2011 SR5 Hitch Tongue Weight Limit

[scooterman]

Hello,
This is my first post here. We just bough a 4Runner last night. So far so good. My wife is loving it. I have a question though.

I did a search but couldn't find info specific to my vehicle.

I need to know what is the maximum tongue weight limit of the 2011 SR5 4Runner hitch receiver.

I'm looking at carrying two scooters on a rack that uses the hitch. All I could find in the manual is the 5000lb hauling capacity.

The 5000lb hauling capacity doesn’t help me because with the rack I’m looking at, I’m not actually pulling a trailer. The weight of the carrier and the two scooters rides on the hitch and the vehicle suspension. I looked at the book but could not figure out the math they were using. I don’t want to risk $5000 worth of Vespas all over the highway.

Thanks for your help
Stephen

 

[philsey]

Scooterman - You're in the wrong forum ... there's a forum specific to the 5th Gen. Look back a few days, there's extensive discussion on towing/tongue weight, etc.

Have you considered a trailer? That's a lotta weight back there, the SR5 is softly sprung.

 

[scooterman]

Scooterman - You're in the wrong forum ... there's a forum specific to the 5th Gen. Look back a few days, there's extensive discussion on towing/tongue weight, etc.

Have you considered a trailer? That's a lotta weight back there, the SR5 is softly sprung.

Thanks for your help. That's the kinda info I need. I didn't know waht a 5th Gen was.I'm new to all this and the local dealer hasn't been a lot of help with the towing details. I was hoping to avoid a trailer if possible, but if the suspension cant handle the 550 lbs I'm looking at, I may just have to get one.

 

[jetboy1975]

It's not the suspension that's the problem, it's the hitch limit. The suspension, while soft, can be fixed relatively cheap and easy by adding airbags. The problem you have is the hitch reciever itself. It is only bolted to the cross member and not the side rails of the frame. It is only rated for 500lbs weight carrying. Any more than that can potentially bend the cross member. The only other fix is to have a custom frame mount hitch fabricated to handle higher weights. Factory or aftermarket ones don't seem to be available yet for the 5th Gen.

Also keep in mind your 500lb scooters will put much more "weight" or stress on the hitch than that. The rack would hang 2-3'? behind the hitch acting like a lever which would increase the weight on the hitch. Think of holding a 50lb dumbell in your hand by your side, no prob right? Now hold your arm straight out at shoulder height. Same weight, big difference in "felt" weight (for lack of a better word)