Towing Pickle...need advice/help!

M

mommehK

New member
Okay, so if I had my guess, plenty of someones are going to roll their eyes and think I'm an idiot for considering what I'm about to ask...but I'm on the desperate side and need advice.

I have a '99 4R Ltd (2wd V6) with a bad tie rod that I need to get moved to 270mi away from where it's currently parked. All interstate roads (NC/SC/GA) with no real downgrades/inclines to maneuver.

I'm wanting to put it on either a tow dolly or a car trailer (U-Haul) and pull it with an '00 Ltd (2wd V6). U-Haul's reservation site says the weight ratio won't work. I need to hear from the "real" kind of 4R owners/experts to see what options I might have here.

The '00 is equipped with a Reece tow package & a 6000lb hitch. The '99 will be empty -- not carrying any cargo, less than a 1/4 tank of gas.

Note: I don't have anyone to drive another vehicle. The '00 *has* to go to GA -- with me, my disabled hubby (can't drive), and my doggie -- to have a way back. I've not checked with any for-hire car haulers thinking the $$$ would be next to ridiculous and out of my range.


Thanks for any advice and helpful responses!

mK
 
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its do-able... if you get the uhaul just dont tell them what you are hauling, other wise they might not rent it too you... and just leave plenty of space between you and the cars in front of you... your brakes are gonna be the weak link here... so take it easy keep your speeds down. and you should be fine. make sure you know hot to or have someone help you who knows how tie the other rig down on the dolly or trailer.
 
Yep, that was my debacle...trying to do an online reservation and U-haul wouldn't let it.

Further digging tells me U-Haul requires the following for a car dolly:
-- RWD towed vehicle weight less than 3900 (check! 3710lb)
-- Tow vehicle must weigh >750lb more than vehicle being towed (check! 790lb)
-- Tow vehicle must have class 2 hitch or higher (check!)

Guess I'll be telling them I'm carrying a Corolla instead...LOL
 
You are definitely breaking some rules, and possibly some state laws, but over halfway flat Interstates (and good weather, don't even think about this in the rain), I'd do it. Anticipate, and drive like you're towing Yankee Stadium, and you should be fine. Be super careful on getting the right balance of the tow load on the trailer.
 
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Plan your highway merges carefully (downhill is best of course), cause you will be slower than a freight train from a stop. I just pulled my wife's WRX from NC to PA with the 4Runner and it was painful merging on the higways...it did not like all that weight.

Make sure ECT is on and O/D is off, otherwise you'll toast your tranny in short order.
 
I pulled a 02 tacoma with my 99 limited 3 hours with no problems. I used the ECT button and going up inclines, I would turn the OD button off.
 
I'm sure it's probably possible, but it's gonna be tough. You are going to have to take it really slow. Actually you won't have a choice because the 3.4's won't pull that much weight very well.

Even the rolling hills through this area will give you trouble.
 
Put it on a car trailer, ECT on, O/D off, and make sure your front pads/rotors are in great working order.

If you plan to motor down I-85, I'd recommend night time travel if possible.
 
Why not fix it and drive it? Tie rod ends, rented pickle fork kit, measuring tape, hammer and a few wrenches. Tape measure to measure the tie rod ends you replace - or replace and get an alignment. It shouldn't take you more than an hour and is much less dangerous - and a lot less illegal. Not that I'm throwing rocks - I've done it before but it is super sketchy.

Also running down the interstate you run a serious risk of getting popped if you are overloaded for the GVW's of your 4runner by the State Police.
 
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i think we all understand that this is not a powerstroke or cummins diesel, but our 3.4 can and will be able to pull another 4runner even on a trailer... ive towed a 2005 quad cab f250 4x4 with a 6.0 from the Lyle wa. to Oregon City or. via the dalles, with my runner. yeah sure i have a trailer brake controller and air bags, but i was also using a 28 ft' 1800lb tandem axle trailer... it was a slow trip i think i only hit 55 and it took me 3 months to get to that speed. i never bothered to go over any scales as they where all open and if i went though i surly would have been ticketed for being way over weight. you just have to be careful and think about things before they happen cause "oh sh!t" moments when towing are totally different that "oh sh!t" moments when just driving around empty, and they happen a lot more often -things that normally wouldnt be, now are... i also have a lot of experience towing so this to me was do-able and there was a reason for it. i know our trucks can tow other vehicle especially another 4runner. just be careful and take it easy no rush to get anywhere fast.
 
wardriver said:
Why not fix it and drive it? Tie rod ends, rented pickle fork kit, measuring tape, hammer and a few wrenches. Tape measure to measure the tye rod ends you replace - or replace and get an alignment. It shouldn't take you more than an hour and is much less dangerous - and a lot less illegal. Not that I'm throwing rocks - I've done it before but it is super sketchy.

Also running down the interstate you run a serious risk of getting popped if you are overloaded for the GVW's of your 4runner by the State Police.
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what would it matter if she fixed it... she still is only one person, how can one person drive two vehicles at one time? besides your not gonna get pulled over and checked for weight, state police wont pull you over for that kinda stuff unless you are a commercial rig or are driving like an idiot, -stay outta the fast lane(left lanes) and keep you speed under 55 and you will be fine. besides unless its a van or pickup state police vehicle they dont have the equipment to weigh you, and the van or pickup officers are not gonna waste there time with a motorist whos not being dumb. look at how many half ton pick ups haul around 5th wheel travel trailers... you dont see them getting pulled over, but i know for sure that a half ton pick up is exceeding the towing capacity with a 5th wheel.
 
No rush at all, slow and steady indeed...smart driving abounds!

It's a 1-way trip for the '99 only -- it's not coming back to NC with us. Again, I don't have anyone to drive the '99 so that's why I'm not worried about fixing it at the moment.

I really do think it's doable, just was a little nervous about it without talking it over. Thanks so much peeps!
 
The truck can handle it these 3rd gens are amazing on what they can do and pull. Just do like stated above long distance stops and dont try and make a hard run just take it easy and things will go smoothly. I hooked the families wakeboard super Air Nautique 220 up to my 4runner to see what would happen and it pulled it fine i just wouldnt launch the boat. Great trucks.
Wil
 
Willy1 said:
The truck can handle it these 3rd gens are amazing on what they can do and pull. Just do like stated above long distance stops and dont try and make a hard run just take it easy and things will go smoothly. I hooked the families wakeboard super Air Nautique 220 up to my 4runner to see what would happen and it pulled it fine i just wouldnt launch the boat. Great trucks.
Wil
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if you had 4wd you could launch it just fine
 
It really is not a big deal. You are within the towing specs of the 4runner anyway. You can tow up to 5000 # and the 4runner and dolly are well below that.

This is what I did notice when I towed. Make sure you leave the towed 4runner in Park and you shift the transfer case into neutral.

When you load the 4runner onto the dolly, drive it up in 2wd, shut it off, strap it down, and then get back in the 4runner and without the key on, shift the transfer case into neutral.

Issues to be concerned with - If you tow the 4runner with the transmission in neutral, you will likely kill it because the tranny needs the engine running to turn its internal oil pump. Without the oil pump turning, all the bearing surfaces within the tranny will run dry while being towed.

The other issue is Transfer case - When you shift it into neutral - You need to have the key turned off. If you shift the transfer case into neutral with the key on,or the engine running, this will cause the ADD in the front diff to lock connecting the front axle with the rear axle.


I am not sure how capable you are, but now would be a great time to get an aftermarket transmission cooler installed. Other wise, plan on stopping often and resting - Bathroom, food and gas.
 
Last towing i did with the 4runner was my Supra 1600 miles through mountains for a good portion of that. more actual details here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...on-eventualy-upgrade-thread-4.html#post724480

I used the full trailer from u-haul, and always tell them i'm towing my 88 MR2. They will usually give me the aluminum full trailer which is going to be a good amount heavier than a dolly but also has trailer brakes. I've never had a vehicle that i would tow on a dolly but even if i did i would rather have the extra brake from the trailer than trust the 4runner brakes to stop more than double its own weight on their own. My 4runner does have a fairly large trans cooler, stiffer than stock rear springs.
 
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