3rd gen towing questions

[68dave]

I'm preparing my 00 4runner 4x4 sr5 with the 3.4L and auto trans for a towing trip. All maintance items are less than 2 years old, tires are new and i upgraded to the tundra brakes. It already has the oem frame hitch. I'm driving to Texas, close to Dallas, to pick up my new 17' fiberglass Casita camper and towing it back to Baltimore. I've read here about trans coolers and decided on the B&M 70264, so i just ordered that kit from summit. Now i need a 7 pin connector and brake controller, any advice where to purchase these items for easy installation on a 3rd gen? Trailer weighs 2480lbs and the hitch weight is 365lbs, anybody here have any expierence towing this kind of weight with a automatic v6 4runner? Also i recently installed the Toytec ultimate 3" suspension lift, will the lift kit help or hurt the truck's towing capabilities? Thanks.

 

[5vzT4R]

The lfit kit should help with rear end sagging. That's about all I know for sure as I have very little experience towing anything.

 

[Schargedtaco]

I have done quite a bit of towing with my 97 3.4 auto 265/75/16 towing a bantum trail lite 17 footer single axle. dry weight somewhere around 2250.. I run a basic brake controller with 7 pin. There's no need for a trailer sway/stabilizer at least on the bantum. I usually distributed as much weight as possible over the axle and rear to keep excessive weight off the hitch. I'm guessing fully loaded/ water etc with gear and passengers it was somewhere around 3100- 3500 pounds or less. This trailer is one if the lightest full sized/hybrids you'll find in hard side. Prob similar to the casita line. I found I could tow in overdrive no prob on the freeway with no tranny cooler and average speed was 70 in OD or so until I hit a hill then 55-60. But once you hit a good headwind its slowww go 55 to 60 OD off Pedal down holding up traffic. Heading up to the mountains significant climbing to the mountains is a workout and don't plan in getting there Lickety split! Gas mileage was prob around 14-15 towing so not to bad. The biggest prob isnt so much your tow capacity as it is the trailer acting like a sail in the wind. Your rig will def get the job done if its mainly flat rolling hills etc but if your doing significant elevation gains you would be much better off with a 4th gen v6 or v8 which can tow 7500# like its not even back there! 3rd gen is really best suited for tent trailers unless again your mainly flat towing. I know there's plenty who may disagree and don't mind taking all day in the slow lane to get to there camp spot but I'm not one of them as I usually have two wining kids in the car! As for your lift although the springs will help with the load anytime you raise the vehicle even 3 inches your going to have more wind drag/resistance. Don't do 285's whatever you do! 265/70 would be the best although it may look odd with your lift. I since sold it and bought a mid size tent trailer not as nice obviously but nearly as roomy setup and night and day towing getting 19+ freeway.

 

[Snowy21]

I'm preparing my 00 4runner 4x4 sr5 with the 3.4L and auto trans for a towing trip. All maintance items are less than 2 years old, tires are new and i upgraded to the tundra brakes. It already has the oem frame hitch. I'm driving to Texas, close to Dallas, to pick up my new 17' fiberglass Casita camper and towing it back to Baltimore. I've read here about trans coolers and decided on the B&M 70264, so i just ordered that kit from summit. Now i need a 7 pin connector and brake controller, any advice where to purchase these items for easy installation on a 3rd gen? Trailer weighs 2480lbs and the hitch weight is 365lbs, anybody here have any expierence towing this kind of weight with a automatic v6 4runner? Also i recently installed the Toytec ultimate 3" suspension lift, will the lift kit help or hurt the truck's towing capabilities? Thanks.

I would recommend the prodigy brake controller, I had one in my rig and liked all the adjustability it offers. You just have to tap into a wire that signals he brake lights that will run to the 7 pin connector. Pretty easy with a volt meter, I had mine installed in about 1.5 hours. With that low of pin and trailer weight you should have zero issues whatsoever. I've pulled my 3500lb Mastercraft boat without trailer brakes and no issues since the truck was brand new. And put a summer of pulling my 5500lb enclosed trailer on it. I had heavy duty OME coils and I've got a v6 auto fwiw.

 

[fun_runner]

x2 on the prodigy brake controller! I love mine. Sounds like you'll be all set once you get the 7pin connector wired in. I got my prodigy p3 brake controller on eBay. It was $40 cheaper than anywhere else. I'm sure any parts store has the 7pin connector.

The only thing I'm not to comfortable/familiar with is towing with a lifted 4Runner. Seems to me that it would be a little less stable but that's just my opinion. I have air bags in my rear springs to help keep the vehicle level with all that weight behind me. Not sure what your springs can handle on their own.

Other than that, you'll be fine. My camper is probably sitting a little over 4,000lbs all loaded and I'll cruise down the highway @ 70mph all day . . . until I hit a big long hill, then maybe 68.

 

[piecesparts]

Would a 3rd Gen be able handle a car trailer with a small Toyota Tacoma on it?

Stock height and a 3.4 automatic.

 

[68dave]

I do have the 265/70r16 duratrac's, i didn't want the extra strain of turning the 285's. So far this is the only towing i've done with my runner.

 

[paddlenbike]

Nice choice on the Casita. I've been on the Casita forums for a while and those trailers seem to be a popular choice for people with 1/2 ton trucks and SUVs. I'm always impressed how many people are pulling them with 4 cylinder Tacomas. The weight and profile should be a nice match behind a 4Runner. I have nothing to add other than a request that you post photos when you get it! I go back and forth on whether I want a Casita or one of the ruggedized tent trailers.

Regarding the lift, my 4Runner with the Tundra/OME lifts handles heavy loads way better than when it was stock, so no worries there.

 

[twitchee2]

I tow a 3500lb boat+ trailer (surge brakes), also tow 2000lbs worth of jet ski trailer (no brakes). I tow in OD on flat ground and OD off when ever there is any sign of losing speed (happens a lot fyi).

No issues with either. Specs in my sig.

I have the Teknosha P3 brake controller (newer version of the prodigy) in my duramax which has taken over tow duty. its is an awesome controller, highly recommend it.

 

[68dave]

Thanks for the replies. I have more faith in my runner's towing abilities now. My camper wont be ready for pick up until early march so i have some time to prepare my rig. I love this truck and don't wanna get rid of it so i was hoping that it could handle a lightweight camper. I also have a 04 tacoma TRD 4x4 3.4L with a manual trans that i picked up for $500.00 about a year ago with a blown motor. It's my project right now so when i finally get it up and runnin' i think i will use that mainly for towing my Casita. I'll post some pics of my trip from Texas towing the casita, but it wont be until mid march.

 

[541joseph]

Just stick with no od unless your going down hill. Might hurt your gas mileage but at least it won't hurt your trani

 

[wc11]

I towed this a couple hundred miles without issue.
Sure it was a bit slow climbing hills but I expected that.

 

[68dave]

I know i'm late posting pics of my casita but i mentioned above that i would post some so here they are. I got my tacoma project together right before i had to go to Texas to take delivery of my new camper so i decided to use the man. trans tacoma instead of my auto. trans 4runner as my tow vehicle. I put just over 3,200 trouble free miles on it in 6 days, not bad for what started out as a blown up $500 truck. I also just returned from a camping trip in Myrtle beach S.C.

 

[Nunyabiz]

Glad to see someone towing around 4000 lbs without much problem.

My wife and I have decided on a Camplite 16TBS.
Dry weight is about 3100# so loaded probably 4500# but it is dual axle and hitch weight is only 230#.
This is really the lightest trailer we could find that we would even think of living in full time for several months.
All aluminum, we are going to probably LIVE in this trailer for anywhere from a month or two up to maybe even 6-9 months possibly, and I mean living in it full time until we find a house to buy.
We are selling on east coast, getting a trailer to stay in and traveling to west coast (Oregon) and start looking. Live in the trailer until we find a place.
If we can not find a place within 8-9 months then probably scrap the house idea and buy a motorhome, sell the trailer.
Then just live full time in motorhome and tow the 4runner.

Camplite 16TBS Gallery | Livin' Lite RV

 

[Rocky5000100]

Glad to see others are towing heavy weight. I'm going to be buying a 7x12 enclosed trailer in the spring. Single axle with electric brakes, 1900 lbs, 6'6" interior height.

I plan on building it into a toy hauler for my track days and racing (motorcycle). O will be adding about 500-700 lbs of cabinets and equipment, and up to 2 motorcycles in there. It should weight 3000ish, possible 3500 if I have a second bike.

I will be installing a prodigy 3 brake controller and a trans cooler. I already have 906 rear springs.

 

[68dave]

The casita is only 2400lbs with 365lb tongue weight, not heavy compared to other campers of this size. The tacoma towed it with ease.

 

[txironhead]

I wanted to start a new thread, but I don't have enough replies for that, so I'll have to piggyback. All the towing threads I've found are primarily for 4x4 3rd gens. I have a '96 SR5 2wd 3.4 auto. I do craft shows, and recently bought a 4x8 covered cargo trailer. Right now I'm using my 99 2.4l Tacoma and before I got the trailer I had the cab and bed full of gear and it was straining, especially on overpasses. Once I finish fixing up the 4runner (water pump, timing kit, valve cover gaskets, tow hitch and a front bumper) that will be my primary vehicle. I've seen the Firestone bags for my truck for about $130 on Ebay. I was told to look for an upgraded rear sway bar but can't seem to find one. Since this is such a small trailer, are a bunch of mods necessary? Most of my shows are within an hour's drive but a few are 5+ hours, mostly flat country. I know I want a trans cooler, from reading a plate type seems best. So what are your thoughts?

 

[nvestor88]

I'm planning on towing a 2900 lb car with a dolly. This will be my first tow. Where can I get the pin connector to allow the lights on the trailer to be hooked up? Is this a DIY job, as my electrical skills are lacking.

 

[wc11]

I'm planning on towing a 2900 lb car with a dolly. This will be my first tow. Where can I get the pin connector to allow the lights on the trailer to be hooked up? Is this a DIY job, as my electrical skills are lacking.

Uhaul sells them.
U-Haul: Moving supplies: Magnetic Tow-A-Lites

 

[nvestor88]

If I'm not mistaken, when you rent a tow dolly from uhaul, they require you have the electrical connection or they do it for you and hit you with a hefty bill?