Advice for Towing/Purchase

[courtwshr1]

Newbie here - looking to buy my 1st 4Runner based on great reviews.

My goal: looking to tow a U-haul trailer (est 2500 lbs) from San Diego to Cincinnati. The route will go through Denver, which means driving over the Rockies.

My questions to the forum: Am I crazy to try doing this with a used 3rd generation T4R?? ...and next question of course: what is the minimum vehicle I need? Seems like there are a lot of choices regarding 3rd vs 4th gen, V6 vs V8, and how many miles the vehicle already has.

Figured I can spend 20 hours trying to read about all this stuff, or I can ask the knowledgeable and experienced group here what advice you would give me. Especially anyone who has towed a trailer over the mountains.

Oh, final point: was hoping to keep it under $7000 for the car purchase. Seems like a I could get a 3rd gen, V6 4WD around 150k miles with tow package and decent condition for that price on Craiglist. In contrast, local used car dealer has 2003 4th gen with 180k V6 4WD for $9000 + tax. Worth the price?

...or is this all just nuts and should I hire a moving company?? Any advice helps. Thanks.

 

[gamefreakgc]

If you are looking for flat out towing power, then you probably want the V8 in the 4th Gen 4Runners. That being said, a 3rd Gen should be able to tow your trailer. You might have some tough spots where you have to take it easy but I think it would get there.

However, the 4th Gens have better brakes than 3rd Gens. You don't think about these things until you are going DOWN a mountain and your 3rd Gen rotors overheat and wobble like they are gonna fall off!

 

[JimG]

I regularly pull a 2600 pound 16 foot camper with my 'runner, I have taken it through the Canadian Rockies with no problems. Just don't expect it to be a fast trip.

 

[Brique]

I did a similar haul with my 98 Tacoma back in the day. No problems at all handling the trailer, but my brakes were sad pandas ever after that. So, plan on doing the tundra brake upgrade before your trip to avoid that issue, or plan on replacing your shot brakes when you get there. Either way, I hear the TBU is well worth it anyway.

 

[packweco]

I towed a Jeep CJ5 with my 98. Not sure how much it weighed but I bet it's between 3000 and 4000 pounds. 4runner did great, just have to be aware of the limitations. It won't climb up a hill like a diesel truck and you have to use engine braking so you don't hose your front brakes.

Might be slower than something bigger but I thought it did awesome!

 

[mxer]

Moving from San Diego to Cincinnati....ouch.

So you're buying a 4runner to just haul your stuff?? Why not just rent a Uhaul or hire a moving company? If all your stuff can fit in a 2k lb trailer, the moving company will seriously only be about $1k.

 

[courtwshr1]

Thank you all for the great advice. You have given me confidence that my crazy idea isn't completely insane. The more I learn about these 4 runners, the more excited I get.

To answer the post above, I am not getting it just for the move. It's a combination of having a second kid and needing a bigger car, needing a four-wheel-drive for the snow, trying to save costs on the move, and thinking that buying a car in California will be a better decision than buying one that's been through a few Ohio winters. Oh, and I'm going to drive some car out there anyway, might as well get the car that can make the trip.

Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[csp]

You'll be fine going through Colorado as long as you don't push it hard. There are only two major climbs of any length to worry about on I70. Vail Pass and the climb to the Eisenhower tunnel. There are lots of hills, but those are the two that are over five miles of constant steep climbing.

Take your time and enjoy the scenery.

 

[slapdappy]

torque converter

I tow my 650 lb snowmobile with overdrive off. Automatic trans, 1999 limited with multi mode transfer case. overdrive on/off button on gear lever.
Torque converter has problem trying to lock up while dragging all that weight. I can watch my trans fluid temps on my ScanGauge rising the moment I enable overdrive.
Confident my advice and info are correct, but double triple check.
4Runner: Towing capacity and safety - YotaTech Forums post #12
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/33811-over-drive-more-than-just-gear.html post #9