The OEM springs are far from f250, everything else under there is though. OEM is called family package for a reason. Set up right they are great tow'ers.

Hi, All. Been a little while since I posted here but thought I’d add my info. I’ve towed my 23’ travel trailer about 20k miles since I’ve had my T4R. For reference, the trailer is about 3200lbs dry and 3600 full of everything. Like everyone else, I highly recommend airbags and a WDH. I use both.

My contribution to this thread is that I also installed 4.56 gears. Since the gear swap, towing is definitely better. However, you will definitely notice the higher rpm and loss of mpg. It’s been just over a year since I’ve had the gears installed and I lose about 1.5mpg during the summer and closer to 2-2.5mpg in the winter. I have a theory that in addition to the crap winter fuel, the recommend viscosity gear oil hurts, because I notice a difference with change in outside temps (same drive and season). This is all while NOT towing.

Anyhoo, during towing, my mileage is about the same. You can’t really tow any faster, or expect that you’re going to be able to use 5th gear (although you can a little bit), but everything is a lot nicer. It’s a Toyota, so it’s happy to rev a little bit higher all the time. There is a noticeable improvement to acceleration and just getting out of your own way. Sorry, I did not take before and after 0-60 times.

My final version of the T4R is to get 34x10.5 tires (maybe the 285/70 load C) before my truck succumbs to the salt here in Syracuse. With that combo, the calculators would give me a 7% increase in mechanical ratio, vs the 15% I have now with stock size tires. Im running load E tires and the decrease in weight and taller tires may actually push me back towards “normal”mpg. And I’d still have better towing.

Would I do gears again? Yes, just sooner. If you’re contemplating a lift or bigger tires and you tow, it should be very high on your list.

Cheers,
Nate


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@ShooterF16 , thanks for the insightful post. I've contemplated a regear myself, but man, don't know that I could stomach a 10-15% hit on the gas mileage... that's rough! It sucks bad enough as it is, 15-16 mpg since we drove it off the lot.

Mines got just over 110k miles and is well broken in. On a normal tank I get 17.0mpg, which includes about a 50/50 mix of city and highway. I can still get 19mpg on the freeway if I set the cruise on 60-65. MPG get way worse once I start going 70 and above. Since most of my highway miles are commuting, I’m going 70-ish to keep up with traffic and avoid road-ragers.

I’d expect your mpg to get better if you’re still breaking it in and it’s on stock tires and lift


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I just got back from towing my buggy 8hrs with my T4R and was really skeptical about it. I put a brake controller in and loaded it up! It towed ok, better than expected. I had to stop about 2 hrs in and pull the buggy back about a foot to lessen some tongue weight and that helped a lot. Trailer is a 18' 7k lb Trail-Load that weights ~1800lbs empty; buggy weights 3220, trail ready. I'm sure with tools, loaded with camping gear I was over the 5k rating, but it did really well all things considered. It's mostly flat here in MN so I just took my time and made sure the trailer brakes were dialed in. I'd do it again without hesitation.

2.5" leveling kit in the front with 285/75/17 KO2's load E.

I just realized I didn't take any pics of the truck / trailer together from this trip.

Thanks Off2Mtns!! I will keep the WDH hooked up and will make airbags a priority. Hopefully I can get this thing leveled out better. I know I'm towing near max w/ my 22' Evo T1850 w/ dual-axle.

Thanks for the tips. I'll have to pull into one of those DOT scales the next time I hook up. I'm very curious as to what my actual weight is.

The wife and I are taking a vacation down to Lake Lanier in Georgia so thought I would take her 5th Gen on a few test runs with my 21' Triton, I was thinking I could save some stops for fuel. Long story short, I think I'll be better off pulling it with the Tundra considering it pulls the boat like it's not even back there and I'm thinking I'll be lucky to get 10 MPG with the strain on the 4Runner.

Towed pretty decent, but really missed my Tundra.

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The 4Runner is probably getting a reprieve from towing duties.
Wife bought an Armada Saturday. Might as well use the biggest hammer in the toolbox.
Think it will do ok towing a pop up?

When you say 3500# are you talking about Dry Weight? Or talking about incl water tank full + luggage.

Full. I would not want to tow over 3500# with the 4Runner.

I am using Fit System 81850 Snap and Zap Tow Mirror Pair (2015 and Up F150) for tacoma. That would I guess fit for you too.

Late to the game but I regularly tow my 19” ski boat with no problems, in addition to a 22” sailboat and 18” glastron (not at the same time) Lol.


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I'm sure I was way over the limit, but we made the 4 hour trip successfully...

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