Tow dolly... long distance.

I've got a V6 MT TRD/OR DCSB and I need to bring a 4300#/20' long car home, from Minnesota to Florida. About 1700 miles of mostly flatness along the way, and I'll be using a UHAUL car dolly.

Does anyone here have any personal anecdotal information to share about a tow like this, other than that the mileage is going to suck totally?

I just can't bring myself to trade out my beloved Yota for a bigger truck for the few times I need one.

 

Rent a truck for a week.

 

I totally thought this was going to be a thread about towing Dolly Parton around the country.

 

What kind of car?

I don't know if U-haul will rent you the dolly if you are honest with them.

Per U-haul:
Max capacity: 3450/FWD or 3900/RWD (vehicle being towed)
Empty weight: 750 pounds
Tow vehicle must weigh a minimum of 750 pounds more than the vehicle being towed.
The heaviest Tacoma has a curb weight around 4500 pounds.


Either way 5000 un-braked pounds behind you is going to make stopping range from interesting through challenging up to terrifying depending on how important the immediate stopping situation is.

If you do this keep your speed down, drive far ahead and allow yourself plenty of space between the vehicle ahead, this is always a PITA because everybody wants to be in that space you are trying to keep clear.
Try to pass through major traffic areas during off peak hours.

 

That's a pretty good bit of weight and momentum. Towing is one thing, stopping is another. If it were just 20 miles on back roads absolutely, but 1,700? I'd put that stress on a full-size rental truck.

https://www.google.com/search?q=3rd...HQIjCRUQrQIoBHoECAwQBQ&biw=1920&bih=937&dpr=1

 

Does the other vehicle have a hitch reciever? I can't recall what it's called but there's hitch reciever device that can lift another truck by the hitch reciever to tow it. That might be a bit dangerous in a Tacoma, depending on the weight of the towed vehicle.

 

Fair enough, it felt sketchy enough to ask.
Thanks for the replies

 

Towed my '12 VW Golf TDI on a dolly behind my '17 Taco back from the dealer about 100 miles home. All was well, but the whole outfit was a little squirrely and very slow up hills. Between MN and FL there shouldn't be any grades to write home about.

 

That would be a hard no for me. My tow dolly experience was only 5 miles with other mismatched cars. Felt like the towed car was ready to push my rear end past me.

 

Err...I know you already made your decision but just to add...Georgia is NOT flat. I towed a pretty heavy Uhaul through there from NJ (took a pit stop outside of Atlanta) and realized that pit stop was a mistake. SO many hills. Made for lots of necessary shifting.

What's wrong with this truck that you're buying that you can't just fly out and drive it home?

 

I mess with old boats a lot and travel 500 - 1500 miles to get one. I get it about the dolly and all. I have a small Tacoma and a full size 2500 in my garage. I still go to a local dealer and rent a Tundra or a Tacoma and go get boats. I have done both and the Tundra is best, hands down. Wear and tear and a new year model to drive for a short while. The Tundra does great. The Tacoma...I have dollied a Honda Accord on a dolly say maybe 100 miles and towed 4000 lb. boat/trailer. Tacoma does OK but on 1700 miles and through the Appalachain range (even the foothills of KY, TN, GA) I'd want the Tundra. Not even a second though on that. A week's rental is peace of mind, traffic manageable with power to go and importantly to stop. I live in east TN so I get to work the Tacoma unloaded up and down every day. Not much more than a grocery-getter for me. The tow dolly on a Tacoma will hinder your best scenario for safe driving.

US $0.02

.

 

Same truck as yours. I pulled a Mazda 3 about 700 miles over several mountain passes from MT to WA with the uhaul dolly. Some of the hills were tough (4th gear at 55mph), but I made it.

I say you'll be fine.

 

What is a 20’ long car?

 

Do yourself and other drivers a favor and don’t do this.

 

Terrible idea. At least get their car hauler so you have brakes. If you enter the true information on the uhaul website tho, they will not allow you to create the contract because they consider the Tacoma too small for the load.

 

I pulled this with my MT from colorado to Iowa. Zero problems and averaged 17 mpg

 

I wouldn't tow that heavy without proper trailer brakes. Regardless of tow vehicle/trailer setup, plan an extra day's travel and drive slower than you want to. The single biggest thing I've noticed to make towing more enjoyable/less stressful, is to never be in a rush. Make sure you have a buffer instead of a deadline, and get out and stretch your legs often.

Slower speed is also good if you check the trailer tires and they wind up only being rated for 55-60 MPH.

 

^^This. Leave your truck at home, fly up to MSP, pick up the car, and drive it home.

 

That car weighs like 2,500lbs? OP is talking about something almost 2x that weight.

 

a giant hoooptie!