what are some opinions on this,, any kind of "known" things about burning up transmission? i've heard the tranny is fairly bullet proof but not sure about towing something,, i will have to say,,going up any type of grade,, i can really feel and the 4runner is a fairly gutless toilet in the first place but any tpe of grade and the cruise control will have to keep the rpms up around 3500 to do 65 mph.

the trailer i occassionally pull is a small enclosed utility trailer,,, like you would see a landscaper pull,, title says dry weight is about 2500 which i think is high,,i put my atv in it which is right at 800 lbs, so plus other stuff,,,i would say the total weight is around 3400lbs

does anyone have a lot experience with 4runners,, like years,,,,what is long term affect of towing a smaller trailer? thanks

S mode is your friend here; locking out 5th is the first move to make.

It's not a heavier load but rather all the shifting that wears out a transmission, so drive to minimize shifts and to not make the shifts under load if possible.

I towed a ~5000lb trailer from OH to CO a couple years back with no issues. Yes, it took awhile to accelerate to highway speeds and I let off the gas at each shift to minimize stress. 4000rpm on the highway was the norm most of the trip and the engine oil analysis came out fine. Haven't touched the trans fluid yet though; that is coming up soon.

I towed a 5000 lb UHaul from AL to CO last week. I was nervous about it as it was my first time towing anything in my life.

I asked a bunch of guys on the FB groups and plenty of guys have done it and multiple guys tow 4000-5500 lbs regularly.

Just like he said above, throw it into S to avoid going into 5th gear. I believe if it goes into 5th it can allow OD to activate which is bad. Don't know anything about it but thats what I was told so I avoided it.

She definitely doesn't have the power so going up the mountains into CO she sttrruugggggllleedd but made it fine.

I've towed a 5x8 utility trailer loaded with stuff from Phoenix to Flagstaff many times. This route has long 6% grades and locations with strong cross winds where I have felt a wind sail effect (so be wary with your enclosed trailer). Read the section on towing in your owners manual, in particular the list of Cautions. Pay attention to weight distribution and do not use cruise control while towing. Practice stopping on an empty street to get a feel for increased stopping distance. Downshift on steep grades. I didn't use Sport mode (the towing section makes no mention of using sport mode while towing in my owners manual). I think using Sport Mode is a good recommendation as you are more heavily loaded than I was. Frequent towing requires shorter maintenance intervals.

I pulled an enclosed utility trailer across the country and over the continental divide when I had about 11k miles on the odo; it ended up being about a ton above the tow rating. Sitting at 270k miles now.

Pulled a utility trailer with a 4 seat Kawasaki Teryx from KC to W. South Dakota and back. No worries. The 4runner is not fast but it will get the job done.

Good to know. I have pulled a pop up trailer for many years that weighed around 3,000 lbs. with various Jeeps but nothing with the 4Runner yet. In a couple of weeks I'm towing a U Haul car trailer with a 1948 Willys from NY to NC. It will weigh around 4,500 lbs so I was wondering about this. I towed the exact same combo with my '05 Grand Cherokee with a 4.7 V8 and it was fine. I should be OK and I will keep it in S4 for sure. Thanks.

FYI it's not "Sport" but rather "Select" mode...no changes to shift patterns except the number indicates the highest gear the transmission will go to.

Locking out 5th keeps the transmission from shifting in & out of overdrive a million times.

yup keep it out of overdrive. higher rpms pushes fluids thru the cooler to keep the tranny fluid temps down. like you said, its gutless, but it'll be gutless forever. I wouldn't be worried.

From the 2020 owner's manual, page 197.

"■ Unbraked TWR*
1655 lb. (750 kg)
*: These models meet the tow-vehicle trailering requirement of SAE International per SAE J2807."

So anything over 1655 pounds really needs trailer brakes. Look it up.

http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/docum...f/OM35B54U.pdf

SAE J2807 has been around for a few years.

Fwiw, I looked it up.

"The SAE J2807 test procedures are designed to level the playing field in trailer tow ratings for all vehicles model year 2013 or later."

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"and the 4runner is a fairly gutless toilet in the first place"

Sure buddy, whatever you say. Sheesh.

I’m towing a small-ish camper with axle weight of just under 4,000 lbs with WDH and EBC. I would not tow anything over 3,000 lbs without brakes.

Transmission temps go up to 210F even staying out of OD (4th gear tops, sometimes downshift). I’m adding a Derale transmission cooler soon.

You can add a transmission cooler. Makes me feel a lot better. Cheap insurance to help it out.
Transmission Cooler - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

And a brake controller that isn’t a bulky goody looking one

Redarc brake controller install - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

I’ll be pulling a 3,000-3,500 lb travel trailer soon with 2 small kids, wife, supplies yadda yadda. I will be using a blue ox weight distribution hitch and I have total confidence.

I've hauled my LL travel trailer all over the place with no problems. It weighs in a 2000 pounds but the 4R still dogs on the hills but I'm in no hurry. On flats no problem with 75mph. I run a tranny cooler and when towing I use Mobil 1 0-30 per extreme use recommendation. I also have Airlift 1000 installed to keep it level.

As far as the transmission goes, I would bet that the 5000-pound rating that Toyota puts on the 4Runner is conservative. 5000 pounds is likely what the vehicle can tow consistently (if not quickly). And you're well under the rating for that transmission.