Small pickup that can be towed 4 down

[pa_traveler]

Want to start looking for a small pickup preferably automatic but standard if necessary.Any make just so it can be towed 4 down. When going to used car lots im sure they wont know which can be towed. So if anyone tows one or knows we would appreciate make model year standard or auto. I would like to put a cap on it ,good for storage possibly rack for kayak thanks. Once I know two or three makes I will start looking.

[deltamaster]

gasguzler wrote:
I went through this with my 2012 Tacoma 2wd base with auto trans. Best solution for me was an 8x20 car hauler trailer. No wear and tear on the truck, nothing to worry about. Takes 20 min to load and unload and disconnect the trailer. Tow it behind my class A gasser.

Trailers and tow dollies are options, the thing is that there is not always a place to put such things at the camp site. I have seen people tuck dollies up under the rear of the rig but normally I see them in the grass or bushes behind the camp site and when I was hosting I had to ask them to move the equipment off the grass. That always started an argument that I had to walk away from. Then I had to be the bad guy and report it to the ranger when they came in to the park otherwise I get in trouble.

Trailers... seems like there is never a good place to park a car trailer in a camp ground. Every single camp ground that I have been to has had no place for a trailer such as the one you describe. Sites are too small for the RV, vehicle AND the trailer and then never seem to have a place to store them.

As far as I am concerned... for me... it has just been and it seems to be MUCH simpler to be able to tow four down without extra equipment.

[gasguzler]

I went through this with my 2012 Tacoma 2wd base with auto trans. Best solution for me was an 8x20 car hauler trailer. No wear and tear on the truck, nothing to worry about. Takes 20 min to load and unload and disconnect the trailer. Tow it behind my class A gasser.

[j-d]

The last of the Rangers, so long as they have a way to get into Neutral, is probably the best bet in a compact truck for toad. The darn things just ride hard and the suspension's not the best. But as a little truck, they're really good. We wanted an extended cab, and the way the options worked on Ranger, getting the Frontier (all of which have been built with extended cab since the mid-2000's) seemed like the better choice. As a Driver/Traveler, absolutely. As a Utility/Toad, not so much. By 2009, when we bought ours, the Frontier, Tacoma, and Colorado/Sonoma had all gone "mid size."
BTW, if you like Cold A/C, I've never experienced Colder than a standard cab Ranger!

[deltamaster]

imgoin4it wrote:
chevy colorado 4x4, GMC equilivant and dodge dakota 4x4. Not sure any of these are sold new any more. Dakota for sure is not. Some foreign models, all manual trannys may be able to be towed in neutral, This is a good start,

You need to be careful with the Dakota if you want auto tranny. Some of the 4X4 transfer cases can not be set in a neutral position.

I just bought a 2002 4 door Dakota 4X4 and there is a sequence that has to be done to disengage the transfer case. It is clearly outlined in th owner manual under the section "Recreational Towing".

[tankgod82]

Just make sure you tow it in neutral. Saw a class A towing his ranger 4 down and had left the truck in gear. By the time we got in front of him to stop him both his back tires were flat and smoking.

[Garino]

Purchased a 2014 Nissan Frontier 4cyl 5speed manual 2wd. Owners manual says can flat tow in neutral. Run motor a few minutes every 500 miles. This probably takes care of output shaft lubrication. Getting set up to tow my parts are on order.

[traveylin]

You will get lots of recommendations but the truth is the supply of small pickups tow able 4 down took a big hit in 2012 when all three major us mfg decided not to make a small truck any more. This has been my year to buy a new toad and I have studied the issue for the last year. My solution today was to identify the exact mfg, model, cab, drive, color, trim and mileage and wait for Carmax to meet the requirements exactly. You won't find it in a new model but 1-2 years old with mfg warranted is close. Car max has a large inventory and the cost is standing for the transportation to a dealer near you inventory nationwide. I made the purchase today


pops

[Mortdd]

I flat tow a 2011 Ford Ranger with 5 speed tranny. Works great. All you have to do is put it in neutral and turn the key to unlock.

[Captain_Happy]

2010 Ford Ranger, 4.0 liter, manual tranny, over 15,000 towing 4 down, still going strong.

[mowermech]

Don't for a minute believe that ALL manual transmission vehicles can be towed four down in Neutral! Many will not properly lubricate the transmission output shaft bearing, and damage will eventually occur.
The same goes for 4X4 vehicles with a Neutral position on the transfer case shifter. MOST are towable four down, but some are not, again, due to lubrication failure.
Find the Owners Manual for the vehicle you are interested in, and look for a section titled "Recreational Towing". If it can be towed, the instructions will be there. Of course, you can, as many people have done, just take your chances. good luck.
Nearly all Jeeps since the late 1970s/early 1980s are towable four down. As always, there ARE exceptions, so, again, read the Owners Manual.

[pa_traveler]

Wow alot to consider, thanks for replys,not so simple to just tow something.Now I can put these on an index card and when I get time try and hunt something down that can be used.This is way better than not having any idea of what to be looking for. Now just to locate a decent truck ,thanks

[Hank85713]

I have 94 ranger sc with the manuaol trans. Book says it can be towed no restrictions, the automatics cannot be towed per the owner manual. However it weighs in at around 37-3800 lbs with 3/4 tank fuel.

older tow guides indicate that the rangers weigh about 3000, guess that would be standard cab with 4 cyl.

I have a cross bed box installed and plan to add a cover to keep stuff in the bed if I want to. So will get up around 4K I think. Just not ready to buy another vehicle just to have one to tow.

[samsontdog]

I towed a Toyota P/Up 4 cy, 4 speed behind my MH for close to 40K miles, no problems

[j-d]

Late model Nissan Frontier Transfer Case doesn't have a Neutral. It's a manual TC, which should be good, but as I recall has only 2H, 4H and 4L. That rules out towing the 4WD Automatic, the 4WD Manual tows in 2H, which works out about like towing the 2WD Manual. In both cases the Transmission is of course in N.