Towing a car?

[gityerkneedahn]

Please forgive my ignorance, this concept including the correct terminology is new to me.

I may find myself in a situation where I need two cars at my destination. (This may be occurring once a month with a 50mile each way trip, mainly freeway)

I’m curious, could I tow a car like you see the big RV’s doing, something with the hitch (or whatever it’s called) permanently attached to the car being towed?

If it’s doable, what type/size of car would be best so as not to damage either vehicle?

My 4Runner is a 2016 TRD Pro bone stock.

Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CoolMax]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/60658-heaviest-load-towed-4runner.html

 

[nglayton]

Uber
Lyft

All the kids are doing it these days.......

 

[Ryan1975]

I've towed a Corvette with my 2012 4Runner with no issues (also towed a lot of other vehicles, but this forum gets mad at me when I show those pictures).

A proper trailer, brake controller and a moderate sized car (Toyota Camry) will not tax the 4Runner in the least.

 

[gityerkneedahn]

Uber

Lyft



All the kids are doing it these days.......

That was a consideration but it’s for my wife who’s a trauma surgeon covering call monthly in a different city. She has to be within 10min of the hospital, while I have to look after the 7mo old. After a weekend on call there’s a good chance she needs the rest rather than driving home.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Pdft-T4R]

A proper trailer, brake controller and a moderate sized car (Toyota Camry) will not tax the 4Runner in the least.

For myself, having done it long ago, I'd want a trailer or towing dolly with brakes.
But RVers have lots of options too, like controllers to apply the brakes in the vehicle being towed.
In the 80's it was great towing a jeep to CO and UT with an RV, except when needing to slow down, like when going down the first hill west of Denver on I-70. Now the 4runner tows a 4000 lb trailer RV with no worries.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[philsey]

My takeaway from your posts is 1) you don't have the second car yet, and 2) you're talking about flat-towing, not trailering it.

Before buying the second car (one suitable to flat tow ((not all cars can be towed)), and adding the equipment needed for safe towing, I'd agree with the Uber/Lyft option -- for yourself, not her. It doesn't sound as if you MUST have a vehicle.

For 50 miles, once a month, and a "must have two cars" scenario, I'd just drive two cars to the destination. That's what? An hour behind the wheel? Hell, you'll piss away 30 minutes on both ends hooking/unhooking that rig.

Given only what you've posted, I'd find a different way. "Can" you do it? Sure, buy the right car, get it professionally set up, you're GTG. Do you have any towing experience?

 

[Jetboy]

IMO the best option is either UBER - or buy a second car and just leave it at your 2nd destination. For $1500 you could buy a very reliable old Honda Accord or similar and park it there when you're not using it. Hell - just find a dirt cheap used Nissan Leaf and you can probably find somewhere free to park it and charge it!


The easiest cars to flat tow are old ones with easy to remove drive shafts and/or manual hubs if 4x4 (4x4 are easier to get under to disconnect the drive shafts). And ones that are the lightest possible weight.

If I were dreaming of an ideal vehicle for that - it would look something like a 2nd generation toyota pickup with a full floating rear conversion with manual hubs on both axles. They only weigh about 2500lbs.

The other option - again making life as easy as possible - would be similar truck with air suspension trailer. Again - what are you going to do with a trailer when you unload?


Or... outside the box, but one of my old offroad club members did it ( I found this online, but you get the idea) - flat bed 1 ton truck and Samurai on the bed. No trailer needed. A stock samurai will actually physically fit in a long bed Ford F350.

Also - just for fun, why not bring a 3rd car? I took this out the window on the freeway in Houston....

 

[gityerkneedahn]

Thanks for the replies, if it wasn’t for my wife not wanting to/being able to drive both ways two cars would be the way.

As it stands it sounds like flat towing is going to be an a** ache. Trailering, finding someplace safe to store it etc... also a PITA.

I’m gonna check out the rental situation down there, it’s a pretty small city, no airport etc, so rental ain’t gonna be cheap but probably the easiest solution. Having to bring the baby adds to it, trusting Uber drivers, switching out the car seat etc. I really just want some freedom while I’m there and not being stuck in the hotel for the duration.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fern]

There are some cheap places to rent a car like "rent a wreck" with a monthly charge seems like the best solution for you and just leave it there.
Other than that a front wheel drive car on a tow dolly would by my 2nd vote, but then you have to rent or buy the tow dolly.

 

[philsey]

That was a consideration but it’s for my wife who’s a trauma surgeon covering call monthly in a different city. She has to be within 10min of the hospital, while I have to look after the 7mo old. After a weekend on call there’s a good chance she needs the rest rather than driving home.

So, this "different city"? Is it always the same city? Where does she live while there? Could you get a second car and leave it there? Then you could drive her back and forth. Hell it's once a month. Many people commute that daily, and under the towing scenario, you were doing that drive anyway.

There are lots of alternatives, but my last choice would be the tow one.

 

[Decipher]

If it’s just for occasional use honestly get something small especially if the Runner is the family car. Get the wife into something small and light. There are a ton of options. Then buy a proper trailer. The runner is more than up to the task but do it safely and the correct way.

I agree that it may be more effort than it’s worth but that’s a decision only you can make. As for the Runner, it is fully capable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MossJenks]

or buy a second car and just leave it at your 2nd destination. For $1500 you could buy a very reliable old Honda Accord or similar and park it there when you're not using it. Hell - just find a dirt cheap used Nissan Leaf and you can probably find somewhere free to park it and charge it!

^^^^^^^^^ This

 

[MadeInMaine]

I towed a uhaul trailer and '02 Accord from MS to AZ. No issues at all, but I felt like I was maxing her out.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

I towed a uhaul trailer and '02 Accord from MS to AZ. No issues at all, but I felt like I was maxing her out.

Any hills or mountains? Not sure if you took I-10 the whole way or got on I-40.

I-40 has some hills near Flagstaff but never been on I-10.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kathlees]

It's much easier to get a trailer, right? Towing a car on a freeway is not a good idea. It's a recipe for disaster, and it would be better to call someone to get a trailer for you. I bought a used car, and the guy I got it from told me I should just tow it. The car could not be driven, but towing it was not a good idea. I got a trailer, which cost me more, but it was safe, and I made money after working on the car and selling it.
I buy and sell a lot of cars, mostly jdm cars, but still, I never try to save money on stuff like that. It makes no sense.

 

[Ezlife45]

U haul rents both a car dolly (one axle on the car) or a whole vehicle trailer. I thought they both came with surge brakes (do not need a brake controller and the dolly/trailer has hydraulic brakes)

 

[Tooly]

I've towed a 1st gen Miata on a Uhaul car transporter, it did have surge brakes. It was a very slow trip, especially over the mountain passes but I got it done.