5th Gen Supercharger and Towing

[kenm09]

I read recently that TRD makes a supercharger for the 5th gens, putting out 304 hp and 334 lbs of torque (more than the v8!).

My V8 is rated at 7000....admittedly quite more than I would tow. I really would like to buy a 5th gen eventually, but would need the confidence that its tow rating is more than 4700 lbs!

Wouldn't the supercharger technically increase the towing capacity?

 

[sandcrawler]

technically they don't make a supercharger for the 5th gens... yet.
it's been delayed and delayed but TRD keeps saying it will be released for real.

all the info you need to stay on top in this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/119896-2010-trd-supercharger.html :cheers:

 

[philsey]

I read recently that TRD makes a supercharger for the 5th gens, putting out 304 hp and 334 lbs of torque (more than the v8!).

Wherever you read this is not a very good source for info.

.... but would need the confidence that its tow rating is more than 4700 lbs!

Not happening.

...... Wouldn't the supercharger technically increase the towing capacity?

No. This is a factor of brakes, suspension, wheelbase, cooling capacity, etc., and least of all the engine.

For that kind of tow rating you need a truck or a big-assed SUV, think Sequoia/Armada.

 

[SV_Dude]

^^

Well said! Just because the engine has the ability to pull something heavy doesn't mean that the vehicle is capable of it.

 

[the great him]

no it will not increase your towing capacity. there are several factors that go into a towing capacity rating. one of those, yes is power, but the others are springs, brakes, frame, trans ect... just by adding power does not mean you will be able to control the heavier load. personally i would not tow anything that weighs more than your runner. my reason for that is its not a long wheel base vehicle, and its not designed to be a tow rig, and having something heavier behind you pushing you around is never a good thing especially in something not designed to tow big loads

you want to tow 7000?, buy a truck thats my advice.

yeah sure i have towed over 9000(f-350 td, quad cab, 4x4, long box on a 24' trailer) with my 4runner, but it was basically and emergency and it was slow going -yes i had air bags, and a brake controller as well as both trailer axles with brakes. i towed that for like 150miles mostly on the fwy, had to be very careful to think ahead. i only hit like 50mph once. sure a SC would of helped with power, but it also could of over instilled confidence that i could do that no problem and give the illusion of having a bigger vehicle, and potentially causing one to forget the other issues, like stopping, or cooking the trans

 

[1engineer]

I read recently that TRD makes a supercharger for the 5th gens, putting out 304 hp and 334 lbs of torque (more than the v8!).

My V8 is rated at 7000....admittedly quite more than I would tow. I really would like to buy a 5th gen eventually, but would need the confidence that its tow rating is more than 4700 lbs!

Wouldn't the supercharger technically increase the towing capacity?

Think of it this way:
I could tow that trailer you have in your avatar with a 5hp mini bike (not very fast) if I regeared it. Would I want to? Would I want to tow it if I increased the hp of the mini bike to 10 hp? That is an extreme example but you should get my drift.

 

[kenm09]

I agree with you all. And my original post is misleading and vague. My trailer in the pic only weighs 3000 pounds completely loaded. But I like to be over cautious, meaning I could have gone with the v6 but like the confidence of the v8.

Secondly, I wouldn't tow more than 4700 pounds in the future if I ended up buying a 5th gen, but I would imagine as my family grows I may look into travel trailers that weigh 4500 loaded. I would just want the added confidence that extra torque would be there. I wouldn't exceed that rating but I would be closer to it than I would like to be.

I'm really not interested in a sequoia - that majority of the driving is commuting with a few camping trips a year. Not to mention, other than wheelbase, what is so different about the 4runner from the tacoma that allows it tow so much more? Maybe someone would know, but I would imagine that a lot of what you can do to a tacoma can also be done to a 4runner.

 

[the great him]

you are pushing it at even 4500lbs, thats towing a full sized car man, like a BMW 750i... your crazy. again i would only do that out of necessity, and not a choice id pre-plan... i think you are pushing it right now with the trailer that you are towing currently.

its good that you have the v8, but you are still hurting on the brake issue and chassis issue. the motors power is not the only thing you need to worry about, its cooling ability, the transmission and its ability to cool or do the work you are asking of it, the drive train, are the ujoints and drive line stout enough for this, sure it can do it, but is it designed to do this as a working load? no the tacoma is a truck, its designed to work and haul loads, thats what the engineers desinged it to do, they weigh less than 4runners so they can haul more on the same components that how they have higher tow ratings...

its common knowledge amongst contractors ect that if you want a truck that will haul the most, get a 2wd, standard cab(most get the long box only because it gives them more room in the bed to haul stuff, adn the longer wheelbase for towing) but the lighter the truck itself the more payload it can haul if you compare any two full size diesel trucks of same brand and make ie two f350s, one a crew cab 4wd long box vs a reg cab 2wd long box the 2wd will have a greater towing or payload capacity. thats how the trucks do it and get a greater towing capacity... the excursion was/ built off of of a f350 chassis, so why cant it carry as much as a f350, well for one it weighs more, and two it was never designed by for to be a working truck or tow vehicle. sure it can do it and its capable of doing it but not like the trucks

you want to tow big items then buy a truck. yeah your 4runner can tow, yes adding more power will enable you to tow a heavier item, but is it safe or is it suggested, no, especially not on a regular basis

 

[WillK]

I think what you'd have to look at is the power curve of the SC to see where it makes its power, particularly the torque, which is really what you want when towing. If they have a dyno chart to show where it makes its peak torque, that should tell you if it has the same grunt as the V8.

If so, then you should be good (with all else being the same).

I know the V8 was literally made to tow with its low end torque.

 

[kenm09]

i think you are pushing it right now with the trailer that you are towing currently.

I totally disagree with this. The V8 has a 3.73 rear, body-on-frame construction, transmission cooler, class IV hitch, brake control harness (that I use), ample stopping power, and plenty of weight so the "tail doesn't wag the dog". I wouldn't tow 7000 pounds with it, which Toyota specifies it is capable of... but with my weight distribution hitch, sway control, and brake controller, the 3000# 17' trailer is safely towed.

its common knowledge amongst contractors ect that if you want a truck that will haul the most, get a 2wd, standard cab(most get the long box only because it gives them more room in the bed to haul stuff, adn the longer wheelbase for towing)

I am not a contractor, and I tow just a few times a year. I agree that if I was regularly towing a truck would be more appopriate...but it would be overkill for my needs.


I simply need an SUV that is used for commuting 95% of the time, that can take the family on a few camping trips a year. I would never exceed the 4700 towing capacity of the 5th gens, but as I like to err on the side of caution, I would feel better knowing I have a little more power if I'm going up a hill.

I think what you'd have to look at is the power curve of the SC to see where it makes its power, particularly the torque, which is really what you want when towing.

Agreed. Probably don't get that much from a stop...

The Jeep Grand Cherokee V8, for towing, looks more attractive at this point, but I really don't want one of them..... How I wish Toyota would adopt some of the qualities of the GX460 in their 4runner.

 

[the great him]

you didnt mention that you had a brake controller... and i didnt realize it was only a 17' trailer, those points considered i guess youd be ok, but i would go much bigger. -toyota is F****** high thinking that your 4runner will tow 7000lbs lol. id like to see a toyota engineer try it. again the issue that you are missing is that our trucks are not designed to tow, sure they can and they do, but getting a 24'+ travel trailer(thinking this is the size you might be thinking of upgrading to...) and thinking you are gonna tow it with a 4runner is ludicrous. buy a 100 series land cruiser or a sequoia... something thats gonna have a little more bruteness to it all over, not just more power. besides your kids are only gonna get bigger, why not get a bigger family vehicle to match... idk just my thoughts on it. im looking for a 100seires LC to upgrade from my runner, not because i want to or do tow, but because i want more room and greater power.

 

[LandCruiser]

I used to tow 8000-12000 pounds on a pretty decent basis before selling off my country property in preparation for a move up to CO. I have towed a 4500 pound twin axle trailer filled with yard equipment, ATVs, and other crap with my TE across the flat wasteland that is Floriduh because I was too lazy to get my BAT (big ass truck). There is a world of difference between towing with a small vehicle like the 4Runner and a dedicated towing vehicle like most full-size American pickups.

As a side note, my 2011 2500 HD 4x4 6L Sierra had four full sized doors and cost less than 32k new, that's cheaper than my TE.

I have argued with others on this site before who think their 4Runners can do everything well, and I will maintain that if you have heavy shit to tow, you shouldn't be driving a 4Runner. Don't care if it's a V6 or V8. You need a big piece of Detroit iron with a heavy duty transmission with cooler, heavy duty suspension, long wheelbase, preferrably disc brakes all around, trailer brake controller, and 5-6L V8 (I prefer pushrod gas V8, but if I'd was into cross country towing I'd opt for a diesel).

For anyone who wants to discuss the merits of towing at the limits of a mid-sized BOF SUV, just drive one back to back with a big ass truck--make sure to floor it on the highway and have one or two panic stops before you make up your mind.

 

[dlakeman]

I have a 2014 4Runner Trail Edition. I have it slightly modified for off-road driving, e.g. lift kit, 285 Nitto's, winch & front bumper. I don't want to sell the vehicle. It has 66K miles on it. However, I'd like to tow a 21' Escape travel trailer that weighs 3460 dry. Per my Owner's Manual my 4Runner is rated to tow 5000 pounds. I've done the calculations in the Owner's Manual and the calculations show I can safely tow the trailer with added trailer brake, etc. Power now is the problem. I've read on the Escape Trailer Forum that people towing that specific trailer with a 4Runner or Tacoma have power problems going up 6% grades at 5000' or higher. I'm thinking the power solution is a supercharger.

Has anyone installed a supercharger on their 5th Gen 4Runner specifically to ensure they have enough power when towing a trailer with a weight under the 4Runner's rated capacity? No need to discuss cost. I have the money.