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Author
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Topic: '68 lane wagon tow capacity
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Bloose
Gearhead Posts: 755
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 05-24-2004 07:24 PM
   
Anyone know the towing capacity of a '68 Fairlane wagon? The car has a 302 but I would be interested in the max tow capacity of the highest rated of the '68 fairlanes. Also, what do you figure would be the absolute max with things like air bags and a load distributing hitch.B-loose
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-25-2004 09:26 AM
I looked in my facts booklet and they didn't have a towing capacity listing. The sedans were about 3300# curb weight,so my guess that a wagon is 3600#. With the 302 set up properly,I would say it could tow 2500# safely. The 390/4V 335hp would pull more. Don't forget the brakes when you set up to tow.
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Bloose
Gearhead Posts: 755
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 05-25-2004 04:53 PM
Man I was hoping for more. I was hoping for a minimum of 5000lbs. Maybe even 6000. I was thinking to buy the wagon to tow my Fairlane on my car trailer. I'm not worried about the motor or brakes. I would build a motor just for towing. Between motor and gears I'm sure I would have no problems. As for the brakes the trailers have brakes. I have no problem stopping with my Jeep Cherokee when the trailer is on there and the Jeep's brakes suck! The real problem is the fact that car is a unibody. I was thinking sub frame connectors, air bags in addition to some additional leaves in the rear springs, and then a load distributing hitch. My Jeep has a 5K tow rating and that has a uniframe. It's a unibody type setup but the sheet metal frame runs the entire length of the car. The problem with the wagon that I'm woried about is mounting up a hitch that could handle the weight. And also the front spindles and basic structure. Currently I have the Jeep and a school bus for towing so I don't NEED a tow vehicle but I would love to have an old waggy. Plus towing the FB lane with a Waggy lane would be oh so cool. If I could get the waggy to work for towing I would sell the school bus. The waggy would take up much less room. Years ago no one needed an SUV just for towing, everyone used wagons.So, what do you think, could I make this work? Thanks,
B-loose [This message has been edited by Bloose (edited 05-25-2004).]
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-25-2004 07:11 PM
It may be possible. Did you try a Uhaul dealer to see what they say? I am just guessing,but I'd say the strongest hitch you'll get for it would be at 350# tongue wt.
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Fstln69
Gearhead Posts: 560
From: Westmont,il
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 05-25-2004 07:27 PM
Hey bloose they would be possible with what you described.It wont tow like a pickup but a safe cautious tow is possible.Beef up the rear frame where it goes over the rear end also i used to tow my racecars with cars in the early days and thats where i had problems.the load distributing hitch is a great idea My Dad used to tow a camper with his 74 LTD and without the bars the bumper was on the ground with em she towed down the road like a bigrig.
Dennis------------------
69 fairlane 351w [email protected] in search of Body parts for 69 fairlane
66 brand x outlaw s/s
Fstln69 Pics Page
http://community.webshots.com/user/purple66bu
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Fstln69
Gearhead Posts: 560
From: Westmont,il
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 05-25-2004 07:28 PM
BTW if you decide not to i'd take that wagon off your hands
Dennis------------------
69 fairlane 351w [email protected] in search of Body parts for 69 fairlane
66 brand x outlaw s/s
Fstln69 Pics Page
http://community.webshots.com/user/purple66bu
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Bloose
Gearhead Posts: 755
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 05-25-2004 08:03 PM
Making a tow vehicle out of it is the only way I can talk my wife into it. I already have 2 cars, a Jeep, a motorcycle, a bus, a car trailer, and a camper, and insurance on all of them. Not to mention her Jeep. I think one more vehicle will land me in divorce court. The deal would be the bus would go when the waggy was done. BUT, I actually would need it to tow like a pick up. I usually tow the Jeep out west each year for off road trips so it would need to be able to tow for a 3000 mile round trip. The bus has worked out great for that and that's what I bought it for. But when I was considering the bus I was also thinking about an older full sized car. One of the Jeep magazines was talking about ideal tow vehicles. They listed PU's, SUV's, etc. But they also list a Caddie. Their thinking was it had a big motor and a full frame. Much the same as any standard PU. This had me thinking but the $1800 price of a vehicle that was over 35' long and equipt with a turbo diesel was too much to resist. I still love the bus but I love old Ford waggys more. So if I had to get rid of something to get one the bus would be the one that would most likely soften my wife up to another project vehicle. I would also be willing to sell the bike but I likely owe more on it than I could sell it for. Paying to get rid of it just doesn't make sense to me.B-loose
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-26-2004 08:53 PM
Did you ever give thought to a mid 70's wagon? Those are full frame. I put airbags in the back of my car,and at 35 psi I bet it would tow more than my truck. 
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JCQuinn@work
Gearhead Posts: 899
From: Lakewood, CO, USA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 05-27-2004 12:42 PM
I used to tow with a Full size 65 Ford Wagon. I stroked and bored the 352 into a 390, put in high torque cam and an Edelbrock aluminum manifold, and air shocks on the rear. It made a great tow vehicle. No problem towing a single car trailer with tools in the back. Went many miles each year and even got around 10 miles per gallon. I might still be towing with it but somebody stole it one night.John
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Bloose
Gearhead Posts: 755
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 05-27-2004 08:32 PM
Ya, I think I'm going to have to think about getting a '70's or a full size. I really like the body style of the Fairlane but I think It would be less work if I started with a full frame.B-loose
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Bloose
Gearhead Posts: 755
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 05-27-2004 09:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fstln69:
BTW if you decide not to i'd take that wagon off your hands
Dennis
Here is a gift!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2479614387&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT This is the car I was going to bid on. The guy replied to me that it would be $650 for shipping to WI, should be pretty close for you. Ultimately if I got this car and it wasn't able to tow my Jeep out to UT and back my wife would kill me. Also, with the amount of work needed to make it work I think I would be better off with a fullsize or a mid '70 intermediate as pointed out here. Good luck. It looks like with a little work this would be a nice cruser. Let me know if you decide to bid on it. B-loose
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-27-2004 09:53 PM
That looks like a good car for the price! 
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Bloose
Gearhead Posts: 755
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 06-01-2004 01:32 AM
We'll I said I was going to pass but I couldn't. I had the winning bid on the wagon! Wife wasn't to happy but she said as long as I finish her honey do list before I even touch it she won't visit the lawyer. Man, that is a long list!! Just have to work out shipping details and it'll be on its way to WI, can't wait. Anyone want to buy a bus??? You'll have the biggest SUV on the block!  B-loose
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Fstln69
Gearhead Posts: 560
From: Westmont,il
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 06-01-2004 09:13 AM
Right on B loose! I had seen that one on ebay didnt know that was the one you were talking about.It looks really nice little TLC and it could be real cool.Theres another one too a 390 wagon
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39405&item=7903098132&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Dennis ------------------
69 fairlane 351w [email protected] in search of Body parts for 69 fairlane
66 brand x outlaw s/s
Fstln69 Pics Page
http://community.webshots.com/user/purple66bu [This message has been edited by Fstln69 (edited 06-01-2004).]
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Bloose
Gearhead Posts: 755
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 06-01-2004 10:22 PM
Cool, you going to bid on this one? I know a guy that was offering me a 390. I guess it is a complete running motor. I could likely get it for about $300. But I think I'll stick to the low weight of the 302. It's likely the motor will have about the same HP and torque as a stock 390 when I'm done with it. The Fairlane I bid on was only the second Fairlane wagon I've ever seen, now there's another, go figure.B-loose
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