Help..New owner needs Travel Trailer Ideas
- Thread starter Firemedic
- Start date
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TechWrench
Senior Member
Firemedic said:HI all. I am the pround owner of a slightly broken in 2003 SR5 V6. Beautiful rig, just worried that my travel trailer dreams may be over.
Anybody have any experience towing TT with these trucks. What brands do I look at?.
Thanks
Tim
Welcome to the forum.
I see you have an early '03 with the gray cladding, like mine.
I really liked the green, but went with the Titanium because it worked better, IMHO, with the cladding.
As for Travel Trailers, I have been doing some looking, but haven't made a decision yet. Because of our 5,000lb tow limit, you have to stay with the Ultra-lite models. There are some out there, you just have to give up some of the goodies the heavier unit have. Good luck with your 4Runner and TT search.
Koz
New member
You can add the WD hitch that is on the V8 and a trans cooler and raise the tow limit to 6700 lbs. So, without a sway/WD system you can safely tow 5400 lbs. With a good WD/sway system you can tow the limit. You may want to add air bags to the rear coils for about $100, they will help keep the vehicle level.
Koz
Koz
Tim,
I am also interested in finding a travel trailer to pull behind my v6 4Runner and am currently looking at this one:
Trailmanor Travel Trailer
Koz - What kind of air bags would you recommend? Would this be something similar to the Toyota XREAS system?
Thanks,
David
I am also interested in finding a travel trailer to pull behind my v6 4Runner and am currently looking at this one:
Trailmanor Travel Trailer
Koz - What kind of air bags would you recommend? Would this be something similar to the Toyota XREAS system?
Thanks,
David
black2kmax
New member
I have an 04 V6 SR5 4X4 and currently tow a 20ft Coachmen that weighs around 5500 lbs without our camping gear and kids toys. I did add a trans cooler, Hidden Hitch WD hitch, prodigy brake controler and an equalizer sway/weight distribution setup. The 4Runner feels fine towing the trailer and as long as you don't push it too hard on the hills you will be fine. I have been to Big Sur, Yosemite and Santa Cruz now and the 4Runner took it all in stride.
With all of that said my wife and I are currently looking to upgrade to a Sequoia or maybe a new Limited V8 4Runner. I would prefer to have some power to spare rather then feeling like I am towing at my max.
Bottom line is that you can tow some decent travel trailers with the 4Runner but I would try to stay as light as possible. There are trailers larger then mine that weigh much less.
With all of that said my wife and I are currently looking to upgrade to a Sequoia or maybe a new Limited V8 4Runner. I would prefer to have some power to spare rather then feeling like I am towing at my max.
Bottom line is that you can tow some decent travel trailers with the 4Runner but I would try to stay as light as possible. There are trailers larger then mine that weigh much less.
Koz
New member
TexGX
New member
I have a Casita Travel Trailer. It weighs about 3000lb loaded. My GX has no problems towing it. It has a full bath, full kitchen, full bed, and a two person dinnette. It is made of fiberglass so you do not have some of the problems you see with stick trailers. If you want more info, PM me.
TexGX
TexGX
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peter78
Super Moderator
Remeber weight is everything. When looking at trailers figure out how much you can tow and include the trailer weight loaded not dry.Firemedic said:
Trailers are one of the few things that are still made in the USA. The biggest company is Fleetwood. After looking for a trailer and seeing tons of trailers and reading the travel trailer forums, the quality is pretty much the same in most brands. In this business there are no Toyota brands and no Yugo brands. A bigger questions is what kind of travel trailer do you what?
If your into forums like this one, here is the biggest one for trailers: http://www.woodalls.com/cforum/index.cfm
The site can explain the issues on towing, the different types of trailers. Also a lot of members have a link to there own web site with interesting information.
A good pop up forum (this is what I have):http://www.popupexplorer.com/
One of the new type trailer is the hy-bird trailer:http://www.popupexplorer.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=18
It is a combination fo a regular trailer with the pop-ups.
Here is a site with used trailers:
http://ww2.rvtraderonline.com/
Also, ebay is a good place to look at a few pictures of trailers. After looking at all the trailers, you will find the weight will be your biggest concern. Good luck.
JungleJim
New member
Due to the size (wheelbase, etc.) of the 4Runner, I wouldn't go much over 5,000 lbs, even with a V8. The size of the 4Runner itself is limiting, unless you like to live dangerously ;-)
http://www.hybridexplorer.com/ might give you some insight into trailers that could meet your needs.
http://www.hybridexplorer.com/ might give you some insight into trailers that could meet your needs.
peter78
Super Moderator
Having a long wheel base is better, but there are some good things about the 4Runner. It is rear wheel drive, it has a full frame and it is built for heavier use. I see in the trailer forums a lot of people use mini-vans, to me not a good choice. They do have a long wheelbase, but they are front wheel drive and have no frame.JungleJim said:
If you read other threads, a lot of our members seem to have pretty good luck with some heavy towing. For heavier towing you will need a weight distribution hicth, brakes on the trailer, a transmission cooler. Bottom line is try not to over buy, the lighter the better. Although when you go look at those 30 foot trailers with showers, sofas and all sorts of gizmos, they look really neat.
