caster..
I used to flat tow my sprung-over/full-width but *light weight* (relatively.. 3700lbs plus whatever gear I throw into it (extra storage!) for the tow) all over.. the setup changed a bit, eventually going to a wide T19 and a built 345, but the same Scout..

10,000 miles of flat-towing.

I had the power to pull the hills - the close T19 was better for that (nicer 3rd) but to make up I would run the 345 to about 5000rpm in 3rd and still pull any pass at 65mph. :-)

Braking was a bit marginal, but it worked. I generally did a lot of compression braking, but when I NEEDEd to stop, it would. I have the warped rotors to prove it, too. :p

OTOH, it requires you to *DRIVE*.. if there are bad roads, you're in for some fun and a lot of "driving"

I also all-but spit out a rear axle shaft whille towing - even just flat-towing. I think the constant side to side loads from the "trailer" Scout jumping around, plus wheelin' abuse, lead to the bearing failure.

I managed to stop before it exited the Scout and replaced it with a trail spare.. I would REALLY hate to lose an axle shaft with a trailer behind me..

I tried a longer wheelbase/wider/heavier rig.. my 1/2T Travelall. The Mick can attest to how much fun the first trailer-equipped ride in that death-mobile went..

I got it to be fairly stable, but it was still too soft and squirrely for good tow duty, and still required me to *drive* on bad roads.

I was constantly worrying about getting enough tongue weight to keep the combo stable, but shying away from *too much* tongue weight and smoking the Dana 44 rear axle.

I bought my 1T 2wd 4-door long-box IH pickup last summer. Yes, I "over-solved" my towing problem.. but that's a good thing.

All I have to do is point the thing in the direction I want to go and work the go-pedal. The trailer just follows along and never complains. It doesn't push the truck, it doesn't wag the truck.. no worries about tongue weight with a 7500lbs rated rear axle..

Only down side is I can't "S" when backing up - if I get it turned more than a little bit, I can't counter-steer and "S" the trailer the other direction without pulling forward first.

Love my crewcab. :D

But, if I were dead set on a SII for towing..

As others said.. Terra pickup or Traveler.

I might put a 4" Triangle lift (no POS too-soft Skyjacker crap) on it, and something like 31s..

But I'd also look into a FF rear axle. A narrowed 60 would be best - I'm not sure that a FF '44 conversion would get you the weight capacity you'd want.

Narrowed FF60 rear with disc brakes, front '44 converted to 8-lug with discs.. some 16" wheels and you'd be in good shape.

Run some Metric tires.. like a 265/75-16 or so..

Say, 4.10 gears.. with an auto or a close T19, and no problems.

For occasional use with good equipment (equalizer n' such), a SII can tow more than you'd think it should.

But for a heavy pig and fairly often towing.. just say NO to 1/2Ts. :D

here's what I look like going wheeling

My scout never has been on a trailer

it pulls this jeep to the trail head 90% of the trips we take

it has pulled this jeep almost 25k in the last 5 years

my 392 never has any power problems pulling the 4000lb jeep

we once had a rear bearing fail and we lost the driver side rear tire/rim/axle all at once at about 70mph.

the jeep started flipping back and fourth like crazy that was a scary moment , but the scout did fine controlling it.

I do have a 35spline D60 in back I think a D44 wouldent last long pulling every day

http://pstr-m05.ygpweb.aol.com/data/00A/37/72/74/95/DDtefQozQjO48rbH+wspCuTamcg9OYYV0180.jpg

Originally posted by tsm1mt


I tried a longer wheelbase/wider/heavier rig.. my 1/2T Travelall. The Mick can attest to how much fun the first trailer-equipped ride in that death-mobile went..


But for a heavy pig and fairly often towing.. just say NO to 1/2Ts. :D


Yep, the fact I am here typing this can be attested to sheer luck and a major overdraft of the karmic bank. OTOH, the big problems were springs, new truck-trailer combo, and a little too much skinny pedal.

I'd also be more comfortable w/ a 1210 +, but I think it could be done w/ a traveler, set up right.

Originally posted by The Mick

Yep, the fact I am here typing this can be attested to sheer luck and a major overdraft of the karmic bank. OTOH, the


Yeah, we know our survival had little to do with the idiot in the pilot's seat. :D


big problems were springs, new truck-trailer combo, and a little too much skinny pedal.


Too much skinny pedal, shot shocks, broken anti-sway bar, and too soft of springs. :-)

Not enough tongue weight, too.

Heck, "empty" the springs are so soft when I slam the skinny pedal down the driver's front lifts and I get "bump-steer"!

I think after this year or so mine is goin to be a tow rig.