Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: Toads? (Read 1926 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 5 Guests are viewing this topic.
Re: Toads?
Reply #75 –
"I would love to have a first generation Blazer or Bronco to play with."

I had a 1977 GMC Jimmy (like the Chevy Blazer) until it was stolen in 1996!  It was an incredible gas hog at 8 MPG!  Several years before, I parked it and bought a Toyota Tercel.  Didn't trade it in because it really didn't need to be on the road. 

Apparently someone wanted the engine, because when they found it, the hood and engine were gone.  But the mag wheels remained intact!


   Virtual hugs,

   Judie  <-- Sierra Vista, Arizona
   Adventures of Dorrie Anne | Photographing the West

   Today:  Gaucho Hat and Colorful Serape
   **********************************
 
Re: Toads?
Reply #77 –
Quote from: Judie Ashford  - 
"I would love to have a first generation Blazer or Bronco to play with."

I had a 1977 GMC Jimmy (like the Chevy Blazer) until it was stolen in 1996!  It was an incredible gas hog at 8 MPG!  Several years before, I parked it and bought a Toyota Tercel.  Didn't trade it in because it really didn't need to be on the road. 

I think Duro was referring  to the S-10 Brazer, based on the small, Chevy S-10 pickup.
Your Brazer was based on a Chevy 1/2-ton pickup, a much bigger and heavier vehicle.

I always liked the first generation Ford Bronco and searched years for a reasonably priced one.
An early Bronco would make a great toad and most of the parts are still available.
Evidently a lot of other people have the same idea, the prices have been very high for a long time.
The 1974 Bronco, that Greg linked to, is priced at $23,000. It's a nice beginning of a costly project.
It would be easy to have over $40,000 in it if restored or built up. That's too much money to have in a old machine that is going to be beat up, IMO.

As an alternative, a V-6 Ranger 4X4 is a similar vehicle that can be had for a lot less money and then built to the owner's wishes.
Being a contemporary vehicle, parts are readily available as well as off-road gear.

The newer small pickups, both the Ranger or Canyon, are heavier and bigger than the older versions.
They are not small, they are as big as the full-size pickups of years past, before pickups became mega-machines.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Toads?
Reply #78 –
Larry I was referring to the first generation K5 Blazers 1969 to 1972. From the info I could find they are heavy but not any worse than many current suvs.

“Production   1969-1972
Class   Full-Size SUV
Body Style   3-Door Wagon
Length   180"
Width   79"
Height   70.1" (2WD)
72.1" (4WD)
Wheelbase   104"
Weight   4000-4600 lbs”
Lynn and Lori
Re: Toads?
Reply #79 –
Quote from: Duro  - 
Larry I was referring to the first generation K5 Blazers 1969 to 1972. From the info I could find they are heavy but not any worse than many current suvs.

More affordable in that case. A 4WD in Stockton, CA but with Oregon plates:

1969 Chevrolet Blazer K5 | eBay
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Toads?
Reply #80 –
the old ones get heavy fast too. my bronco was slightly lighter than the earliest blazer, but about the same now with the extra steel on it (even with no doors and top). i made sure to do some extra work to the hitch prior to towing with the LD, but i can say it performs well.

1999 MB
Re: Toads?
Reply #81 –
Quote from: Duro  - 
Larry I was referring to the first generation K5 Blazers 1969 to 1972. From the info I could find they are heavy but not any worse than many current suvs.

“Production 1969-1972
Class Full-Size SUV
Body Style 3-Door Wagon
Length 180"
Width 79"
Height 70.1" (2WD)
72.1" (4WD)
Wheelbase 104"
Weight 4000-4600 lbs”
4600+lbs (with the hard top) of bare weight is a lot to pull.  4X4s get a lot heavier as you outfit them and add the stuff that should be carried when off-roading.  Can't say I have ever seen a K5 used as a toad.
My Jeep Cherokee now weighs 700-bs more than the it did when it was stock and weighed 3300-lbs.

The K5 Brazers were based on the Chevy 1/2-ton pickup,  just like the later model Broncos were based on Ford F-100s, and are too big and heavy for our LD's to pull, IMO.  I think LD got it right when they limited the rear hitch to 4000-lbs.

The smaller S-10 Blazer and early Broncos both would make decent toads.
The S-10s were to not known as dependable vehicles. Their V6s had a lot of problems.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Toads?
Reply #82 –
I posted last year about our solution to take along a motorcycle and car. A small-ish Yamaha 250 on the hitch carrier and the Honda Element worked out well for us last year.



However, as mentioned then - this only works with one motorcycle. When both of us want to ride, or if we want to take along a street and an offroad bike - we had to take the trailer. That meant giving up the car, which is not ideal for extended trips.

No more - we're gonna have it all.  8)

This year, our winter getaway will take advantage of a project I've been working on for a few months. I picked up a Ford Ranger a while back. Searched for a while and found a nice 2WD, manual transmission model with low miles. It's a great toad as-is, but after adding a custom aluminum flatbed - we'll have the ability to take two motorcycles while still having a toad. And, unlike the hitch carrier used previously - we don't have anywhere near the weight limitation which restricted us to one small motorcycle. Two large bikes, two small, or one of each. Whatever suits our fancy, and we'll still have room/capacity for gear. With two small bikes and gear, we'll still be well below 5,000 lbs. The truck empty weighed in at 3700, thanks in part to the lighter aluminum flatbed.





Plans are to fabricate side rails that will double as loading ramps. And, with the flatbed having way more space than a standard pickup bed - it's 6' wide by 7' long - we'll have room between the two bikes to toss on one of those large, locking metal contractor job boxes.

It's not for everyone. But for those who ride, I'm hopeful it's a great solution that doesn't force the car vs. trailer decision.
2011 RB
Re: Toads?
Reply #83 –
Nice looking setup.  Considerably shorter than the previous rig, too.

Sidewall/ramps are a good idea.  If you can work out a way to have them pivot on the lower back corner, you only have to lift half their weight -- big swing-around space needed, though.  I guess a sliding assembly would work too.

I see you still have the option of a rear platform on the truck, for those yard-sale buys you can't pass up.

I see the Weathergard pickup drawers on craigslist from time to time.

How did the Element do as a toad? Is/was it a 4WD version?  (Don't know if you still have it...) Could its hitch handle a light motorcycle too?
2000 Front Lounge
Re: Toads?
Reply #84 –
Quote from: Chip Chester  - 
Nice looking setup.  Considerably shorter than the previous rig, too.

Yeah...the hitch mounted carrier is pretty deep, as it needs to be far enough away from the vehicle so the handlebars will clear. Then, you need another 12" or so for the ramp that gets stowed aft of the bike. After that, a hitch riser connects to the 2" receiver on the motorcycle carrier to make the tow bar close to level. And finally - I use the Readybrake system which adds even more length before the tow bar even hooks up. All of this required extra length for safety chains and light hookups as well.

For the Ranger, I'm also using a Readybrake - but we're looking to get a new tow bar with that integrated. The Ranger also has the tow bar mounts much lower than the Element, and in our case - eliminates the need for the hitch riser. So yeah...it will be a significantly shorter and less complicated setup.

Quote from: Chip Chester  - 
Sidewall/ramps are a good idea.  If you can work out a way to have them pivot on the lower back corner, you only have to lift half their weight -- big swing-around space needed, though.  I guess a sliding assembly would work too.

I'm fortunate to have a friend who is quite the fabricator, so I've no doubt I'll end up with something that works well. Our current thought is to fab the side ramps so they are 10' long, with a pivot at the 7' mark. The 3' section would swing in 90 degrees on both sides, completing the 6' wide tailgate.

10' ramps give a very gradual incline to the bed, as we mounted it very low. Having two of them allows me to walk up one, while motoring the bike up the other. Since they will be aluminum, weight isn't really a concern.

Quote from: Chip Chester  - 
How did the Element do as a toad? Is/was it a 4WD version?  (Don't know if you still have it...) Could its hitch handle a light motorcycle too?

Elements make a fantastic toad! Absent our motorcycle desires, I can't imagine one better. With the rear seats removed and the cargo carrier up top, it gives tons of storage. Ours is a 2WD w/manual, so hooking it up is trivial. I'm not certain on the weight, but I'm sure it's under the 5K limit I've read exists for a stock LD hitch - even loaded with stuff.

But no - there's no way to carry a motorcycle safely on an Element's hitch. Hitch carriers are not light, and by the time you get close to 300 lbs. of bike on there extended 12-18" away from the receiver - that's way beyond the tongue weight capacity of the Honda. An Element has a towing capacity of 1500 lbs., which translates to 150 lbs. of tongue weight.

In fact, unless it was a very light dirt bike or small scooter, I'd be leery of using a hitch carrier on a stock LD hitch personally. Our LD hitch was custom made with added steel supports connected up to the frame by the axles. The previous owner set it up to haul a car carrier - something he never did, but we're glad to have that extra margin of safety when towing.
2011 RB