My aunt has recently purchased a new 2023 ORP and the REI edition Airstream camper trailer. This trailer has a dry weight of ~2,750 pounds and can go as high as 3,500 with cargo/water/etc…. She wants it lifted as she stays mostly in primitive campsites “boondocking” as she calls it. She travels all over CO, WY, MT, OR, ID. I’m going to set it up with the Bilstien 6112’s in the front and the 5160’s in the rear. She doesn’t do any high speed off-roading, nor does she need to worry about maintenance on Icons or Kings. I’m going to put a set of 255/80/17 on her stock ORP wheels. My main question here is for the rear springs. This vehicle will be driven 75%+ with the camper in tow behind it. She’s already stated that she doesn’t care if it rides a little rough. She just doesn’t want the ass end to sag. She has a stabilizing hitch that came with the camper. It appears to be well made. I was going to get the Bilstien B12 1.5” lift 400lb heavy payload package rear springs. Will these be good enough for this setup or should I look at something else? This is the heaviest spring Bilstien makes.

Any help would be appreciated.

Ok. Got it.
Thanks.

That T4R will tow 5,000 lbs. with 500 lb. weight on the hitch right out of the box. I'm sure it has plenty of clearance too, maybe more than the Airstream Basecamp. If there is a worry about sag that could be easily remedied with a weight distributing hitch. I use an Equalizer with my 23' and have no problems.

Attached Images

 

Might want to add a transmission cooler.

I would hope that if she were planning on pulling a trailer most of the time she would have gotten the towing package. Pulling the Airstream would also require a brake controller, frame hitch, larger alternator & battery, etc. Just my 2¢

We have towed a 5000 lb boat and trailer setup on weekly basis on over the last 7 years on two different 5th Gens. Tongue weight is a shade under 450 lbs, and usually just my wife & I in the truck. Rear Sag is a non issue for us, just reduces the built in Rake. (I would discourage Lifting or Leveling if planning to tow frequently.) I would also discourage 33’s for towing. Our fuel economy towing runs 10-11 MPG on level ground if we keep it under 65 MPH. No issues towing that weight here in Florida since Overpasses and Bridges our on only climbs. With the Airstream, the windage from towing a big box can be a concern, in particular if your Aunt wants to go fast. But the 4runner is ok towing these lighter weights as long as you are realistic about its limitations.

Agree on the brake controller, the OP says that his aunt has a stabilizing hitch but am curious if the stabilizer or weight distributing hitch will work with a lifted vehicle. already use a drop down on my hitch ball and would have to lower it more with a lift.

Sorry Presa, not trying to derail, know you said your aunt was wanting a lift.

We’ve got a 2020 ORP and a 16’ Caravel so the weight we tow is more than the REI version. I second the weight distribution hitch. We got our WDH installed when we picked up our trailer along with the brake controller. We’re in CA and I don’t think we could legally leave with the trailer without a brake controller, so they’re necessary even without that being a law. If your aunt has it lifted before getting the trailer then the WDH should be able to be fitted to accommodate that height. Our hitch can move up or down to fit different height vehicles. Even if she got it lifted after the trailer, it should be able to be adjusted.
I will add that mirror extensions were needed for us. I drove it home for 2 hours on pick up day without any mirrors and could hardly see behind me on the freeway. Given the Caravel is wider so it may not be needed for your aunt’s rig.
As for the springs, I only have stock springs but would guess those Bilstein springs would be fine. Tongue weight of our trailer is ~450 lbs so with the slightly lighter trailer and tongue weight, those springs should work fine. You can confirm the tongue weight of the trailer to double check so that any load/weight in the back of the rig is accounted for with the spring rate in addition to the tongue weight.

IMO - (having done lots of towing miles with my 4R) - Firestone Air Springs for the rear and a Curt Echo. Air bags install easily in an hour or two. No installation necessary for the Echo to control the trailer brakes.

That and a small air compressor is all you need.

A trans cooler could help, but is not necessary for a small trailer like that.

Good luck.

Handled my bigger trailer well. Only issue I really had was with power/gearing on the passes. I also had an F250, but usually still towed with the 4Runner because it's just so much easier to live with in the parks and around the places I want to go explore when we're camping. The 4R isn't a great tow platform, but it's perfectly well suited for a smaller airstream like your aunt has.

A brake controller is a must. You might be surprised as to how fast your brakes will wear without those trailer brakes. I hauled a light weight trailer w/no brakes with just a motorcycle on board to Florida once (truck not a 4runner) and had to do a brake job to make it back home. A lot of weight pushes you going down hills.