Question about towing with 5th gen

[Bull4408]

Ok so I'm planning on putting my new 4runner to good use right away. I'm looking at a 21ft Key West center console boat. I'm a little worried about the two weight though. This will be the first boat I ever trailered. Weight of the boat with trailer is going to be around 4,000 to 4,500 pounds. I know the truck is rated for up to 5000 pounds but was wondering if you guys had any experience with towing this weight.

Hopefully I'm just being a little cautious here but wanted to see if any of you guys have experienced towing this size boat or this weight. Curious about how the truck handled it.

Thanks

 

[Antman]

Check out the thread above this- I'll bump it...

 

[jetboy1975]

You should be fine. You won't win any races with the weight but boats tow easier than travel trailers since they are aerodynamic in design, giving less drag, and boat trailers usually have lower tongue weights than regular trailers. The normal range for tongue weights on a boat trailer is 5-7% of full weight. Should be around 270lbs in your case (4500 x 6%)

 

[Bull4408]

Thanks guys. I figured the truck should be able to handle it. I was reading about the brake controllers and adding brakes to the trailer but I wouldn't even know where to go to have that stuff installed. So looks like I'll give it a shot as is and take it from there. The good news is that there will be no highway driving at all.

Thanks again

 

[philsey]

....Weight of the boat with trailer is going to be around 4,000 to 4,500 pounds.....

.. I was reading about the brake controllers and adding brakes to the trailer but I wouldn't even know where to go to have that stuff installed. So looks like I'll give it a shot as is.....

@ OP: Would I take this to mean that you intend to tow a >4000# boat that has no trailer brakes?

I sincerely hope not - if you do, it's a really, really bad idea. Regardless of "short drive", or "no highway driving, this would just be plain unsafe.

 

[jetboy1975]

I agree with Philsey. I assumed that a trailer that size would have brakes. Get them, highway driving or not, you'll need them for sure. Anything over 1000lbs should have brakes and are mandatory by law in some places. The 4Runner brakes were not designed to stop a 5000lb SUV + a 4000lb trailer. In a panic stop you would have no control and that trailer would push you all over the place.

 

[thebwlife]

Thanks guys. I figured the truck should be able to handle it. I was reading about the brake controllers and adding brakes to the trailer but I wouldn't even know where to go to have that stuff installed. So looks like I'll give it a shot as is and take it from there. The good news is that there will be no highway driving at all.

Thanks again

Due to DOT regs boats over 3K should have surge brakes on them.

 

[Bull4408]

Thanks for the heads up guys. I read in the 4runner manual that the truck is prewired for an electric brake controller. So all I should have to do is get the marina to throw brakes on the trailer (assuming they are not there already)

 

[DaveS]

Thanks for the heads up guys. I read in the 4runner manual that the truck is prewired for an electric brake controller. So all I should have to do is get the marina to throw brakes on the trailer (assuming they are not there already)

And purchase a brake controller - the wiring is just that.

 

[philsey]

Don't buy a controller 'til you find out if you already have surge brakes on your trailer, which IMO is the more likely.