Pics of what you tow with your 2.7

Tell us more about that bug! Miss my old pieced together bugs I had growing up. '67 and a '68 I believe..

 

Happy to! '70 body (I think) with '71 1600 engine. I got it last spring to tool around in and fix up a bit, and had fully planned on driving it through the winter, but it took me a while to diagnose why it would start but not stay running. It happened right around the time my wife and I bought a house so that took priority and I had to grab a U-Haul trailer to get it there. Not bad for a little 4 banger truck but I've yet to try a longer distance tow.

I've got some time to work on the Bug now, so hopefully I'll have it reliably running soon. It's great - everyone I talk to either had or knows someone who had one. My neighbors love it, too.

 

Excellent nkedz! My pieced together bug had a manual sun roof, empi style wheels, chromed out engine and was taken from me in a wreck (totaled)!!! Miss that thing so much. Got all my ideas after visiting a buddy in Southern California back in the early 80s. Never forget hauling arze off IH-45 in Houston after an intense rain. The puddle I went through blew through the rusted floorboard!! Doh! Many good times and memories in that little car. Let us know how the work goes on your bug.

 

Yep, I know what it's like to have a much-loved vehicle totaled, but it's the reason I have the Tacoma so there's a silver lining. My Bug has new floorboards so I'm not too worried about water yet.

I have the problem narrowed down to a lack of thermostat and cooling hardware. The thermostat's not technically required for the engine to run in moderate weather, but here in Vermont it gets cold so when it's missing it becomes a problem. It mechanically controls flaps that direct the fan's cooling air to the engine, but without those, the engine doesn't warm up fast enough. The auto-choke opens too early since it's just an electric heating element opening a butterfly valve on the carb, and the mixture becomes too lean and the engine dies. With the cooling hardware in place, it'll theoretically warm up quick enough to not die.

The other option (that I tried and was successful) was to just disconnect the automatic choke. It stayed running and I drove it to the grocery store down the street. I could put in a switch for the auto choke, but I'm going to put in the hardware and do it "properly"

 

You're much more of a gear head than I am/was...and I mean that as a compliment. I wish I could help. Good luck!

 

Thanks and thanks!

 

Lol all i did was pull it out of the back yard no way i would ever tow this

 

Just bought a camper very similar to this. Picking up this weekend. Having a brake controller, weight distribution hitch and RV plug this week. Hoping it tows ok. Hows your doing towing this?

 

Was OK, gets the job done but it worked the truck a lot sometimes. I also have larger tires and a lift though. I think stock you would be fine

 

I ended up buying a 3500 dually though for summer now so this Tacomas working days are over

 

Well she towed it !

 

How did it do? Just curious on details. Beautiful camper BTW.

 

ya whats the weight on that thing, must be a decent size with a slide

 

I towed it a hour home from the dealer. Im in PA so its kind of hilly on the interstates. Kept it in 4th gear most of the time doing 60-65mph. Steep hills was down to 3rd to stay around 55-60mph. RPM's never went above 3500. The camper weighs 3075lb plus battery as pictured. You knew that it was there on the hills and when you took off from a stop but all in all it did pretty good. Im not going to haul it across country but for camping a couple hours from the house it is good. Oh and got around 10 miles to the gallon with it.

 

sounds about right, i got a bit higher with mine about the same size. 12 mpg or so but not fun to go on long drives to be honest

 

testing out the newly installed (by me) hitch that I got from Uhaul. got 19mpg running with just the tools and dolly (75-85mph) 23.5 mpg with the addition of the POS. (45-55mph). had to go half way across the state of Pa. from Allentown area to Chambersburg and back.

I wouldn't recommend purchasing a new 2.7L with this in mind, but It gets the job done if you know what your up against. Was gonna try it with the '98 but that one comes out of my pocket if It somehow failed. This one gets me out of debt if it gets totaled. plus the old ones not as powerful on the hills. I didn't have much trouble with the hills on this trip but if your cruise is set at 53 mph fully loaded like this it will run around 3800 rpm's till you get over the crest. the around town stuff was way worse than the highway with this particular set up.

 

Moving to Arizona, toyota turbo diesel running gear and grizzly on top. Had truck in 2nd gear at 4500 rpm while still on the brakes coming down out of payson. I thought I was gonna burn the brakes up.

 

auto or manual?

 

Manual man I don't need no silly computer shifting for me. I'm 100% murican'