anything to tow a 2006 4R?

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pduutkedu

New member
I am moving to Boston area from Tennessee. Is there anything I could drive to tow my 2006 4R RWD? Most rental companies don't do towing rental and most moving comanies like U-haul find 4R too heave to tow. It seems that only two choices are left, either just drive it or trasport it, which is too pricy. Any input? Because I thought a V8 pickup truck could easily handle this. no?

Thanks.
 
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What?

Three questions:

What brand,
what model,
and especially how old?

If you can answer that I can tell you. Most V8 trucks could do that stuff easily though it differs with an older Dakota or T100 {though it's a V6}.
 
1) If the T4R is towed the driveshaft should be removed or you'll wreck the transmission*.

2) Most V8 pick-ups could tow it, in fact your T4R could tow itself.

3) I am missing the "why do you want to tow it?" aspect of this. If it's to pull it behind a box truck while you move I understand. You're mentioning pick-ups though.:confused: I say get the car carrier and box truck and do it. The T4R is lighter than U-haul thinks it is, it's only approx. 4500lbs. I'll bet if you ask them about a 1975 Chevy Caprice they'd say ok. Alright maybe don't, there might be liability issues. What I have learned is U-haul has bad info on many topics.

4) What about the larger U-haul trailer behind the T4R? Would that do it for you? Your V6 would handle it fine. If you don't have a hitch yet now might be the perfect time.:cheers:

*That's assuming the rear wheels are on the ground and you don't have a special setup typically associated with the Motorhome crowd.
 
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Yeah, a larger U-HUAL trailer would work for me, otherwise it seems that towing this 4runner with a u-haul or a pickup truck is too much of a hassle, not to mention the liability issue that you mentioned.
 
pduutkedu said:
Yeah, a larger U-HUAL trailer would work for me, otherwise it seems that towing this 4runner with a u-haul or a pickup truck is too much of a hassle, not to mention the liability issue that you mentioned.
Click to expand...

I'd use the larger U-haul trailer. Experience has taught me that 1st stop with the trailer needs to be an air pump. I have never rented a trailer with properly inflated tires. Next, the larger U-haul (4 tire) trailer has it's own brakes which is very nice. They're surge brakes and require no special equipment. Finally, if the T4R is "hunting" in terms of gear selection put it in '4' for a while. Generally speaking the logic of the T4R's automatic transmission is very good and it'll do just fine in 'D'. Through the hills you may want to use '4' for some of the ride.

I'd just rent the trailer if I were you. It's cost effective, safe and it won't tear-up your T4R. Good Luck! :cheers:
 
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FWIW, U-haul wouldn't know its @$$ from a hole in the wall.

You would be fine putting the runner on one of their flatbed car hauler trailers behind one of their box trucks. Also, you shouldn't have any trouble pulling one of their 6x12 enclosed trailers with your truck. I have a '99 v6, and pulled a fully loaded one 700 miles uphill (TX -> CO) last year at 70 mph without too much trouble.

Since that is a dual-axle trailer, just make sure the tires all match, are in roughly the same condition, and are properly inflated. Also make sure the tires are all balanced. One of the ones they gave me to use last year didn't have any weights on the rims, and another one had a nearly bald tire. Both pulled terribly, especially at highway speed (I tried both because they insisted they would pull "fine"). With a long trip like that, insist on a trailer that is in good condition or you'll be really sorry. I once did that trip with a trailer that developed a fish-tailing problem about 1/4 of the way into the trip. Not sure what happened (nothing shifted inside the trailer), but I couldn't do more than about 52 mph safely the rest of the way. THAT SUCKED!
 
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Is this trail that you are referring to?

http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.aspx?equipment=towing-autotransport

Okay, guys, now I'm more on the trailer solution. The only thing that still worries me is the weight. Obviously I don't wanna crash the flatbed.

Now, a little lookup: A 1999 4RUNNER weights 2381kg or 5250lb, and A 2006 Runner is about 5,580lb. And the trailer is set for

* Max load: 4,000 lbs.
* Gross vehicle weight: 6,000 lbs. max
* Empty weight: 2,000 lbs

But it also asks for the veichle being towed no more than 4000lbs.

It's sounds to me that this is over the limit of u-haul but not the trailer.
 
pduutkedu said:
Is this trail that you are referring to?

http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.aspx?equipment=towing-autotransport

Okay, guys, now I'm more on the trailer solution. The only thing that still worries me is the weight. Obviously I don't wanna crash the flatbed.

Now, a little lookup: A 1999 4RUNNER weights 2381kg or 5250lb, and A 2006 Runner is about 5,580lb. And the trailer is set for

* Max load: 4,000 lbs.
* Gross vehicle weight: 6,000 lbs. max
* Empty weight: 2,000 lbs

But it also asks for the veichle being towed no more than 4000lbs.

It's sounds to me that this is over the limit of u-haul but not the trailer.
Click to expand...

I'd do this:
http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.aspx?equipment=trailer-6x12

As far as weights are concerned I think you found gross weights not curb weights. Meaning your 4Runner weighs 5580 minus a 4Runners payload, about 1000lbs I'm guessing.
 
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You can fit a 06 4runner in there?

Also, what kind of payload are we talking about? I can empty the car as it was just back from the dealer, anything else?
 
pduutkedu said:
You can fit a 06 4runner in there?

Also, what kind of payload are we talking about? I can empty the car as it was just back from the dealer, anything else?
Click to expand...

No... I meant put the 6x12 behind the 4Runner and drive the 4Runner.

As far as 4Runner weight is concerned, yes. Basically empty or with one 170lb person and half a tank is how they measure curb weight. Gross weight is curb weight plus payload. According to U-haul site they don't have any equipment heavy enough to move the 4Runner.
 
I thought the car hauler could handle more weight. I know I've seen ppl haul larger vehicles than a 4runner on a u-haul trailer, but maybe they shouldn't have been (or they don't carry the larger one anymore)?

Looks like your pretty limited in your options. I would say tow the enclosed 6x12 with your 'runner.
 
pduutkedu said:
I am moving to Boston area from Tennessee. Is there anything I could drive to tow my 2006 4R RWD? Most rental companies don't do towing rental and most moving comanies like U-haul find 4R too heave to tow. It seems that only two choices are left, either just drive it or trasport it, which is too pricy. Any input? Because I thought a V8 pickup truck could easily handle this.
Click to expand...
 
pduutkedu said:
I am moving to Boston area from Tennessee. Is there anything I could drive to tow my 2006 4R RWD? Most rental companies don't do towing rental and most moving comanies like U-haul find 4R too heave to tow. It seems that only two choices are left, either just drive it or trasport it, which is too pricy. Any input? Because I thought a V8 pickup truck could easily handle this. no?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

It would appear that companies like U-Haul and Penske Truck Rental among others, have a 4,000 lb weight limit for their trailers.
According to the Toyota web site, the curb weight for the 4Runner is 4,300 to 4,500 lbs depending on model. No matter how you crunch the numbers the 4Runner is overweight.

You are correct about most car rental companies and towing.
Most people are under the mistaken impression they can rent a truck from say, Enterprise and tow a trailer.
Last time I rented a 2008 Surburban from Enterprise for work I noticed it had a tow hitch.
I casually asked the manager about towing and he said in no uncertain terms that towing using their vehicles was strictly prohibited.
Too much of a legal liability and too high a risk of damage to their equipment.
That is why I laugh my butt off when I see posts on other auto forums saying people do not need to own gas guzzling, tow vehicles they can just rent them when needed. :D

I agree with others here. Drive your 4Runner or if it makes sense rent a decent sized trailer and tow it with your 4Runner.

Good Luck and have a Safe Trip.
 
The car rental companies have to tell you that for liability reasons. They can't get insurance otherwise.

It doesn't stop anyone from doing it, but it becomes 100% your liability risk. Wreck the car while towing, and you just bought it from said rental company.

I've known 3 different people who have done this over the last 10 years, both in-town, and cross-country. U-haul won't put any of their trailers on a rented car either, so you have to pick it up with some other vehicle, then transfer it to the rental somewhere else. You then also become 100% liable for the u-haul trailer as well.

PS - At one point, at least one of the major car rental companies advertised that certain vehicles came with a trailer hitch (I think it was Hertz). Wonder why? ;):
 
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Okay, guys, sounds like the option is pretty much nailed. I'm going with the 6x12. thank you all for the great advice. :-)
 
I used the two wheeled dolly to tow my friends FJ60 with my 2nd gen runner and it did the job fine. FJ60s are equal if not greater in weight than a runner.

I'd use the duelly trailer w/ the surge brakes and tow it with any burly V8 you can get your hands on. If my V6 runner can get his heavy ass FJ60 down a mountain(from 8,600 ft to 5,265 ft), then you shouldn't have any troubles carrying a lighter runner with a slightly more powerful V8.
 
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