RE: Towing with a 1/2T Travelall?

["Mac @ TRIAD" <mac@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

## >>       Here's the deal:  I have this HUGE 1/2T 4WD Yellow
## >> Travelall that
## >> many of you have seen.  Next, I got the 3/4T Travelall so
## >> that I could tow
## >> stuff around.  Well, I'll be selling the 3/4T because there
## >> are too many
## >> trucks on the payroll right now.  So, what are the prospects
## >> of towing my
## >> flatbed with a built Scout II on it (7000 lb. combined).
## >> Granted, I have
## >> all the stuff already, and I supposed I could just go out and
## >> try it, but
## >> alas, until I have time and energy to take those risks, I'd
## >> like to hear
## >> from YOU, my IH family.

<== SNIP! ==>

## >>       Opinions?

Joel, i dunno if this is terribly relevant or will help at all, but the PO
of my 1972 TravelAll 1010 used it to tow loads just like you describe, and
maybe heavier, all over California, (up and down the Grapevile repeatedly, i
was told) to the tune of about 45k miles (according to him).  it's got the
392, 727, 3.73 gears in a D44 rear axle (front torsion bar IFS), 31" tires
(either factory original or the speedo has been recalibrated), tow package,
anti-sway bars front and rear, KH hydraulic/mechanical (ie non-electrical)
brake controller, and that odd rear hydraulic trailer brake hookup under the
back, plumbed to the controller.  i've never seen anything like it before,
and the fitting at the end of the hose is all crudded up, but it doesn't
leak and i didn't want it to start so i haven't messed with it to see how it
works.

i even used this truck myself a few times to tow some fairly heavy loads
around after i killed the B122, and never had any problems with it (towed a
loaded up 1500A around with ease).  i did wrangle the torsion bars (lineset
i believe indicates it has the uprated suspension at both ends) up front to
their stiffest ride, and installed the heaviest shocks i could lay my hands
on in the back, but that's all i did to it.  i never had a lick of trouble
pulling *anything* anywhere with it.  the fact is, it tows better (and
handles better under load) than the 1972 TravelAll 1110 4x4 with 392, 727,
1210 suspension and axles, 33" tires, same tow package, and 4.10 gears, also
with a Tekonsha Commander XP electronic trailer brake installed.  the
biggest probelm with the 1110 is that somebody installed an "RV" cam, which
moved the effective powerband up above 2400rpm, where the 1010 has a stock
cam and starts pulling straight from idle.  shoot, the 800A's 392, T18, 3.73
gears and 31" tires pulls better than the 1110 does, but it doesn't have the
brakes for towing.

if this 1010 of mine can tow well, then i see no reason why your 1110
shouldn't tow well too, especially if you take it easy.  the 1010 handles
extremely well (best-handling truck i've ever owned or driven, and actually
better-riding than many "luxury" cars i've driven), i really like that
torsion bar front end for street and mild dirt/rutted trail driving, it's
rock solid even on uneven terrain and/or badly maintained roads.  never
having driven a 1010 without anti-sway bars, i don't know how much
difference they make for this model, but i'm guessing they help quite a bit.

my nickel once again
--Mac

---------------------------------------------------------------
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Krystof "Mac" MacBryghde
TyrGothi

http://master.triad.ath.cx/