4runner towing a boat?

[jfarar]

Hello, I have a Rav4, 6 cyl, 2WD, aggressive tire tread, which pulls a ~3,000 pound boat just fine, however, on a wet ramp, the front wheels will slip when pulling out. I am considering a 2001 4Runner, 160,000 miles, 3.4L V6 w/ Automatic Transmission
One Touch HI-4 Selector w/ Multi Mode 4WD:
1. Any ideas on the Rav4?
2. Is the 2001 4Runner a good vehicle?
3. Has anyone had experience pulling a boat with a 4Runner?
4. How is the gas mileage when towing?
Please let me know. Thanks... Jeff

 

[J-money$$$]

first off i have no clue about the rav4. I though that was a car/van thing lol

and secondly is a 4runner a good vehicle.... Well at least on this forum everyone loves them. Mine is awesome, but i really only use it for rock crawling and wheeling

Back in the day i towed my parents boat about 3 blocks to get gas at the river. Its a 6,000 lb boat on a double axle trailer and it was no good. i only could go 25 mph. My runner is a v6 5 speed

A 4runner is not really a tow vehicle. I recently pulled my friends cherokee home from wheeling with a tow strap, and we went about 15 miles. I think that a cherokee is about 3,000 lbs and my runner was struggling to pull it.

and gas mileage........ I get 12-15 mpg every where ( 65 mph on the freeway to around town) so towing a boat i would expect about 10 mpg or less. Then again im lifted and locked and have 500lbs of extra weight with the bumper, winch skids etc.

And i remember my 4runner when it was stock and i could jump on the back bumper and bottom it out, im not that heavy......

 

[toyfour]

I'd have to check the manual again, but i think its rated to tow 5000 lbs with a 500 lbs tongue weight, but i might be wrong. I tow a 13 ft boston whaler around all summer long, but that isn't anywhere close to 3000 lbs. I pulled a boat out of the water for a friend that weighed about that much, and i had no problems at all, granted i didn't drive far but my t4r didn't struggle at all pulling it up the incline and in wet sand at that, because the ramp was in bad shape. Ive seen 4th gen 4runners pulling good size boats and with a v6. Not sure what the spec difference's are for towing between the two.

 

[Sig220]

I have a 98 T4R and pull a 17 foot Carolina skiff with it just about all year. I don't know about the gas mileage, as I don't tow it that far or that much consecutively. I don't have trouble pulling out of the ramp, gaining speed or going uphill, though. I have the auto transmission.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

What kind of distance are you towing?

The 4wd will really help pulling it up the ramp.

The short wheelbase and lack of a lot of power does not make the 3rd Gen 4runner great for towing.

 

[toyfour]

It may not be the best tow vehicle, but i would imagine that it would be far better than a Rav4. What size 6cyl in the rav4? I guess all im saying is, if you Rav4 will pull it, i would be willing to bet the 4runner would do it better.

 

[TeamAllen]

I have towed our ski boat 4,600 lbs. only on short distances. I use our Sequoia for almost all the towing. The 4Runner is capable, but not ideal. 4WD helps on the launch ramp, but the 4Runner is so much lighter you still have to watch yourself. If you re planning on towing fairly consistently with it you should install an external transmission cooler for sure! I don't know about the gas mileage? It is much worse that"s for sure. When we are going boating the last concern I have is fuel costs. The worst problem towing with smaller vehicles is the braking. The heavy boat wants to push the car around. There is just less mass on the car.

 

[TeamAllen]

I found a picture of our boat and trailer combination.

 

[BTO]

The 4runner will kick the $#!+ out of a Rav4 for towing. The Rav4 is nothing more than a glorified Corolla with front wheel drive even. The 4runner is a rear wheel drive truck. No comparison.

That said, the ski boat you showed is a serious load. The trailer brakes help but I see those boats usually being towed by a full size tow vehicle. I can't believe you were towing that with a Rav4.

If you are set on a 4runner I'd recommend getting a 4th gen. Might even get the V8

 

[fusedapart]

I have towed our ski boat 4,600 lbs. only on short distances. I use our Sequoia for almost all the towing. The 4Runner is capable, but not ideal. 4WD helps on the launch ramp, but the 4Runner is so much lighter you still have to watch yourself. If you re planning on towing fairly consistently with it you should install an external transmission cooler for sure! I don't know about the gas mileage? It is much worse that"s for sure. When we are going boating the last concern I have is fuel costs. The worst problem towing with smaller vehicles is the braking. The heavy boat wants to push the car around. There is just less mass on the car.

I would just worry about the brakes as well!

 

[jfarar]

Boat Towing Advice - THANK YOU

Great feedback, thank you. Really, I am impressed with the RAV4 towing. I regularly pull it 30 miles one way and occasionally 150 miles. It is the largest V6. PS. that's not my boat, My boat is an 18' Kenner. Thanks again... Jeff

 

[toy-runner]

I've pulled a 2000lb (guestimate) boat (bass tracker tx17 alum.) boat totally fine. I think I got like 15-16mpg towing it 75 miles. 4wd out of the launch ramp totally kicks ass, would not settle for less. I see 2wd's struggle all the time, especially on flat concrete launch ramps. Most launch ramps now are grooved for traction purposes, but others aren't. Slippery or algae infested waters and your car will be sliding back in the water with the boat. I always use 4wd when pulling out of the launch ramp, until I get a safe distance, then I shut it off. Better safe than sorry.

 

[peter78]

Yes, the 2001 is a good year for 4Runners. It is the first year for VSC (vehicle skid control) and they have great reliability records according to Consumer Reports. Of course it is almost 10 years old. I have driven a V6 RAV4 and I know the power of the 3.5 V6. I know they started making the V6 in 2006, so your RAV4 must be that or newer. I know the RAV4 tows less and the 4Runner will be a better tow vehicle, but you are giving up about 90 horse power by going to the 4Runner. If you are trading cars, you will be getting an older car and less horse power, but getting a better off road vehicle and a better tow vehicle.

Of course, if your keeping the RAV4, then the 2001 4Runner should be a great tow vehicle, it should hold up over time and you get to have fun in your pocket rocket RAV4.

 

[Gerdo]

I don't tow a boat but I do tow a camper. It's 2000#+. I have towed it across the country a few times without any issues. Head winds will slow me down but it's higher than a boat. I'll drive 70 mph + all day long. The Colorado mountains do slow me down. I bet I have 20,000 miles towing the camper.

 

[peter78]

I bet I have 20,000 miles towing the camper.

I do a lot of traveling too with my camper. No problems. I tow a little over 2,000 pounds and my mileage drops to about 17 or so, not too bad really.