Long Distance Towing with 4RUNNER?

[Viccap217]

Looking for your input and opinions ~

I am planning a fall trip from Delaware to Ft. Myers, FL. ...... about a 1200 mile trip. Thinking about towing my 18' single engine catamaran ( total weight from the scales - 2934 # ) with my 2003 4x4 , 6cyl, 4.0 liter Toyota 4Runner (which has extra tranny cooler). Towing capacity per Toyota is 5000 #. Trailer is single spring axle rated 3500 #.
Going to take it nice and easy..... Not planning to do more than 400 miles a day nor more than 55mph.........stop & check hubs & bearings with infrared temp gauge every 2 hours or so. Also will be taking 2 spare tires and a new spare hub just in case.

So, has anyone with a 6cyl 4Runner ever towed long distances ...and what were your experiences? I appreciate anyone who has trailered long distances who can relate their experiences and offer some first hand knowledge, suggestions, and advice. THANKS!

 

[fourwd1]

If the trailer doesn't have electric brakes, make sure your trucks brakes are in tip-top condition. Even to the point of flushing the system with new fluid if it hasn't been done in the last few years.
Same goes for the cooling system.

 

[Bonyfattony]

You should be fine. just make sure you use your gears and down shift when going up hill. It will put less wear on your tranny. I have a 2006 V8 and towed about 5500 from Livermore to San Diego and made it okay. About 500 miles. 3000 should be a feather for you.

I did have some struggle going up the grapevine, but that's a vertical climb (10% grade) but I put it into low gear and putted up the hill. I got an amazing 6 MPG! LOL

Only from experiences like this will gain so much more faith in your truck and know its true potential.

 

[fourwd1]

And your better off not using OD.

 

[Ruff]

Trailer

I used to tow a 22' travel trailer to a hunting lease, about 200 miles, with my 4R. Never had any issues.

The MPG's go way down. LOL.

I would drive the speed limit (55 - 70 mph) but, I had sway bars and weight leveling kit. If not, I would have stuck to 55.

On a serious note, the acceleration is very slow, so careful when entering a freeway. Stopping takes a bit more time. My trailer had brakes but, I always got the impression that stopping distance was a bit longer than normal.

Make sure the trailer, and its tires, are good.

I did buy small round mirrors that glue to the rear view mirrors to help me see cars on the left and right lanes.

Do as you said, take it easy and be careful.


Ruff

 

[Martinjmpr]

I bought my 4runner primarily to tow our little teardrop, which weighs ~1,000 lbs or so. It does a lot of towing, in fact, during the Summer that is the primary function - if I have to do anything else, I take a different vehicle.

It has been a great tow vehicle so far. No issues at all. I've done multiple 500+ mile days in it with no problems. Worst was coming back from Oklahoma in April in 40 - 60 MPH head- and cross-winds. I hated it but honestly it would have sucked no matter what I was driving. MPG plunged below 9mpg but that's because I was fighting a headwind most of that segment.

Otherwise - great. Two weeks after we got it, we took a trip from Denver to Durango for the weekend. That meant crossing 5 passes over 9,500' (Kenosha, Red Hill, Trout Creek, Poncha and Wolf Creek.) The 4runner did great!

One thing I'd recommend is a trans temp gauge, or even better, a Scangauge II which will show you transmission temps. I keep a close eye on transmission temp especially when climbing a hill. If the temp starts to get above 200 degrees I drop to a lower gear and slow down, that usually cools it off.

OD + hill climb will result in very high transmission temps, so best bet is to either leave it in 4th or get in the habit of bumping it from D to 4 when you start to climb (since your trailer weighs 3x what mine does, I would just leave it in 4 and bump it down to 3 when you start to climb a hill.)

As far as distances: Last year we went from Denver to Glacier NP on the Canadian Border, and back via Yellowstone NP. This year so far we've taken a trip from Denver down to SE Oklahoma and back, a trip to the SE part of the state and back, and a more local trip. In about a month we'll head out for our "big trip" of the year, which will take us to Lake Powell, North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite, Kings Canyon/Sequoia and back, all pulling our little trailer. I'm confident the 4runner will do fine!

 

[Viccap217]

The 2003 V6, 4X4 Sport has a 4 speed Auto transmission......concerns?

Thanks to everyone for the valuable input!

 

[TheeMikeB]

I seriously wouldn't think twice about it. What fourwd1 said about brakes/coolant is a good idea. I would guess your boat trailer has surge brakes not electric so that will help. Besides that trip sounds like a pretty flat trip all the way there and back.