Chaos

Size Matters !

Be it truck or trailer !

Bull

Having towed many track cars and boats (inboard hydroplanes on tilt trailers) over the past 30 years, I would suggest that while wheelbase is very important, and huge gobs of towing power are nice, the most important issue is BRAKES. I would not tow with those small, front disc/rear drum brakes. Sure, many will tell you they did so, but they were lucky. Almost all of the towing problems I have seen from friends and aquaintences have been due to under-braked towing vehicles.

Get big brakes on your toe wehicle, get double axle brakes on your trailer (the number one brake failure source), then get a long wheelbase....if any money is remaining, get the mongo engine.

"Getting by OK" is not a plan!

Doug E.

Thanks, folks. I appreciate your thorough comments, experience and perspective. I think a better tow vehicle needs to be part of the plan.

I'll hope to see you at the track sometime!

Happy motoring!

944Fest (aka Dan P)

Since I see you are a fan of the toyota brand, I'd chime in and mention the 4Runner's big brother, the late 90's Land Cruisers. My 94 only has the in-line 6 (4.5L) but tows my 4500lb car/trailer fine. After 96 I believe they had V8s. It is a very stout robust ute, weighing in at 6400lbs for the truck. (!!!) Looking at the axles and brakes makes it obvious Toyota built that rig for some heavy duty service. The downside is gas mileage. Give it a look, good I-6s are under 10gs, great V8s under 20. It felt far more refined and solid than any domestics I drove while cross shopping.

Mark in Baltimore

Don,

I had a 5 speed '99 V6 4Runner that towed a Trailex open trailer (1000 lbs with tires), my 3000 lb 993 and approx. 300 lbs of gear. As others have said, yes, it really did work hard on anything other than a flat road, requiring drops down into third to keep the speed up. Granted, I would tow at 75 mph, but I felt that the engine was working too hard. After a year of this, I sold the 4Runner and got a V8 Sequoia that is still "adequate" although better than the V6. If you have a business, you can write off 100% of the depreciation on a vehicle that has a 6000 lb GVWR (accountants please correct me here if this has been phased out); this might help to justify a better truck.

I've seen a few V6 4Runners at the track towing steel trailers, albeit with a light 70's era 911 on it. I wish the Sequoia had more juice and a bigger gas tank, but it's also my daily driver and client car, duties which it performs quite well at.

CarreraCup03

I have heard very good things about the V6 ENVOY and its towing capabilities. I used to tow witha Jeep Chrokee sport ... had a hard time but got the job done. I now tow witha ML500 and an open trailex. I cant even tell the trailer is on there. Great towing car. Does anyone have any experience with the Tourag ... 7500 lbs towing capcity.

ltc

Cup03,
I tow with my Cayenne S (same as a Touareg), 20' V nose enclosed aluminum + Cup car = ~ 5300#. No problems, but you can tell you're pulling something. The Cayenne is rated 6700# towing and 770# tongue weight.

I also pull the same combo with my wife's 2005 Excursion Powerstroke Diesel, and you don't even know it's there. Pretty impressive tank that Excursion.

There is an interesting thread currently in the Cayenne forum regarding the Touareg V10 TDI (diesel) motor, which should be EPA approved here for MY06. That combo would definitely outperform the Cayenne.

Jarez Mifkin

A friend of mine just bought a 1994 F250 PSD for $6000 w/ 100+k miles. We towed to Sebring from Nashville TN 2 weeks after he got it, only issues were the bad fuel we put in it 80 miles N of Sebring. My vote is for a older cheaper Diesel truck!

JCP911S

Ditto....I just got a 97 F250 for $7K. 81K miles. Full tow package. 5.6L engine. Everything works. You don't have to spend $40K for a tow vehicle.

Lothar

THe Envoy was mentioned. THe Trailblazer is the same vehicle with Chevy badging. I have towed my car on an open trailer with great satisfaction. Towing package is standard and the standard 6 cyl. engine puts out a repectable 275 hp and 275 ft. lbs.