I love my toy truck, original owner, and it's taken me some wonderful places over a dozen years and 140k miles. That said, even with the 3.0 engine that I'm getting a set of o/s valve heads put on, I've found the best way to tow a boat.

It's called a 3/4 ton truck with a turbo diesel.

I towed a 14' heavily loaded trailer from CA to AK with my toy truck, and while it did make the trip <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> it was far from the best vehicle for the job.

If you want a kick azz offroading rig <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> none finer than a toy truck. If you want to haul loads, that's a job for a fullsize with some torque under the hood.

Well said Omega. I'd definitly say a full size is safer and hauls a heck of a lot easier.
I tralier a boat twice a year so It's not worth the hassle of owning and insuring a second rig for those two weeks out of the year I'd use it.
Pickup might be too light,never tried it.The 4Runners are pretty damn heavy to begin with and little if any frame flex.

I pull an 18' Alumaweld a few times a year with my 88' pickup...and as you know Kitsap County isnt the flattest area of Washington. I have no problems maintaining speed (ok so its not a stock engine) and only have to start braking a little earlier to prevent problems when needing to stop. You wont break any land speed records with a 22RE towing, but you won't be holding up much traffic either.

~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

HMM. thats motivation. I would be using it every weekend, headin out to mason lake, Long lake and such. I dont have the boat yet, but i am going to go and hook up my friends boat this weekend and see were i need to go from there. He has pretty much the same boat that i would be getting. He uses a 96 landcruiser to tow, it has 33's no gears, but he does have about 80 more ponies, and another 2k in lbs. HIs is stock besides a OME lift and some bolt on stuff. Just wanted to see if this is feesible or not. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Also what bumper will let me use the stock location of the spare, function and look good, and must have a nice receiver. I am glad i am not to picky. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I cant recall what brand my bumper is. Standard double tube that bolts to factory location on the frame rails with some cross bracing from the reciever to the mounting plates/brackets. Looks good, functions...and is legal. My uncle was the original owner of the 88' and used to tow an 18' Boston Whaler Outrage with it. Never any problems there....but was a biatch towing over Snoqualmie...which is how I ended up with the truck. (He went FERD, but has since switched back to the good side by purchasing a new Tundra <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />) I was with him once when the tralier came off the ball while enroute to launch in Bellingham. The saftey chains went tight, the skid on the tongue bit into the pavement....the trucks assend lifted some, but we came to a controlled stop with no damage beside the bottom of the skid. Bellingham public works didnt get off so lucky. LOL

~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

Smitty built makes or made a dual tube bumber w/ 2" reciever hitch. I believe it's only rated to 2000# It's what I used to haul my likely 4000#'s of household posessions up here.

Personally I'm more concerned about coming to a stop then getting going. Definately get a boat trailer with breaks.

You'll have a huge increase in stopping distances, and my break rotors warped during the trip <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

The toy truck certainly can do it, but it isn't the tool for the job.

I have some questions about towing with an 89 22RE that just had a top and front end rebuild. I want to get a small boat and tow it with the yota. I have no idea what it can tow, but it has a new factory bumper rated at 3500. Pulling up the boat ramp, couldn't I use 4 low with the front hubs unlocked? I don't see why not, but I'm not well versed in the 4x4 area.

Yes, you can use 4 lo with the hubs unlocked.

From above:

The rear frame rails are light and flexy. I would use a separate hitch and bumper, and might even beef up the frame rails back there with square tubing were I you.

My 4Runner was well cared for in its prior life, but on at least one occasion it was used to tow something heavy... which bent the aforementioned frame rails. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

You think I would need to reinforce for an 18' boat? What about brakes? Engine? I need a manifold; would now be a good time to get headers/hiflow cat/bigger exhaust? I would likely augment with a cam of sorts. What about air filters or anything else fairly inexpensive to open up the li'l 22RE?