Can my Tacoma tow a Tundra?

Picking up a project car this weekend about 200 miles away. The car runs, but I haven't decided if Id want to drive it that distance.

Can by 03' DCSB 3.4L tow an 05' RCLB Tundra? It should be within the tow capacity, but the reverse combo of what's ideal.

 

I have a Bay Area auto transport reference for you if it helps. Scheduling might be a little tricky.

No friends with a full size truck?

are you renting a trailer from u-haul? It won’t have brakes. I’d want a brake controller unless it’s Modesto to Sacramento or something flat like that.

 

Hey! You've been helping me out on the tundra forum.

It's a North rural truck heading to the San Jose area, about 200 miles. I'll be driving through the Sacramento area actually, but need to drive through the mountains to get home, unless I go around on Highway 1. No one has a truck bigger than a 2nd gen tacoma.

I have an offer to get a ride out there, and may use my AAA 200 mile tow to get home.

 

Ya, this one is a pickle. You really don’t have any favors you can call in? If it’s about 200 and you’re within AAA tow range then maybe just drive it mellow and skip the tow plan. It’s tough, 200 is really the borderline for how far I’d push it with either plan. I don’t think towing it with the first Gen is all that better than driving it. You want less stress not more

 

Maybe just identify a reasonable mechanic in Sacramento if things feel unsafe. The rest of the trip from there is well populated with bailout options. And you can AAA tow it to Sactown. Post up in one of the NorCal threads if you need a reference and plan for daytime business hour driving.

 

If the Tundra runs, why not just drive it? Or, alternatively, if you're renting a trailer anyway, why not also rent a more suitable vehicle to tow with?

 

Nope. Already got some from my ride out there, but I don't anyone within 500 miles with a full sized truck. California problems.

Its a 25k mile 1GT. I'll be getting the mechanic report tomorrow, but even without it, I'm worried about hustling on cracked tires and an old timing belt. You think it'd be safe to drive if I put some new tires on it?

 

I think the answers are, the vehicle has original tires which are over 15 years old and the intent is to move it home with minimal cost while minimizing risk.

Friend with a full size is the best option. Paying U-Haul $2k to transport it 200 miles isn’t a great plan.

 

I’d be stressed either way. I’d want a friend if driving it. If towing, minimize weight but plan out your bailouts. Worst possible situation is an accident in poor weather which damages one or both trucks.

 

I'll be arriving friday afternoon, and trying to leave Saturday. I want to get it home to my mechanic to address everything at once, rathe than cough up a bunch of money in hopeful and hasty repairs. I can't afford the time to hang out during the week.

 

Yeah, Saturday is tough. So if driving it and it overheats or you have a tire blowout and the spare looks super dicey, AAA tow?

maybe call AAA and see if this is something you can pre-arrange? Or maybe something where you pay a tiny bit if it’s outside the 200 mile limit by a few miles?

 

That was my plan tomorrow. Not sure how the logistics of a long tow work for the driver, but it's in my policy and I hopefully wont need it otherwise. I'll either drive it so I'm within the 200 mile range, or pay the difference of the tow, which is pricey but fair when paying 20 of the 220 miles.

Thanks

 

My Tundra is a bit heavy w shell, bumpers, skids and sliders. It’s 5500 on the scale with me in it. A trailer adds weight too. Your Tacoma is spec’d to tow 3500-5000 lbs. So, this isn’t a materially less risky option to driving it in my book.

 

Out of curiosity how did you find that first gen tundra? What platforms were you using to search? Would love to find a good deal on one of those, sell my taco and make the tundra into a road trip camper

 

1st gen taco will do 5000lbs. 1st gen tundra is ~4000lbs on the light side… a Tacoma will not safely tow one. Can it do it? Probably. But would I do it? No

 

Months of hunting on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and sometimes Offer Up. I've always been a fan of Craigslist, and I hate facebook but it's where I found it. I think the most important thing is knowing exactly what you want/ are flexible with, and being ready to buy the car when you find it. In most markets, any good rig at a half decent price will maybe last 3 days. Great ones last maybe a few hours.

 

Nope. Rent a U-Haul truck to pull the car hauler.

 

I wouldn't worry about the timing belt. Really, tires are the big concern but you have a spare on yours. You have a bud, right?