Hauling 525lbs with a vesahaul carrier

scooterman · 2011-03-28T14:26:31+00:00

Hello I posted this basic question in the wrong forum last week, so I wanted to try again here. The guy who pointed me to the 5th gen section said there was a thread on this but I can't find it. I'm a total newbie. First big SUV just got it last Thursday night. I've never had a trailer hitch or hauled a trailer or carrier of any kind, so I'm in the dark I need to know what is the maximum tongue weight limit of the 2011 SR5 4Runner hitch receiver. is it 500lbs? not sure. I'm looking at carrying two scooters on a versahaul carrier(total weight 525lbs). All I could find in the manual is the 5000lb hauling capacity.(I assume this is trailer pulling weight?) If so, the 5000lb hauling capacity doesn’t help me because with the rack I’m looking at, I’m not actually pulling a trailer. The weight of the carrier and the two scooters rides on the receiver and the vehicle suspension. I looked at the owners manual but could not figure out the math they were using. I don’t want to risk $5000 worth of Vespas all over the highway. So is this doable with the current hitch receiver, or do I need tougher receiver and can the suspension of the SR5 even handle an extra 525lbs hanging on the back? Any help is greatly appreciated Stephen