4Runner and Towing boat
- Thread starter bzizzi
- Start date
Quag1
New member
Couple of things I'm thinking of buying a t4r to tow a small boat. But it will be a lot of hway mileage 2x per year (880 miles each way) after that short distance towing to ramps. Total towing and load weigh is about 3500 to 4000 lbs. If you operate the automatic transmission in manual mode and do not use overdrive you should be able to keep the rpms below 3000. How is your setup working. You have the truck year I want and size boat I have. How is the factory towing package?
NoGaRunner
New member
Towing a 21' Yamaha
I plan on using the 4Runner to pull my 21' Yamaha out of the water each Spring to clean and perform maintenance. It's about a 20 mile drive over some moderate hills, fastest speed being 55 MPH. Trailer is tandem with surge brakes. Total weight on trailer, wet, would be just under 4500 lbs. I expect I won't have any issue doing so, especially since I take it easy when towing heavier weight, but will see come Spring.
I plan on using the 4Runner to pull my 21' Yamaha out of the water each Spring to clean and perform maintenance. It's about a 20 mile drive over some moderate hills, fastest speed being 55 MPH. Trailer is tandem with surge brakes. Total weight on trailer, wet, would be just under 4500 lbs. I expect I won't have any issue doing so, especially since I take it easy when towing heavier weight, but will see come Spring.
It'll be fine. Won't win any races and you'll know it's back there, but as long as you use some common sense, just put the trans in S4 and roll with it.
JaxWaterLuv
New member
Trustyaxe. LOL.. Great taste ....I have almost same set up. White 4Runner (but mine is SR5)blacked out ... and just bought Stingray 206cc color-dove.
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NoGaRunner
New member
sebastospud
New member
This thread is great - I'm looking to get a 4runner, and tow a boat chocked full of SCUBA gear 10-15 times/year (about 4500# all told). Sometimes it's around the corner to a ramp, but a few times, it's on a trip to some steep algae covered boat ramps. Given the steep algae sitch, would y'all recommend an SR5 or TRD? Been pondering the different options, but would like to hear from this crowd.
DesertCanyons
New member
Heavy trailer towing
Load some of that heavy gear in the vehicle, up to the max cargo load, including the tongue weight. Put the tanks down low in the rear seat foot well. When I go diving or camping I take the back seats out for more gear space and so I can put the heavy gear down low in the middle of the vehicle.
Stay off of those algae slick ramps if you can help it. Get the Off Road so you have a locking rear differential. The A-Trak may help with locking the front wheels that don't have traction on a slick ramp. The TRD lift may help with shallow, long ramps, but you can install a better lift for less money with aftermarket suspensions. If you can mount a front trailer hitch receiver it's better for launching boats, especially with a 2 wheel drive truck.
A lot of you guys are talking about driving 70-75 mph on the highway when towing. Here in California the speed limit with a trailer is 55 mph and the CHP does enforce it. Anything over 65 mph is crazy with a heavy trailer. If the trailer weighs as much as the vehicle weird things can happen in a skid or hard braking condition.
Load some of that heavy gear in the vehicle, up to the max cargo load, including the tongue weight. Put the tanks down low in the rear seat foot well. When I go diving or camping I take the back seats out for more gear space and so I can put the heavy gear down low in the middle of the vehicle.
Stay off of those algae slick ramps if you can help it. Get the Off Road so you have a locking rear differential. The A-Trak may help with locking the front wheels that don't have traction on a slick ramp. The TRD lift may help with shallow, long ramps, but you can install a better lift for less money with aftermarket suspensions. If you can mount a front trailer hitch receiver it's better for launching boats, especially with a 2 wheel drive truck.
A lot of you guys are talking about driving 70-75 mph on the highway when towing. Here in California the speed limit with a trailer is 55 mph and the CHP does enforce it. Anything over 65 mph is crazy with a heavy trailer. If the trailer weighs as much as the vehicle weird things can happen in a skid or hard braking condition.
Dallas_T4R
New member
Honestly, I'm just here to see pics of 4Runners towing boats.
OP, First thing you want to do is weigh the boat and trailer empty( no people no gear)
Take it to a truck stop that has a scale.Cost about 8 to 10 bucks. Weigh both together. Unhitch the boat Then weigh the 4Runner by its self. The difference will give you the weight of the Boat and Trailer.
On your next outing with full gear and gas do the same thing. This of coarse will take a little time off your trip but I think you will be surprised at how much weight your hauling and the weight of the gear in the 4runner.
Try not to carry any extra gear in the boat. I see people all the time with bikes and BBQ's in the boat along with ice chest and camping equipment. That's hard on the boat and trailer.
I don't tow with my 4runner. I have an older K2500 Suburban. My 20' Malibu weighs 2850 lb plus 1000 lb trailer. I weighed it all and found out I carry about 1000 lb of gear in the truck. With that said my total with gas is over the towing limit of the 4Runner. I like a longer wheel base, bigger brakes and a V-8. for towing.
The 4Runner is body on frame it can take a lot of stress. The engine could use a few more ponys. If you develop a driving technique for towing and pay close attention to the Tachometer, transmission and T stat. You should be OK. Just remember to do the maintenance a little more frequently.
Take it to a truck stop that has a scale.Cost about 8 to 10 bucks. Weigh both together. Unhitch the boat Then weigh the 4Runner by its self. The difference will give you the weight of the Boat and Trailer.
On your next outing with full gear and gas do the same thing. This of coarse will take a little time off your trip but I think you will be surprised at how much weight your hauling and the weight of the gear in the 4runner.
Try not to carry any extra gear in the boat. I see people all the time with bikes and BBQ's in the boat along with ice chest and camping equipment. That's hard on the boat and trailer.
I don't tow with my 4runner. I have an older K2500 Suburban. My 20' Malibu weighs 2850 lb plus 1000 lb trailer. I weighed it all and found out I carry about 1000 lb of gear in the truck. With that said my total with gas is over the towing limit of the 4Runner. I like a longer wheel base, bigger brakes and a V-8. for towing.
The 4Runner is body on frame it can take a lot of stress. The engine could use a few more ponys. If you develop a driving technique for towing and pay close attention to the Tachometer, transmission and T stat. You should be OK. Just remember to do the maintenance a little more frequently.
Finally had a chance to actually put 4WD to use.
Just got done building a new house and the driveway ended up being quite steep. Lower portion is ~35% grade. Concrete guy did a great job on the transition and I was amazed that the trailer made it up without bottoming out. 4Lo really helped backing it up there. Setup runs ~4600 lbs.
Just got done building a new house and the driveway ended up being quite steep. Lower portion is ~35% grade. Concrete guy did a great job on the transition and I was amazed that the trailer made it up without bottoming out. 4Lo really helped backing it up there. Setup runs ~4600 lbs.
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Dallas_T4R
New member
Finally had a chance to actually put 4WD to use.
Just got done building a new house and the driveway ended up being quite steep. Lower portion is ~35% grade. Concrete guy did a great job on the transition and I was amazed that the trailer made it up without bottoming out. 4Lo really helped backing it up there. Setup runs ~4600 lbs.
[MENTION=90026]JeremyB[/MENTION] gets it. Show us your boats!
Also, reversing that weight up the hill is an excellent example of how strong the 4runner is, and how capably it can tow(push?). Kudos [MENTION=90026]JeremyB[/MENTION]!
