So I've had mixed reviews from people on this subject. Some think It's a terrible idea, others think it's just fine. so let me know what you think!
I need to tow my g/f's 05 Altima to Raleigh,NC from SLC,UT for the summer. I was planning to tow it with my 98 taco (2.7, 5sp. , reg cab, 4x4, 32in tires) using a tow dolley. the trip is mostly flat if I go through Arizona. The car weighs 3100lbs. I was going to buy a new dolley as I hear the rented ones are crappy, and $320 one way.
If you're even thinking of trying it with the 2.7 and 32" tires, I sure hope you regeared. If you haven't, you'd be making a big mistake. Any kind of breeze or slight incline would have a mile long snake of cars behind you.
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1991 Isuzu Trooper 2.6L 5spd 4x4; 103k miles
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Hey there not the same vehicle but I towed a 79 Toyota Corona with an '89 4Runner. 3.0 and 5 speed from Fort Bliss Tx to Fayetteville NC.....cost me a 5 speed tranny...well at least two gears...I think you are towing more than your vehicle allows for approxiamtely #3500 and your vehicle now effectively has higher gears (32" vs a 30" or 235/70/15) lower numerically 3.90's are now closer to a 3.75ish.....I wouldn't do it, but thats just me....CSM-H
Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry44
So I've had mixed reviews from people on this subject. Some think It's a terrible idea, others think it's just fine. so let me know what you think!
I need to tow my g/f's 05 Altima to Raleigh,NC from SLC,UT for the summer. I was planning to tow it with my 98 taco (2.7, 5sp. , reg cab, 4x4, 32in tires) using a tow dolley. the trip is mostly flat if I go through Arizona. The car weighs 3100lbs. I was going to buy a new dolley as I hear the rented ones are crappy, and $320 one way.
Figure in the weight of the tow dolly and any other passengers, cargo. The only way you'd be making this trip within the tow limits is if the tow dolly is 400 lbs. or less (which I doubt) and there isn't any other weight from cargo or passengers. Even then, within the 3500 lb. limit., be prepared to spend a LOT of time in 3rd gear once you hit any type of hills or mountains (and I do mean alot). With the pedal floored. Also, be sure the dolly has some type of brakes as you will need to plan stops way in advance towing that kind of weight with no brakes. Your mpg will also bite the dust...even towing on level ground you probably won't see better than 14 or so. So, although you could probably make it under prime conditions, you'd be much better off towing with a full size or at least a V6, and keeping the strain off that 4 banger.
I speak from experience doing a lot of towing with my '01 reg cab 2.7
nice to hear from someone who has the same truck! and you are totally right about the 3rd gear thing... I have towed my buddies t-100 up a decent hill at sixty and was floored in 3rd.
Oh, and seeing I would have about 500lbs of my tools plus her car jammed full of her stuff....
yah,
I'm really more worried about the strain on the truck than anything, even if i did go with smaller tires...
yah, I think I'll be better off just buying her a car there for her to drive for the summer, and then sell it when we leave. save alot more money in the long run!
I will say this these trucks are still amazing. I was pulling a motorhome out of the mud in 4Lo and snapped a 12,000lbs come along we were using. Hooked up tow straps and it smoked the tires for a while then pulled it out. the guy told me the motorhome weighted around 10 tons. wish I had a video camera to show my little truck pulling that monster!
GO TOYOTA!
I don't get it. Whats wrong w/ 3rd gear driving? Do all your trucks have a weak 3rd gear ? To me the only difference between light and heavy towing is the speed that you will be doing it at. It isn't a matter of working the power train that much harder, its just a matter of which gear you will be in to keep the rpm up in the torque range to where you don't have to be doing WOT all the time.
I have a 95 Taco ext cab 4 cyl A/T and have pulled some mighty heavy loads (not in hot weather) But I do not lug the engine, nor am I ever WOT, except for a short distance. And I am a believer of the saying, "you ain't under powered till you run outta gears". But if 30 mph is too slow, don't do it, because you may see quite a bit of it.
Last edited by rjsfishin; 03-25-2009 at 11:15 AM.
Reason: missed some thoughts
the problem is even 40 MPH turns a 33 hour drive into around a 60 hours drive. I've talked my girlfriend into driving her car... (seems too simple I know) and the tacoma will have to stick to pulling out vehicles stuck in the snow and mud....
Well, with my setup, it was hard to keep up with traffic. At WOT, 3rd gear, 15psi of boost I managed 60mph on i81 in PA when a grade appeared along the road. 0-60 on level ground was like 30 seconds. So level surfaces I was able to meet 70mph, but I could not hold it.
30mph in 3rd gear??? The highways and interstates on VA have a minimun speed of 45mph.
I just came back from a truck show in WV, I got 2nd place. No problems keeping up or exceeding pace with traffic.
I wonder how the latest toyota truck would of done towing a 3000 lb car with all trd upgrades???
If its mostly flat, Id say go for it, but do not be surprise when you got to up shift and do WOT at red line to maintain 30mph on a grade.
Here is my taco on route to chapmanville, wva from richmond, va. You can hear the supercharger whine in the background. I am unloaded going to the truck show I won 2nd place. No problem maintaining hwy speeds, however at times it jumped to 2nd gear.
If you haven't been there; Raleigh NC isn't flat. Nor is there a way to get to it that's flat. Granted, the Great Smokies aren't the Rockies but a 4 banger w/3000# behind it is gonna seem like it.
I had a 97 Tacoma 4wd 2.7 5 speed extended cab. In 2002, I towed a Pontiac 6000 from Washington DC to the central OH area with a Uhaul dolly. It towed ok (but not good or great), but if you can get one with brakes, that would be much better. Its good that you have the 5 speed, but you still won't be setting any speed records on hills. That is a lot of weight behind that truck, so be careful. I would do it, but I have since towed with a Tundra and Cummins diesel, so I can tell you that a bigger truck is much nicer.
Taco Towing a Altima?
I towed a vw fox stationwagon and it was mainly in 3rd at 15 psi of boost, 14mpg.
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