Zelephant

I'm kinda-sorta looking at a picking up a 1983 3rd-gen Celica off C-list, and I'm trying to count the cost before going off half-cocked. The car has a blown motor and is 100 miles away. Having a towing company deliver it would cost as much or more than the car itself. These cars are extremely rare in this part of the country, so it might still be worth the trip.

The other option of course is to rent a trailer and tow it back myself. The Celica weighs about 2000lbs, and since it doesn't have a plate, I'd have to use a double-axle Uhaul trailer instead of a tow dolly. Can my 22RE 4Runner handle this? Bear in mind, it's an auto (don't know if that's a help or hindrance), and I'm sitting on 265s, so the gears aren't as tall as they should be. It is wired for towing, though.

The other hurdle is that to rent a trailer, Uhaul needs to inspect the tow vehicle. Would my 4Runner even pass inspection? The rear bumper is beef, but it's still homebuilt and therefore unrated for towing. I don't even know what else they look at.

Is this a doable venture? Any advice is appreciated, I've never towed anything with the 4Runner before.

runs-on-4

iTrader: (1)

i towed a ford courier in my 85 runner stock gears and 34s only about 10 miles if that but it made it had a huge hill and had to put it in 4low to make it up. it could be done, your better off risking using the dolly without a plate on the car.

Numbchux

You probably could do it, but it would be a slow trip.


But, not gonna happen with a uhaul trailer. Right from their website:
"Must have a towing system that has a 5,000 lbs. minimum weight-carrying rating"

Uhaul will rent you a pickup truck, though. Looks like exact price will be dependent on your location...

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

rent a truck and dolley..your 4Runner would not be up to the task

Zelephant

OK, thanks guys. Would've stunk to find the 4Runner's limit during the trip!

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Where would you have to go ??.

The main thing I would be worried about is over heating your transmission.

Do you have a aux cooler at all?/

Other then that I don`t think you would have major problems . Stay off the interstates

I have towed two Toyota Pick ups at different times with my 87 4Runner manual trans on trips well over a 100 miles.

With no issues just take your time.

I am clearing my Celica`s (83) out pulled the last good engine and trans the rest is going for scrap shortly.

streetlancer

iTrader: (1)

I flat-towed a 1990s Supra with my truck; I just used a tow-bar & drilled through the Supra's front cross member to attach it. It was a slow process, no highway, just city streets up to my house which was about 60 miles away. Besides a sized caliper that was overheating on the supra I had no problems.