tow rig?

whitneyj

whitneyj

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2008
Location
Mayville, WI
I've got my eye on a 89 fullsize blazer to tow my XJ around once or twice a month. It's got the 350, 700r4, np208, and 10 bolt's. Will this be sufficent to pull an XJ around? What about legal issues? I always hear that you don't need weighted tags with an SUV, but I can't seem to find anything confirming that.
 
just saw in the sticky above that SUV's do not need to have weighted tags, that awas posted in 05. Can anyone confirm it's still that way?
 
eh thats a pretty short wheel base to be towing something like an XJ... I personally wouldn't feel it was adequate.
 
How well it tows depends on your XJ weight, trailer weight, and trailer axle placement (weight distribution).

I have a 90 K5 just like you describe, and did a lot of towing with it before it became a trail rig. Once towed a stock XJ with no issues at all, but was a very light trailer - like 1000 lbs.

You will want to add leaves to the stock K5 leaf pack or add air bags. And you may want a weight-distributing hitch in addition to the leaves or bags - I have never had the WD hitch though. Depends on how much tongue weight you end up having.

Do you have a trailer yet?
 
nope, no trailer yet. My XJ is still streetable, so I am able to drive it to the trails and back. I just don't want to have to worry about trying to make it home with something broken, or worry about a catastrophic failure. I'm just getting everything in order for when it's not.

I plan on going the airbag route, but I'm not familiar with the WD hitch.

Also looking for some insight on a trailer. . .
 
I've avoiding the trucks for a couple reasons-primary one is cost. I just need something to tow my XJ from place to place a couple times a month without a $500 a month truck payment. If I'm going to get a truck it's going to be a 3/4 ton and a desiel. No questions about that. BUT, that's not going to happen until some "recent bills" get payed. SO, Blazer it is.
 
your good with a suv i personally asked a nc state tropper captain that is one of my good customers but as long as your easy on it not to sure about the ten bolts though
 
Already got my eye on a 14 bolt, I'm not a fan of the 10 bolts.
 
Having owned and towed with both a 90 K5 and a 90 Suburban - get a Suburban if you can. The extra weight and wheelbase of the Burb make a totally different towing experience. Since you have the XJ to wheel, there is no reason to go with the smaller Blazer - it's not like you would take the tow vehicle on the trail.

And the extra room inside the Burb is GREAT.

Other related recommendations:
Any 5.7L fuel injected engine will be fine for what you are towing.
Get 3.73 or 4.10 gears
Avoid the temptation to get tires larger than 31-inches - it reduces your effective gear ratio, gives you more sidewall squirm, and reduces the effectiveness of your brakes. Save the mods for your trail rig. :)
 
I think there is a burban floating around with a TBI 454 for ~6k
 
Any TBI Burban would be better than a K5. Granted I think the K5 could pull it. It is the same drivetrain, 350 TBI, 700R4, ten bolts. The burb will do it with more ease and comfort. If you do use the K5 get a weight distributing hitch and make sure you have brakes/brake controller on either.
 
lowestjumperXJ said:
my Suburban has a 4L60E. same as a 700R4, just electronically controlled. I'll sell it cheap!
Click to expand...

That is not the TBI setup though correct? I think the TBI's are simpler and cheaper. With that said I have an 86 3/4 ton converted to TBI, a 91 350 TBI, and a 97 3/4 ton 454. I had two K5's prior to my burbs also.
 
I've really got my mind set on this blazer for a couple reasons:
1. It's an 89 with only 47K, I didn't believe it at first, then I checked the title and the truck. Yup, odometer didn't roll over.
2. I don't like the burbans because of their size, I don't want to drive a burban. If the blazer is really going to be horrible to tow with, I'll go from there.
3. If I don't like the blazer for towing, I can always sell it for what I got it for. (getting a pretty good deal on it)

Soooo, as long as the general concensus is the Blazer will be sufficient if set up properly and I drive it knowing that it's a just a Blazer, I'm buying it tomorrow. Then I'll be on the look out for a trailer. . .
 
Ive towed an xj with a RamCharger a few times before, and it towed fine. Get a good brake controller and brakes on both axles of the trailer, get some bags and/or WD hitch, and drive like youve got some damn sense and youll be fine.

Duane
 
I will be doing the air bags for sure, but for the meantime I'll be adding a big overload. It already has a hitch on it, I'm not sure what kind, but I think it's only rated to pull 5500 lbs.

Can someone explain to me the WD hitch? Does it just use more attatchment points threw the frame?
 
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