When the ol' trusty longbed finally reaches the great junkyard in the sky, should I just get trailer instead?

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck) 04/15/2018 at 17:49 • Filed to: Did you get that house yet? Did ya? Huh?!

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Bored and ignoring reality via pointless vehicle pondering. Anyway, I don’t know if there will be funds for a looong time for another pickup for when the unmentionable happens. So I’ve been scheming alternatives.

The IS300 can allegedly tow 2,000 lbs. I would use it for like moving appliances or going on my usual dump/yard waste runs (I’d say I do over 50 year with the longbed). Of course, many of the IS forum users are disgusted with the idea of using such a car as a workhouse, accelerating wear and whatnot. But I’m not talking 100 mile trips or anything under load.

Anyway, what say thee Oppo? Outside of one Ms. Mercedes, I can’t say I’ve ever seen any posts of oppos using regular cars to pull a trailer.

DipodomysDeserti > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 17:55

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Buy a sedan and tow it behind you Lexus.

WRXasaurus > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 17:55

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I wish I had a picture of my WRX pulling a two place snowmobile trailer with my old sled on it. It worked really well actually. However I finally got my Tundra so I removed that trailer hitch and harness.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 17:57

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It won’t go to a junk yard, it will go a stance bro.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DipodomysDeserti 04/15/2018 at 17:58

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TOO TOPICAL

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 17:59

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What’s the worst that could happen

Mercedes Streeter > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 18:00

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Dooooooo it! Towing trailers with non-trucks is fun! :D

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 18:08

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Simple answer is yes.

Given the choice between a conventional dual cab 4x4 ute with a postage stamp tray or a 4x4 5 seat wagon with a tow bar and a 10ft trailer... I would always take the latter

M.T. Blake > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 18:10

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I once saw a Nissan Hardbody jackknife and crash on the freeway when it was towing a flatbed with a 3/4 ton Suburban on it.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 18:11

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No. Buy this ‘79 sitting on an ‘02 Tacoma chassis with 88k miles instead:

https://austin.craigslist.org/cto/d/1979-toyota-2wd-restomod-2rz/6530129477.html

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > M.T. Blake 04/15/2018 at 18:14

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Well that doesn’t sound like a very good idea

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 18:24

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Utility trailers are almost superior to pickups for anyone that isn’t using them for work daily. I slapped a hitch on my old car and towed trailers to save over Uhaul van/truck rentals (which are by mile, while trailers are by day). Then again, if you’re doing 50 runs a year, that’s a lot of hitching and unhitching.

I want a receiver for my FoST, but the stupid center-exit exhaust is in the way. Haven’t found a truly excellent solution for working around it, but now I have an FIL with a large truck that we live near, so we’ve just been borrowing it when we need it.

M.T. Blake > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 18:26

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Everything seems fine, right up to the crash.

Tristan > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 18:27

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WHY do people swap heeeeeedious late-model plastic dashes into classics?

Tristan > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 18:32

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When i moved from Florida to Oregon, I towed a 6x12 cargo trailer behind my 2005 Magnum RT. The trailer was severely overloaded (I learned that about halfway through the trip when I had the combo weighed- 10,800 pounds), had no trailer brakes, and the Magnum had nearly bald rear tires. The car went from awesome to driving like it had 300,000 hard miles on it after that trip. Yep, it was stupid and reckless, and I’ll never attempt such a thing again.

But, as long as you’re not planning on severely overloading it and driving across a continent, it should be fine.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 18:40

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It ought to work fine. Just add an auxiliary transmission cooler.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Tristan 04/15/2018 at 18:43

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I assume they do it just because it fits and they can. I actually kind of like it here, but I’ve seen a lot of swaps that are pretty bad. Also could be the original dash was in rough shape.

Frenchlicker > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 18:45

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Time get out a cutting wheel and make a Ute.

bob and john > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 18:54

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I used our old A3 to haul motorcycles.

I wouldnt

M.T. Blake > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 04/15/2018 at 18:55

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When did Kenny Powers buy a Lexus? Please tell me it has a cheetah seat...!

kanadanmajava1 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 19:00

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Sedan towing power!

The project on the trailer is mine but the towing M-B belongs to my friend. And if you were wondering the combination was legal.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > bob and john 04/15/2018 at 19:04

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Go on

wafflesnfalafel > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 19:26

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Everybody I’ve ever known that buys a utility trailer never uses it. 94.3% of people that have trucks do use them fairly regularly according to my sources.

bob and john > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 19:45

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motor and brakes could handle it...but for the weight of the bikes, I felt it straining against the car. once or twice a year isnt bad. 50 times? fuck no

LOREM IPSUM > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 19:56

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Trailer seems like the most logical choice, if you can get past the receiver potentially mucking up the rear aesthetics.

Could always insure the long bed through Hagerty or the like, with an agreed value of 100 grand or so. That should cover ya. Kinda like longbed life insurance.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > M.T. Blake 04/15/2018 at 19:58

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When I towed my Corvair home I was unable to back it on. At about 57MPh, it was definitely not fine. Kept the speed low and the lane choice to the right.

TrickJos > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 20:33

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You should do it. I use a ‘94 Saturn for all kinds house related tasks. 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TrickJos 04/15/2018 at 20:36

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Detached garage behind a house! My favorite layout!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > bob and john 04/15/2018 at 20:37

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How much weight would you estimate that was with the trailer and two bikes?

TrickJos > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 20:44

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My favorite layout too. I hate how the front of so many houses is dominated by a giant garage door. I love garages, but they should be tucked away so they don’t spoil the look of the house.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TrickJos 04/15/2018 at 20:48

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And so that cars don’t clutter the look either, as they’d be tucked away, except for occasional guests.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > M.T. Blake 04/15/2018 at 20:55

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Yeah. I’m going to Google that, pretend I know what you’re talking about and say I have no clue.

bob and john > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 21:20

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1000LBS. 2x400lbs bike and 200lbs trailer

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > bob and john 04/15/2018 at 21:47

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Mmm. Good to know. I’d say most of my loaded are always less than 500, but a handful of them have been 900-1100

bltoe > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 22:17

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Is a beater truck unrealistic in the relatively near future?

I’ve been towing for a few years with my 2012 Mazda3 6mt skyactiv, sometimes more weight than I should, and wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again. However, I don’t think I’d make the same decision with a clean is300 I intended to keep long-term. The (potential) additional wear and tear wouldn’t be worth it to me, but this is obviously a very personal decision.

If you do decide to tow with the Lexus, I would keep the loads light, the speeds low, and the maintenance early.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > bltoe 04/15/2018 at 22:30

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Well, I bought my pickup years ago for 1,000 bucks, have put maybe 150 more into it, and used it for damn near everything. I know I will never land a deal that good again. I also like used pickups that are too expensive — T100, especially.

My IS is nowhere near the cleanest specimen, but it definitely feels too nice to work over. This is an alien feeling to me. I don’t even drink coffee in the damn thing. Tan interior plus I’m a clumsy fuck.

bltoe > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 22:42

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Tough dilemma! Is your IS the sportcross I believe I saw on here? I helped convince my buddy in college (~2006) to pick up a manual is300 and that was a fantastic car.

Somewhat on-topic, I picked up this ‘88 Comanche (4.0 5spd) last night for $1700. The Mazda will soon be off towing duty, which feels weird.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > bltoe 04/15/2018 at 22:45

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Oh man. Comanches are wonderful things.

Yes, I drive one of them there sportly crosses.

bltoe > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 23:14

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Hah! Took me a minute to think of what they called them. Black hitch might be a nice contrast to the purdy white.

shop-teacher > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/15/2018 at 23:27

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Aa long as you’re not doing something crazy, like moving where they use road salt, you’ll have the mortgage paid off before the longbed dies.

But yes, you can certainly tow a small utility trailer with the Spertcross. You’d want to get a lighter one than the one in your pic.

bob and john > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/16/2018 at 15:22

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yea, I wouldnt. I could feel the body of the car being pulled on and it wasnt very nice.

Get something body on frame for that