Recommended Towing Safety Improvements

[pag04]

I have a 2015 SR5. I also just bought a 22' boat. The weight of the boat, trailer, motor, and fuel are going to put me very close to or a little over the 5000lb towing limit. I will tow the boat twice a year for about 125 miles, no real hills. Other than that I would only tow it a mile or so, once or twice a season. The trailer has surge brakes.
I know I cannot increase my towing capacity but what can I do to increase the safety of towing the boat and reduce stress on the vehicle? I know about some things like an oil oller and ait bags in back. Get a bigger vehicle is not an option, I just bought a boat!

If I end up over the 5K towing limit I may just rent a pickup to tow the boat those 2 times per year.
Thanks,
George

 

[randomguy]

Replace your OEM shocks with some Bilsteins, either 4600 or 5100 series. Airbags in the rear. Make sure your tires are properly inflated.

What kind of boat?

 

[flatspin]

I tow a boat that boat + trailer = 3800lbs. It tows it just fine, even through the Austin hill country. Trailer has surge brakes, like yours, and it stops fine too. Be sure and check the fluid level and brake pads.

I pulled it for awhile before my lift and new wheels/tires and I noticed a big difference is stability when I upgraded to E rated tires.

I'm looking at a new boat that I'll actually store at the lake, so I may only tow it a couple of times a year. It'll be about 4500lbs and I plan on doing the following.

1. I'm adding a transmission cooler when I installed my new front bumper.
2. Adding airbags to leave it out. This should improve handling and also prevent me from blinding people with my HIDs that now are pointing much higher.

 

[redneckcrawler]

Trans cooler and brake controller are a must. If you want to get real fancy they have sway control hitches. Main things to remember is don't drive faster than the trailer will allow and always leave spacing between you and cars in front of you.

 

[pag04]

The boat was a 22’ Proline CC but the deal was never completed. Still looking for a boat. What about towing above the 5K pound limit, say by 500 lbs, for 5 miles? Would the 4Runner handle it. No highway, or big hills, just town roads. This is down Cape Cod, mid-Cape. The towing would only be to move the boat from its mooring on the Sound side to launch it from a ramp on the bay side.
I’ve seen some nice boats that would top out with trailer, fuel and motor at about 5.5K lbs.

 

[redneckcrawler]

All safety ratings are percentages of the actual max. Some of the things that factor into it are vehicle weight and power, obviously, but tires are another limiting factor. E rated tires will safely tow more than C rated tires. Heavy duty springs will also allow you to tow more. If I had to, I would feel comfortable towing 7500 bone stock. Granted, that would need to be a serious situation, and I would drive pretty damn slow, but the truck could do it.

 

[fgeorge098]

Trans cooler and brake controller are a must. If you want to get real fancy they have sway control hitches. Main things to remember is don't drive faster than the trailer will allow and always leave spacing between you and cars in front of you.

I thought the 4R had a transmission cooler as factory stock?

I spoke with a toyota rep on their customer service line recently, who stated this information.