Need to make my 2000 xls tow friendly

[Shagnasty]

I'm wanting to make my xls (3.23 open diff) into a tow rig for a boat. Being that the diff is open, and geared like crap, i figure i need to lock it or ls it, and up the gearing (4.10's). I've got the rest of the tow stuff, but was wondering what the benifits of lifting my x would be. Mind you it is 2wd, so spindles are cheap, and i can sas the rear. Let me know your opinions, as I will be using them this month.

Seriously.

 

[MACP34]

if you are going to be towing on a regular basis, id recommend changing the gearing first. If you are running stock size tires, id go with a minimum of 3.73's. If you have bigger tires, id say a min of 4.10's. Id also invest in a tranny cooler. That'll help keep your tranny cooler as it works harder when towing (downshift, etc). Since ive put 31X10.5's on mine, im noticing that when i tow, the rear looks like its sagging (because of the bigger tires). So you may want to do an add-a-leaf or AAL and shackles to help keep the rear up a little more. I know theres a ton of things you can do, but those are a few things id do at a minimum. Good Luck.

 

[Shagnasty]

Uh... manual 5 speed... no tranny cooler.

 

[JDraper]

I used to tow a 4000lb RV with my '92 X with 3.23's and a 5 speed. It actually towed reasonably well, except for parking and low speed manuevering. Since you are 2WD, I would recommend changing the gears and locking the rear. If you had a 4x4, you could use it the way it is.

Lifting it won't do anything for towing, except require you to get a larger drop for your ball.

 

[Shagnasty]

I was just thinking more room for air assist. Thanks for the info, and which locker is cheap/good/quiet/ & will work with my open carrier housing or whatever? What all will i need?

This is for a boat, so what is a pretty good guestimation of max towing? Remember, slick ramps......

I was thinking a heafty 24' would work.

 

[JDraper]

Lockers are an interesting dilemma. If you want cheap, go with a Powertrax. They are VERY effective, durable and low priced ($400 or so for a No-Slip). The drawbacks are the road manners could be better, but that's how an autolocker is. If you want very good road manners, go with a selectable locker an ARB Air Locker. Only drawbacks are the price (around $800-$1k when you add in the air compressor it needs) and it takes professional installation unless you can do your own ring & Pinion setup.

 

[wpurple]

I changed the gears in my 97 from 3.27 to 3.73 and it made a world of a difference in towing. (it was manual transmission)

 

[John_Rock]

Originally posted by JDraper
Lockers are an interesting dilemma. If you want cheap, go with a Powertrax. They are VERY effective, durable and low priced ($400 or so for a No-Slip). The drawbacks are the road manners could be better, but that's how an autolocker is. If you want very good road manners, go with a selectable locker an ARB Air Locker. Only drawbacks are the price (around $800-$1k when you add in the air compressor it needs) and it takes professional installation unless you can do your own ring & Pinion setup.

I'm pretty sure the Eaton E-locker is out for the 8.8. It probably runs about $600-$700 range, but no need for a compressor. The manual tranny guys I've talked to with Powertrax's say they feel the effects of it locking and unlocking more than the auto tranny guys.

 

[Shagnasty]

So an ls would not be much help, and lockers aren't quiet. I wish there was a easier engaging locker... maybe e-locker is the way to go?

What about max tow capacity? Anything I can do to up the torque of my x?

 

[Shagnasty]

That is, anything that is relatively low investment, with pretty good gains? (drilling my airbox did very little, other than make a cute sound when i stomp on it)

 

[Alec]

If you're willing to run premium, there's always a chip. And a moderately sized new catback wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Shagnasty]

catback at muff shop... $250? how many ftlbs or hp? bleh... I hate my v-6

The chip i might do, if gas prices drop. I was in houston last night filling up, and it was 12cents more a gallon than austin... WTF? Where are all the refineries? I would assume cheaper prices closer to the source since they don't have to deliver as far.... right?

Who has the deal on spindles? I'm going to lift weekend after next.

 

[Shagnasty]

Does anyone have other advice? I've heard horror stories of 4wd sliding backwards into the water... I really don't want that to happen.

Does anyone make a locker that is quiet? Do I need to take anything into consideration?

 

[james t]

as long as you are on the brakes it wont slide back into the water.

go with 4:10's and the biggest tranny cooler you can fit on it. stay out of overdrive when towing until you get up to 65mph or so. a catback, cut airbox, and chip would do good. you could skip the chip if you wanna run 87 octane.