sdstud212001

Okay I did search, read, still have questions.

I'm going home to arizona and have 3 rides I need to get home.
2001 Honda civic
2001 4Runner
1987 4Runner

I have to go from San Diego to Kingman, Az 379 miles. I was thinking of Towing my civic with my 01 Runner and then wifey drives 87.

The 01 4runner is a Limited 4WD auto, STOCK TO THE BONE.

What I want to use (below)

U-HAUL Auto Transport
Capacity Empty weight: 2,100 lbs.
Max load: 3,900 lbs.
Maximum Gross Weight (trailer plus load): 6,000 lbs.
Tow hitch required: Class 3 (5,000 lb. minimum weight-carrying rating)
Hitch ball: 1 7/8, 2 or 2 1/8, (5,000 lb. minimum)

Features Easy access loading ramps
Tilt-out fender (allows vehicle door access)
Ratchet operated tire straps
Vehicle security chains
Automatic hydraulic surge brake
Easy towing


Now my Civic says GVCW 3505+trailer 2100=5605lbs. How do I know the rateing of the hitch? I looked everywhere on it and all it says is consult owners manuel. When I consulted my manuel it said 5000 lbs so I can't tow this way?

This may be a stupid question but I want to make sure I'm reading this correctlly and futhermore I would feel even more stupid if I did it and ended up hurting my family or someone elses.

Thank you

YotaFun

Don't use the U-haul to tow the civic,
That puts it over your max weight, and I believe our runners have a class II hitch...
I have towed a jeep before no problem using self locking tow bars.
Didn't feel a thing, had to ask my friend to make sure it was behind me.
Yes don't go with the U-Haul, to much weight on the runner.
But with the tow bars, it's just like towing a trailer.
Thats my opinion.

Hiridentoyguy

First, I SERIOUSLY doubt that your civic weights 3505 lb.. it may say that on the door but that thing is a cracker box! Second, I would pull the 87' and have your wife drive the civic as you'll save $ in fuel. The 01' should pull the trailer + 87' -- do some more checking on your hitch. talk to the dealer, they should know. good luck! Hiriden

YotaFun

http://www.readybrake.com/

This is almost exactly what I used.

My boss has a 4 banger jeep and he towed his corvette with it so...

sdstud212001

with ready brake does it leave signs of use? ie holes in my bumper/ mounting plates?

YotaFun

I would have to ask my boss,

I don't know how my friend had his set up cause all I did was roll up and hitch it on..

sdstud212001

okay thanks

CJM

If anything the 4runner should be able to tow the civic or other runner, so long as you take it slow and easy.

Your 01 should be able to tow 5k lbs easy , the civic comes in at 2500lbs and the trailer cant weight more than 1000lbs thats a line of bs if they say it weighs more. That works out in total to about 3500lbs give or take maybe 200-300lbs..

If I can tow a dodge 2500 out of a ditch that it was stuck in with my T100 3.4L then you can surely tow a civic with your runner.

They wont even rent you the uhaul if you tell them your towing a civic iirc, tell them your towing a VW bug.

I think it can be done...seeing as how the previous owner towed a 25ft boa with my t100. I hope you have a trans cooler though..

sdstud212001

[QUOTE=I hope you have a trans cooler though..[/QUOTE]
Not unless it came stock. I really think I won't tow using this meathod unless the hitch is Class 3.

Okay just checked uhaul again with a class 2 the trailer dissapears and only tow dolly appears as an option. hhhmmmmmm?

KyleT

those uhaul trailers suck they are heavy and never pull straight. at least thats my experience with them. towbar or dolly the 87 with the rear driveshaft unhooked at the rear end.

sdstud212001

Now you're talking, I never even thought of that, then my wife can drive the civic and get way better gas mileage. I'm gonna have to look into that.
Now all I have to do is unhook the drive shaft, and have the front wheels unlocked?

saulgoode

make sure you put a tranny cooler on before all that towing.

khaug

Some things to consider:

Toyota rates your 3rd gen 4Runner to tow a maximum of 5,000#. I think the weight of the U-haul tandem car hauler trailers is what you report, 2,000# plus. I think your estimate of your Civic's weight is on the high side, but you should be able to determine what it is by either checking your registration or calling the dealer.

Whatever you tow, you should be aware that towing trailers over 1,000# requires working trailer brakes. This is Toyota's recommendation and the law in all states I'm aware of. The U-haul car haulers I've seen have surge brakes. I don't believe the dollys have brakes, but I could be wrong. If you try towing with a tow bar, you will have no brakes on the towed vehicle.

I towed a 4,000# trailer for many thousands of miles with my '98 V6 'Runner. The brakes were horrible and would fade completely when descending long grades, even using 2nd gear for engine braking. And this was towing a trailer with four-wheel brakes!

I never needed an auxiliary oil cooler despite towing in the Blue Ridge mountains and in 90F weather, but I would be very nervous about towing the full 5,000# maximum with your 3rd gen 'Runner. And I wouldn't tow without trailer brakes under any circumstances.

Good luck.

EstheticAngel

the 4runner has a class III.

also...someone mentioned Uhaul wont rent you a trailer if you tell them youre pulling a civic in youre 4runner. i don't know if it matter what youre pulling but i tried renting a flat from uhaul and they told me they wouldn't rent me one at all. I can't remember if they asked what i was pulling and what i told them...

sdstud212001

I think that I'm just gonna get the tow dolly and tow my civic and have the wife drive the other runner. I'm sure it's gonna be fine as we will be making an overnight stop ar the half way mark. Another thing Uhaul reccomends only going 45mph so I think I will, I really don't want to ruin both my rides to get there sooner. Besides the only time limit is the 3 days Uhaul gives me.

HUTCHSTACO

i know they wont even rent you the auto transport tow the civic, they ask what your going to tow. u dont have to go 45, but do what your comfortable with, i did seattle to san diego with a autotransport and i did 75 easy, you will figure it out

AH64ID

4runner have a class III hitch.

There is no law in all states requiring trailers over 1000#s to have brakes.

Get a dolly, not a car carrier. A dolly will allow you to pull the front of the honda on the trailer, and keep its back tires on the ground. Weight is much less. Tounge weight is also lower. If you wanted you could even do this with the 87, but you have to remove the rear driveshaft. I doubt the fuel usage would be that different in 379 miles.


Get the dolly, tow the honda. Dont worry about it. A tranny cooler would be nice but your only talking 379 miles, I IIRC there arent any big passes in there. Set the cruise, take OD off on hills.. and if its still really hot out drive it at night. Dolly weight is 650#, HEAVY civic (Ex Sedan 4Dr Auto is the heaviest) 2615, so 3265 plus whatever you have in it. The 3505 you read is GVWR, what it can weigh when fully loaded... And dont forget to make sure tire pressure on all 8 tires is where it needs to be, this will be a bigger issue that weight if your tires are underinflated.

I have towed my runner accross the country twice (it was behing big rental trucks) but used the dolly and the carrrier. Both work.. over many many miles there is more tire wear on the dolly as two tires are on the ground, but for 379 miles dont worry about it.

sdstud212001

So I made the trip trouble free. Here's the rundown on what I noticed.
-The tow dolly is way wider than the runner so I had to watch the rear views to make sure I was still in the lines. This was kinda scary when there was road work and I was next to those cement barracades.
-No problem in the power department, and we loaded up both the civic and runner till they were full.
-Tow dolly made it difficult on driveways because the civic exhaust tip was closer to the ground at the angle.
-Backing up was not an option, where the fron tires of the civic were loaed, that part articulated as well as at the hitch, so 2 places for it to pivot.

Other than that I would say it was an okay trip, but if I had the choice I would have liked to use a trailer. I know the the bad list was short but I the no backing up was a HUGE PITA

AH64ID

Yeah when I have used dollys you just have to be aware of parking lots and such... drive in/drive out...

glad to hear it went well

DiverseCC

i have towed many time, and with my 97 limited the biggest two i towed was a 92 acura legend on a unhaul trailer, and a 57 belair on another trailer, which was light weight, but i had no problems and the acura i towed for about 200 miles, you should have no problems, also my 97 has a class 3 hitch on it