We have a 09 trail edition with 70k miles and are looking at getting a travel trailer but need one that is a decent size. A few we are looking at are around 5500 to 6000lbs loaded weight. Would this kind of weight be asking for trouble? The tow rating is 5000 on the 4Runner.
How much can you push the tow rating?
- Thread starter CoosTE09
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RUN-4-LIFE
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None personally. Insurance may not cover you God forbid something happens they may come after you.
RUN-4-LIFE
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Either upgrade to a v8 4th gen or a tundra/ sequoia
srs034runner
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I'm sure Toyota has a reason for the 5000lb rating lol ... So I would never push the manufacturers ratings, just isn't safe for you, your family, and others traveling around you. Get a v8, that would be my answer.
HiVel-JR
New member
This question comes up every now and then, when it comes to towing something behind the 4runner it is not about how much weight it can tow.... I have seen folks pull some crazy stuff behind their vehicles.
Its about if you can stop the weight safely.
Any more weight to that load and you might not be able to stop the vehicle in a timely or safe stopping distance.
having fun
New member
/\ And this is how they rate a vehicle on tow rating.
Lewis&Clark
New member
Well, I bought my 4th gen specifically because I wanted the V8 engine to haul a heavier load. Off the top of my head, I can't remember with certainty what Toyota's spec limit is on it. I think it's around 7,300 pounds. I'm fairly skilled with towing in a variety of conditions, but I'm not comfortable really pushing towing limits too much. Some folks on here have hooked up some amazing weight to the back of their rigs. Not sure I could bring myself to even try that.
The most I've ever hauled on my V8 was 200-300 pounds beyond the maximum capacity. The 27 ft. camping trailer came in a couple hundred more pounds than advertised when we rented it. I stored our cargo inside the trailer in areas where it would maximize weight distribution and safety, and moved some items to a friend's truck to keep the weight as close to the limit as possible.
At the limit, you could really feel the truck efforting the load. It was smooth and responsive, but you could really feel the lag. At a couple hundred over limit, it didn't feel any different but I wouldn't have pushed it much further. (If I were hauling across the flatlands I MIGHT have been willing to push it a little bit more, but we were going into the mountains on California's central coast -- fairly steep).
The biggest concern as others have mentioned is safety -- safe handling, safe braking distances, ability to respond quickly in the event something goes wrong. It's really hard to ensure appropriate safety the more you add beyond the limits -- and they're called limits for a reason. Skill alone will never be enough to overcome the laws of physics.
As for the V6, I haven't towed on a V6 runner. I know the limit is about 5,000 pounds. But from my experience the V6 is not nearly as smooth and responsive an engine as the 4th gen V8's were, so I'm not sure I'd be willing to push it at all on the 6.
Dropzone
New member
Been towing for 30 plus years. I would not recommend it. People have already mentioned the liability issues. It would suck to find out your insurance didn't cover you because you were 2k over your GVW.
You would be surprised how fast extra weight accumulates. You think a little more firewood won't hurt and you end up weighing more than you think. Only way to confirm your load is through a scale.
I sold my 05 Tacoma TRD because my wife bought too big of trailer and ended up with a full size truck
You would be surprised how fast extra weight accumulates. You think a little more firewood won't hurt and you end up weighing more than you think. Only way to confirm your load is through a scale.
I sold my 05 Tacoma TRD because my wife bought too big of trailer and ended up with a full size truck
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Thanks guys, these are the issues I wanted to confirm. I am a truck driver so knowing how to pull and stop wouldn't be as much as concern as the mechanical issues it would cause and the safety of other people. I would hate to have to trade the TE in but I might not have much choice. The trailer we are looking at would be 500lbs over gvwr
I wouldn't do it. But if you do upgrading the hitch on your runner to the type used on the V8 would be a good idea. Also, you can get great deals on eaz-lift weight distribution hitches at Amazon. They help a bunch. You can one with sway control. Search Amazon: eaz-lift 48053.
You could also upgrade your front brakes to the larger rotor. This requires new calipers. If you really want to drop some cash upgrade to heavier springs and shocks.
Saying all that I will add that I personally like to stay way underway any stated capacity. Like if it says 7000lbs I'm good with maybe 4000lbs. You plan on carrying your family with this set-up right?
You could also upgrade your front brakes to the larger rotor. This requires new calipers. If you really want to drop some cash upgrade to heavier springs and shocks.
Saying all that I will add that I personally like to stay way underway any stated capacity. Like if it says 7000lbs I'm good with maybe 4000lbs. You plan on carrying your family with this set-up right?
Erkelbot
New member
What about buying a nice trailer brake controller unit, and equipping the trailer with brakes? It's not solving the fact that you're pushing the weight stated by Toyota, but giving the brakes some extra power to offset the load may be a potential solve instead of swapping trucks entirely... I personally can't vouch for one -- or this even being something worth looking into -- but I always thought this may be something that would help offset enormous payloads for me if I ever found myself needing to haul anything much on the hitch.
Also, is there a good brake conversion to put on larger calipers? Never thought there was a need to upgrade the G4 brakes (I often did for the G3 brake setup) for my situation, but perhaps that's also a possibility? Though, I'm pretty sure the trail/sport has the biggest brakes that came on the 4runners -- if I'm not mistaken.
All that said, you can't make up for the torque of a V8, and there are some beefier elements to the hitch on the V8.
OR, go nuts and get the brake controller and...
Underdog Racing Development
Also, is there a good brake conversion to put on larger calipers? Never thought there was a need to upgrade the G4 brakes (I often did for the G3 brake setup) for my situation, but perhaps that's also a possibility? Though, I'm pretty sure the trail/sport has the biggest brakes that came on the 4runners -- if I'm not mistaken.
All that said, you can't make up for the torque of a V8, and there are some beefier elements to the hitch on the V8.
OR, go nuts and get the brake controller and...
Underdog Racing Development
TechWrench
Senior Member
What about buying a nice trailer brake controller unit, and equipping the trailer with brakes? It's not solving the fact that you're pushing the weight stated by Toyota, but giving the brakes some extra power to offset the load may be a potential solve instead of swapping trucks entirely... I personally can't vouch for one -- or this even being something worth looking into -- but I always thought this may be something that would help offset enormous payloads for me if I ever found myself needing to haul anything much on the hitch.
Also, is there a good brake conversion to put on larger calipers? Never thought there was a need to upgrade the G4 brakes (I often did for the G3 brake setup) for my situation, but perhaps that's also a possibility? Though, I'm pretty sure the trail/sport has the biggest brakes that came on the 4runners -- if I'm not mistaken.
All that said, you can't make up for the torque of a V8, and there are some beefier elements to the hitch on the V8.
OR, go nuts and get the brake controller and...
Underdog Racing Development
I am pretty sure that any trailer that size already has electric brakes on each axle, so all he would need is the brake controller for the tow vehicle. That being said, he will still be over the vehicle max tow rating. And, not having seen the hitch setup on the 5th gen, I can only suspect it is not rated for any type of Weight distribution system.
PS: My bad, I thought he had a 5th, so my comment about the hitch setup needs to be amended.
With the '09, 4th gen V6 hitch, it is not rated for use with any type of WD system. He would have to upgrade the hitch to a V8 frame mounted hitch to gain any additional capacity, along with a trans cooler.
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Erkelbot
New member
Good point on the trailer size. I'm also not advocating this as a best case scenario, but it's a possibility if he didn't want to sell what sounds like a good truck.
For sure you would have to replace the hitch. The V6 has a class II hitch rated at 5000 lbs, and the V8 hitch is rated at 7500 lbs or so. To tow that much you would have to upgrade the V6 to a class III weight distribution hitch. You'd also want to upgrade the transmission cooler and put a temperature gauge on it. Because of its lower torque, the V6 will run with the torque converter unlocked more than the V8 would, generating more heat in the transmission. You would also want to beef up the rear suspension on either vehicle - the stock suspension is too squishy for that kind of a load on a regular basis.
And you will have to get a brake controller. As far as I know, it is illegal in every state (not to mention dangerous) to tow a trailer that weighs more than about 3-4000 lbs without it being equipped with its own brakes that are connected to the tow vehicle brakes. Some states have more stringent rules.
That being said, I would not regularly tow a 6500 lb trailer with either vehicle. The 4runner is an awesome vehicle, but it's a mid-sized SUV, made for mid-sized jobs. For a 6000lb+ trailer you really need a Suburban or a full-size pickup with a minimum 5.7liter gas engine or a 6+liter diesel. An extended cab pickup with a bed-mounted 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch would be ideal. Stability with the long wheel base and bed-mounted hitch will be far better than with the 4runner.
My advice is either:
- downsize your needs to a <5000lb trailer, or
- get a full-size tow vehicle.
And you will have to get a brake controller. As far as I know, it is illegal in every state (not to mention dangerous) to tow a trailer that weighs more than about 3-4000 lbs without it being equipped with its own brakes that are connected to the tow vehicle brakes. Some states have more stringent rules.
That being said, I would not regularly tow a 6500 lb trailer with either vehicle. The 4runner is an awesome vehicle, but it's a mid-sized SUV, made for mid-sized jobs. For a 6000lb+ trailer you really need a Suburban or a full-size pickup with a minimum 5.7liter gas engine or a 6+liter diesel. An extended cab pickup with a bed-mounted 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch would be ideal. Stability with the long wheel base and bed-mounted hitch will be far better than with the 4runner.
My advice is either:
- downsize your needs to a <5000lb trailer, or
- get a full-size tow vehicle.
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