Can a 2003 V8 4runner tow a 1999 2wd 4runner? Bad idea?

[pendragon]

I'm going to be brief, just got in from a 6 hr drive. My 99 2wd 4runner apparently blew the head gasket again (wife was driving, lots of smoke, oil everywhere, no froth in oil, won't turn over, had a previous head replacement, that's all I know). The car is in MS at our old home, and we are moving to GA this week (I am already in GA). So I have to get the truck to GA (taking I-20 thru Atlanta) or else scrap it in MS. My movers may be able to take it, but I don't know yet. If I ship it, it will run over $1k and the truck is worth $2k running.

Can I go back with my 2003 V8 4wd 4runner and tow the 99 to GA...I guess with a u-haul trailer of some kind? I have no towing experience. It won't even start to load on a trailer. How bad of an idea would that be and what would be involved? I have to get the 99 gone by the weekend and I am not even there to look at it. No major hills between the locations.

Hope to find some advice when I wake up. Thanks, guys. I'm in a tight spot.

 

[TenTwelve]

Towing Capacity, 2003 V8

 

[SwayzeExpress]

If you get the uhaul trailer they are heavy. Also dont forget to leave it attached to the tow vehicle while you load it. My neighbors kid didn't and it was a mess to say the least lol

 

[swampdodo]

Those Uhaul car trailers are heavy...you might be better off taking off the drive shaft and using a vehicle tow dolly...the one with just two wheels that holds the front of the vehicle.

 

[derekdevasia]

Yeah, you can do it. Take your time, go slow, plan your moves ahead. Avoid any traffic areas/times. I drove my 04 v8 and towed a 99 4runner 4wd using the 2 axle uhaul car trailer. Damn it was heavy, but I didn't have any issues. Tranny temps stayed under 200, and I was fine. Drove it 4.5 hours across Virginia, average speed was about 55-65 didn't go any faster than that, since your braking distance is greatly increased with that amount of weight.

 

[sumday]

tow bar?

 

[scrap metal]

You will do terrible on any type of hills and do ok on flat level ground.
It is definitely doable but I wouldn't recommend it haha.

The uhaul trailers are huge and bulky at 2,210 lbs. With the 3rd gen 4runner pushing 4,000 lbs you'll be really close to the max tow capacity.

I tow a '39 Ford Coupe (3,000 lbs) 500 miles to Reno, NV every year with a 2013 Tacoma Double cab TRD Offroad. When we first tried it with a uhaul trailer, we made it there and back but man we were getting passed up by everybody on any type of hill. We then bought a bigtex 60ch trailer which weighs 1400 lbs and it does a lot better.

Recently we towed my 2005 V8 4runner 230 miles from Las Vegas, NV with a 2017 Tacoma Double cab TRD Offroad. Any speed after 60 mph and it was very scary. A lot scarier than towing the Ford Coupe because of the weight and height of the 4runner.

Tacoma has a longer wheelbase so it is more stable, but similar in weight to the v8 4runner. You can do it if you go slow and have experience towing, but really you should be doing this with a full size pickup.

The beginning of this video click here shows the 4runner being loaded. The rest of the video is a story about it and not really about towing.

 

[RonJR]

I've checked into this before, and I'm pretty sure Uhaul won't rent you a trailer or dolly to haul your 1999 with your 2003. Even though it technically meets the towing capability of the 2003 V8, Uhaul is more conservative. The combined vehicle plus trailer weight will exceed the your 5000 lb limit for a weight carrying hitch, and Uhaul doesn't provide a weight distributing hitch which would allow you to tow 7000 lbs. You can go to their website and check for more information.

You can lie to Uhaul about what you're planning to haul, but that's a really bad idea from an insurance standpoint.

The legal way to do it is to rent both truck and trailer from Uhaul, but that will cost quite a bit more.

Another way is to find someone with an F150 or bigger pickup, or a Suburban, that you can borrow. That will meet Uhaul's standards.

A front wheel dolly would also be an option, but Uhaul's dolly's are only rated up to 3900 lbs. Your '99 exceeds that.

 

[RobD]

I've checked into this before, and I'm pretty sure Uhaul won't rent you a trailer or dolly to haul your 1999 with your 2003. Even though it technically meets the towing capability of the 2003 V8, Uhaul is more conservative. The combined vehicle plus trailer weight will exceed the your 5000 lb limit for a weight carrying hitch, and Uhaul doesn't provide a weight distributing hitch which would allow you to tow 7000 lbs. You can go to their website and check for more information.

You can lie to Uhaul about what you're planning to haul, but that's a really bad idea from an insurance standpoint.

The legal way to do it is to rent both truck and trailer from Uhaul, but that will cost quite a bit more.

Another way is to find someone with an F150 or bigger pickup, or a Suburban, that you can borrow. That will meet Uhaul's standards.

A front wheel dolly would also be an option, but Uhaul's dolly's are only rated up to 3900 lbs. Your '99 exceeds that.

I had this exact same issue when trying to rent a U-Haul to pull my '91 behind my 2013 Tacoma. They wouldn't rent anything because their system said that it would exceed their limits for GVWR.

 

[T4R2014]

I think you'll be fine if you are taking your time. I think pulling the driveshaft and using a dolly is preferable.

 

[MikeinNH67]

Plus 1 for using a dolly as it will be easier on you and the truck. That should make it under 5k in weight I would think. As for u-haul, it seems to depend on the people renting it. I've been ok with a really small place allowing close to max and have had other places say no. Do pull the drive shaft if you go this route.

 

[sumday]

harbor freight tow bar is like $70

 

[AuSeeker]

Just an FYI, if you choose to go with a tow bar or a tow dolly, make sure you remove the rear driveshaft if using a tow dolly, remove both front and rear driveshafts if using a towbar, what you trying to avoid is having the transmission internals turning from any wheels still in contact with the road, if you don't remove the driveshaft/s you risk overheating the tranmission and doing major damage to the point of having to replace it.

 

[4RunnerMexico]

I towed a 2003 V6 4runner on a Uhaul with my 04 V8....

It did okay. Some rear airbags really helped out. I just didn't drive any faster than 60. It will do it. It will struggle, but you will get where you need to go.

 

[RonJR]

There's no doubt it can be done. The question is whether is it should be done.

Here's why I'm doubtful about it.
- The OP has stated he's not experienced with towing. This is a heavy and not particularly well-mannered load to learn on, as well as a long distance to travel.
- No trailer brakes if flat-towing or using a dolly. Marginal surge brakes if using a Uhaul trailer. Most states require working trailer brakes if the towed load exceeds 2500-3000 lbs.
- Insurance coverage will be sketchy, because he'll likely be violating Uhaul's policies, GVWR limits, or trailer brake laws, or some combination thereof.

Mississippi to Georgia is 400-500 miles center-center. For about $400-$500 Uhaul will rent you a trailer and a truck that's adequate and insured to pull it. That's what I would do.

 

[trd_v8_sport]

^^what he said. I've pulled a 07 4dr explorer with my 06 v8 and shell do it, just wont be happy about it. What helped was having air bags in the rear and dimpled and slotted rotors with wagner oex pads. However if you're not experienced, i would see if a buddy of yours is and has a truck. But if you MUST, take it slow and rush NOTHING.

 

[sumday]

just send it

 

[V8Man]

The 4Runner will do it. Experience would be the deal breaker. I have towed other 4th gens with mine with a dolly. Also my 64 1/2 Mustang covertable on a trailer. The tow dolly keeps everything lower. Less wind resistance.

 

[edwardvmassey]

I towed my first V8 4th gen with my 2nd V8 4th gen. If you are careful, you should be fine. It's a heavy haul, but leave plenty of distance and you'll be alright.

 

[pendragon]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I am probably selling the car for scrap today. It indeed blew another head gasket. The shop says it's not worth putting another on, anda new motor costs over double the value of the running vehicle. Time for something new I guess.