1986 towing
- Thread starter MOguy
- Start date
Adventurous
Explorer
Sure. I don't see why not. You won't set any land speed records but it should do it no problem.
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
IIRC the factory bumper on my '91 did say 3500 lbs and I believe that's what it said in the manual, too. The irony is that the truck is probably strong enough to pull more but it's just so light that the trailer will outweigh it pretty quickly. Not to mention how slow it would be. I have a 5x8 utility trailer similar to yours and it hauled a 1000# garden tractor without much complaint and I'm fairly sure that was more weight than a few kayaks.
Crenshaw
Adventurer
No problem, I tow my fully loaded raft trailer with my '89 pickup on a semi daily basis in the summer. I had a 14' camper for a brief moment also that towed fairly well, but was definitely on the upper end of what felt comfortable. It was probably 3000 lbs or so, but maybe more- I don't really know for sure.
MOguy
Explorer
Thanks for the replies. That truck isn't setting any land speed records without a trailer. Most of the areas will be relatively flat.
The bumper is not the stock one. I am confident enough in the bumper but I will have to make sure it is attached to the truck adequately and I will also have to do something about mount the hitch ball sits in. There is a tab on the bumper with a hole sized for a hitch ball but they my have to be reinforced.
It is my son's truck. We do allot of floating and trailer camping. I would like to combine them but that will require two tow vehicles with trailers. I have a 4Runner for the camper and as you can see in my photo I have a wrangler for towing. My son turns 16 in May and want to help shuttle the Kayaks with his truck, my wife refuse to pull a trailer.
The bumper is not the stock one. I am confident enough in the bumper but I will have to make sure it is attached to the truck adequately and I will also have to do something about mount the hitch ball sits in. There is a tab on the bumper with a hole sized for a hitch ball but they my have to be reinforced.
It is my son's truck. We do allot of floating and trailer camping. I would like to combine them but that will require two tow vehicles with trailers. I have a 4Runner for the camper and as you can see in my photo I have a wrangler for towing. My son turns 16 in May and want to help shuttle the Kayaks with his truck, my wife refuse to pull a trailer.
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
If you're planning on towing with it much or intend to maybe 'wheel it (recovery point) you could invest in a receiver hitch. Should be a couple hundred and then there's no question. I actually had a Marlin rear bumper on mine with a 2" receiver and although Marlin didn't rate it for towing due to liability, it was a lot nicer than using a ball on the bumper.
Edit, like this. A Curt for $176.
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Toyota/Pickup/1986/13086.html?vehicleid=1986997201
Edit, like this. A Curt for $176.
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Toyota/Pickup/1986/13086.html?vehicleid=1986997201
MOguy
Explorer
That hitch may be a good option instead of trying re-enforce the current bumper. I would have to see who that hitch mounts. I wonder if the current bumper would be in the way of that hitch.
For a recovery point I would rather just go to the frame. But coming up with good recovery points is on the list of thing to get done. I have to check into seeing if any cross bracing of the frame should be done when it comes to recover points.
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
If this Curt is like ones I've seen it will work with the stock bumper, the receiver sitting below it. It sandwiches between the bumper brackets that are bolted to the frame and probably uses the extra slots on the under side of the frame (if memory serves). It's a solid mounting, at least as good as the bumper itself.
As for it being a recovery point, I personally don't have a problem using a decent frame-mounted receiver hitch but I understand your concern. I'd feel better if it wasn't 3 pieces bolted together, that's for sure.
Drawtite makes a welded receiver that I'd probably get if it was me. It's a bit more, tho.
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Toyota/Pickup/1986/75031.html?vehicleid=19862316
As for it being a recovery point, I personally don't have a problem using a decent frame-mounted receiver hitch but I understand your concern. I'd feel better if it wasn't 3 pieces bolted together, that's for sure.
Drawtite makes a welded receiver that I'd probably get if it was me. It's a bit more, tho.
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Toyota/Pickup/1986/75031.html?vehicleid=19862316
Crenshaw
Adventurer
I went through this same process with my truck a few years ago as it lacked a receiver and the bumper was this horrible cobbled together thing- it had a receiver built in but I hardly trusted it with anything significant.
I finally gave up on buying a legitimate reciever (i.e. one that isn't 3 pieces and a ton of bolts) and just bought a trail gear bumper. Like Dave's Marlin, it's not technically rated for towing but is plenty stout.
I finally gave up on buying a legitimate reciever (i.e. one that isn't 3 pieces and a ton of bolts) and just bought a trail gear bumper. Like Dave's Marlin, it's not technically rated for towing but is plenty stout.