could a sammy hitch a ride behind my runner?

[83 chif]

what do you all think about an 89' 4runner 4cyl 5spd towing a suzuki samurai? what are the towing capabillities of my 4runner? it has 31's and stock gearing, the clutch is pretty new, and the 22re has 220,xxx miles but never burns an ounce of oil....could the old toy handle it? the sammy would probably be on a tow dolly and i would haul it from south jersey to connecticut, so there aren't any mountain passes or tough climbs....would this be the end of my clutch/tranny?

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Probably fine if you take it easy. My 89 owners manual says 3500 lbs (trailer and load) with a manual trans, and 2000 with an auto. Total vehicle/trailer/load weight 7500 with manual trans 6100 with auto.

 

[toyminator]

Going should be ok. Stopping could be a challange. I'd make sure your trailer has working brakes.

 

[Anthony1]

See if you can raise the porportioning valve up so there's more pressure to the rear brake.
It'll help you stop better with that much weight in the back.

 

[83 chif]

brakes

huh...brakes...something i forgot to consider....i think u-haul has mechanical brakes on their tow dollies, and if not, they do on their full size car hauler trailers....

 

[tntoyota]

what is your gear ratio and tire size you have now?


No hypothetical's just the fax


If you have 4:11's and 31's you got 3:81 gears. How would you like it if you had only 115(?) hp to move yourself 3k(?) lbs and a ? lb samurai and only 3:81 gears to do it?

Your motor will, in any gear, be out of its peak.


Borrow some 28's

 

[83 chif]

gears

gearing, eh? i guess that could be important. maybe i will try and hunt down a tiny set of tires for the trip....what is a safe top engien rev with a 200,000 miles 22re? what would my top highway speed be with 28's??

 

[tntoyota]

well now hold on, some 4runners came with different gears. I am assuming yours because its the most common.

Door jam or firewall, you will see a c/tr (color/ trim) a/tm (axle/transmission)

I'd like the gear code please, along with the manufacturers tire size recommendation


And if I planed on towing I'd have some tow tires like you said smaller. It will take load and stress off the DT. Get your center lower, the brakes would probably communicate with the ground better as theres less tire to stop let alone what your towing. Get your economy up or even if it didnt it (2me) would be a whole lot safer..


IH8W8

 

[tntoyota]

gearing, eh? i guess that could be important. maybe i will try and hunt down a tiny set of tires for the trip....what is a safe top engien rev with a 200,000 miles 22re? what would my top highway speed be with 28's??

in the red part, your motor as it wears doesn't come down in the power band. Where the factory put it is where its best and wants to be. You will find its the most optimum hp output at rpm is at the hwy speeds you drive. Altering the final drive with excess tire dia, will perform the same function as changing the final drive ala gears. Everything from the rpm's in all the gears to the speedo/odo being off it is the same thing. And yes when there is only 100hp to start with every little bit matters.



They are NOT chevy motors look at the curves they are not bottom end motors.

 

[EVILSPOTTER]

I have an '88 4runner with 35inch tires and 4.88's that I use for towing duty. It regularly sees 4000 rpm's for about three hours at a time between Geronimo & Sonora, one way. On the long hills I'll run it up to 4500 or 5000 rpm's in third, running flat ground in fourth. There are a few 7% grades that knock me down to 55 mph. I use a 20' car hauler and usually am loaded with a toyota pick-up or a jeep. This process costs me a few head gaskets from time to time, but I have been towing this way for years. Manuals will tell you that 5500 rpms will cause permanent engine damage to the 22re, in my experience this is usually true. You will not set any speed records, but if your truck is mechanically sound it is totally up to towing duty.