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How much can you tow and haul??


mikec4193

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Hi Ratsun folks

 

I have been away from Datsuns since the late 1980's....did a bunch of Ford Rangers and now currently daily driving a late 1990's Chevy S10...I was wondering since these old trucks were rated at 1/2 ton....what can I expect with a stock early 1970's 521 Datsun truck to be able tow???....

 

I race oval track Dodge Neons about 3 miles from my house I was wondering if one of these trucks would be able to pull over 2500 lbs???...

 

Thank you in advance...

 

MikeC

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In the 1970's, I was showing horses, full sized horses, you can ride, Appaloosas.

I have been all over the Pacific Northwest with a light two horse trailer, and two horses.  my Datsun 521 was more reliable than full sized Ford pickups.

 

This is my 521 with 20 bales of hay, and two boards.

HayampBoards_zpsheocd1ic.jpg

 

And this a ton of wood pellets in the 521.

Pellets2_zps90279397.jpg

 

If the brakes are adjusted regularly, the stock brakes work OK.  The brakes are not self adjusting, you have to do it, every oil change.

 

Are there any hills between your garage, and the race track?  Are you planning on going on a freeway?

 

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If the brakes are properly adjusted 4 ten inch drums are plenty for a 521 and it's load. In the bed.

 

Pulling something is different and 2,500 lb is just the Neon??? what about the trailer?? Towing more than the vehicle's weight is damn scary as there is a tendency to pull the ass end sideways on corners. The weight is not on the rear wheels even if you have the required 10-15% tongue weight. You may have to have electric trailer brakes for this.

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In the 1970's, I was showing horses, full sized horses, you can ride, Appaloosas.

I have been all over the Pacific Northwest with a light two horse trailer, and two horses.  my Datsun 521 was more reliable than full sized Ford pickups.

 

This is my 521 with 20 bales of hay, and two boards.

HayampBoards_zpsheocd1ic.jpg

 

And this a ton of wood pellets in the 521.

Pellets2_zps90279397.jpg

 

If the brakes are adjusted regularly, the stock brakes work OK.  The brakes are not self adjusting, you have to do it, every oil change.

 

Are there any hills between your garage, and the race track?  Are you planning on going on a freeway?

Hi DanielC

 

I love that white Datsun of yours...

 

One big hill between me and the track...mostly four lanes but not really an interstate either....large wide turn lanes and wide shoulders too...

 

I would be using a tow dolly...

 

Thanks for all insight...

 

MikeC

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In my opinion, I think the 4-wheel drums - even at their best - can barely stop an empty truck. I think it would be scary even with an additional 500 pounds in the back. 

 

Maybe at your best, but my 521 drums work just fine.  They will put you through the windshield no problem.

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I have been towing a trailer with my 521 work truck for years, I have also towed several other vehicles with it, and I have to say that if your going to tow other vehicles, the tow rig should be a dually, I have towed lots of 720s behind my non dually 720 diesel truck, then I sold it and needed to tow a 520 for a friend, I grabbed the dually 720 diesel and it was the best tow I had ever made to that date, so the next time I used the dually work truck, what a difference, having power and 4 tires in the rear made a huge difference, it was easy to tow that heavy 720 diesel behind the dually work truck, I kept having to remind myself I was towing a truck and slow down.

 

That said, a stock 521 doesn't weigh a lot, my modified 521 work truck does, it weighs 3400lbs, it also has an LZ23(2300cc) engine in it, it has 2 extra leafs in the rear, it has overload air bags in the rear, it has a C200 dually rearend with full floating axles, it has hardbody V6 dual piston caliper vented rotor disc brakes in the front, my trailer has electric trailer brakes that really work good, I can lock them up if I want, my 521 work truck is made to tow and haul weight, I just wanted you to know where I am coming from, as I have towed without trailer brakes, and one has to be driving way, and I mean WAY ahead of oneself to tow without trailer brakes, with a tow dolly, or to tow with a tow bar like I normally do.

 

I have to say this also, the L16 is not suited for towing, it has minimal torque compared to the L20b, it was made for the 55mph speed limit of that era, Daniel might have been able to tow with his 521, but he wasn't moving very fast going up hill, or anywhere else for that matter, but in them days no one was moving fast, it was a different time/era.

 

A load of wood

DSCN0393.jpg

A ton in the trailer, and a ton on the truck flatbed

DSCN0876.jpg

Towing a 720 diesel truck

DSCN0597.jpg

Towing the 521 kingcab diesel 4X4 before I made it into a 2wd with the dually 720 diesel

DSCN0314.jpg

I used to tow with this silver 1982 Datsun 720 diesel below, it was scary, the red truck in this photo ended up being the red 720 dually above towing the 4X4 521 kingcab.

DSCF0020.jpg

I know what I am talking about when it comes to towing, if you want to feel safe, you need a dually.

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Hi Guys

 

So I am thinking in stock form my wants would be marginally successful at best...Maybe keep it as a stock runner for runs to home depot and such but then find something a little better suited to tow my toy to the track...

 

Or maybe build something down the road with a little umph to do what I was hoping one of these stock trucks would be able to do for me...

 

you guys are awesome...

 

MikeC

 

 

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Wish I had taken pictures when I had a Burke vertical mill in the back of my 521, or the 2000 lb fork lift battery in the back of my 620, or the half a yard of crushed rock in my 720.

Don't recomend doing loads this heavy, as I had to keep the speed under 35mph, or the trucks would want to start doing tank slappers, and the axles were down on the bump stops.

But they all made the jurney home with no issues except for white knuckles......

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I tried looking up if there was a 'rule of thumb' guide like: your GVW X 80% = trailer and load but there doesn't seem to be one. If you have a 2500 pound 521, common sense should tell you not to tow 4,000 pounds with it.

 

 

I wonder if some old 521/620 brochures mention the towing capacity???

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If I remember correctly, the pay load on a Datsun 521 in the USA was 1440 pounds.  This included people.  It was also suggested that in other countries, outside the USA the payload was a ton.

 

To be honest, I have hauled a ton of wood pellets in both my 1996 Ford Aerostar, and in my 521.  The Aerostar felt more loaded than the 521, but of course the Aerostar would accelerate faster.

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The J13  520 and the J13/L16 521 had 5 leaves in the spring pack.

 

My info shows the payload for the L520T and the L521T(U) was 1,000 but this is Kg so 2,200 pounds. The PL521 (L16) was half that at 500Kg or 1,100 pounds.

 

At the same time, after '66 there, was a 7 leaf spring on the J13 truck and it was also an option on the PL521's L16.  The J13 had a 4.875 differential so 1,000Kg isn't so far fetched. The PL521 was rated less but could have the optional spring. No PL521s were rated at 1,000 Kg (2,200Lb) that I know of.

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10-14-2016%201-54-54%20PM_zpspaysully.jp

 

Agree. Mine may be showing the 'softer' 5 leaf spring. Maybe this is the optional 7 leaf?I know I put about 1,900 pounds on mine... spring flattened out and maybe bent down very slightly.... tire looked visible flatter. This was a Canadian '71 and the license was ratted for half ton 1,000 pounds. I always assumed the 521 had the same ton spring as the 520 but the paperwork for licensing only allowed you to carry 1,000 pounds.

 

The upshot is that 521 can carry an immense load on them. I still wouldn't want to tow much over 1,000 pounds because the rear is so light. Like wayno said earlier, the dual tires really help, and I believe him.

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I had the 7 leaf spring pack on a 1970 521 and I hauled 2500 pounds often in it but I do not suggest anyone doing this as it is really hard on the axle bearlings and drive train.  This truck also had the 4.88 rear end and a Z20 5 speed.  It diid extreme burnouts

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