Airstream towing
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spartacus
Senior Member
Not an air stream but a winnebago minnie and it's at 3500lbs. It's been fine not great but the 5th gen handles it pretty well with air bags, wdh antisway and teconsha brake controller. mpg sucks and going uphill is a chore specially with the steep grades we have here. I suspect the airstream would be a better tow as long as it meets the tow requirements of a 5th gen.
Nest or Basecamp it would generally have no problem. Going up to the Bambi I'd be a bit more skeptical.
I towed a NoBo 16.5 which is 2900lb dry and 20feet total length with my 4Runner for a while. Ended up trading it in on a Tacoma not because of the weight or drivetrain, but because the short wheelbase of the 4Runner made going around curves in downhill situations super sketchy feeling. I've seen more than a handful of photos of 4Runners flipped over on the downhill side of mountain passes due to their trailers overtaking them.
Wheelbase really does make a difference in towing confidence and I'll stand by that with how my Tacoma handles my trailer compared to towing it with the 4Runner when going around curves up in the hills.
I towed a NoBo 16.5 which is 2900lb dry and 20feet total length with my 4Runner for a while. Ended up trading it in on a Tacoma not because of the weight or drivetrain, but because the short wheelbase of the 4Runner made going around curves in downhill situations super sketchy feeling. I've seen more than a handful of photos of 4Runners flipped over on the downhill side of mountain passes due to their trailers overtaking them.
Wheelbase really does make a difference in towing confidence and I'll stand by that with how my Tacoma handles my trailer compared to towing it with the 4Runner when going around curves up in the hills.
MissouriBreaks
New member
You ever think of doing a search for this? I know it has been covered before.
Tuco Ramirez
New member
Don’t click the thread if it bothers you that much. Almost every thread topic has been covered before.
Maybe he didn’t want to sort through an old, outdated thread with 30 pages.
Jeesh, you and the rest of these “do a search” people need to get the stick out of your arses.
MTN4RNR
New member
GVWR for the 16' Bambi is 3,500lbs. which is under the 4Runner's 5,000lbs. weight limit. The tongue weight with LP, not including any water or cargo is 350lbs. Unloaded trailer weight same spec is 2,900lbs. meaning that if the weight was balanced correctly, a loaded to GVWR trailer would have a tongue weight of approximately 425lbs. which is 75lbs. under the 500lbs. rating of the 4Runner.
That 425lbs. comes off of the 4Runner's "payload" capacity of about 1,500lbs. Rough numbers, you'll be left with 1,000lbs. to load into the 4Runner including passengers, mods, and anything additional.
The math for your 4Runner is up to you to figure out, but those are the general parameters. Quick Google search shows that the 19' Bambi will be well over the 500lbs. tongue weight rating loaded, so I wouldn't consider that trailer.
That 425lbs. comes off of the 4Runner's "payload" capacity of about 1,500lbs. Rough numbers, you'll be left with 1,000lbs. to load into the 4Runner including passengers, mods, and anything additional.
The math for your 4Runner is up to you to figure out, but those are the general parameters. Quick Google search shows that the 19' Bambi will be well over the 500lbs. tongue weight rating loaded, so I wouldn't consider that trailer.
TRD PANTHER
New member
I like the Basecamp, although it is a bit pricey.
I wouldn’t want to tow anything bigger than this with a 4Runner. Here is an interesting video of a 4Runner owner with a Basecamp.
RV Tour SOLO FEMALE Full Time RV Living in an Airstream Basecamp with a Dog and Cat - YouTube
I wouldn’t want to tow anything bigger than this with a 4Runner. Here is an interesting video of a 4Runner owner with a Basecamp.
RV Tour SOLO FEMALE Full Time RV Living in an Airstream Basecamp with a Dog and Cat - YouTube
Whttxtrail
New member
Tow an RPod all over the place, redarc brake controller, 1k helper air bags and an Anderson sway hitch. 4Runner doesn’t like steep inclines but not bad. We tow with the O/D off.
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4Runner&Airstream
New member
I have a 2013 Toyota 4Runner SR5 and recently purchased a 2021 Airstream Caravel 20FB.
I have a weight distribution hitch (WDH) and brake controller.
It’s relatively flat around here and the ride is quite good. The Airstream is a dream to tow, aerodynamic and well balanced.
The rear end of the 4Runner is soft though and I have adjusted the WDH a bit since towing it a few times. I look forward to seeing how it sits after the last adjustment.
I want to see what Andy at CanAm RV says about enhancements for the 4Runner.
I have a weight distribution hitch (WDH) and brake controller.
It’s relatively flat around here and the ride is quite good. The Airstream is a dream to tow, aerodynamic and well balanced.
The rear end of the 4Runner is soft though and I have adjusted the WDH a bit since towing it a few times. I look forward to seeing how it sits after the last adjustment.
I want to see what Andy at CanAm RV says about enhancements for the 4Runner.
I bet he'll say it can tow a 35ft 10,000lb trailer....:happy:
Towing a CampLite 16TBS with mine- only issue I have is I want more power. Not going to supercharge though.
Trailer empty 3210lbs- max loaded rating 4400lbs
I do have airbags and run a WD hitch with built in sway control- Fastway E2
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Jax4runnerTE
New member
2013 Trail
My 2013 Trail lists the GVWR as 6300# rather than the typical 5000# I see for most 4Runners.
I assume this is due to the suspension (w/KDSS) set up and would like to know if the Trail tongue weight is impacted as well over the 500# typically noted.
Looking to use the 4Runner for a 20 ft Airstream with 3800# dry/5000# loaded weight and 550# tongue weight for a short period of time here in Florida.
Would install a WD/Sway, maybe bags to supplement, so just looking at any info on the Trail towing differences.
Thanks
My 2013 Trail lists the GVWR as 6300# rather than the typical 5000# I see for most 4Runners.
I assume this is due to the suspension (w/KDSS) set up and would like to know if the Trail tongue weight is impacted as well over the 500# typically noted.
Looking to use the 4Runner for a 20 ft Airstream with 3800# dry/5000# loaded weight and 550# tongue weight for a short period of time here in Florida.
Would install a WD/Sway, maybe bags to supplement, so just looking at any info on the Trail towing differences.
Thanks
Gonecamping
New member
GVWR does not equate to towing capacity. I personally wouldn't want to tow anything above 2500 lbs with the 4Runner, unless it was a perfectly flat road at sea level.
halflife78
New member
I am currently looking at getting that basecamp airstream and along with it I have been considering supercharging the 4Runner along with getting bigger brakes and tranny cooling.
onesojourner
New member
Everyone has a standard but man that is a low one. I have towed with my 3rd gen all over the place from the rockies to Florida. My 4runner has about 100hp less than you. I found the experience to be adequate.
OP Did you get that trailer yet?
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b407driver
New member
We tow a T@b 400 (~3000-3200 pounds actual tow weight) here in CO, and would not want it to be any heavier. You need to get used to screaming around at 4000+ rpm in this thing, and only use it in 'S' mode (we never use 5th gear). We use a brake controller but no sway control, and hav only found sway an issue when on pavement that is severely rutted (i.e. deep tire depressions along the direction of travel) from semi traffic.
The 5th Gen is not a tow vehicle, but it does work. Can't imagine pulling 5000-lbs, though...
