JEDI87

What has everybody towed with their 2nd gen runner and how well did it do?

Marc

boat and trailer 2800 lbs. total, some small hills, worked great.

4mydogs

Single axle utility trailer with yard debris with no problem.
Dual axle with boat -- combined 4000 lbs, and dual axle enclosed trailer full of furniture (weight?) was another thing. I usually only pull them around locally, and then only using ECT and O/D OFF, as I feel that they are more than the truck is made to handle. When it's available, I borrow an F-250 from work to pull them rather than abuse my V-6/Auto. A manual transmission might do a lot better with a heavy load. And watch your tongue weight, as it can make handling screwy. Hope this helps.

Waterboy

Not a 4runner but I'll throw my towel in the ring anyways.
I've towed a dual axle trailer with an eclipse on it around town and it was cake. It didn't have instant acceleration (like it does normally ) but I had no problems starting or getting up to speed.
A few weeks ago I had to tow a '71 Dodge 3/4 ton truck with a horse rack on it. It was only about 1/2 mile so I just threw it in low and pulled it around at idle. My clutch would have been screeming if I had tried to pull that tank in high range.

Gabe

3 rail trailer with dirtbikes over the Sierra Nevada's (goes about 50mph up the steepest grades) but on the flats I can do 70-75 haulin the trailer.

4x4Lamm

Small log splitter, you won't know its back there except it bounces aroun a ton.

UHAUL 2 axle box trailer, 6"x12" filled to the top with my brothers junk. A little heavy, but manageable with the right route. (No Highway speeds)

Single axle construction trailer with a walk behind trencher. This seemed to be about the right ammount of weight without beeing too heavy. Very manageable, even on interstate highways.

Single axle construction trailer with a miniature trackhoe on it. This sucked. It had to be atleast 6000 pounds and the trailer had no brakes. I have a 5 speed, so I had to slip the clutch some to get going and plan my stops a day ahead of time. It was stable though, I never felt "out of controll". I also was able to maintain 60 MPH in 4th gear on the highway for a little bit, this was a nice suprise. Also, I had no overheating at all. That was suprising as well. I don't think I would ever tow it again though.

Between 750 and 2000 pounds seems to be the best range for stability and performance I think.

Lamm

JEDI87

Cool,I am getting ready to tow one of my trans ams down to Carson city which is about 20-25 miles away.It has no engine or tranny so it should be fairly easy.I have a v6 with an auto so I am kinda worried.It should handle it though.I only have to climb a short grade and the rest is downhill and flat.

4x4Lamm

You should be fine, just keep overdrive off and keep en eye on the transmission temp.

Of course, don't be like me and be sure to have working trailer lights and brakes.

Lamm

fiveofeen

I will be towing this come spring. My parents explorer handles it okay so I hope I can. I am beefing up the susp with OME stuff and getting the stiffer rear springs. Can't wait though! sucked waiting for a tow rig on nice days last summer. This weighs around 3300pds. I only go to lakes 20-40 miles away so wish me luck!

tulsa_97SR5

Our boat is 17', boat & trailer have to be 3500+lbs + gear. I'm positive I was over the rated max with my 90, but it did fine. Could do 65-70+ on the highways, it slowed down quite a bit on a couple of big hills. That was all with a 22re that had 230k on it, though I think having the 5spd helped. Always used 4-lo to pull it out of the water, not sure it was neccesary but it sure made it easy. Only remember one time I really had to get on the brakes for an emergency stop from 60mph, not fun but it did great. Mostly towed it to a lake about 30 miles away, but took it farther a couple times.

neil_P_smith

I see that you have an 87 runner 5speed. I towed a single axel u-hall loaded with 3500 pounds of crap with an 84 2wd EFI 5speed from AZ to WA and saw speeds of 20-100mph . It had no trailer brakes and got out of control down the hill near Mt.Shasta(sp) CA. that was scary as hell!!! But I made it?? Go slow and watch the braking distance.

rockota

Towed an 85 4Runner on a 16" car trailer from Denver to Minneapolis.

Never... never... never... never again. On level ground 65 was possible, but any hills and it was done. We'd have to go 95 mph DOWN hills to be able to crest the top of the next hill in 3rd, floored, going 45mph. You never realize how many hills there are in Iowa until you try towing a truck and trailer with a gen-2 4runner with 3.0 w/ intake, ignition, 32's and 5-speed.

JEDI87

Yeah my 87 has more power but it doesn't have a hitch and it has a semi bad motor.I wish I could use that one.

1800's kinda guy

feel like a douche for not actually hauling anything in a second gen 4runner. but i pulled a f-350, probably a 2003, up and down some gnarly steep, and windey mountain roads in my 87 carb 22r pick up. threw it in low range and it pulled it like a champ. got to third gear.
his truck died right after a small bridge, on a hill, and on a one lane road. was proud of my baby...

the kid

call me an a$$ but why is this in the 4th gen truck and 3rd gen runner section, you guys are talking about 2nd gen runners are you not? (looking at thread title) ???