Flat towing the 80 with a Sequoia (1 Viewer)

[Clint Z]

I have a question to ask the Land Cruiser brains out here. I will be moving from Austin TX to Denver CO and was wondering if I could flat tow my 94 with our 03 Sequoia? I would pull both drive shafts and run a bumper plate to the tow bar. Is there anything that will cause a problem? Any help and insight will be helpful. I have 4 months to figure this out.


Thanks in advance for your help.

Clint

 

[tirewater]

Braking is going to be a big concern. That's a lot of weight for your Sequoia to have to stop.

I have a question to ask the Land Cruiser brains out here. I will be moving from Austin TX to Denver CO and was wondering if I could flat tow my 94 with our 03 Sequoia? I would pull both drive shafts and run a bumper plate to the tow bar. Is there anything that will cause a problem? Any help and insight will be helpful. I have 4 months to figure this out.


Thanks in advance for your help.

Clint

 

[plutonius]

The Sequoia can probably handle it, but it doesn't sound like a great idea - with the DS's pulled mechanically your 80 should tow fine, but braking and transmission temps will be tested. I've never towed my 80, but my 80 has towed other cars, boats, and all sorts of trailers. Off topic, but I melted an Exploder transmission by pulling a fully loaded enclosed trailer up to the Black Rock Desert. I've pulled my TVR all over the place with my 80, but on a hydraulic-braked trailer, and on one occasion the trailer brakes went out and it felt like the trailer was driving my 80 for a bit - and the TVR + trailer together weigh way less than even a stock 80. Another option is to just get Passport Transport or the like to ship it for you.

 

[Impreza]

Why not just drive the 80 too?

 

[Bikeman]

It should be fine. Still at or under the tow rating of the Sequoia. It's relatively flat land to CO. No brakes on the 80 isn't the greatest. Just take your time. Look up the Rising Sun club when you get settled in.

 

[Clint Z]

Thanks for the replys

I could drive it but my wife would like us to be in the same truck. We have a 11 yr old,9 yr old, and 2 mo old so she would need some help with them. My other option is get a uhaul with brakes and drive it on. The only problem is that I am lifted on 37's

Keep the ideas and feedback coming. Worst case is ship it.

Clint

 

[spdwaver]

I could drive it but my wife would like us to be in the same truck. We have a 11 yr old,9 yr old, and 2 mo old so she would need some help with them. My other option is get a uhaul with brakes and drive it on. The only problem is that I am lifted on 37's

Keep the ideas and feedback coming. Worst case is ship it.

Clint

Why not rent a U-Haul car hauler? I used my '05 Sequoia to tow my FJ40 and it did quite well. I am not sure of the weight rating of the U-Haul car hauler, and an 80 is significantly heavier than a 40, but it is definitely a better alternative to flat-towing in my opinion.

 

[UWdave]

Car hauler with thrust brakes at a minimum. Risking the family and 2 cars doesn't seem worth it.

If you were towing locally, I'd say go for it.

 

[bpassmore]

I could drive it but my wife would like us to be in the same truck. We have a 11 yr old,9 yr old, and 2 mo old so she would need some help with them. My other option is get a uhaul with brakes and drive it on. The only problem is that I am lifted on 37's

Keep the ideas and feedback coming. Worst case is ship it.

Clint

Why not rent a U-Haul car hauler? I used my '05 Sequoia to tow my FJ40 and it did quite well. I am not sure of the weight rating of the U-Haul car hauler, and an 80 is significantly heavier than a 40, but it is definitely a better alternative to flat-towing in my opinion.

too heavy for uhaul. they wont rent it to you for this. I have tried.

Clint, i have those roadmaster s6000 towbars that you can use.

If you take it smooth and easy, you should be ok.

Or, go buy this and install it: (highly recomended on the RV sites)
ReadyBrake Supplemental Brake System for Towed Vehicles - Night Shift Auto

that is the system i will be running when the time comes.

 

[tirewater]

Will the larger tires have a tendency to wander? Not sure I'd want to flat tow a vehicle that constantly wanders. But my experience flat towing is limited to small econo cars.

You could look into a tow dolly. You'd still have to pull the rear axle, but you'd have some braking. Your truck may be too wide with those wheels.

However, it sounds like you'll be driving a fully loaded Sequoia with five people as well as towing a fully loaded 80 right? I wouldn't do it, not with my family and possessions.

What I would do, though. Is to rent a moving truck with a car dolly (providing the 80 fits on the dolly) and move that way. The wife can drive the Sequoia and the 11 or 9 year old can ride with you.

I could drive it but my wife would like us to be in the same truck. We have a 11 yr old,9 yr old, and 2 mo old so she would need some help with them. My other option is get a uhaul with brakes and drive it on. The only problem is that I am lifted on 37's

Keep the ideas and feedback coming. Worst case is ship it.

Clint

 

[bpassmore]

Will the larger tires have a tendency to wander? Not sure I'd want to flat tow a vehicle that constantly wanders. But my experience flat towing is limited to small econo cars.

You could look into a tow dolly. You'd still have to pull the rear axle, but you'd have some braking. Your truck may be too wide with those wheels.

However, it sounds like you'll be driving a fully loaded Sequoia with five people as well as towing a fully loaded 80 right? I wouldn't do it, not with my family and possessions.

What I would do, though. Is to rent a moving truck with a car dolly (providing the 80 fits on the dolly) and move that way. The wife can drive the Sequoia and the 11 or 9 year old can ride with you.

Neither U-Hual or ryder tow dollies fit the 80 seriues width/ weight specs.

BTDT.

You need a dolly that is 78" wide, the Uhaul's are 76.

 

[tirewater]

Yeah, I see that now. And the weight of the 80 limits use on rental car carriers.

Just drive both vehicles separately. bpassmore is right in that you could probably do it by taking it slowly, but just thinking about driving the short distance from Colorado Springs to Denver in a vehicle that'll have trouble braking give me nightmares.

Neither U-Hual or ryder tow dollies fit the 80 seriues width/ weight specs.

BTDT.

You need a dolly that is 78" wide, the Uhaul's are 76.

 

[ayrtime]

New to the forum, but not to flat land towing. Remember that there is no backing up and the 37's are going to track. The weight will also push you around. I would say split the kids and rotate them between the trucks often. Drive them

 

[Impreza]

I could drive it but my wife would like us to be in the same truck. We have a 11 yr old,9 yr old, and 2 mo old so she would need some help with them. My other option is get a uhaul with brakes and drive it on. The only problem is that I am lifted on 37's

Keep the ideas and feedback coming. Worst case is ship it.

Clint

Get a friend to drive it and fly him home afterwards. I'd say that is the safest way. Your Sequoia will be loaded with people and gear, then you're towing another 6,000lbs behind it. Totally not worth the risk.

 

[Bikeman]

X2. Definately now sounds sketchy at best esp. with the family involved. I would get a $69 plane ticket and drive it back.

 

[aclos3]

In 2002, my Dad and I towed a Uhaul car trailer + 65 Mustang from San Bernardino to Portland (1100 miles) with a 2001 Silverado 5.3 LT 4x4. We had a few hundred pounds of gear in the truck, and it still towed very well. 70+ mph all the way and even made great speed up the grapevine (2-3 lanes over passing the semis with ease).

That being said, the Chevy is quite a bit more powerful than the Sequoia, had less than 5,000 miles on the clock and has great, high temperature brakes and a rated towing capacity of 9000 lbs versus the 6200 lb rating for the sequoia. The brakes got pretty damn warm coming down the grapevine and the Uhaul trailer supposedly has its own brakes. We never noticed much fade, but when we stopped at the bottom you could see the heat waves pouring out of all four wheel wells and smell the burn!

We were only towing about 5000lbs total (2200 lb trailer + 2800lb Mustang) with a vehicle that weighed, maybe 5400 fully loaded. On that trip our mileage was about 19mpg before towing and 13 mpg once we were towing (I5 at about 70-75mph).

I think you could do this tow, but it may not be the safest idea and you're taking the family. Your gas mileage will probably be single digits or very near it if you plan to tow anywhere near normal freeway speed. At the risk of starting a Toyota vs. Chevy debate, I also suspect that the brakes in an 03 Sequoia are not nearly as strong as the brakes we had in our Chevy (very new, higher towing capacity, higher payload, etc.)

 

[Clint Z]

Thanks to all!

There is a reason I put this up on here, You guys are awsome.
BPassmore is a good friend of mine and we talked about this before I posted. We will be driving both to Denver and will just take it easy. The good thing is that I have a full month to get up there, not that I want to take that long.

Thanks again for all of the wealth of knowledge you guys have shared!

The good news is I get to beat on it in Colorado for three years!

Clint

 

[Jack G. Nichols]

I think you made the right decision to drive both - weight is just too marginal, and with the family.......not worth shaving safety margins at all.

I wanted to chime in with my recent experiences with flat towing an 80. Mine is lifted about 2", and I am running 285s Michelin road tires. Everything else is stock.

I tow it four down, with the transfer case in neutral and key in the ignition to unlock the steering wheel. I have synthetic lube in the transfer case and differentials, and do not pull the driveshafts. I use a Brake Buddy for supplemental braking, because my 80 weights 5400 pounds, and I am concious of the damage that might result with a break away situation.

My towbar is one of the old solid steel adjustable ones, not some lightweight aluminum thing, and weighs about 50 pounds. I do not use a mounting plate, but hook directly to my tow points on the front frame ends. I saw a video years past where an 80 was lifted, full of water, from a river with just one of those, so they should be strong enough for a flat tow. Safety cables are super large with oversize hooks.

I have towed this arrangment from Fort Worth to Oregon, via Phoenix, twice, and had no difficulties.

The main caviat is that I tow with a 34,000 pound RV, so the weight differential between tow vehicle and 80 is pretty large, and that is the main difference in what is discussed previously.

Before I started doing this I could not see any reason why I should not do it, so thought that if I tore it up, my next tow car would do better. So far so good, even across the Grapevine both ways. Thank goodness for jake brakes.

Question: I know Toyota will not recommend flat towing (four down), and cannot figure out why. Anyone have an idea? Putting the transfer case into neutral eliminates any transmission involvement, does it not?

Jack Nichols, 1993 Land Cruiser (Casper)

 

[bpassmore]

the transfercase needs oil movement, and the rear output does not get oil when being towed.

it heats up and can potentially cause issues.

I offered to tow the 80 behind my RV. It is also 30,000, but we wouldn't have supplemental breaking.

 

[Jack G. Nichols]

bpassmore, thanks for the info.

Now, what to do about it? I have been shopping for a new car for probably five or six years, and finally gave up - nothing suites me like the 80. So, I am ready to do mods to let it tow along behind without damage.

I looked at drive shaft disconnects, but that would probably result in weaker drive shafts, and are expensive. Disconnecting the shafts might be the most economical thing, but a hassle. If the front shaft does get oil, then maybe just pull the rear? I could still maneuver when necessary. I have the center diff lock switch installed.

Possibly the best "fix" would be to fit a lube pump - I do not have a clue how that might be done - any ideas?

Until I make a decision on mods I will just start the engine and run it through the gears at every rest stop, to keep fresh oil circulating. Not the best solution, but better than not doing it.

I will keep an eye on the rear output area for leaks or damage too, thanks for identifying potential problems.

Jack Nichols, 1993 LC