Towing 4,100lbs for 12 hours w/ a 3rd gen 5spd 4x4
 

I did a lot of searching - none of the threads out there addressed towing this kind of load for 12 hours with a 5-speed manual.

So what do you think?

This would be an auto trailer w/ 4-wheel electric brakes at 1400lbs, with a 2700lb car on back.

Can I put a tranny cooler on a manual?

I think it is a terrible idea personally but I am biased against towing with a short wheelbase SUV in general. With a manual tranny? even less of a good idea-my opinion-some suggest automatics only for towing. Opinions vary.

No I do not believe it is possible to add a tranny cooler -the tranny does not run lines to the radiator like is done in the automatics.

Can you handle that tow? Maybe, probably. Does not make it a wise idea. Trailer brakes are encouraging.

That is a horrible idea. I could see a couple miles, but i know that it would kill my 4runner.

hope your clutch is in good condition!! Just take it nice and slow, leave lots of room to stop, I dont think it will damage the tranny. just the clutch would be the weak link if its not a HD or is worn. Probably not the best I dea but if thats what has to be done then take your time and dont try to speed. I cant even speed without a trailer if i wanted too!!!

manuals are better at towing. you can add a cooler to your tranny. but it is still not a safe idea. if you decide to do it be careful..

lol that's just too much id borrow or rent a full size truck

thats what I thought that a manual would be better, no internals to slip and create lots of heat, just need a good clutch. and if you have to be very careful. I dont think you will really have issues power wise, just a big trailer for your smaller SUV.

Just for comparison I pull my 1800lb bass boat with my ford escape hybrid. its rated at 1000lbs but has no issues, of course the farthest i go is about an hour drive one way.

My opinion... Don't do it! your vehicle is most likely rated to 3500 lbs max lbs towing. If you can, rent a bigger truck from uhaul.

tow rating for the v6 is 5,000 lb . 500lb tongue weight I believe. What class hitch are you using?

I stand corrected. If your runner can take it, follow standard safe towing practices. Extra distance, take breaks every couple hundred miles. When was the last time the clutch was changed?

A bigger truck would make it a lot easier and safer, but as long as you are under the towing capacity of your truck then just make sure you have good trailer brakes and good electrical connections. I remember seeing a trailer brake controller that has a warning light if the connection was lost between the vehicle and the trailer. That would be good to have. What kind of terrain are you towing it over? Mountains will be a lot more difficult and probably longer than 12 hours.

If you want to save wear on your clutch, leave the front hubs unlocked so you can use 4 low to get rolling up steep hills. If you have an auto-locking front differential, you can probably disable it be unpluggin a wire so you have 2wd-low without damaging anything. I doubt that would hurt anything, but double check that first. My Tacoma was syncronized from low to high, so I would assume your 4Runner is, also. That will make it easier to shift from low to high after you are rolling. As long as you go slow instead of pushing your 4Runner too hard then added wear should be minimal. Check to make sure your fluids and cooling system are in good shape.

Another thing to consider is that 12 hours can be a long drive in an unloaded luxury car. Towing a big trailer in a lightweight SUV will feel like a lot longer. I would plan on staying in a motel or camping out halfway through the trip.

Minimize clutch usage!

Be nice to know just where you are going??

Your time frame might be way to low you will be amazed at how the hours just fly by.

Remember this is not a timed event the idea is to get from point A to B safe.

i am not a big fan of doing this but sometimes you have no choice.

The trailer brakes will be a big help.

take your time you should be ok.

I think I would just rent a bigger truck than put that much wear and tear and my daily driver, I've towed before, but never over about 2000 lbs.
And definitely not for 12 hours. I think I would want a V8 truck for that like a large dodge, maybe even a cummins diesel, but now I digress.

Go for it! I towed my fully loaded 4-Runner on a 16ft car hauler 2500miles with my Taco. Trailer weight was 6180lbs when I ran it through the scales. Go easy on your clutch and do what the big rigs do at stop lights..don't ever fully stop just let it keep creeping forward in 1st gear. Getting my load moving with my 6speed was the hardest part. Having brakes on both axles makes a huge difference. I'm assuming you have a good brake controller? Drive WAY ahead of your rig, take it easy, and you'll be fine.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...G/IMG_3890.jpg

I've towed a race car 7 hours down to Sebring, FL in June. It's a 2200lb race car on a 1200lb light weight trailer. Add to that a 4Runner full of track weekend accessories (spare tires, jack, tools, ect) and you get a pretty heavy load. Truck did well with no overheating or any issues. I left plenty of room to stop (Tundra brakes on the way) and also have plans for an external tranny cooler prior to my next event.

I've used her to tow the race car for 2 years now. She's a hell of a truck! '97, V6 Limited, 2WD, Auto. She does what I need. As Han Solo says, "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."

I think your truck can handle it, if it is rated for 5000lbs, that is why Toyota puts a rating on the truck. It is a weight they are sure the truck can handle. I have pulled a heavier trailer and car without trailer brakes from Houston to Albuquerque to Alamogordo and back without a problem, twice. Once with a 2000 3.4l Tacoma 4x4 and 2002 supercharged Tacoma, and yes the supercharged Tacoma did a better job.

Before you take the trip, check your fluids, change them if it has been a while or is close to their change time.
Also what is you brake fluid like, most people do not change this offend enough, if it is old, flush t out.

Brake early and if needed, hard, take it easy, leave room around you and you should be good. Are you going through any mountains? if yes use lower gears going up and down, easy on the brakes going down, let the engine do some of the work. Going down hill, KEEP THE SPEED DOWN, you do not want the trail swaying which can make trailer move the truck (bigger truck better here), should the trailer start swaying, manually apply the trailer brakes.

I don't think it should be a problem, just remember, you now have a extra 4100+ lbs that you have to control.

Make sure car is on the trailer properly, IE not to far forward or to far back. If the trailer is too heavy on the tongue it will be real squirrely, and for 12hours you'll want to cry. I pulled a not properly loaded 10k trailer 2.5 hours and my pucker factor was off the charts. Good luck and give yourself at least a full day to do it so you don't have to hurry.

I used to pull a pair of jetskis with a ford festiva lol... But yeah, I think it should handle it so long as your clutch is in good shape.