Another Travel Trailer Question

[ridintime]

I've read all of the threads regarding towing with the 4R and its wheelbase and and understand:

-Heed the 80% towing capacity guideline.
-Keep the length under 20 feet.
-Air bags, WDH, trans cooler, break controller as sway control as necessary.
-Pop-ups are the safest traveling long distance and/or highway speeds due to their aerodynamics.


Here's my scenario and would appreciate your input.

I am in Jacksonville FL and would frequently tow to the Smokey Mtns area 400-500 one way. So, long highway miles followed by mountain roads. Both challenges to towing with the 4R. Do not care to white knuckle it the entire trip. It would only discourage our appetite for more trips.

Am looking at the Livin Lite Quicksilver XLP, which is a popup and GVWR of only 2,500 lbs. Seems like a no-brainer. However, their 13RDB trailer would provide hard walls, real plumbing and a shower - big selling point to the Mrs.

While its GVWR is still only 3,000 lbs and the box is 13 ft (entire trailer is 16.5), can I safely tow it on this route and at what speed? And if so, which of the aforementioned towing devices should I employ? Would probably install break controller and something like a Hensley sway control no matter what trailer I end up with.

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[1engineer]

Of course you can. Our vehicles are rated to around 5K lbs towing. For your other questions you would be better off going to a trailer towing forum. From personal experience, I have towed 4.5K several times several thousand miles with absolutely no issues. Since the 4Runner already has a cooler it does not require another but some people add them. My truck leveled nicely with 400 lb tongue weight so I didn't need the air bags. My trailer was loaded correctly with no sway so no WDH was necessary. Since I only tow once every few months the surge brake on the trailer + defensive driving worked for me. If I towed more often that's probably the only option out of your list I would use, unless you were hauling a lot of weight in the back of the 4Runner + heavy tongue weight, then I would bag it as well. Again, a towing forum will be able to address your towing questions better.

 

[shawn474]

If you are sold on the idea of a pop-up, go to popupportal.com. Itis a great resource and the people there are awesome and very helpful. I have owned 3 popups and we loved having them.

 

[G8RB8_12SR5]

Following the manual, if you decide to tow greater than 2,000lbs you should get a WDH with sway control and the trailer should have brakes as well (electric or surge isn't specified). Max towing speed according to the manual is 65mph. Growing up down south though, I know most people drive significantly faster so if you want to tow faster it's up to you. I stick with the manual recommendations and haven't had any issues including towing through the mountains and I have a full 23' trailer (26' overall) with a slide out that's 4,950lbs and haven't had any issues.

 

[Biggcrisp]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

I've read all of the threads regarding towing with the 4R and its wheelbase and and understand:

-Heed the 80% towing capacity guideline.
-Keep the length under 20 feet.
-Air bags, WDH, trans cooler, break controller as sway control as necessary.
-Pop-ups are the safest traveling long distance and/or highway speeds due to their aerodynamics.


Here's my scenario and would appreciate your input.

I am in Jacksonville FL and would frequently tow to the Smokey Mtns area 400-500 one way. So, long highway miles followed by mountain roads. Both challenges to towing with the 4R. Do not care to white knuckle it the entire trip. It would only discourage our appetite for more trips.

Am looking at the Livin Lite Quicksilver XLP, which is a popup and GVWR of only 2,500 lbs. Seems like a no-brainer. However, their 13RDB trailer would provide hard walls, real plumbing and a shower - big selling point to the Mrs.

While its GVWR is still only 3,000 lbs and the box is 13 ft (entire trailer is 16.5), can I safely tow it on this route and at what speed? And if so, which of the aforementioned towing devices should I employ? Would probably install break controller and something like a Hensley sway control no matter what trailer I end up with.

Thanks in advance for your input.

You are wise to research ahead of your purchase. The hard walls and plumbing are a big plus.

I tow a hard walled trailer and can attest that the wind is the enemy when towing. However, I think either trailer will be a safe, fun, blast for your families use.

I don't know anything about towing a low profile trailer other than I would guess you would still be very aware of it being back there.

Use a brake controller, WDH, and sway control. The transmission in the 5th gen is strong in 4S mode. The engine is capable of maintaining 50 - 60 mph while towing on most road conditions. The brakes are unbelievably capable lol.

For reference:

I tow a 26' box.
I towed in 100+ deg temps
I towed 500 miles in one day (10 hours)
I towed through hilly terrain
I towed in 50 mph headwinds

I also own a RAM 1500 Hemi that I started towing with this season. The main difference I noticed was that the RAM handles uneven pavement just a little better. Transmission acted identical in both vehicles. 4runner had better stopping power.

I just returned from a flawless 1,500 mile 4runner road trip, at 27,000 miles my runner still drives/rides as well as it did on day one.

 

[El Deano]

you might consider a hard-walled A frame popup. I just got one of the Aliner 18 ft models and towed from OR to Lake Louise, Alberta in a day - 775 miles with lots of mountain roads. the low profile allows it to tow well in wind and the light weight (dry trailer is <3000 lbs.) is easy on the 4R. had no issues and no add ons like airbags, tranny cooler etc .

 

[quick AG surfer]

I've read all of the threads regarding towing with the 4R and its wheelbase and and understand:

-Heed the 80% towing capacity guideline.
-Keep the length under 20 feet.
-Air bags, WDH, trans cooler, break controller as sway control as necessary.
-Pop-ups are the safest traveling long distance and/or highway speeds due to their aerodynamics.


Here's my scenario and would appreciate your input.

I am in Jacksonville FL and would frequently tow to the Smokey Mtns area 400-500 one way. So, long highway miles followed by mountain roads. Both challenges to towing with the 4R. Do not care to white knuckle it the entire trip. It would only discourage our appetite for more trips.

Am looking at the Livin Lite Quicksilver XLP, which is a popup and GVWR of only 2,500 lbs. Seems like a no-brainer. However, their 13RDB trailer would provide hard walls, real plumbing and a shower - big selling point to the Mrs.

While its GVWR is still only 3,000 lbs and the box is 13 ft (entire trailer is 16.5), can I safely tow it on this route and at what speed? And if so, which of the aforementioned towing devices should I employ? Would probably install break controller and something like a Hensley sway control no matter what trailer I end up with.

Thanks in advance for your input.

I am also located in Jacksonville FL - will be towing a Trail Manor 2417 next weekend to Orlando with my 14 SR5

I will let you know how it goes.

 

[gm350reratliff]

you might consider a hard-walled A frame popup. I just got one of the Aliner 18 ft models and towed from OR to Lake Louise, Alberta in a day - 775 miles with lots of mountain roads. the low profile allows it to tow well in wind and the light weight (dry trailer is <3000 lbs.) is easy on the 4R. had no issues and no add ons like airbags, tranny cooler etc .

That's a nice camper. How are those to set up? Thinking about one as well.

 

[Jeremy556]

I've read all of the threads regarding towing with the 4R and its wheelbase and and understand:

-Heed the 80% towing capacity guideline.
-Keep the length under 20 feet.
-Air bags, WDH, trans cooler, break controller as sway control as necessary.
-Pop-ups are the safest traveling long distance and/or highway speeds due to their aerodynamics.


Here's my scenario and would appreciate your input.

I am in Jacksonville FL and would frequently tow to the Smokey Mtns area 400-500 one way. So, long highway miles followed by mountain roads. Both challenges to towing with the 4R. Do not care to white knuckle it the entire trip. It would only discourage our appetite for more trips.

Am looking at the Livin Lite Quicksilver XLP, which is a popup and GVWR of only 2,500 lbs. Seems like a no-brainer. However, their 13RDB trailer would provide hard walls, real plumbing and a shower - big selling point to the Mrs.

While its GVWR is still only 3,000 lbs and the box is 13 ft (entire trailer is 16.5), can I safely tow it on this route and at what speed? And if so, which of the aforementioned towing devices should I employ? Would probably install break controller and something like a Hensley sway control no matter what trailer I end up with.

Thanks in advance for your input.

You could easily pull either of those (shit, probably both at sea level) with a Highlander, stock.

I'll have to dig up my "certified scales ticket" that I paid $15 for when I was moving. Somewhere around 6000 lbs, pulled from Atlanta to the West side of Colorado. LT tires, electric brakes, and airbags, no fancy WD hitches or sway control, just smart trailer weight distribution.

 

[El Deano]

set up takes 1 min, max. another 30 sec for the soft side dormer. this one has a two burner propane stove, sink, cassette toilet, heater, AC and 3-way fridge. sleeps 4.