Heavy load equals single digit MPG!!!!

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Bino9905

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So I needed to pick up a pallet full of flooring about an hour from my house. My brother said I could borrow his new trailer and dropped it off when I was not home....it was much bigger and heavy duty than I thought....
On they way there it got 12.5 MPG on the way back it averaged 9.5 MPG!!!!!

The pallet I picked up was just over 2000 lbs...I called the trailer manufacturer and they said trailer was 2900 lbs so I was right at the 4runner limit...
 

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Well I have some new info......just went to manufacturers website and it says the empty trailer is actually 3900 lbs!!!! Person on phone must have misunderstood me
That means I was pulling close to 6300 lbs.....

Is the towing limit a safety issue or is there some special maintenance I should perform now?

I will not be using that trailer again.....can't believe it weighs that much

Now the single digits make sense
 
How fast were you towing the garage door sized front wall on the trailer? Completely ignoring the weight behind that wall?
 
I would do a transmission service on the 4Runner. One thing is very clear with my new 4Runner, it is not a towing machine. I cannot imagine pulling more than a small 5x10 utility trailer with a 4-wheeler.

My last truck was a F150 4WD with a 5.4 Triton....that was a pulling truck.

When I see large trailers attached to a 4Runner, I cringe. I knew this going into with the purchase of my new 4Runner, I am even considering looking for a used truck for pulling only. If I would not have gotten so much for the trade in, I would have kept the Ford.

77
 
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77Bronc said:
I would do a transmission service on the 4Runner. One thing is very clear with my new 4Runner, it is not a towing machine. I cannot imagine pulling more than a small 5x10 utility trailer with a 4-wheeler.

My last truck was a F150 4WD with a 5.4 Triton....that was a pulling truck.

When I see large trailers attached to a 4Runner, I cringe. I knew this going into with the purchase of my new 4Runner, I am even considering looking for a used truck for pulling only. If I would not have gotten so much for the trade in, I would have kept the Ford.

77
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Meh. I pulled a similar (overweight) load to the OP from Atlanta to western Colorado with about 15K miles on the ODO. Changed the trans fluid at 100K, at 130K now with no problems.

Is it an ideal tow vehicle? Will it do 80mph up an 8% grade for 15 miles at 10k ft with 6K lb behind it? No, of course not, but it can safely pull that kind of weight with common sense speeds and caution, even if it is in 2nd gear at 5500 RPM on the steepest grades.
 
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FWIW, I tow heavy loads regularly with my full size trucks. My wife drives the 4Runner. It is not so much what a vehicle is capable of "pulling" that can lead to safety issues, it is pulling/stopping/maneuvering etc.

I used to be the one who would stretch the limits on every vehicle pulling/hauling almost anything, until the time I could not stop my truck with a trailer loaded with gravel. If you pull enough, it is only a matter of time before someone pulls in front of you or cuts you off. Luckily for me nobody was hurt (except my ego) and the police let me go with a warning for exceeding my vehicles weight/tow capacity.

Do not get me wrong, I will still make the occasional run at my upper limit. I have friends who run heavy loads for a living. Please be aware that if you are overloaded, and run into a bad circumstance, the liability can be expensive. I used to look at the truck ratings as a "guide' and thought my skills could stretch it some. Turns out it can be used as legal documentation in lawsuits and tickets.

Not trying to tell anyone how to use their truck, just some advice from a guy who almost learned the hard way and have a couple of friends who did.

BTW, pretty impressive load for a 4Runner :)
 
i wouldn't do anything, just put it away and give it a good pat on the hood. there is no reason to do any extra maintenance, thats ridiculous and a waste of money.

these motors and transmissions are designed to operate at 100% load for their entire life
 
I'm with Marshal on this one. I've towed much heavier with my 3rd gen and never skipped a beat. Like 9k lbs of skid steer and trailer once and my fj40 plus trailer. Not something you'd do every day - but shouldn't hurt anything.

It's all about going slower and being safe. Keep in mind that a 5th gen has larger brakes and more hp and tq than many 1990 1 ton domestic trucks. What it lacks is low gearing and heavy duty axles and wheel bearings, and weight. 25 years ago everyone didn't feel the need to tow a 40' 5th wheel at 90mph.
 
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You are also in some of the flattest terrain in Texas. Steep grades are the real killer when towing. Like the others have said, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Yeah, exceeding the weight rating of the 4runner is a safety issue. And in Texas, you have to have trailer brakes for trailers over 4,500 lbs (gross (loaded) weight). If the brakes are electric, you need a brake controller in the tow vehicle to make them work. If they are hydraulic surge brakes (most Uhaul trailers), it's built into the coupler on the front of the trailer.

In many states the requirement is for brakes is for trailers over 3000lbs.

At low speeds it's OK (but still not legal) to exceed the weight rating of the tow vehicle. And on private property you can do whatever you want.
 
Next time maybe borrow your brothers truck? After seeing a trailer that big i would have swapped vehicles for a day.
 
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