Toads

[Lumatic]

Looking for a small 4x4 for a toad. Reconditions?

[Kurtsara]

There are all kinds of them for sale, I don’t know where you live, but I see all kinds of vehicle vehicles for sale.

[ITSNO60]

I love my 2000 Jeep Wrangler TJ. The TJ was made from 1997-2006 and in it's basic form weighs under 3.600 lbs. It will weigh a bit less without the hard top and it will weigh a bit more if it's a Rubicon, Unlimited, or if it's lifted with bigger wheels. They are all 2 door but there is a back seat although small. Mine is all stock and a manual 5 speed and it tows very well behind my little 3.0 diesel.

It's a very simple vehicle in fact I just changed the oil a couple of hours ago, takes longer to clean up and dispose of the old oil than it does to actually change it. If you are mechanically inclined there isn't much you can't do yourself on a TJ with ordinary tools. The key is finding a rust free one, and knowing where to check for it before buying it. They can look good on the outside but the frame rusts from the inside.

The JK began in 2007 and are heavier, depending on configuration can be quite a bit heavier.

[ITSNO60]

If you want a really small 4x4 the Suzuki Samurai can be a good choice but hard to find and demanding high prices if in decent shape. They weigh just over 2,000 lbs but the last one rolled off the line 30 years ago and the total made for the US was under 200,000 so somewhat a collectible. Total TJs were close to 1 million.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by Kurtsara

There are all kinds of them for sale, I don’t know where you live, but I see all kinds of vehicle vehicles for sale.

I live in New Mexico

[vintage6t]

I use a 2006 Honda Element 4x4. 3,500 lbs, true shaft driven four wheel drive. Manual and automatic can both be flat towed. The back seats detach from the floor and swing up to the sides. That leaves a cavernous space in the back with a completely flat floor, becoming a cargo trailer when towing.

[Lumatic]

What would need to be done to get a Honda ready to tow?

[Gene]

With 4wd and awd there are few true neutral transmissions anymore. True neutral means you can tow flat—all wheels on the ground. If the transmission says "N" that doesn't mean it is a true neutral. Jeeps still make them I believe. There is a stick shift Tacoma that has a true neutral—probably not easy to find, but a more reliable vehicle than Jeeps.

Otherwise you have to either tow with a dolly (front wheels off the ground) or a trailer with the entire vehicle on it. That adds a lot of weight and expense.

Good luck with solving it. Because we don't go very far anymore, Barb follows me in the Subaru. We have nowhere to store a trailer and no desire to buy one either.

[vintage6t]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

What would need to be done to get a Honda ready to tow?

For flat towing the Element, if it's a manual then nothing. Just put it in neutral.

For an automatic, which I have, start it, move the selector to drive then neutral. Let it run for three minutes, then shut it off and leave in neutral for towing. Repeat after 800 miles.

Beyond that same as any other vehicle. Tow bar setup of your choice, wiring for lights and a brake controller.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by vintage6t

For an automatic, which I have, start it, move the selector to drive then neutral. Let it run for three minutes, then shut it off and leave in neutral for towing. Repeat after 800 miles.

I was told start the engine every 75 miles—that is to oil the entire transmission. Either way, doesn’t seem that good for the transmission.

[vintage6t]

Originally Posted by Gene

I was told start the engine every 75 miles—that is to oil the entire transmission. Either way, doesn’t seem that good for the transmission.

The procedure for automatics is right out of the owner's manual and is pretty well known among Honda owners. It's 800 miles not 75. What I did forget to mention is recommend top speed when flat towing the vehicle is 60 mph.

My real world experience is it does no harm to the transmission. My Element has over 200K miles on it, vast majority from driving not being towed. Flat towing it by the recommended procedure has caused no issues even in my high mileage vehicle.