anyone tow with a early 90's toyota 4 cyl?

[89sandman]

with gas almost $4 a gallon is getting hard to justify my 7mpg beast. bought a little 93 toyota 4x4 standard cab with a blown motor. am almost done putting the rebuilt in it and trying to decide if i should keep this or get a dakota with a v-8. my questions are if you have a truck like this can you tow a sled up the hill with like a 6x12 open trailer? what about 2 sleds? the tires are stock size. do they have enough power to run 4 high up the hill while towing? brakes good enough coming down the hill? any suspension/performance upgrades needed? what kind of mpg are you guys getting? figure the toy will have better mileage but sure sometimes will end up wanting to tow 2 sleds up the hill and not sure if it can do it...

 

[Highmarker]

I am sure it would be pretty slow going!!

 

[MACH]

Had a 94 Geo prism that i bought for a commuter. It was my grandpas and when he died I bought it from my grandma. We used to haul the boat 300 miles to fish in the summer on our trips and always to the lake on the weekends.

I sold it to a buddy who is still driving it with almost if not more then 200K on it and no problems. He had a 2 place trailer with 2 sleds on it about a month ago.

Said he probably wouldn't go down the highway with it though.

 

[AZ800]

Had a '90 4Runner w/ the 22R 4cyl, 5sp and it would barely keep highway speeds up the CO mtn passes (8-10kft), had to downshift every time. I pulled my 2pl open trailer with it once, 2 sleds and I was down to 30-35mph, 2nd to 3rd gear on the bigger grades. Durability and size, I think a Toy would do ok for you, just don't plan on racing anyone to the hill!
Oh and it did OK on fuel, maybe 18-20mpg empty.

 

[OREGON700RMK]

He's always late getting to the hill anyway so it won't matter. I think he waits for us to tear it up so he can follow our tracks over the top.

 

[mngoat]

I tow with a 4 cyl. italian diesel that gets 27mpg with two sleds behind at 70 MPH.

 

[Good to Go]

FWIW...

had an 88 (I know, it's not an early 90's, but same engine) with the 22r, 5sp..

Towed a 16' with an inboard for several years. I think the boat weighed in at 3500 or 4000. Really can't remember.

But, she did fine. You won't set any race records. I'd drop to 4th pulling Snoqualmie pass, but could usually hold it at 55-60. Two sleds is going to be lighter no doubt.

7mpg???? Hell, my 550 get's 9. Loaded. Up hill.

Ouch.

 

[Mafesto]

It will handle a single fine.
2 place? Well I sure don't want to be the poor suckers stuck behind that $hitbox going over a pass!
The mpg on a fullsize isn't much less, especially when you look at what you can do with it.

 

[HawkShot99]

I tow with a Honda CRV. 2.0 Lt. 4 cyl. with a 5 spd. Mostly just tow my mower trailer. 600 lb. trailer with big heavy comercial mower on it, plus lots of other crap.

Many years ago it towed a real big wooden trailer with a lawn tractor and commercial mower on it very often with ease.

I dont take it up in the mountains, and would nbot win any races, but I get by just fine. And get 22 MPG with The first trailer listed.

 

[89sandman]

He's always late getting to the hill anyway so it won't matter. I think he waits for us to tear it up so he can follow our tracks over the top.

i need your track to poach wouldn't want to embarass myself in front of the poo crowd thanx for the replys, will have it running today and will be using it at least for the summer. first weekend since december i won't be riding, how sad