Can I tow another vehicle with my Tacoma?

Hi guys,

New to the forum and moving long distance from San Diego, CA to Seattle, WA.
We have 2 vehicles, mine: 2013 Taco Prerunner V6 2WD with towing package and a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 without a tow package.

Ideally I would like to tow the cherokee with the tacoma on a uhaul trailer. I have looked up towing capacities and weights with several different answers. The only number that has not changed much is the weight of the Grand Cherokee (6400lbs)

Anybody who could help me out with this? Thanks a million, we have about a week until the move date.

 

I'd expect with a trailer you're beyond the rated capacity. Regardless, do you have a trailer brake controller?

 

Looking up the Grand Cherokee, looks like it's nowhere near 6400lbs. From my search it looks to be about 4400lbs in V6 form.
The tacoma should be able to do the 4400lbs for the distance mentioned, as long as you don't push it too hard (speeding 70mph on the freeway, trying to maintain 65 up mountain passes, etc) and as long as you have the factory tow package. Is your truck SR5, or TRD? If so, tow package should be standard.
Now if you've never towed anything as large as this before(with the Tacoma or otherwise), doing it for the first time for a multi day drive like that isnt the time I'd recommend starting.

The other thing to note is that U haul may not even rent you the trailer as they have a pretty strict policy about how much they'll let you tow behind specific vehicles, even if the vehicle is rated to tow the amount in question.

 

U haul trailer is going to be surge brakes.

 

It is a TRD. I have never towed anything before. I will be traveling with my mom and husband. We are attempting to prevent fatigue and want to travel in one vehicle. My mom can't drive very far or at night. I'm accustomed to driving larger vehicles, but never anything with a trailer. (I drive our ambulances at work)

UHaul said that the truck could not tow that capacity, but I had a feeling that it could.

Any suggestions on how I could accomplish this without UHaul?

As for brake controller, I'm not familiar with what that is. From my google search, it does not look familiar. Would I need that with the standard towing package?

 

Maybe more trouble than its worth to try to do the tow thing.why not have hubby drive jeep and keep in constant contact with cellphone Bluetooth combo to prevent fatigue/ bordom.As a long haul driver I know the route you will be taking to San Diego very well,and there are some grades you don't want to be messing with first time at gross or over hauling another vehicle. no Jakes no downhill assist.three gnarly downgrades in succession coming out of southern Oregon and into nor cal on the 5.good luck and be cautious whatever you decide.

 

Not a good idea with your Tacoma, if you want it to last. That is a long way to tow something that is over you're truck towing capacity. Plus also think of your safety, being inexperience in towing.

 

Towing by itself is mentaly taxing, thats with proper equipment. A uhaul trailer weighs A TON. For some reason unloaded they feel like youre pulling 20k lbs. A cherokee + trailer is going to be stressful to say the least, especially the first time the wind blows, a semi passes you, you have to stop etc.

 

Another option would be to have one of the vehicles shipped. You might be surprised how 'cheap' it can be to have a vehicle shipped. That beats pushing the envelope on towing capacity and possibly risking your lives on a long road trip. Just my two cents...

 

You "could" tow it but personally I would not. I've got an 08 dc rugged trail and it can tow 6500lbs 4x4 off road tow package and I wouldn't pull a cherokee on a trailer.

 

CURB WEIGHT 4470 lbs. for the 3.6
As stated before, if you have the tow package and mind your P's and Q's, go for it. As long as the U-haul trailer is under 2,030 lbs you will be ok. Not ideal, but the truck is rated for it. Without the tow package it's another story altogether.

 

I agree with Harvey. There are a ton of companies out there that tow cars for cheap. Besides, it'll probably take you much longer getting to your destination with that jeep in tow plus wear and tear gas etc. I'd definitely check prices on professional shipping.

 

I'd ship it, the uhaul trailer is probably close to 2,000 lbs. with that you would be at max capacity. Which is where you don't really want to be going over mountain passes for the first time towing. Save your sanity and your taco and ship it. Just my opinion.

 

If your planning on renting a U Haul truck to move, rent the U Haul car tow trailer, hook it up and tow it behind the U Haul. Somebody still has to drive the other vehicle though - pack it full of stuff and get a smaller U Haul.

 

The last time I checked, the jeep can be towed with a drawbar ( like the kind used behind a rv ). That would put you well under your tow rate.

 

^^^ I like this idea best.

 

If you've never towed anything before it sounds like a really bad idea. Maybe a small boat or cargo trailer might be OK, but a jeep on a trailer is going to be heavy and dangerous, especially with all the moving boxes you're going to have. I-5 is very steep, hilly, and curvy from about Yreka almost to Eugene, and you would probably wish you had just shipped or driven the jeep. Better yet just sell the Jeep and buy another Toyota when you get to Seattle.

 

According to the uhaul website, they will not rent you a trailer or car dolly for that. I would not recommend towing that setup if not experienced, see crashes along the curves along i5 all the time.

 

Here's my $0.02

I just looked up transportation cost to have a Gand Cherokee moved for you from San Diego to Seattle on autotransport.com (first one that came up on google search for auto transport). Cost is $902.77 I then looked up renting a Uhaul car trailer from San Diego to Seattle using an F350 as the pull vehicle to be able to get a price. Cost is $660.00 for the rental only. Then there is insurance which ranges from 56.00 to 155.00. Then add tax on top of that (64.00 at a minimum). Total so far for uhaul $780.00. On top of that Uhaul uses surge brakes which I personally don't care for as they tend to push the tow vehicle a bit.

I'd have it hauled by a transporter...

 

Yeah I wouldn't. I tow a bass boat (with surge brakes) around a lot and it takes concentration in the Tacoma. Tacomas are awesome trucks, but they're not made for that. Your Tacoma will be ruined when you get there if you don't have some trouble along the way.

If you were going 50 miles, maybe, but that's a long way.