Hauling with a V8 Runner. 5500 lbs for 8 hours?

[perfectmax]

i've got a Limited V8 4Runner ('06) and am thinking about taking my boat up to NJ from NC this summer. Its about an 8 hour trek. I don't have a tow button so I'm thinking that I should leave it in 4th gear for the entire trip? Do you guys think that this is going to be to much of a workout for my truck?

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[specialist]

You'll be just fine. I'll assume you have the tow package so you have a transmission cooler and weight distributing hitch.

keeping it in 4th gear is a smart idea around town. On a flat highway I generally put it back into overdrive as your not placing much of a demand on the transmission or engine.

I towed 4 atv's and gear in a toy hauler totaling about 6-7 thousand pounds 10 hours each way. Never struggled even through the mountains.

 

[perfectmax]

You'll be just fine. I'll assume you have the tow package so you have a transmission cooler and weight distributing hitch.

keeping it in 4th gear is a smart idea around town. On a flat highway I generally put it back into overdrive as your not placing much of a demand on the transmission or engine.

I towed 4 atv's and gear in a toy hauler totaling about 6-7 thousand pounds 10 hours each way. Never struggled even through the mountains.

I must not have the tow package because I don't have an overdrive button?? Thats why I'm thinking I should leave it in 4th??

 

[eskimochaos]

I must not have the tow package because I don't have an overdrive button?? Thats why I'm thinking I should leave it in 4th??

D is overdrive, 4 is 4th.

 

[MercuryEvo]

you'll be fine, i've done it, didnt feel stressed at all

 

[charlier180]

i've got a Limited V8 4Runner ('06) and am thinking about taking my boat up to NJ from NC this summer. Its about an 8 hour trek. I don't have a tow button so I'm thinking that I should leave it in 4th gear for the entire trip? Do you guys think that this is going to be to much of a workout for my truck?

I towed my car trailer from Pennsylvania to Michigan a couple of summers ago with about the same weight.
Up and down the mountains in western PA with the A/C running full blast in 90 degree+ temps.
The 4Runner performed like a champ even in the heavy wind and rain of a severe thunderstorm.
Took two days for the trip out and one, LONG day coming home.

Since most of my towing trips involve less than flat roads, I do not tow using overdrive most of the time.

 

[midnight runner]

Re: Re: Hauling with a V8 Runner. 5500 lbs for 8 hours?

I towed my car trailer from Pennsylvania to Michigan a couple of summers ago with about the same weight.
Up and down the mountains in western PA with the A/C running full blast in 90 degree+ temps.
The 4Runner performed like a champ even in the heavy wind and rain of a severe thunderstorm.
Took two days for the trip out and one, LONG day coming home.

Since most of my towing trips involve less than flat roads, I do not tow using overdrive most of the time.

How much does your car trailer weigh?

I'm looking for a 06+ V8, and then after that, I gotta get a trailer. I already got the race car!

 

[charlier180]

Re: Re: Re: Hauling with a V8 Runner. 5500 lbs for 8 hours?

How much does your car trailer weigh?

I'm looking for a 06+ V8, and then after that, I gotta get a trailer. I already got the race car!

My trailer weighs 3,175 lbs empty. Fully loaded it weights 5,200-5,500 lbs depending on which car I am hauling.

Mine is 20 feet long and 8.5 feet wide. Nose of 4Runner to tail is about 41 feet.

BTW, if you are getting an enclosed trailer be SURE to get a weight distributing hitch and receiver and dual cam sway control.
This equipment makes all the difference in the world when towing with a 4Runner.

FYI, towing this "Big Brick" does hammer my gas mileage.
The trip to Michigan I mentioned earlier took 11 tanks of regular unleaded fuel.
I averaged 8.51 MPG for the trip with a high of 10.44 MPG and a low of 6.95 MPG.
That mileage is far from great but I am willing to pay that price for an enclosed trailer.

As always, your mileage may vary.

 

[Rover+Runner]

I towed a fully-loaded 6 X 12 UHaul trailer from Jacksonville, FL to Chicago, IL in my '06 Limited, and my brother followed me towing the same size in his 06 Tacoma. I would guess both trailers were about 4000-4500 lbs. Overall, my truck seemed to handle the trailer better and I left it in Drive the entire time with no trans cooler. I think you should be fine; just watch your temp gauge and make sure tires all have good pressure.

Nice boat BTW.

 

[Fishy1]

My son towed a 4,000# trailer from PA to Arizona 3 years ago with his 2005 V-8 sports edition....zero problems still runs perfect....

 

[midnight runner]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling with a V8 Runner. 5500 lbs for 8 hours?

My trailer weighs 3,175 lbs empty. Fully loaded it weights 5,200-5,500 lbs depending on which car I am hauling.

Mine is 20 feet long and 8.5 feet wide. Nose of 4Runner to tail is about 41 feet.

BTW, if you are getting an enclosed trailer be SURE to get a weight distributing hitch and receiver and dual cam sway control.
This equipment makes all the difference in the world when towing with a 4Runner.

FYI, towing this "Big Brick" does hammer my gas mileage.
The trip to Michigan I mentioned earlier took 11 tanks of regular unleaded fuel.
I averaged 8.51 MPG for the trip with a high of 10.44 MPG and a low of 6.95 MPG.
That mileage is far from great but I am willing to pay that price for an enclosed trailer.

As always, your mileage may vary.

Sweet.. OT, but what kind of race car(s) do you have?

 

[midnight runner]

You'll be just fine. I'll assume you have the tow package so you have a transmission cooler and weight distributing hitch.

keeping it in 4th gear is a smart idea around town. On a flat highway I generally put it back into overdrive as your not placing much of a demand on the transmission or engine.

I towed 4 atv's and gear in a toy hauler totaling about 6-7 thousand pounds 10 hours each way. Never struggled even through the mountains.

i'm looking for a 06+ V8, and i'm looking through the brochure, but it doesn't say anything about a tranny cooler or weight distribution hitch. All it mentions is a tow hitch. Do all 4runners that have a hitch, have the tranny cooler, and a weight distribution hitch?

 

[charlier180]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling with a V8 Runner. 5500 lbs for 8 hours?

Sweet.. OT, but what kind of race car(s) do you have?

The cars I haul in my trailer are Antiques so they are more "Show" than "Go".

i'm looking for a 06+ V8, and i'm looking through the brochure, but it doesn't say anything about a tranny cooler or weight distribution hitch. All it mentions is a tow hitch. Do all 4runners that have a hitch, have the tranny cooler, and a weight distribution hitch?

Unless Toyota changed things in later model years, the V8s always came with the weight distributing hitch receiver and tranny cooler from the factory. The V6's do not come standard with that hitch and cooler.

Being pre-owned I suppose the previous owner could have put a different (ie aftermarket) hitch on. If it is a Toyota hitch, it will have a sticker on it with the weight ratings listed. The weight distributing hitch receiver will have a rating of around 7,000 - 7,200 lbs.
The load bearing hitch will be around 5,000 lbs.

 

[climb.on]

As many have said it shouldn't be a problem. All V8's have tranny coolers, so you fine in that dept. What's hard on a tranny is when it is shifting up and down a lot (and of course heat).

Although, I suspect you will end up in 4th for most of the trip, I don't like assume that when I tow it HAS to be in any certain gear. If I can keep in 5th without it shifting a lot that's ideal (it will save on gas if you can). It really depends on the load, wind, cruising speed, and the grade. I sort of just let the truck tell me what gear it want's to be in then manually put it in that gear rather than letting it shift back and forth a lot. Here's how I do it:

I start with it in drive (5th) and see if it wants to down shift on it's own very often. If it keeps shifting back and forth, then I down shift into 4th to keep it there. Likewise, if it still wants to run in a lower gear then I manually downshift again to 3rd (usually only occurs going up a mountain pass or in strong winds).

 

[kahuna2]

I used an early 4R to tow a 5000# keelboat all over the eastern US/Cdn, the mountains could slow it a bit but it never presented any real problems,

currently I tow 4500# w/ an '08 V8 no problems at all, P3 brake controller w/ the optional adaptor is wanted and just plugs into the factory wire harness.

 

[perfectmax]

I used an early 4R to tow a 5000# keelboat all over the eastern US/Cdn, the mountains could slow it a bit but it never presented any real problems,

currently I tow 4500# w/ an '08 V8 no problems at all, P3 brake controller w/ the optional adaptor is wanted and just plugs into the factory wire harness.

That Porsche is beautiful! If I didn't live on the coast (i.e. have the boat), I'd be at the tracks every weekend probably with a supra turbo.