Tow a 3rd Gen with a 3rd Gen?

[PitbullRescuer]

I have to tow a 3rd Gen 4Runner. My plan was to put it on a uHaul dolly (front wheels only) and tow it with my 3rd Gen. I believe a 3rd Gen weighs 3895 pounds, I imagine the dolly is probably another 200 or so. I've heard that a V6 3rd Gen is rated to tow 5,000 pounds. It's a 300 mile trip though, what do you guys think?

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I am pretty sure that you can tow it just fine that way leaving your transfer case in neutral.

Either that, or tow it backwards.

 

[the great him]

do it, ive towed trailers that weight more empty than you will be towing, and ive towed a full sized F250 quad cab long bed turbo diesel on a 24' trailer for over 150mi with my runner. youll be fine, just give extra room for stopping if you dont have trailer brakes. (i towed the f250 before i had my tundra bakes too)

 

[StreetKill831]

I am pretty sure that you can tow it just fine that way leaving your transfer case in neutral.

Either that, or tow it backwards.

You could leave it in neutral but it only takes 10 mins to remove the drive shaft. It should be able to tow it fine. Just take it slow and leave plenty of stopping distance. Careful when turning as the fenders of the tow dolly will hit the running boards if you turn too tight.

 

[kball]

Is it 2wd or 4? Toyota says 2wd you can leave wheels on the ground, 4wd no.

 

[farmerjon]

Is it 2wd or 4? Toyota says 2wd you can leave wheels on the ground, 4wd no.

I'm confused by all this. If I have a 4WD T4R and I need it towed, but I only have the 2WD engaged, can't I tow it like a regular, 2WD only vehicle?

If my 4WD T4R can drive on pavement without stress on the drivetrain in 2WD, then why can't it be towed?

 

[kball]

The difference is when the engine is running it is turning/lubing things that don't get lubed when the vehicle is being towed. I don't know all the engineering behind it but apparently from the chart I posted above Toyota thinks 4wd models should not be towed with wheels on the ground.

 

[tbst]

If you have it in neutral and the front wheels off the ground, the only thing moving is the drive shaft.

PBR, FYI according to the Uhaul site and my recent experience ( ) the dolley weighs about 750 lbs empty. You don't feel it because of the long neck.

 

[the great him]

kball, as long as its not a full time 4wd or awd, you can tow it like a 2wd vehicle no problem. they say that cause most newer vehicles that are 4wd are auto 4wd, meaning that when the system senses one or more wheels slipping(moving at a different rate than the others) it automatically engages the 4wd/awd. older vehicles with mechanically engaged transfercases will not no the difference once in 2wd, to them they are a twd system. while yes dropping the drive line would be ideal so would be putting the runner on a full flat bed trailer... towing in neutral as long as its not an awd or full time 4wd will be fine.

 

[madbomber08]

When the wrecker towed my vehicle they had the rear jacked up with the front wheels rolling on the ground. I assumed they knew what they were doing but the pic ^^^ says otherwise.

 

[cj80cruiser]

I towed my parts truck which is 4wheel drive on a uhaul Dolly with my stock warped rotors. If you have upgraded brakes then you should be alright just leave extra stopping room of course. I removed the rear driveshaft in less than 10 minutes.

Also I couldn't tell uhaul I was towing another 4runner or atleast I couldn't schedule it that way online so my only option was to say I was towing a car.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I towed my parts truck which is 4wheel drive on a uhaul Dolly with my stock warped rotors. If you have upgraded brakes then you should be alright just leave extra stopping room of course. I removed the rear driveshaft in less than 10 minutes.

Also I couldn't tell uhaul I was towing another 4runner or atleast I couldn't schedule it that way online so my only option was to say I was towing a car.

Same thing. I had to book it on line as if I was towing a front wheel drive car. Pain in the ass.

 

[GreenbowCounty]

thanks again t4r

Figured just throwing the tcase in neutral would suffice but one guy at work was telling me even so I HAD to drop the drive shaft. Glad I found this.:thanks:

 

[Kafka15]

Towing

I towed a 3800 lb 28ft trailer with my 98 v6 four runner like a champ.

 

[Dubk_trd]

disconnect the driveshalf at the 3rd member and tie it up.

 

[wc11]

Pretty much at the limit but towed this without issue.
Check out the squat.

 

[pengofaster]

Pretty much at the limit but towed this without issue.
Check out the squat.

yooo..is this stock suspension?

im trying to tow my miata + trailer to the track here in CA but kind of sketched out by being right at that limit!!

 

[phattyduck]

yooo..is this stock suspension?

im trying to tow my miata + trailer to the track here in CA but kind of sketched out by being right at that limit!!

That's an 11 year old post...

Get the tongue weight correct and a trailer brake controller and you'll be fine. Not great, but fine.

-Charlie