K&N or TRD Air Filter for towing

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Sramblur

New member
I bought my new V8 4Runner in January because I had a Honda Pilot that was tugging around a 5100# boat/trailer. This was 600 pounds over its capacity. I was expecting a substantial improvement towing my boat on the freeway (65mph), but I have been dissapoined with the difference between the 4Runner and my Pilot. I actually think the 4Runner drops into 4th gear more frequently on the freeway than my Pilot did which equals worse gas mileage becuase it is running higher RPMs. Around town the mileage is better than the Pilot, but the 4Runner needs help in 2100 to 2300RPM range at 65-70mph. I almost bought the V8 Pathfinder, but the quality wasn't there, but it did seem to tow my boat much better. I'd really like to bridge that gap.

Would either air filter help and which model would you go with?.

Thanks for your help!

V8 4x4 Limited
 
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Find yourself an Intake setup as well as an exhaust. That should help free up your motor and gain you some power. Order up a Performance Products catalog, that'll help give you options to consider when trying to pick one out. Other than that your talking some power adders such as either a supercharger or turbo setup.

You should head over to the Performance forum of this site. There you'll be able to get some more insight from people that have been trying to squeeze more power from their V8's.
 
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Sramblur said:
I bought my new V8 4Runner in January because I had a Honda Pilot that was tugging around a 5100# boat/trailer. This was 600 pounds over its capacity. I was expecting a substantial improvement towing my boat on the freeway (65mph), but I have been dissapoined with the difference between the 4Runner and my Pilot. I actually think the 4Runner drops into 4th gear more frequently on the freeway than my Pilot did which equals worse gas mileage becuase it is running higher RPMs. Around town the mileage is better than the Pilot, but the 4Runner needs help in 2100 to 2300RPM range at 65-70mph. I almost bought the V8 Pathfinder, but the quality wasn't there, but it did seem to tow my boat much better. I'd really like to bridge that gap.

Would either air filter help and which model would you go with?.

Thanks for your help!

V8 4x4 Limited
Click to expand...

IIRC, the 4Runner Owners Manual recommends towing in 4th gear (ie not Overdrive) especially if the transmission is "hunting" between 4th and 5th.
Some members here do tow in overdrive but only on relatively FLAT roadways. Personally I seldom tow in Overdrive because I frequently tow in terrain that is not flat.

I have the older V8 engine that has less horsepower (can't remember if the torque numbers are less as well). I tow an enclosed car trailer weighing about 5,200-5,500 lbs.
Last summer I had a long distance tow to Michigan. Let's just say I had no trouble what-so-ever keeping up with traffic on the Interstate Highways.

I have to check my RPMs at 65-70 mph next time I am able to.
Running 2100-2300 rpms seems high but then again I have the older V8.

Funny thing about mods to increase horsepower.
It seems that many people throw out suggestiongs for these mods but one seldom, if ever, seems a dyno test before and after these mods are done,
showing what REAL difference they make.
If I had a $1 for every person that measured the increase in performance a mod yielded using a "Butt Dyno" (not on this forum so much but on another auto forum) as opposed to a real one, I could probably buy a next generation 4Runner with CASH and have LOTS of money leftover.

BTW, I am convinced that if people did measure the actual increase in horsepower/torque of their mods they would probably be shocked at the dollar cost per horsepower gained ratio.
 
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Intakes don't add enough ponies to make any significant difference with towing,they barely make any difference anyway.
 
Towing 5100 lbs requires not using the OD. Some things that may help; The biggest thing that would help is to lower the final gear ratio. Change the tire size to one size smaller diameter (255/60/18). LT (E) tires are rated to carry heavier loads and you run them at 80 psi. The higher air pressure helps give a tighter ride (less rolling resistance with the added tow weight) Make sure you are running the tires at max air pressure. Adding an intake (CAI) and an exhaust will add an extra 15/20 hp and more importantly more torque in the lower/mid range RPM. Most people look at the peak hp gains from an intake and exhaust and think they did great or are disappointed. A good intake and exhaust could make a big difference in the low and mid RPM range where it would come in very handy, especially for towing .

Koz
 

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I think you need to check the way your trailer is balance on the 4Runner, because the Pilot's engine is anemic at best. I love Hondas but the Pilot is a minivan in SUV clothing. Real towing capacity is only 3500 lbs. I'm surprised you didn't have an issue by towing that much frequently.

The Ridgeline is no better even though they bumped the tow to 5000 lbs. I see some folks in my "boat yard" towing with those and they always look like they are having issues.

Anyway, is the trailer sitting level on the 4Runner? I would think since the Pilot's lower and the hitch was lower, you might need a drop on the 4Runner to level it out. Also, do yourself a favor and tow in 4th. Towing my boat (4500 lbs or so) or my car on a trailer (4000 lbs) I've found 4th to provide superior economy, especially if you keep it under 70.

I've always found the 4Runner to be a great tow vehicle in any condition. I used it to tow my car up to Tennessee a few times. Both times I had to drive on "The Dragon" / US 129 between TN/NC and even on those crazy curves and grades I felt like I always had enough "go."
 
I see everyone's comments about towing in 5th gear. I find the 4Runner does a very good job of not hunting for gears. The problem I find is that the little gas eater meter says I am getting about 7mpg at 70mph in 4th. The overdrive say about 9-10. Either one is much less impressive than I'd thought it would be. The good news it seems to get pretty decent mileage around town towing. I agree it will tow up hills well in 4th gear, but the gas mileage really suffers much more so than the Nissan V8 Pathfinder I was thinking of buying.

I sometime wonder if I should have just gotten the 5.7L Tundra and gotten better towing performance and mileage? Unfortunately it wouldn't fit in my garage, but I am still second guessing.
 
Sramblur said:
I see everyone's comments about towing in 5th gear. I find the 4Runner does a very good job of not hunting for gears. The problem I find is that the little gas eater meter says I am getting about 7mpg at 70mph in 4th. The overdrive say about 9-10. Either one is much less impressive than I'd thought it would be. The good news it seems to get pretty decent mileage around town towing. I agree it will tow up hills well in 4th gear, but the gas mileage really suffers much more so than the Nissan V8 Pathfinder I was thinking of buying.

I sometime wonder if I should have just gotten the 5.7L Tundra and gotten better towing performance and mileage? Unfortunately it wouldn't fit in my garage, but I am still second guessing.
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What makes you think having a bigger V8 is going to allow you to use overdrive or get better gas mileage? Also how much more gas do you think you will be using when NOT towing, with a bigger V8?

Koz
 
Koz,

I spoke to someone the other day and they said they are averaging about 18mpg with their 5.7L Tundra. This would be right in the middle of the 15/20 EPA estimates. The best I've averaged in a week is 14mpg. Obviously that is a huge difference. I guess it is a mute point because ultimately it wouldn't fit in the garage and the Pathfinder I almost bought wasn't built worth a cr&p!
 
Sramblur said:
Koz,

I spoke to someone the other day and they said they are averaging about 18mpg with their 5.7L Tundra. This would be right in the middle of the 15/20 EPA estimates. The best I've averaged in a week is 14mpg. Obviously that is a huge difference. I guess it is a mute point because ultimately it wouldn't fit in the garage and the Pathfinder I almost bought wasn't built worth a cr&p!
Click to expand...

I wonder if they are getting that reading based on actually doing the math themselves or what the truck's computer is telling them. The comp is known to be pretty inaccurate. Having said that, it would not surprise me if the 5.7L gets better gas mileage. It is a 6 speed after all. Two OD gears probably make a difference.
 
an intake and exhaust will get you more low/mid range tourque, which will get you out of the gate ebetter, but will do nothing to help with you gear hunting. Your gearing is all that will fix that. Not only at the rear axle, but in the tranny as well. The 4-runner isn't a large SUV. While it does have the ability to tow quite well in some aspects, it was not designed and built with towing at the top of the "list of things to do". For occasional towing, you will just need to drop it into 4th and eat the fuel cost (if the shifting is a problem), or if you need a tow vehicle on a regular basis, I would suggest a larger more capable vehicle.
 
With the V8 and the OEM rear air suspension the 4Runner is an excellent tow vehicle (within ratings). The only limiting factor on the 4Runner (for towing) is the wheelbase, if you are towing over a 25 ft trailer. I used many other tow vehicles and in comparison the V8/air susp 4Runner is better then average. The VVTi 4.7 delivers excellent low RPM torque and the susp is very stable.

Koz
 
I sometime wonder if I should have just gotten the 5.7L Tundra and gotten better towing performance and mileage? Unfortunately it wouldn't fit in my garage, but I am still second guessing. [/B][/QUOTE]

I think your trailer isn't balanced which is causing your percieved lack of performance and poor fuel economy.

Towing 4500+ lbs worth of car and car trailer at 80 (yeah I know) I got between 10-11. I have a Sport with NO air suspension in the rear.

Maybe you should post a pic of your 4Runner hooked up to the trailer.
 
Any pic on level surface?

Kind of hard to tell much. It seems OK.

Are you using the Toyota ball mount? If so, is it the flat part up or down? Little bit of a drop or a little bit of a raise?

I'm basically trying to see if there is too much tongue weight, causing the rear to drop too much, which makes the trailer tow at an angle. If all else fails you may be able to get a trailer shop to move the axles forward to backward slightly to balance it.
 
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Sramblur, I know you probably realize this and I am stating the obvious but... the design of your boat would seem to create a HUGE amount of drag when towing.

I would think that the wind resisitance generated by the design of your boat is the #1 reason your MPG is lower than you hoped for.
If that is the case, a different tow vehicle may not do significantly better MPG wise than your 4Runner unless that vehicle can somehow
reduce the drag created by your boat's design.
 
I have the flat part of the receiver so the ball is at it's highest. This is what the instructions stated for the V8. Is this right?
 
charlier180 said:
Sramblur, I know you probably realize this and I am stating the obvious but... the design of your boat would seem to create a HUGE amount of drag when towing.

I would think that the wind resisitance generated by the design of your boat is the #1 reason your MPG is lower than you hoped for.
If that is the case, a different tow vehicle may not do significantly better MPG wise than your 4Runner unless that vehicle can somehow
reduce the drag created by your boat's design.
Click to expand...
I agree 100% with Charlie. I bet if you towed with the Tundra or any other gas powered tow vehicle you'd get approx. 9-11mpg. It's been my experience that wind drag is a much bigger player than weight. I have found full size American vans have the least variation between non-towing and towing mpg because the van punches the hole in the air.

Your rig is beautiful and very cool but no less than an aerodynamic trainwreck!:awais:
 
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