Options for towing a 4-runner

I have a 98 2wd, manual, regular cab with a ball hitch installed. I'm not sure the capacity of this hitch.

Per the towing bible thread:
Max. Towing capacity 3,500 lbs.
Max. Tongue weight 350 lbs.

I need to drag a 99 6 cyl 4runner about 150 miles, luckily almost entire downhill or flat. Dolly is 750lbs and I think the 4runner is close to 4000lbs so I'm out of spec by over a thousand pounds.

I'm going to guess that even if I were to be able to rent a dolly from U-haul, it would be completely inadvisable to go this much out of spec?

My other option is my Sprinter van with a 5000lbs tow capacity, however, it has no hitch and I estimate $350 to install one.

The dolly costs a hundred bucks, I believe.

There's also AAA Premier with 200 miles of towing for $120

 

That AAA premier sounds like a good idea.

Wouldnt have to go thru the hassle of getting a tow hitch installed on the sprinter. Unless you plan to do a lot of towing in the future with the van.

 

I am a 4runner guy.

What's wrong with that 3rd gen?

 

It has a possibly bad head gasket and has been sitting in a dirt field for two years. And the registration isn't current.

I could try to diagnose it on the spot and possibly make it driveable, but that would mean at least draining the tank, refilling, and jump starting to check compression. I'm not sure the procedure to drain the tank (could buy a $30 siphon I suppose, not sure if the 4runners have some anti-siphon; my old Holdas had a drain bolt at the bottom of the tank that was easy). I would also need to purchase some gas cans for the bad gas and one for some good gas I'd have to pay the registration and insure it. After all that, I might not be able to drive it anyway. Additionally, I would need to recruit someone to spend the day driving up and back with me.

It sure seems like it'd be a lot easier to show up by myself and remove it, take it back to my garage and then sort everything out.

Another thing I need to do is figure out what shape the engine is in and what to do about it... If the prior owner drove it a while with a bad gasket could be bad news... I've had blown head gaskets on a car and one of my motorcycles in my teens and learned that the hard way.

I wonder if the 4 cyl out of the Tacoma would fit in the 4runner The Tacoma is pretty worn out except the motor and tranny are in great shape. My home county has no inspections or anything so no one would notice an engine swap.

 

Eventually I will need to move from our tiny house and likely need to tow my shop behind me unless we rent a U-Haul. So, the Sprinter hitch wouldn't be a total waste of money. Just a lot of money to drop right now...

Edit: Yikes. I just looked what the U-Haul would cost for the move. I'll be better off buying a trailer and selling it on the other end.

 

A lot of the first gen tacoma parts can be fitted into the 3rd gen 4runners.

which ones? that my friend, is left to research. .

 

Thanks, AAA it will be. I'll still have 50 miles of towing left over in case the thing breaks down again