Towing with the 4 banger

I know towing has been beat to death but... I have a 2017 AC manual 4x4 4 cylinder. I'm going to look at a boat this weekend that is about 80 miles away. The boat is a small cabin cruiser with an empty weight of about 2300 pounds. Add a 2 axle trailer and I am close to the 3500 pound max. Anyone tow anything that heavy with the 4 banger? Just want to get it home (it's a project) won't be dragging it all over every weekend. Think I can do it safe? A few hills but no mountains and it looks like I can stay off the freeway.

 

I think you should be fine; I saw a 2nd Gen 5-lug AC pulling a fairly large sailboat a couple years ago...

I am also jealous of you for owning a 3rd Gen 4-cylinder stick shift 4x4!

 

I see no problems, it will be slow to say the least though.

 

I am picking up a 2020 V6 DCLB sport as soon as the weather breaks and was expressing concern about its towing capabilities and my son's father in law told a story about using his 1982 4 cyl toyota pickup (that he said was 92hp) to tow a 3500lb (and probaby overloaded) enclosed tool trailer through the Coquihalla Pass from BC to Cochrane. The Coquihalla is a legendary grade as I'm sure lots of guys here who live in the area can attest. Based on what he said I think you'll be fine, and so will I towing with my new truck too. Patience. From my experience towing other heavy things, leave LOTS of room in front of you.

 

I've towed over 4000# with my old 5 lug. Just take it slow and anticipate stops.

 

I towed a utv with a small trailer on hilly terrain when I had my 2012 4x4 2.7 MT

Never again...

 

Fine in a pinch. Will definitely want a bigger tow vehicle if you move that boat regularly. Boats are kinda unwieldy things to tow for some reason. I can tow my 27' inline sled trailer and not even think about it, but my 21' boat that weighs about the same is kinda a bear. I think it's the 40 gallon fuel tank the boat has.

 

Well I bought the boat and pick it up Sat. Good thing is the trailer has surge brakes and the guy says they work so it seems going will be the issue not stopping. Now it's just anticipating 2 hours of white knuckle driving. Think I'll need to be nice to Cupcake after this, maybe take her for a wash and give her a pat on the hood. So wish me luck and should I make it unscathed, I'll let you know how it went.

 

As long as you don’t have to go uphill you’ll be fine

 

It’ll go, the engine won’t mind, but it’ll be a dog. You got a good truck, but it’s a trail go cart, not a tower. But it’ll go.

 

As long as you can stop, one heavy tow isn't going to kill cupcake.

 

You'll be fine. I towed a loaded uhaul 6x12 trailer when we moved, with the bed full too. Towed it like a champ, just don't be in a rush.

 

For what it’s worth, I towed a 68 Chevelle 300+ miles With my 2000 4x4 standard cab 4cyl Tacoma manual transmission. The thing didn’t even break a sweat. I also used to tow my 69 Camaro with the truck. I always wished it was an extended cab truck but other than that the thing was a beast!

 

Those were great trucks. I miss mine

 

My 99 4 banger looked just like that truck. I only got rid of it for the 04 DCAB because my 43 yr old wife announced we were back in the baby raising game.

With one kinderschnitzel I could get away with a single cab, two kinderschnitzels meant I needed a back seat from now on.

That was a good little truck though and a little sad to see it go.

 

I've towed ~1500lbs with my 5MT SR 2.7 up Boston mountain in AR and across hwy40. Trailer tires were only rated for 55mph and I was at near max on the axles of the little thing.

It was the most stress free drive I've ever had across 40. I just stayed in the right lane cruising at 60. Cars zinging past me at 80+.

The truck pulled it like it wasn't even there. I actually had trouble keeping the speed down as it likes 80mph and I did pump it up to 70mph after I checked the trailer hubs to make sure they were cool.

Pulled the hill in 4th gear.

 

How about braking. No one has brought this up. It isn't safe towing more than 3500lbs without trailer brakes. It's not going up the hill that is scary but going down.

 

The boat trailer I'll be towing has surge brakes. I don't like towing more than 50% rated capacity on a regular basis so this will not be something I'll be doing often.

And thanks for all the real world towing stories folks. I think this should go pretty good, daylight tow in no hurry.

 

Just drive slow, give lots of braking distance, and don’t be afraid to rev the engine. Just keep in mind if you hit someone and you are over your rated max it could result in a ticket/criminal charge. When Bruce Jenner killed that lady one of the first things the Investigators did was see if he was over the max weight for his tow vehicle and Trailer. He beat the Manslaughter charges but he still lives every day knowing he killed someone and could’ve hired a professional to tow his Off road Toy. He rear ended a lady and pushed her into oncoming traffic, the resulting head on collision killed her and he was at fault.

 

Use 4th gear and drive 55mph. Good power and rpms are not super high.