4runner towing capacity

[thunderpaw]

haven't posted in here in a long time....

I've been testing my '97 4runner (V6) by towing my race car all over the east coast.

Been running with convoys of 1 or 2 other big truck tow vehicles and comparing capacity.

The 4runner is doing far better than anyone (including me) expected.

Towing a 2700 lb car trailer, with a 2100 lb car, 4 extra wheels/tires, couple crates of auto parts, misc stuff/etc, the 4runner did far better than ANY of the big V8 'merican trucks. Had no problems with the long mountain runs maintaining well over 55 mph. Up to 80mph without any problems. To boot, I got over 17 mpg....

On the big mountain passes I actually had to take foot off gas to not run into the back of the trailer being hauled by the big dualie. The Suburban just faded into the distance behind us, then had to catch up on the downhill areas.

hehe I LOVE the 4runner.

 

[Guest]

As much as I love Toyota products and such, I'd have to say that a 97 3.4L V6 4Runner has not even the slightest chance of performing even halfway as well as a 3/4-ton or 1-ton dually American truck. Especially the diesel models with heavy duty transmissions, trailer brakes, etc.

Even a Suburban I would put my money on over a 4Runner except maybe a 4th gen V8 4Runner. Even then I'd probably lean slightly toward the Suburban, and still give the dually diesel a big advantage.

That's not to say they are better vehicles than the 4Runner... it's just very apples to oranges.

I say this with first hand experience in all the aforementioned vehicles.

 

[thunderpaw]

just telling ya like it is...

I was totally suprised too. Especially coming up that long haul on the Penn turnpike. We had a little drag race up the hill and me in the little 4runner beat all 3 other trucks. (now I will be fair and tell ya that the other trucks had slightly heavier trailers....theirs weighing about 300 lbs more)

where they could pull away from me was from a dead stop, I took a lot longer to get up to speed, but in the mountains it was a total suprise to everyone that the 4runner blew the doors off the big guys.

now, it was quite a lot more sensitive to loading on the trailer - once I had the car too far back (not enough tongue weight) and that was real bad. Had to stop and move the car up 6".

Otherwise the 4runner towed incredibly smooth, and braking was fantastic for a truck hauling 5000 lbs (of course, I have electronic brake controller in the truck). A couple of emergency stops (stupid people in cars pulling in front and slamming on the brakes) - one little SUV nearly got creamed, lucky there was a lane for me to "duck" into. Saw the side of the trailer on that one!