87 runner 22re short dist. towing

[zj51]

i just wanted to get some opinions and all on this but i am looking into getting a boat and the one i am looking at is about 40 miles away and weighs in at about 2500 with trailer. I would only use my runner to tow it the 40 miles to the house and then to the dock whenever i go out a few miles away. Would this weight be too hard on the engine/ tranny and all...

ive got a 87 4runner 22re auto with stock gears and 31" tires

Thanks

[huckthehaus]

thats 500lbs above the MAX towing of your rig. i wouldn't worry so much about the tranny as i would safety. you're gonna notice that trailer, not just lack of power wise either, braking and steering as well, especially if the tongue weight is too high or low.

but if it were me, i'd take the back roads and only this one time, m'kay?

[yoda0395]

zj, I've done this with a car dolly once and a trailer once. If you can rent a car dolly it will be a little easyer on the truck doing the towing. How I wouldn't recomend it either, but if you do go SLOW.

[NMEinc]

I've used my '89 4Runner 22re/auto/ 31's to tow my rig to the trails, but not to far (1 hour). I limit my speed to 55mph and the trailer has electric brakes. it tows fine,but it's no speed demon and i give myself lots of room for stopping.
in drive(OD off) at 55 I'm turning about 300rpm and have 5lbs vacuum on flat ground. with no trailer in pulling 12-15lbs in drive, 5-6lbs in OD at 65.

as stated it can be done, but be careful and take your time. I just got an 06 Tacoma to tow as the runner is aneamic.

http://www.misfitoffroad.com/e/2006-03-05_mounds/DSC_0007.JPG

[ColdNorth]

Rent a 1/2-ton (or bigger) truck to tow it home. It would suck to get 2 miles and be pulled over, and told you have to leave the boat there. If you feel like ignoring the capacity for your rig on the 'few mile' drive to the dock, that's your business - and worse case, you're a 'few miles' from your house, and that's not far to have to go get it with a legally capable vehicle.

[2manyprojects]

Take it slow, see how it feels.

I towed my 3500lb camper with my 79 shortbox on 37's. Everyone was in shock and aww, but it drove better than a few fullsized rig's I've tried. Being your trailer most likely doesn't have trailer brakes, be cautious.

[Sir Flipsalot]

I tow a 17' 2000 lb camper all the time and it is slow going. Give lots of time for braking and you should be fine...

[zidaro]

do it, just be careful. assuming you actually have a real bumper that you are hitching it too and not the toy steely/tin thing with a ball on it. Dont make a habit of it and know you will get a ticket if the kopper wants to.

[aedavis]

I tow a 3000lb ski boat with my 85 4Runner all the time. I live about 5 miles from my local reservoir so most of the time I'm only going there; however, I bought it in Phoenix and towed it home to Colorado and towed it to Powell last year. The ONLY problem is a lack of power, but it is livable, at least until I buy a newer Landcruiser to tow with.

I am quite sure my rig is rated to tow 3500 lbs, but I'll have to double check when I get home.

Allan

[4runnerx3]

I've got the same set up as you. I just turn off the overdrive.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b327/tdowless/boatpics7138.jpg

[MoonDog]

zj, I've done this with a car dolly once and a trailer once. If you can rent a car dolly it will be a little easyer on the truck doing the towing. How I wouldn't recomend it either, but if you do go SLOW.

Do you have any pics? I'd really like to see how one tows a boat on a car dolly...



I too say go ahead and do it, but you probably don't want to make a habit of it. As stated before, give yourself plenty of stopping distance and be mindful of the transmission. I've towed a 3500# travel trailer behind my 4runner, 22RE 5spd 35" tires and ~5" lift. It wouldnt go over 50mph, and I'll NEVER do that again. ...but pulling a subaru on a car trailer 4 miles through town in 2-lo was fine :D

[zj51]

aww... sucks... someone bought the boat a few hours before i was gonna go get it... well looks like ill have to find me another one... thanks for all the input tho