Alternate TOAD ideas?

[Brian Diehl]

I'm toying around with the idea of picking up another vehicle specifically for towing behind the bus.  I'd like to get something that will hold 4 people in relative comfort, is light, and towable 4 wheels down.  Older is better and since I want to tow 4 wheels down a manual transmission is almost a given.

I'm considering an older Jeep Wrangler.  I believe they tip the scales around 3200 lbs, are 4x4, and are relatively cheap.  Would be great if I could find an older wrangler with a diesel engine!

Any other vehicle ideas?

As a point of reference I currently tow my 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee.  It tips the scales at 5000 lbs.  I'd like to tow something smaller and lighter.  I can notice the difference between towing with the Jeep and without.  I'd like to lighten the load so to say.

[luvrbus]

Do your home work most 2 wheel drives with a manual transmission cannot be towed four down,I destroyed 2- 5 speed manual transmission in my 1989 Jeep pickup before I read the manual.A 5000 lb Jeep is heavy my Army issue Humvee only weighs 5200 lbs   
   

[Brian Diehl]

A 5000 lb Jeep is heavy my Army issue Humvee only weighs 5200 lbs   
   

Yeah Clifford - it is heavy and the fuel mileage it gets proves it!  However, it tows very heavy loads easily.  Not as good as having a truck, but a decent compromise.

[travlinman]

We used a 4x4 Toyota Pickup as our toad until this year when it met its end on an icy road. You must get a manual trans, manual transfer case and most important manual hubs. Run with the transfer case in neutral and no problems. I am currently looking for another but they are hard to find in good shape.

Cheers

TM

[Geoff]

I tow 4-down a 2005 GMC crew cab Canyon. 

--Geoff

[kyle4501]

Not all 4x4 transfer cases can be towed - Depends on what needs oiling & how it gets oil.

[Scott & Heather]

I know this isn't "light" or "small" but we absolutely love our 1998 Land Cruiser 100 series as a TOAD. Transfer case in "neutral", key in "ACC" and we're off. This is one of the most comfy and capable SUV's out there. The build quality is very high. V8 gets 18-19 depending on how you drive.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

We tow an 87 Jeep Wagoneer 4x4 with an auto tranny,  weighs just under 4000 lbs.  The Wagoneer is basically just a little bit fancier Cherokee.   

[skihor]

We towed an '01 Chevy tracker 4 x 4/auto. Transfer case in neutral. Trans in park. key 1st click for free steering. Factory recomended starting every 200 miles. I did have some battery trouble on long trips. the key on the first click/acc had a drain. I put a charge wire in, (used the power wire in the plug), and that solved it
Don & Sheila

[Dave5Cs]

95 S-10 extra cab chevy pickup with 2.2 RWD and manual tranny. Key to ACC. shifter in "N" E-brake off. I over fill the tranny a little with ATF dextron III as per book. Most front WD have to be up off ground trailer or on a dolly. Some RWD can also be on a dolly backwards if needed for lack of tranny bearing lubrication.

[daddyoften]

Be careful with the Toyotas towing them. I had an 82 and when you put the t-case in neutral it connected the front and rear drive lines together. The t-Case was in neutral but the 4x4 part of it was engaged so when the rear wheels turned from being towed the front drive line also turned. I found this out the hard way when the front drive line came flying off at my buddy following me =-O. BTW this was with the front hubs disconnected. I eventually made a duel stick modification so I could hit neutral without the 4x4 part engaged to flat tow it. The truck was built for rock crawling and I would flat tow it to the hills.
I'm going to tow our sprinter behind our bus and use a drive line disconnect setup with a cable to unhook it.
Eric

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[Scott & Heather]

^ that's a bummer. Original poster, keep this in mind. I know for sure the LC 100 series is towable. We've had a lengthy discussion on our club forums about this and had several people test it successfully over the long term. Can't vouch for other models though.


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[Lee Bradley]

I have seen a lot of Suzuki toads.  We bought a Honda CR-V because it is tow-able with the automatic transmission. 

[Lin]

"99 Jeep Cherokee.  It's a good deal lighter than the Grand Cherokee.  Just put the transfer case in neutral and the transmission in Park.  I leave the key on ACC also.  But I think that although there will be a difference in towing 1500 pounds less going up steep hills, it will not make any real difference on the flats.  Our fuel mileage is significantly better without the toad, but I suspect that this may be more due to the difference in wind turbulence than merely the extra weight.  If you really want to feel some improvement, you may need to drop down to something in the 2000# range.

[bs4104]

Brian:
May I give you a diferent alternate way of going about it.
Keep the Jeep you have &
Pull out the old 11 and replace it with a new N14.
Just add one foot to the back.
Been there done it. Bruce