HEAVIEST load towed with 4Runner

[TOYSTRY]

Has anyone towed over 5000lbs with a 5th Gen yet? I'm guessing no since we haven't seen an answer yet.........would be interesting to know since I intend to tow my Jeep 1-2 times a year with my 4Runner when I purchase it in the next couple weeks.

From what I've read it appears that adding a Oil and Trans Cooler along with beefing up the hitch would enable you to tow more based on similar Toyota/Lexus platforms.

:thanks:

 

[desertred]

I'm very interested in this also. I'm looking at a move from Oregon to Colorado in the near future and am considering towing my car on a trailer (~4600 lbs total trailer weight). Pulling this kind of weight over the Utah and Wyoming mountains concerns me. The U-Haul web site (from where I might rent the trailer) indicates the 4Runner will be fine. However, I have some doubt. Is towing this trailer a good idea or bad? What (if any) mods should the 4Runner have?

 

[Mike G.]

Would like to hear from some more folks who are pulling approx. 3000 to 3500lbs. trailer. I am looking at two pop up campers and I am concerned about how the 4Runner will pull this kind of weight.
The unloaded weight of the smaller camper is 2214lbs (192XR) and the other is 2545lbs (232XR), I figured I will add about 500-700lbs of gear and supplys.

I really like the extra room of the 232XR, but I am concerned about the extra weight; Should I be concerned?


192XR
http://i1.imagesrv.com/3/317/1/191948/1_317_191948_1080468.jpg

232XR
Google Image Result for http://i1.imagesrv.com/1/599/i/592352/1_3641_104915_949387.jpg

 

[Shooter33]

Towing a pop-up.

Would like to hear from some more folks who are pulling approx. 3000 to 3500lbs. trailer. I am looking at two pop up campers and I am concerned about how the 4Runner will pull this kind of weight.
The unloaded weight of the smaller camper is 2214lbs (192XR) and the other is 2545lbs (232XR), I figured I will add about 500-700lbs of gear and supplys.

I really like the extra room of the 232XR, but I am concerned about the extra weight; Should I be concerned?


192XR
http://i1.imagesrv.com/3/317/1/191948/1_317_191948_1080468.jpg

232XR
Google Image Result for http://i1.imagesrv.com/1/599/i/592352/1_3641_104915_949387.jpg

Mike,

I currently pull a 12' box pop-up with my 2010 SR5 with no problems at all. All loaded up, It's probably pushing #3500....well within the max pay load. While I do feel it back there, especially going up long hills, the truck pulls it like a champ. Note that I don't have any weight-distributing set-ups or trailer brakes of any kind, too. If and when I buy a new pop-up (hopefully soon), I do plan to incorporate brakes at a minimum.

The only problem I see with that toy hauler camper you're looking at would be tongue weight. The 4R's rear springs are weak at best. I have to be creative when loading my camper so as to minimize the sag. That's really been the only dissapointing aspect of pulling my camper. But I would imagine that a good weight-distributing hitch set-up might alleviate much of that, and you shouldn't have much of a problem pulling that trailer.

 

[Mike G.]

Thanks for the info. !
I am trying to keep the full weight around 3000lbs., it sounds like that should not be a problem for the 4Runner, again thanks for the reply.

 

[jetboy1975]

You should be fine towing either of those trailers based on empty weights, but it depends on what you are planning on putting up front. You'll have plenty of power for the weight and not a lot of drag resistance. Like Shooter said your biggest problem will be the tongue weight. Anything you put up front is almost all tongue weight because it is so far ahead of the axle. An ATV or motorcycle up front and you'll easily be over.

I would weigh it all first, then decide. Either way plan on installing airbags (cheap fix for sag) and a weight distributing hitch.

 

[Mike G.]

The only thing that will be carried up front will be stuff like firewood, coolers, bikes, dry boxes. I get what your saying about the weight up front on the tongue. I am going to install an external trans. cooler and a WDH, and anything else that will help tow safely and reliably.

Thanks for your reply`s!

I would still like to hear more examples of 4Runners towing this amount of trailer weight.

 

[Japsfinest]

Dunno. Power to weight ratio seems to be the same:

Tacoma access cab 4x4: 4070 lbs / 236 hp = 17.2 lb/hp
4Runner SR5 4x4: 4675 lbs / 270 hp = 17.3 lb/hp

The Access Cab has a 127" wheelbase. The 4Runner has a 109" wheelbase. I wonder if that longer wheelbase increases stability when towing?

All specs taken from toyota.com website.

I have not towed anything with the 5th gen yet but with the clculations above I can give a little bit of input- in my 05 tacoma double cab trd sport package I towed two different loads:

#1 was a Uhaul Auto Transport with a Lexus IS300 that weighs in at about 3250 car plus trailer. The truck felt good and strong, gas mileage was not bad and was very manageable

#2 was a steal trailer pulling a bobcat with several accessories(dump bucket attachement, excavating drill attachment, and couple others) while having a full pallete of sod in the bed. The truck was not happy, this was not safe and the brakes were not stopping. I knew this was a stupid idea when I came to the first stop sign and the truck rolled right through. I drove this for a couple short miles to the final destination.

I feel confident that I I will tow the lexus to track days in the TE without any problem.

 

[mocosguey]

I have not towed anything with the 5th gen yet but with the clculations above I can give a little bit of input- in my 05 tacoma double cab trd sport package I towed two different loads:

#1 was a Uhaul Auto Transport with a Lexus IS300 that weighs in at about 3250 car plus trailer. The truck felt good and strong, gas mileage was not bad and was very manageable

#2 was a steal trailer pulling a bobcat with several accessories(dump bucket attachement, excavating drill attachment, and couple others) while having a full pallete of sod in the bed. The truck was not happy, this was not safe and the brakes were not stopping. I knew this was a stupid idea when I came to the first stop sign and the truck rolled right through. I drove this for a couple short miles to the final destination.

I feel confident that I I will tow the lexus to track days in the TE without any problem.

I tow my 22 ft runabout loaded with fuel + trailer ~5,000 lbs. No issues at all. Fuel economy averaged about 15mpg. No problems at all.

 

[hamiltonj2w1]

I towed close to the max load with my 4runner. I towed a dual axle flat bed trailer with a toro dingo on it (trencher) with a few diff attachments the dingo weights about 2k lbs and the trailer was about 2k lbs. I deffinatly knew it was back there. I had to use to put my sprinkler system in which sucks doing yourself I might add lol. With the trailer back there it gave my 4runner temporary saggy butt treatment lol.

 

[tlflow]

Not designed to tow

I have 10K miles on my 2010 TE with ca 5K miles towing 3000# trailer with 300# tongue weight. Typical trip is 500 miles with 7-15 miles (sometimes 25) offroad (not dirt roads, logging roads). The OW suspension I have is well suited to this, but the truck itself is ill-suited for towing. It very hard on the engine and tranny. Normal road speed on interstate is 70-80 mph. Hills in east texas are modest climbs, but very hard on this drive-train when loaded at 3000#. Mountains would be too much for this vehicle loaded in this range. Oil shows thermal stress after 1000 miles. I have backed down to 65 on interstate for last 2000 miles, but oil is still stressed (I change the oil at 5K BTW). An external tranny cooler might help, but would not really change anything.

This truck can tow a little bit, but If you really need to tow more than 3000# frequently buy an F-150. If want to tow frequently stay at or below 3000# and go slow (65 mph). It will manage that.

Without the trailer the thing is off the hook fun!

 

[TOYSTRY]

bump.......anyone towing 5000lbs or more?

 

[Titanpat57]

bump.......anyone towing 5000lbs or more?

Noo..but I think what tlflow wrote is good, sound advice.

 

[CApilot78]

2011 SR5 towing - 5,150 lbs

I pulled a 2,100lb car carrier with a 3,050 lb car with a 2011 4runner.

I started at 1,200 ft above sea level (MSL) and climbed up a 7% grade to 6,000ft MSL

I had 300lbs of tongue weight, so the truck didn't sag very much. On flat road, it would keep bouncing from 4th to 5th and back, so I left it in 4th.

Climbing the grade, I manually put it in 3rd, and it did okay up to about 3000msl (maintained 50mph), and above 3000msl it struggled to maintain 45mph in 3rd. It would drop into second below 45mph and would climb up to 60, then go into third, slow down to 45 and repeat the cycle all over again.

I was getting 12mpg going uphill. It stopped just fine. The trailer had surge brakes and I didn't feel I had a stopping problem, but I drove very conservative and gave myself a lot of room.

Overall, I thought the vehicle towed okay. I haven't analyzed the oil, but I would agree with tlflow that consistently towing this weight would be hard on the engine. The length was 22 feet and I had no "sway" issues. I can't understand why the Tacoma with the same engine can tow 1500lbs more, as I was completely empty and the truck struggled uphill. I am definitely going to install an aftermarket tranny cooler.

For a V6, it did alright. I would feel comfortable towing 4500lbs and having my wife and kids in the car, and camping gear, etc. You will get bad mpg and struggle uphills, but if you want a vehicle to tow with, buy a Chevy 2500HD or a Suburban.

I am looking to get a 19-21ft boat and I wanted an SUV w/ good MPG, could go hunting, fishing, camping, etc and my wife could still drive around. We looked at a Tahoe (ok MPG on hwy, excellent towing, but VERY expensive), a highlander (I wouldn't be caught dead hunting in that thing), and the SR5 (we have 4 kids and needed 7 seats). I really wanted a Trail, but the geniuses at Toyota didn't think anyone with over 3 kids would want to go offroad.

A 21ft boat is about 3000lbs and the trailer 1,200. That is the max I would feel comfortable towing with the SR5 and I still am going to need a tranny cooler and a tranny temp gauge.

BTW - does anyone know of a tranny cooler I could install?

 

[poodlemaster]

towing 4000lbs 5700 miles

2010 4runner limited. i pulled 4000lbs from york, pa to los angeles, ca and back in the summer. on way back to pa took northern route through colorado rockies just to see them. besides downshifting to 1st up steep inclines and holding second gear and some brake for declines, it went pretty well. definitely would of benefited from a v8 in colorado, but totally worth it for the improved gas mileage. total mpg for round trip was 15.6mpg.

 

[Mike G.]

I pulled a 2,100lb car carrier with a 3,050 lb car with a 2011 4runner.

BTW - does anyone know of a tranny cooler I could install?

This is the one I am installing on my SR5, I have this same cooler on my built Z-28 that has a high stall torque converter (They generate heat). This cooler is very easy to install and comes with everything to mount it. I just threw out this link so you can see it, but if you look around you may find it a little cheaper. This cooler is a proven part that works and is on a lot of performance cars that take a beaten at the track and on the street.

B&M Supercooler Transmission Cooler 14,400 BTU/24,000 GVW [BM-70264] - $74.95 : MarylandSpeed.com- Your First Stop on the Way to Performance!

 

[Muddy Duck]

5th Gen SR5 4wd

I have towed my 4th Gen on a heavy flatbed trailer at highway speeds and didn't have any problems until I had to make an emergency stop due to another driver's poor highway manners (he brake-checked me because I flashed my lights, asking for him to exit the left lane due to his slow speed). I had no stopping power. I think the limits given have as much to do with the ability to stop as they do to power or stability.

I also towed an excavator on a 2 1/2 ton trailer. This didn't go as well. I made it to my destination, but I had bent the u-joints on the drive-shaft.

However, I did hook a chain to a tanker truck (18-wheeler) that had gotten stuck in the snow and I surprised everyone by being able to get him unstuck.

The 5th Gen is a refined beast that has always stepped up to whatever is asked of her.

 

[Ghost Runner]

Tflow, were you running 285s? Also keep in mind the additional weight of your outfit. if you did have larger tires this is a big factor to consider when discussing power and gearing.

I just towed my 1400 lb tent trailer loaded with 200lbs, with inno ski box on roof and 2 bikes on hitch from Calgary to whistler via 99. I found the truck to be excellent overall note we do have an ow suspension. 4th gear is adequate for most hauls and 3rd is great because it's still a pretty tall (high gear) so you can go 100km/h (60mph) in 3rd with the rpms still below 4000. We got 17mpg...that's why it's a great balance for us!

I think a heavier travel trailer etc, would be fine, just make sure to remember it's Japanese and can handle some higher revs. Driving in 3rd and 4th the whole time would probably be fine. Trailer brakes are a must...I put on a Hayden tranny cooler too.

Also tflow...how about using a heavier oil?

Most trucks I've been in even big diesels need to downshift running higher rpm when towing up hills. It seems like people want to tow huge trailers and somehow not feel them at all but this is not really possible. Also there is a manly culture of wanting to run low rpm all the time but these engines really can handle higher rpm and this is your optimal power range not 1500-2500.

Thoughts and comments about heavier oil and what rpm is okay long term?

 

[noneckrex]

I have a medium size utility trailer. Picked up 75 bags of rock for some landscaping. Each bag weighed 48lbs. 3600 lbs plus the trailer.

 

[BEAST-IV]

Coleman E3

I've towed my Coleman E3 off-road trailer all over the place on-road and off-road into the mountains, up steep inclines etc. It weighs 3000 lbs dry and I had 40 gallons of water in the tank as well. I've had no issues and averaged 16.5 mpg.