5th Gen, Frame Mounted Hitch Receiver?

M

Michael Siener

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Have a '12 T4R LE, would like to get & pull an Airstream 20' travel trailer; GWVR 5000/Dry Weight 4200. I've looked & struck out at finding frame-mount receivers from major mfgrs. I read a thread where I believe someone was able to use a Lexus 460 frame mount receiver w/ slight modification, but no pics w/ thread. Anyone know if this is the only option, or would it work? I want to use a WDH system with a frame mount receiver. Appreciate any opinions! Thanks.
 
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Don't take this the wrong way but my opinion would be to buy a tow vehicle that will regularly pull 5K with ease. I have towed 4-5K several times with no issues, BUT, if I were going to pull it more than 3-4 times a year I would not use the 4Runner to pull it. You asked for opinions. BTW my 4Runner came with a receiver and tow wiring and that is what I use.
 
Pulling a trailer over 4700 pounds

I have to agree with 1engineer, being an engineer myself. :keyboard:

You should never try to pull a trailer that weighs more than the tow vehicle. Sure, there are RAM trucks rated at 10,000# towing capacity, which is more than the truck weighs, but they've engineered that truck to meet a specific, extreme need.

The T4R is rated at 4700 pounds maximum tow weight. You should also consider the tongue weight of this trailer and compare it to the max payload or the Toyota rated max tongue weight.

The brakes on a trailer of this size would need to work better than the brakes on the truck. It must always pull on the hitch and slow the truck faster than the truck plus any cargo weight can stop on it's own.

If you go into a slide with this rig you won't be able to compensate for the trailer weighing more than the truck. I believe what happens next is you'll be watching the trailer overtake and/or pass you until both flip sideways.

Consider a tear drop trailer or a tent trailer as a meaningful alternative.
 
Is there a reason you don't think the factory hitch is adequate? IIRC the Canadian owners manual recommends a WDH (presumably with the factory receiver). You may be able to add some bracing at a welding shop for less cost than modifying a different hitch if you think it's inadequate for some reason.

http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM35A22U/pdf/sec_02-05.pdf - page 301 discusses use and setup of a WDH.

FWIW, I'd tow a 5k lb trailer without much hesitation - if it had trailer brakes. Just don't plan on doing 95mph on the highway. The only thing I'd probably add if I were doing it regularly is airbags to help increase the rear spring rate.
 
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1engineer said:
Don't take this the wrong way but my opinion would be to buy a tow vehicle that will regularly pull 5K with ease. I have towed 4-5K several times with no issues, BUT, if I were going to pull it more than 3-4 times a year I would not use the 4Runner to pull it. You asked for opinions. BTW my 4Runner came with a receiver and tow wiring and that is what I use.
Click to expand...


Oh, hey, no offense taken at all! I definitely wanted opinions too. Your input is helpful, I appreciate it. Thank you.
 
Sorry, I must be missing something.
The T4R has a solid hitch receiver strongly attached to a solid frame cross- member, which is welded to the vehicle frame siderails.
You want to fix a receiver to a separate steel cross piece which is then bolted or welded to those same frame siderails.
Besides the reduced ground clearance, and interference with the under-slung spare wheel, what is the advantage? What is the difference?
Educate me!

(Toyota rates the existing hitch for 5,000 lbs. in Canada, and 4,700 lbs. in the US. If you add a new bolted on cross member, it will still be rated the same, no?)
 
FWIW, a 5th gen 4runner has much larger brakes, basically the same rear axle, almost identical power, and actually weighs MORE than a 2006 Tundra extended cab. Would anyone think a 5,000lb trailer was too much for a 1st generation tundra? If not, why is it considered too much for a 4runner?
 
Raven said:
Sorry, I must be missing something.
The T4R has a solid hitch receiver strongly attached to a solid frame cross- member, which is welded to the vehicle frame siderails.
You want to fix a receiver to a separate steel cross piece which is then bolted or welded to those same frame siderails.
Besides the reduced ground clearance, and interference with the under-slung spare wheel, what is the advantage? What is the difference?
Educate me!

(Toyota rates the existing hitch for 5,000 lbs. in Canada, and 4,700 lbs. in the US. If you add a new bolted on cross member, it will still be rated the same, no?)
Click to expand...

A frame mounted hitch can be used with a weight distributing setup, which spreads the weight of a heavier trailer to the front and rear axles of the tow vehicle through torque on the hitch. The cross-bar mounted hitch is not designed for this torque, so it might bend.

Jetboy said:
FWIW, a 5th gen 4runner has much larger brakes, basically the same rear axle, almost identical power, and actually weighs MORE than a 2006 Tundra extended cab. Would anyone think a 5,000lb trailer was too much for a 1st generation tundra? If not, why is it considered too much for a 4runner?
Click to expand...

(I assume that) the wheelbase on the 4runner is shorter, and the suspension is different. The Tundra might have LT tires when the 4runner comes with P rated tires. There might be other things, too.
 
Jetboy said:
FWIW, a 5th gen 4runner has much larger brakes, basically the same rear axle, almost identical power, and actually weighs MORE than a 2006 Tundra extended cab. Would anyone think a 5,000lb trailer was too much for a 1st generation tundra? If not, why is it considered too much for a 4runner?
Click to expand...

I'll answer.
I've pulled a lot of trailers over the years with all kinds of vehicles. Some have been featherweight and some have been way over the maximum for the vehicle. With the 4Runner I have pulled many trailers as stated above. I made the remark above because even though the 4Runner will pull 5K (I have for several hundred miles) it's not really a fun trip. The obvious? Gearing. Torque curve. Wheelbase. If I were going to pull a 5K trailer every weekend or every other weekend for any distance I would have a LWB V8 or diesel truck. I have towed with those before and pulling a 5K trailer with those is no sweat. As you know, when designing something for an application you NEVER want run at minimum or maximum of anything. Not tire pressure, not GVW, not rpm, nothing. When you do the design life goes straight down the tubes.

I agree getting a dual wheel F550 Powerstroke Super Duty is overkill for a 5K trailer. Unfortunately a Toyota 4Runner is underkill for that application.
 
While I agree with others comments that a dedicated/larger tow rig would be "better" I also think that if Toyota rates/designed a tow rating at X then you can/would be logical to assume that it is safe to tow X or less.

We can argue all day about what is "better" or "safe" but those discussions are similar to off road modifications and we all agree that the most important thing is the driver.

Sorry can't help w/ the hitch
 
Mr. Seiner

So what did you wind up doing? I have a 2012 4R SR5 with a stock frame receiver and a 19' Airstream TT with a GVWR of 4500#. The numbers are within factory towing specs, but I don't want the tail wagging the dog. My 2007 Tundra with Tow Package tows the TT like a dream, but lacks 4X4.

richcrest
 
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