Towing the Runner?

[skywalker1020]

I will be moving soon and I have a bit too much stuff to fit in a trailer and tow. I'll be renting a U-Haul truck, with maybe around 15 feet of cargo space.
What do I need to do to tow my '99 automatic 4wd Runner? I have not messed with it much but I do not think I can shift out of park with the car off. I don't think I can turn the car off in neutral either. Do I need to tow with the rear wheels off the ground? Will the fronts roll with the car in park?

 

[Victor]

I will be moving soon and I have a bit too much stuff to fit in a trailer and tow. I'll be renting a U-Haul truck, with maybe around 15 feet of cargo space.
What do I need to do to tow my '99 automatic 4wd Runner? I have not messed with it much but I do not think I can shift out of park with the car off. I don't think I can turn the car off in neutral either. Do I need to tow with the rear wheels off the ground? Will the fronts roll with the car in park?

When you tow a 4WD vehicle, ALL four wheels must be OFF the ground. If you absolutely have to tow with 2. Remove the driveshaft on the side thats on the ground.

 

[Dbiz]

If it's 4-wheel drive then all four wheels do need to be off the ground. However, for future reference and in case you do need to put the car in neutral when it is not running(say to push it somewhere if you ran out of gas or whatever) there is a way to do that. Next to the shifter there should be a small tab with a hole on it on the right side. You can stick a key in there and flip this tab off. Once off, you can push the key all the way inside and release the shifter from park and move it freely into neutral and roll the car.

Doesn't really apply to this situation but good knowledge to have nonetheless.

 

[97-4xFunner]

Hey Skywalker where u goin? When I made a 1600 mile move I had to tow a vehicle, but it was a Mazda B2500 pick-up. I put it on what Uhaul called an Auto Hauler. The entire truck was on a trailer behind the uhaul. I flew a friend of mine out to drive my runner. Anyway, I would ask the truck rental company if you could do the same with your Runner. But I have a feeling they may say it's too heavy.

 

[Charlee78]

I may be wrong, but if you put the transfer case in neutral and lift the rear wheels, you should be allright. The front diff has an actuator built in that connects the front drive shaft to the front diff. only when you put it in 4wd. IF the front drive shaft turns when you will tow it with the transfercase at neutral, nothing else will move inside the transfer case itself.

After all, it's the transmission you need to worry about because the oil pump is activated by the engine, the transfer case dosen't have an oil pump, it is lubricated like a manual transmission.

If I am wrong, please somebody correct me...

 

[blk runner00]

i tow cars for a living and the common mistake is that if it is 4x4 then all four wheels have to be of the ground.if it is all wheel drive all the time you cant tow all wheels must be of ground. if you can put the transfer case in neutral then you can tow it from the rear wheels. for instance my 2000 has spot between 4hi and 4lo that has a N. if you do that you could tow it. but overall it may be easier to put it on a full length trailer

 

[skywalker1020]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. That is why I love this forum.
I looked in the owners manual which "recommends" to have all 4 wheels off the ground for a 4x4. It also shows how to shift out of neutral by uncovering and depressing the button just above the "P" next to the automatic shift lever. The owners manual also mentions using a dolly under the wheels. I guess I am going to have to see what Uhaul has to offer. According to blk runner00, I can have the front wheel rolling, as long as I get it into neutral, with the rear wheels off the ground. I'm not sure I can get the equipment from Uhaul to have the rear wheels up.
I am moving, temporarily, from Tucson, AZ to north Lake Tahoe, NV. It is a 14.5 hour drive under regular circumstances. I often make this drive in one day, but it will be two in a moving truck. I really do not want to have to make two trips.

 

[blk runner00]

if you cant get what you want from uhaul check out penske rental they have bigger trailers and you should be able to get the runner on a full car trailer if you want to.

 

[LINY4Runner]

Charlee is right, you can put the transfer case in Neutral, but I don't think that's good for a 14.5 hour drive, I would assume that's only in a worst case scenario where the distance travelled would be at a minimum.