Towing 3000-3500 lbs W/ V8

[sciff5]

Hey guys anything I should do before towing my project car on a tow dolly with the 4 runner? I have to pull it about 40 miles round trip and I figured it should be no sweat for the v8 4runner, especially if I'm using a tow dolly because I dont think there will really be any tongue weight with the dolly.

My project car is light between 2500-3000lbs and the dolly is prob around 500lbs

Most of the trip will be on the highway. The project car is RWD manual transmission so I know I need to leave it in neutral. Any prep I should take on the truck though? Premium gas I'm sure is a must.

 

[DaBoostCreep]

You have nothing to worry about. I've towed 3400lb cars on a 2000lb car trailer before with no effort at all. The rear may squat a little, but thats all. There is plenty of power and braking. Keep your speed at 55 and keep an eye on your side mirrors as the trailer will occupy nearly all the width of a lane.

Oh and I have towed just fine on 87. Actually thats all we run now...the knock sensor pulls more than enough timing for it to be safe. I'm not saying don't throw premium in there, but I am saying its not necessary.

 

[Barefoot]

I tow with 87

 

[BuckyBadger]

you should be absolutely fine, love towing with the 4R compared to my old Grand Cherokees. Only thing I do is tow in 4th around town/getting up to speed, and then once cruising on highway I may shift back to 5th. But will drop back to 4th during hill climbs etc.

 

[sciff5]

I figured the tow dolly would be a lot better than using a trailer with a tongue weight. The tow dolly has nearly no tongue weight and figured a heavy tongue weight on a smaller suv with soft suspension would really be the biggest obstacle to towing heavy loads. I am also hoping I dont get any sway or anything with this car. It'll be interesting to see how well it tows. I think the 4 runner has more than enough power/brakes its just the fact that for towing a 4300lb 4runner is relativly light in comparison to most hauled loads.

We towed a 1500-2000lb trailer plus a 2000lb car with my dads escalade and it was pretty easy even without any trailer brakes but then again his car is 5500+ lbs.


This will be the test of this car. If it hauls this load easily and it can get through heavy snow in the winter, and I can get 20mpg on the highway after cleaning the fuel injectors I will deem it the perfect vehicle. I think the MPG is gonna be the hardest challenge.
:bigok:

 

[oksailor]

Just towed a Melges 24 sailboat with gear last weekend. NO problem at all towing 3000#. MPG shot down faster than a scene in Top Gun though

 

[sciff5]

btw I meant 20mpg on the highway without pulling anything. I know during towing the thing is gonna suck gas

 

[Barefoot]

Mine's an '07 2WD V8

I get above 20 on the highway, 13 pulling my boat.

 

[charlier180]

I will be towing one of my cars in my enclosed trailer (~5,200 lbs) next weekend. My V8 4Runner has no problems pulling that load.

Last weekend, my 4Runner saw duty working at one of the largest car shows of it's kind in the USA.
Even with all the hauling at the car show (people, equipment, etc.) I got 18-19 mpg.
I opened more than a few eyes with the amount of stuff the 4Runner hauled per load with the rear seats down.
Was also nice that when the rains came the cargo stayed dry.

BTW, I always use 87 octane fuel in my 4Runner whether I am towing or not.

 

[sciff5]

wow this 4runner ended up having no issues pulling the load. I was able to get onto the highway using very slight throttle.

I was able to pass cars and go as fast as I wanted to. I could get from 60-80 easily without the car even downshifting. But most of the time I was keeping it around 65-70.. and it was a cake walk.

This was my first time towing so the added brake distances were little wierd.. but nothing too out of the ordinary.

 

[herscman]

You might want to consider removing the drive shaft. With the rear wheels on the ground the driveshaft still spins.

 

[V8Man]

It will work.

You should be great!
Here is my SR5 with my project Sport #3. pulled it 150 miles no problem.

 

[AdmiralAugbar]

You should be great!
Here is my SR5 with my project Sport #3. pulled it 150 miles no problem.

10 years ago I'm sure this would have been very reassuring