What Can I Tow?

[Shroom]

Hey All (Everyone say hi to the new kid)

I've got a 1992 Surf SSR-G 2.4 TD. So far I've had to change the cylinder head, exhaust, radiator, and Turbo (It's the most expensive cheep car I've ever bought!) But I bought it from a private sale and didn't get it checked over first so it's my own fault and I've learnt an expensive lesson in life!

Anyway. Having finally got my beastie running properly, I was wondering what the towing capacity is on it? I'm looking to get my trailer towing test and a tow bar fitted to my Surf so I can tow boats and horses around. However, it's going to cost me a small mint to get all this and I don't want to go through it all to find my surf won't tow the weight.

Could anyone help me, or point me in the right direction?

PS. I wish I'd found this site sooner. There's some great stuff on here. Would have helped me out heaps! Better late than never anyway. Thanks

[TonyN]

Its a unanswerable question, US 4Runners are rated at 1500kg, there is no data for Surfs, Toyota UK's answer for UK 4Runner varies between 1500 and 2200 depending on what dealer you ask, so they don't know.

The average truck weighs 2050kg, so you don't really want to be exceeding that.

[kiowa]

A landrover

[tinyone]

toyotas can tow most things and sometimes have too much pull! (my 3.0l pull off an awdc safari car's towing eye and it was rated!)

the question is what it can tow legally on the road and there is no definite answer but as a guide roughly 85% of the trucks weight but you can tow up to 100% of it's weight so around about 2 ton should be alright

[mick19691]

how much can she tow

i have a 1992 2.4 i once towed my brothers freelander 22miles i dont know how much weight is in it but i didnt feel as if i was towing anything most of the time
mick

[rodthrutheblock]

I pulled my 14' Ifor Williams loaded with 3 tonnes of Ash tree (piled 3 ft over the sides) home 20 miles, the trailer weighs nearly a tonne. I also moved a LWB V8 Land Rover Station Wagon 40 miles just before Christmas, so again probably close to 2 1/2-3 tonnes all up.
The truck will tow it, but the Surf suspension and chassis is not ideal for this and it can be a bit heart in mouth at times, which is never ideal towing and probably (almost certainly) illegal.
I have fitted an on-board compressor and air bags to the rear suspension which helps a lot.
Not exceeding the weight of the tow vehicle with the weight of the trailer is a good general rule and one worth sticking with if you value staying the right way up. Land Rover Defenders and I think Land Cruisers are, I think one of the few 4x4s that can legally tow 3.5 tonnes.
The Surf should be fine towing a horse box or a boat trailer but I would recommend stronger rear springs (Milners 20% stronger seem to be a popular choice on here) or air bags inside the original rear springs.
BTW if I keep having to tow loads like this, I will just have to buy a Land Cruiser..........

[tinyone]

oh and if you are towing up very steep hills or towing a lot with heavy loads fit an intercooler and a transmission cooler and a proper oil cooler.

saying that I have just towed a 16ft ivor williams all the way down to swansea 60-80miles at a steady 40-50mph and towed a 1ton vitara back with almost no problem (doesn't like it out of overdrive at 3000rpm 50mph for long times)

[coolsv650]

oh and if you are towing up very steep hills or towing a lot with heavy loads fit an intercooler and a transmission cooler and a proper oil cooler.

saying that I have just towed a 16ft ivor williams all the way down to swansea 60-80miles at a steady 40-50mph and towed a 1ton vitara back with almost no problem (doesn't like it out of overdrive at 3000rpm 50mph for long times)

mine used to overheat the trans oil, with only a light caravan on I put on a secondary oil cooler (was actually an engine oil cooler from an MGB) which solved the problem.

I've had a twin axle car trailer with another surf on the back tows ok but struggled on hills. I find over 3000 rpm out of lock up mine overheats, but I haven't worked out a fix for that yet!

[The Lovely Boyo]

I've used my 2.4 to tow the horse box countless times. Whilst a bit gutless on some of the bigger hills of South Wales, it never failed me.

Ivor Williams 515 trailer + two ponies = 1700kgs. Throw in all the tack, 2 kids, weekend camping gear and games equipment and you could add another 250kgs.

However, I have done several mods to help keep the engine cool -

1. Fitted an intercooler
2. Fitted a transmission cooler (has helped off roading too)
3. Binned the air con (reduces engine load and aids air flow)
4. Fitted a body lift (allows better air flow around the tranny)
5. Ripped all the rubber skirts off the wheel arches.

What is nice about towing with a Surf is the long wheelbase keeps everything smooth. I've always switched the O/Drive off on long hills to stop the gearbox from hunting, and then just take it easy.

Keep it steady and you'll be fine.