2006 Sr5 V8: Can I Tow?

[robdog09]

Looking to tow the following setup. Its a RV trailer.

Trailer: Grey Wolf 24JS | Forest River RV - Manufacturer of Travel Trailers - Fifth Wheels - Tent Campers - Motorhomes
GVWR:7470 lb
Hitch Weight: 470 lb

My T4r: 2006 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Sport V8 4x4 Specs and Prices
GVWR: 6005 lb.
"Combined weight of occupants and cargo should not exceed": 950 lbs
curb weight: 4530

Based on these specs, and what Im reading, with the hitch weight about 470, that leaves me roughly 500 lbs of people, luggage, food, etc to put in the car.

Conclusion: I can tow this.

Pls help me confirm!

 

[AuSeeker]

Looking to tow the following setup. Its a RV trailer.

Trailer: Grey Wolf 24JS | Forest River RV - Manufacturer of Travel Trailers - Fifth Wheels - Tent Campers - Motorhomes
GVWR:7470 lb
Hitch Weight: 470 lb

My T4r: 2006 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Sport V8 4x4 Specs and Prices
GVWR: 6005 lb.
"Combined weight of occupants and cargo should not exceed": 950 lbs
curb weight: 4530

Based on these specs, and what Im reading, with the hitch weight about 470, that leaves me roughly 500 lbs of people, luggage, food, etc to put in the car.

Conclusion: I can tow this.

Pls help me confirm!

I say no you can't safely or comfortably tow that RV, for at least 2 reasons, first is the tongue weight is really more than a T4R can handle IMHO, second and more important is the total RV weight is more than the MAX that a V8 with the additional WDH can tow, the MAX is 7000 lbs. and I really wouldn't tow anywhere close to that MAX weight.

Even if you try and tow that RV you will have to modify the rear of your T4R with air bags or much heavier springs to support that tongue weight, you will not only need a WDH but also a heavy duty sway control device, and even with all that your T4R will have to tow it in 4th gear and may have to downshift to 3rd gear quite often.

I say this from my experience of towing much lighter and shorter trailers with my V8 T4R that are close too the MAX towing weigh.

 

[Fern]

Not enough vehicle to tow that trailer safely, and you'll probably overheat.

 

[importman]

Agree with the other posters. That's too much camper for the T4R. It's not worth the risk, both of damage or wear to the vehicle and the safety of you, your passengers and anyone else on the road. Just being realistic.

 

[robdog09]

Ok, thanks

Thanks everyone, appreciate the feedback. Ill abandon this effort, but do have a question:

So, what is the actual towing capacity of a V8 SR5 T4R? Manual says 7000 lbs. What does that even mean? The trailer is under 7000lbs GVWR, and the hitch weight will fit into the GVWR calculations of vehicle, so what am I actually able to tow?

 

[Terminator03]

Thanks everyone, appreciate the feedback. Ill abandon this effort, but do have a question:

So, what is the actual towing capacity of a V8 SR5 T4R? Manual says 7000 lbs. What does that even mean? The trailer is under 7000lbs GVWR, and the hitch weight will fit into the GVWR calculations of vehicle, so what am I actually able to tow?

I interpret that to mean that what you are towing, meaning trailer and all cargo/contents NEED to be less than 7,000lbs. to be towed safely. Now that is not considering tongue weight, brake control, and other factors that need to be worked out.

 

[AuSeeker]

Thanks everyone, appreciate the feedback. Ill abandon this effort, but do have a question:

So, what is the actual towing capacity of a V8 SR5 T4R? Manual says 7000 lbs. What does that even mean? The trailer is under 7000lbs GVWR, and the hitch weight will fit into the GVWR calculations of vehicle, so what am I actually able to tow?

Your SR5 V8 can tow 5000lbs as is....or so the owner's manual says...BUT even at that "as is" MAX I would still use/add all the upgrades I mentioned prior, plus one thing I neglected to mention is a trailer brakes controller.

Now for you to tow the MAX weight of 7000lbs you have to at the very least add a WDH device, a WDH device is a "Weight Distributing Hitch" that is installed on the trailer tongue and then hooks to your ball, which is a separate device than your V8 heavy duty hitch, it has to be then setup correctly, what this device does is transfers some of the weight to the front of the vehicle via the frame rails...but for that to work correctly as mentioned the device has to be adjusted/setup for the trailer you're towing and you have to learn how to do this setup, or pay someone to do it.

But as I mention prior IMHO 7000lbs is more than these T4R V8s should be towing even with all the upgrades I have mentioned.

I have towed 6000lbs with the mentioned upgrades but I won't do it again, now I draw the line around 5000lbs max and only if I have too.

 

[Terminator03]

Your SR5 V8 can tow 5000lbs as is....or so the owner's manual says...BUT even at that "as is" MAX I would still use/add all the upgrades I mentioned prior, plus one thing I neglected to mention is a trailer brakes controller.

Now for you to tow the MAX weight of 7000lbs you have to at the very least add a WDH device, a WDH device is a "Weight Distributing Hitch" that is installed on the trailer tongue and then hooks to your ball, which is a separate device than your V8 heavy duty hitch, it has to be then setup correctly, what this device does is transfers some of the weight to the front of the vehicle via the frame rails...but for that to work correctly as mentioned the device has to be adjusted/setup for the trailer you're towing and you have to learn how to do this setup, or pay someone to do it.

But as I mention prior IMHO 7000lbs is more than these T4R V8s should be towing even with all the upgrades I have mentioned.

I have towed 6000lbs with the mentioned upgrades but I won't do it again, now I draw the line around 5000lbs max and only if I have too.

That’s a good rule of thumb, which is why I waited a long time to find the right all aluminum car hauler trailer. The whole trailer only weighs around 1,200lbs., which will be perfect since my heaviest toy car is around 3,800lbs. If I had gone with a steel trailer, I would have been a lot higher. I also have dual axle brakes, controller, etc. I still haven’t tried it yet to know if I’ll need a weight distributing hitch setup like you mentioned, but I’ll certainly buy one of those too if it doesn’t feel right because sometime before spring I need to haul 2 of my convertible toys from MA to the bottom of GA to our other home, so I guess I’ll really get to put this setup to the test! I will likely do a separate trip to haul my Bridgeport mill and lathe down there as well, which combined, those machines weigh as much as most cars.

 

[Fern]

I'd keep it under 4k. Less if you plan to tow up and down grades. Too short a wheel base and the 4R doesn't weigh enough. I tow with a crewcab duramax that weighs over 8k pounds 300hp/520 lbs of torque and I'd feel 7k behind it.