1st gen V6 5spd towing a 3rd gen 4Runner?

Hey all,

I have a 1st gen V6 5spd Taco and I want to know if I could tow a 3rd gen 4Runner I found? I'll be towing it about 50 miles on pretty flat terrain. Thanks for the advice.

 

You sure can, but it won’t be fun. Curb weight of the 4Runner is roughly 3,600-4,000 pounds. Towing capacity of the v6 is 5,500 pounds. I think you might be better off pulling the rear driveline and using a tow dolly.

 

I think you can tow it, but can you stop?

 

So put the front end up on a tow dolly? As opposed to using a trailer.

 

If he uses a tow dolly he’ll be well under the 5,500 pound towing capacity. I’ve towed a few things and just as long as you have enough room to stop, you’ll be fine. U-Haul equipment all have surge brakes.

It also helps that I have Tundra brakes.

 

Trailers are much heavier. Tow dolly is 900 pounds versus an auto transport at 2,000 pounds.

 

Awesome! Thanks.

 

Yeah, that's what I meant to say. Make sure he can hook up the trailer brakes.
And don't borrow someone's sh!tty trailer.

 

If you are using a dolly, I’m pretty sure those don’t have brakes, and if you will be using a car hauler trailer, that will likely put you over the max tow weight of 5000 (not 5500).

As far as I’m aware, most of the time you need brakes when you are towing over a certain weight (3000# I think), and with a dolly (like you see RVs towing), they use a brake actuator inside the car to operate the brakes pedal.

So, it certainly can be done, but it’s far from an ideal plaform, and likely won’t technically be “legal”. Whatever you do, avoid the freeway.

The other thing is that you mostly shouldn’t tow a 4x4 on a dolly, although over a relatively short distance, you’d probably be fine, especially if what you’re towing is a 5 speed.

Read through the “tow biblel for more info on towing with the Tacoma.

 

All U-Haul trailers have surge brakes. They’re better than nothing.

 

Plug your truck into U-Haul’s website. It’ll tell you everything you need.

 

not the dollys.

But like you said, the trailers weight like 2000#, and putting a 4000#+ truck on it would exceed the 5k tow limit.

 

Haha, it will 100% tell yu not to tow it with a tacoma. They will say the dollys are from front wheel drive cars only, and the flat beds are marginal.

If anythig, don’t tell them what you’re towing. But that will get you in big trouble if anything happenes and you have exceeded the max tow rating of the tow vehicle.

I would just rent a pickup from uhaul, but even that might only barely tow 6000 (according to their website).

 

Towed a WJ Cherokee on a tilt deck with my 02 double cab, worked fine, went about 30 miles on flat. That's probably about as much as I'd want to tow though, and wouldn't want to tackle many hills.

 

(Slaps forehead!) Hows about checking on what a towing service would charge you to just flatbed it home for you?

Renting a truck and trailer from U-Haul has gotta be a similar price. And then you gotta have someone follow you back to return them. Also figure how much 4 or 5 hours of your time is worth if you do the two round trips yourself. (Also figuring in wait time at the U-Haul place. They always seem to be frazzled and unprepared when I've used them and I've stood around waiting wondering why a business that does ONLY ONE FREAKING THING can't get their sh!t together?)

And this way you won't risk any harm to your beloved Tacoma!

 

Tows are expensive. I had my truck towed maybe 10 miles and it cost $100. A U-Haul auto transport only ran me about $50 unlimited mileage.

 

FWIW the u haul car hauler can weigh 2000-2400lb depending on which version you get. The older design is heavier.

 

What did you use as the towing vehicle? U-Haul's information says you must use a "qualifying vehicle" to rent their auto transport trailer. Will the OP's Tacoma "qualify" in their eyes?

 

Well I used a Chevy Tahoe to tow my 5-Lug, but there’s not a single vehicle made that the 4 cyl Tacoma can tow with the weight of the trailer. Maybe 3/4ths of a Smart car.

 

From U-Haul's list of requirements....(there are other requirements such a lighting and mirrors, etc.)

*Towing Vehicle must weigh at least 3,500 lbs. (curb weight), and must equal or exceed 80% of the combined weight of the trailer (2,210 lbs.) and the vehicle being towed (up to 5,290 lbs.).

*Must have a towing system that has a 5,000 lbs. minimum weight-carrying rating.

OP's Tacoma may or may not weigh enough, depends on what his VIN plate says, the internet says a 2003 Tacoma weighs 3430 lbs. (70 lbs too light)

I picked a 2017 4 Runner and it weighs 4675
U-Haul's trailer weighs 2210

Either way, the Tacoma does not weigh 80% of the trailer + 4 Runner combined weight of 6885.