Towing w/ a Car Dolly and a 4 Cylinder 1998

So I have the chance to pick up a 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid... for free. Has about 200k miles and only needs a new hybrid battery. Clean title and everything.

Its curb weight is about 2,875 pounds and a two wheel tow dolly is about 750 pounds. Together that would be 3,625 pounds combined.

Do you think my 1998 4 cyl 2.7l can handle towing that? I know the towing capacity is 3,500 so it's only 125 pounds overweight. The trailer id be renting has surge brakes and my truck has Tundra brakes.

It's about a 50 mile drive, there will be some grades but not anything crazy. The Honda runs and drives just fine but it's not insured or registered so I can't drive it on a public road.

 

can you call a friend?

 

All my friends drive 20 year old sedans, lol.

 

Id have them follow you and drive the car.

 

Haha that's a great idea... don't think I can talk any of my friends in that though.

 

that stinks...well Id say it prob could handle it, just drive 55-60. Depending on how the truck feels pulling it.

 

Think I need to install a trans. cooler? Of course I'll have overdrive off.

 

I prob wouldnt unless its over 90degrees...I dont know how big of hills you have to climb but I would go a moderate speed not 60. Just go as fast as you feel its comfortable up the hills. Dont worry about traffic behind you, let them pass.

 

What I'm worried about is braking. I have the Tundra brakes, but the trailer only has non-electric surge brakes.

I'm not climbing a mountain pass or anything, just an average hilly highway in California. 24 I think.

 

I wouldn't worry on the braking as the surge brakes will take care of the dolly (provided they are adjusted correctly). Keep in mind that most states require the vehicle to be registered if any wheels are on the ground - i.e. Tow dolly vs a car trailer.

 

if you have Tundra brakes I say hell yeah it will haul it

 

I believe because you are insured that you’re allowed to drive that vehicle one time one way back home but I could be wrong. Edit: I rode a Greyhound bus 3 hours and drove a car home no problem. Leave a message with your insurance company the VIN of the vehicle and the route you’ll be driving and you should be fine

 

well you wont be stopping on a dime but with the tundra brakes you shouldnt have any problems. Just allow twice as much distance to stop.

 

As for stopping, I rented a UHaul trailer (surge brakes) and i didn't have a problem at all stopping. Hardly knew that it was behind me at all. Of course, I have a different truck (2015 DCSB with towing package)

 

Inline 4 and v6 is really what makes a difference here, there's a 2000 pound difference in capacity

 

Not to mention the 17 year age difference. I’d go for it, just slow and steady.

 

For 50mi like you're talking about it really doesn't. Look at the tow rating for vehicles equipped with the 3RZ in other countries. It is higher. US has really strict safety limits for towing ratings, my land cruiser in Europe and UK is good to 7500lbs but in the US only 5500lbs and nothing is different. Your truck will do fine, you have larger than stock tires so that will make it tougher on it, but you have a pretty good cheat too, an automatic transmission invents torque that isn't there in its first two gears after that lock it out of fourth and you're in like sin. If you were towing for more than 50 miles I'd say get a tranny cooler (I've put one on everything but my Taco cause it's manual).

 

Your towing from where to where?

 

Brentwood to Hayward.

 

It's happening tomorrow, I reserved the tow dolly and I'm driving down there in the afternoon. Hopefully I'll be fine!