Classic tow cars

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

The Skylark most likely has the power to tow your Ambassador but what it dosen't have is a long enough wheel base.
Neil

I think that is where this little gem comes in..... Hensley Arrow - Trailer Towing Safety

[Ganaraska]

Has anyone used a Jeep Wagoneer or Grand Wagoneer for a tow vehicle? They were made from 1962 to 1991 with minimal styling changes. Were rated to tow up to 5000 pounds in stock condition. Would look "period correct" for the 60s 70s 80s or 90s depending on model year.

Even the earliest were offered with comforts like V8 engine, air, power steering, power brakes etc. and got good reviews for their performance and durability.

I nearly bought one a few weeks ago but it was too far gone, and the owner wanted too much money.

Here is some info Jeep Wagoneer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by Ganaraska

Has anyone used a Jeep Wagoneer or Grand Wagoneer for a tow vehicle? They were made from 1962 to 1991 with minimal styling changes. Were rated to tow up to 5000 pounds in stock condition. Would look "period correct" for the 60s 70s 80s or 90s depending on model year.

Even the earliest were offered with comforts like V8 engine, air, power steering, power brakes etc. and got good reviews for their performance and durability.

I nearly bought one a few weeks ago but it was too far gone, and the owner wanted too much money.

Here is some info Jeep Wagoneer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think that they would make a great tow vehicle. Long wheelbase and low center of gravity. I think that Rob Baker has one.

Bill

[overlander64]

Greetings Ganaraska!

Originally Posted by Ganaraska

Has anyone used a Jeep Wagoneer or Grand Wagoneer for a tow vehicle? They were made from 1962 to 1991 with minimal styling changes. Were rated to tow up to 5000 pounds in stock condition. Would look "period correct" for the 60s 70s 80s or 90s depending on model year.

Even the earliest were offered with comforts like V8 engine, air, power steering, power brakes etc. and got good reviews for their performance and durability.

I nearly bought one a few weeks ago but it was too far gone, and the owner wanted too much money.

Here is some info Jeep Wagoneer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the first year that I owned my Overlander, a 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was my tow vehicle. It was mechanically reliable (360 V8 with 4 BBL Carburetor and 3.93 differentials), but its gas tank was too small for traveling -- its maximum range solo was 175 miles -- with the overlander that dropped to no more than 125 miles. I just became disgusted with frequently running out of fuel and traded on my special order 1999 GMC K2500 Suburban.

At fifteen years old, the Jeep's body was still in very good condition -- it had repairable rust though spots about the size of a half-dollar behind each rear wheel. Its fuel mileage was my only quibble with its ability as a tow vehicle -- its four wheel drive system was far superior to what is in my '99 GMC K2500 Suburban.

Kevin

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by Ganaraska

Has anyone used a Jeep Wagoneer or Grand Wagoneer for a tow vehicle? They were made from 1962 to 1991 with minimal styling changes. Were rated to tow up to 5000 pounds in stock condition. Would look "period correct" for the 60s 70s 80s or 90s depending on model year.]

Like Rob and Kevin, we too have an old Wagoneer as our TV. While we ran into some mechanical trouble during a trip out west in October, it was the fault of an absent-minded engine rebuilder rather than the setup itself. It towed quite nicely once the issue was resolved, and all told I've driven the pair around 1700 miles since April.

Being an older model with no fuel injection, air bags, shoulder belts, lumbar support, cruise control, A/C, FM radio, etc.... it is a barebones experience - retro, you could say.

And it doesn't remotely inspire confidence in the way a new vehicle does. But for authenticity of appearance and a faithful experience to what Airstreaming would've been like in the 60's... it's like climbing into a time machine.

Here are two recent shots (after cosmetic work to make the Wagoneer look like a '63 - the Globe is a '62). They're not mated up in the photo, unfortunately, but you get the idea.

[Mikethefixit]

Great Lookin Restore
roger

[FreshAir]

The old Wagoneers are really nice. We have a '75 Jeep J20 (3/4 ton) pickup that pulls very nice....especially since I dropped in a fully rebuilt Buick 455 engine, the same as what powers the '71 convertible. However, for now, the truck is only used to manuver our Trade Wind around our gravel hillside driveways. I still have some engine 'issues' to resolve before it will take the AS on the road. The '75 Jeep has only 58000 original mies on it but I had to pull the 360 after I pushed it too far past over heating. Since I had the extra 455 just sitting I went with that...and since our son kept saying, "Dad, you gotta put that 455 in it!". I think he wanted the 360 for his CJ7.
Neil

[3Ms75Argosy]

ohhh... I do have a soft spot for those Jeeps. I think they might be too "retro" for the family though... my '94 Dodge van is plenty, uh, primitive as it is!
Marc

[safari57]

I have seen a wagoneer in my area from time to time that looks to be brand spanking new. It is white with the woodgrain, is probably an 80's something for year, red interior, looks loaded, and an older couple driving it. The undercarriage still looks almost shiny new, everything sparkles, and there is obvious pride of ownership in how well it is maintained.

Barry

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by safari57

I have seen a wagoneer in my area from time to time that looks to be brand spanking new. It is white with the woodgrain, is probably an 80's something for year, red interior, looks loaded, and an older couple driving it. The undercarriage still looks almost shiny new, everything sparkles, and there is obvious pride of ownership in how well it is maintained.

Barry

I can almost imagine you in the parking lot, shimmy-ing under their Wagoneer to examine the undercarriage once they're safely inside the grocery store.

[safari57]

Originally Posted by bredlo

I can almost imagine you in the parking lot, shimmy-ing under their Wagoneer to examine the undercarriage once they're safely inside the grocery store.

at the gas station actually. A nonchalant down on my knees quickie look and then back into our truck before my wife caught me. She'd of rolled her eyes and either said very firmly "NO" or "down boy" or both. She thinks I have enough vehicles. How can one ever have too many vehicles? Just because I'm not driving at present doesn't mean I can't behold them gleaming in my shop, sit in them with the radio on and think about the day when I will once again be cruising down the highways and byways with Airstream in tow. Wives can be just so goshed darned practical sometimes it just takes all the fun out of the adventure.

Barry

[DeamArt]

We tow our 58 Flying Cloud with a 58 Cadillac.
Dick

[t walgamuth]

I would be very reluctant to pull any travel trailer with a mustang. The mustang engine has plenty of power and you could put in any tranny or rear end that suited but the car is a very lightweight unibody and I think you would have a problem finding anything solid enough to mount a good hitch to.

It would look very cool though!

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

.... the car is a very lightweight unibody and I think you would have a problem finding anything solid enough to mount a good hitch to.

There are many ways of designing and mounting a well built, flex free, HD hitch for use on a unibody. It just requires thinking "outside the box" to get the job done. Many pro built hitch installations I have seen on unibodies are superior to conventional, traditional, bolt on hitches.

[Melody Ranch]

My latest project is almost ready for the road and I want a "unique" and capable Classic tow vehicle. I'd like to trade my finished Caravel for something. Anyone out there who knows of someone looking for a ready to roll Caravel and has that special car/truck....please let 'em know.

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

My latest project is almost ready for the road and I want a "unique" and capable Classic tow vehicle. I'd like to trade my finished Caravel for something. Anyone out there who knows of someone looking for a ready to roll Caravel and has that special car/truck....please let 'em know.

Well, we are partial to or '71 Buick convertible. But for your beautiful '47 I think something from that era would be appropiate. A Globe Trotter owner up in nearby Lake Tahoe tows with a '47 - '48 Ford WOODY. Im sure he has a beefier engine but the red wagon with all that wood is a head turner. I am pecking this on our new laptop and 'the picture' isn't loaded here. I will post it soon.
Neil.

[FreshAir]

Here is a photo of the rig that I described in post #56.
Neil.

[cameront120]

Wow! That's a beautiful combination!

[richinny]

sweet!

[78GussyTX]

My 78 Argosy has a picture on the cover of the manual of a station wagon towing the trailer.