Can a 3rd gen tow 10,000lbs stock

[frodiesel]

I met this guy leaving utah into wyoming on i80. He was 73 from Vermont, a state i grew up in, so i really wanted to help. However he seemed way too proud of his perdicament.


He overheated up the pass. Bone stock 4runnner no trans cooler orignial radiator. I really hope he made it out ok. Radiator was split and i offered the best advice i could. But the way it sounded i think a head was warped. I wondered if it had been his first time out of vermont.

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[zig553]

I think 3rd gens are only rated for 5000lbs. Even 5000lbs might be dicey too.

 

[MN4runnerman]

I've towed my dads big boat with my 4Runner and I'll never do that again. The boat with trailer is roughly 4800 lbs. The max weight that I'll tow long distances is 3000 lbs with these things. If I got something heavier to tow I'll borrow my dads 3/4 ton suburban.

 

[jgue467]

I've towed my dads big boat with my 4Runner and I'll never do that again. The boat with trailer is roughly 4800 lbs. The max weight that I'll tow long distances is 3000 lbs with these things. If I got something heavier to tow I'll borrow my dads 3/4 ton suburban.

That's good advice for All of us, no matter how many coolers or the size added, that's all these (non turbo/supercharged) engines can muster and that's before you add in the elevation and mountainous terrain factors. Luck all. :cowboy:

 

[alumarine]

Did he say he was at 10,000 lbs?

 

[kolelt]

I think 3rd gens are only rated for 5000lbs. Even 5000lbs might be dicey too.

Is that the actual load it can tow. Or is that total with 4runner calculated into the equation?

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

Iirc, the 1996-2002 4Runner is rated for 5000 lbs with a standard hitch and 5500 lbs with a weight distributing hitch.

Trailer electric brake and a sway control hitch would be needed in either case.

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

That is the recommended maximum trailer weight it can tow using a standard hitch with the 4Runner loaded to it's GVWR. So, if the 4Runner is not loaded, it can theoretically tow an additional amount equal to the difference between the GVWR and the actual weight of the 4Runner.
With a weight-distributing hitch, the 4Runner can tow 500lbs more.

Is that the actual load it can tow. Or is that total with 4runner calculated into the equation?

 

[thegipper]

toyota says these 3rd gens can tow 5k but in my experience, they really shouldn't.

My boat/trailer weighs in around 2800lbs and it already struggles on hills. Can it tow 5k in a pinch, sure, but should it? No...

10k pounds, no way....

 

[LittleCaesar]

They must have some real morons working at U-haul in Vermont (no offense to the OP) because if I showed up in Virginia to rent a double axle trailer with my 4runner, they wouldn't let me.

The 4runner may have made it to Idaho within ten years of rolling off the dealership lot. But not today.

 

[gamefreakgc]

That's good advice for All of us, no matter how many coolers or the size added, that's all these (non turbo/supercharged) engines can muster and that's before you add in the elevation and mountainous terrain factors. Luck all. :cowboy:

I think the weak link would be the brakes. I would never trust these warped stock brakes with anything near 5,000 lbs! Even with my upgraded Tundra rotors I was towing about 2,000 lbs and did not like how the brakes felt.

 

[frodiesel]

Did he say he was at 10,000 lbs?

Yes, my problem started when he acted proud about making it that far. Some people. Yes he stated the trailer was 10,000lbs. I wanted to ask him what the truck was rated for towing (5000 we know it, its easy to find in manual) blah blah blah. Guess you are never too young to be silly.

Maybe it was his first time outta Vermont? I didnt stick around to find out. I was in my 06 hihy with limited toolz. If he hadnt seemed like a tool ida wrenched for him. Told him to find a parts store and get a radiator before driving it again. He had bad tire wear on the front so i figured even if i helped him get back on the road he was determinded to overlook the obvious ball joints, etc.

Maybe the trans fluid mixed after it became super heated during the accent.

I dont want to brag but i loved working in Vermont. I worked/lived in a tight ski town. But there are silly rednecks in everystate. Im a troll i just wanted to flame someone. My 3gen 4runner would happily accept the challenge but i have 12k invented in oem and aftermarket parts. Specifically thanks to this site.

 

[Magmotor]

Salute to our trucks then...:trophy: surprised he made it that far..!!

 

[Ron Burgandy]

there's no way that trailer is rated for 10k. i'm not even sure a 3rd gen would stop a trailer with that much weight without trailer brakes

 

[aykalper]

Man even if it could tow that much, the gas mileage would be terrible! Like, as soon as you start moving you'd need to refuel...

 

[alanflies]

A couple weeks ago, I towed a 99 limited on a tow dolly with a 99sr5. (roughly 5000 lbs)
from Chicago to Bowling green about 450 miles at 55-65mph the whole way.
I had no problems at all...Except for the brakes. Even with surge brakes on the dolly, stock 99 brakes in perfect condition (I actually serviced the brakes with new pads, turned rotors, bled, and adjusted front and rear before I left.) are no match for the weight. Dangerous even. I would not attempt 10,000

 

[marmot]

I agree that there's no way that trailer is rated for 10,000 lbs.

The added heat in the transmission and engine probably messed up some things.

Regardless of what the 4Runner is rated to tow, it becomes more and more unsafe as the trailer weight exceeds the weight of the tow vehicle itself. Of course this only applies to towing from the bumper instead of something like a 5th wheel trailer.

 

[jsukey]

Can it pull it? Yes. Should you pull it? Nooo! Around 10 years ago I had to tow my 1965 Lincoln Continental about 20 miles across town. It weighed around 5500 lbs. The only trailer I could find that would fit that behemoth was my buddies fully outfitted, dirt track car racing trailer. The front end had a closet that was loaded with all of his tools. He told me the trailer weighed around 3500 lbs. With all of the tools, I know I was close to 10,000 lbs. It pulled it okay, but stopping it was a whole other ordeal! I was driving out in the country, so I wasn't worried about other traffic. I just had to make sure to give myself plenty of room to stop. This was with my normally aspirated, 2002 Limited TR4.

 

[Ricktuk]

I towed about 8500 with an 07 Tundra (rated for 10000) with trailer brakes. towed fine but boy you could feel it.

 

[frodiesel]

The question always remains....once its moving....how the hell are you going to stop it. Sure! It will pull it, but it might not stop!

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