Looking to Newbee Buying a Travel Trailer and need some ADVICE!!

[Spoof0ne]

Hey Guys,

I have been looking at many different sites and threads about towing with conflicting results. Some v-6 4runner owners tow 5,500lbs without a problem. Others say that they wouldn't tow over 21ft due to the wheel base v6 or v8.

I have a 2004 SR5 Sport v6. The tow rating is 5,000lbs so I am looking at light weight trailers and right now I have two options:

-2010 Keystone Hideout 19fb. It has a dry weight of 4,000lbs. The length is 19ft but from back bumber to hitch it's 23. It has a height of 10'6".

-2007 Aerolite. This is a 26ft with a full length from bumper to hitch of 28.8. The dry weight is 4,200 with a height of 9'8".

I will be getting an anti sway bar and weight stabilizer bars. The trailer will have electric braking ofcourse and I am not towing with water weight.

I would like to go for the aerolite but I feel that it might be too long. I think I might be at the max with the Keystone but I am a little worried about the height.

I am pulling the trigger realitively soon with one of these trailers. Any advice would be appreciative!

Thanks

 

[M1911]

I wouldn't get either of them. While they have a dry weight of about 4,000 lbs, by the time you fill the water tanks, the fridge, a couple coolers, luggage, etc., you'll be over your tow limit.

I would get a smaller, lighter trailer, or a bigger, stronger truck.

 

[RocNYRunner]

Hey Guys,

I have been looking at many different sites and threads about towing with conflicting results. Some v-6 4runner owners tow 5,500lbs without a problem. Others say that they wouldn't tow over 21ft due to the wheel base v6 or v8.

I have a 2004 SR5 Sport v6. The tow rating is 5,000lbs so I am looking at light weight trailers and right now I have two options:

-2010 Keystone Hideout 19fb. It has a dry weight of 4,000lbs. The length is 19ft but from back bumber to hitch it's 23. It has a height of 10'6".

-2007 Aerolite. This is a 26ft with a full length from bumper to hitch of 28.8. The dry weight is 4,200 with a height of 9'8".

I will be getting an anti sway bar and weight stabilizer bars. The trailer will have electric braking ofcourse and I am not towing with water weight.

I would like to go for the aerolite but I feel that it might be too long. I think I might be at the max with the Keystone but I am a little worried about the height.

I am pulling the trigger realitively soon with one of these trailers. Any advice would be appreciative!

Thanks

I've got a 19" Rockwood Roo, just bought this year. Weighs about 3600# dry, and although I haven't towed it on a long trip yet, I would hesitate to go any heavier than this. Even dry bringing it home with my 2008 V6, you know it is back there! Lots of wind drag at highway speeds too.

Dealerships tried to sell me up to 4200 lb trailers, glad I didn't listen to them! As it is, I'm mildly concerned about my trip to the Adirondaks this year, gonna put a TOC on before that trip.

 

[jetboy1975]

I agree with both above. If you do a search on towing here you will see many responses.

Anything with a dry weight around 4000lbs will easily put you over the 5000lbs limit of the V6. Dry weight doesn't include options like A/c, microwave, propane tanks etc. Count on 4-500lbs to get empty weight then add another 500lbs min for gear, food, clothes etc. Also, the tow rating is calculated with a driver and full tank of gas only. Any gear/passengers in vehicle will subtract from tow weight.

Even if you can keep the weights under 3500lbs you will not be happy with the V6. It'll handle the weight but the drag from the frontal area of the trailer will bog it down. You need to keep it in 3rd gear (out of OD) and it will struggle to hold 50mph on flat highway at 3000+rpm with no power to climb or pass. Add a headwind and it gets worse. I've seen mileage as bad as 7mpg.

I speak from experience after buying a 19' hybrid to tow with my '03 V6 Limited. It weighs 3800lbs loaded to camp (tanks dry) and is only 7.5feet wide as opposed to most at 8' so drag is less. After 3 trips with the engine feeling overworked and bogged down it was time to trade up. Now have an '04 V8 and couldn't be happier. The extra torque and gear made all the difference and even gets better mileage when towing.

Keep it under 3000lbs for the V6 and you should be okay for short hauls in the flats. Anything over or in mountains you need (want) a bigger truck/engine. Also anything over 23' will be a squirrely ride due to the short wheelbase and you'll need to upgrade from the stock hitch (not recommended for use with wdh) if you plan on using a weight distributing setup (which is a must for the sizes you're looking at) Hope this helps.

 

[nated05]

I agree that you might be pushing the limits with 4,000+lb dry weight trailers. I pull a 3,600-4,000lb boat (w/sway control) every summer and have been impressed with the V6 capabilities. I assume you dont want a pop up, that would be perfect for the 4r. Good luck!

 

[jetboy1975]

Keep in mind it is much easier to tow a 4000lb boat than a 4000lb travel trialer. One is streamlined, the other a brick wall. Many manufacturers actually list different tow ratings for boats vs trailers.

You should be able to find a lighter weight trailer (even though it's not the weight that's the problem, but a lighter weight will leave you more power to fight the wind resistance) . For example my inlaws Jayfeather is 19' with a dry weight at 2800lbs. You may have to do without slides etc which are very heavy.

 

[Spoof0ne]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I'm really considering getting a bigger vehicle now for the tow. The rv dealerships will tell you anything's ok for pulling. I've been hearing from many different areas that I will be regretting using the V6.

Dave

 

[peter78]

I would agree you are pushing the limits of your rig. One thing to consider is to upgrade your hitch to the same hitch as the V8. I have been told that with the weight distribution hitch the V6 can then tow 6,700 pounds. I think that may be pushing it, but at least consider this possibility.

There is a lot of incomplete information here... A stock V6 4th gen is only rated to tow 5000 lbs with the standard receiver.

You can upgrade a V6 with a weight distributing hitch (same on the V8) and add a tranny cooler (same on the V8) to tow up to 6700 lbs. This is written up several times in Toyota's literature, although they don't push this because the V8 is better to tow this extra weight.

That being said, I regularly tow a 4200lb boat and trailer every year behind my V6. I added the tranny cooler (cheap insurance) just to be safe while towing in traffic or if we decide to take the boat to the lake (instead of the ocean). Seeing as you are already close to that 5000 lb limit, I would highly recommend changing that hitch to the WD hitch and adding the tranny cooler (maybe looking around $500+ to do both which is a lot cheaper than tearing out the frame or dropping the boat). General rules of towing state you should have at least 10% cushion between the weight you are towing and the maximum capacity of the vehicle (as it is configued).

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/25871-towing-v6-05-sport-4x4.html

(Also, do a search on weight distribution hitch and you will get a ton of threads about this, I just picked this one thread.) (One more thing, I changed your title from "travel travel" to travel trailer".)