towing 22.5 ft boat with 04 4Runner (v6)

[thebionicman]

I just towed for the first time this weekend. I had an open car trailer with brakes on both axles. Total weight is 4600#. My V6 handled it just fine, and I had no problems with the brakes. I do have the 7500# hitch from Suspensionconnection.com since you can't find the Hidden Hitch 70411 anywhere.

On a note with the warped rotors, I would bet they aren't warped. Most likey pad transfer from the crappy OEM pads.

 

[Camprunner]

I tow a Four Winns Funship 214. Dry weight 3,500, trailer 1,100 plus gear and gas and water. Honestly, the 4Runner (V6) tow's it awesomely (It's a word, it's in spell check too!) It has no problem merging into traffic, and braking is good with the surge brakes. Tow in O/D off and if you tow frequently get a cooler. It helps if you use synthetics, me gusta mucho! it controls it just fine at 60 MPH.

I agree ........ Just last week I drove right past this guy in a slow dump truck going up quite a steep hill towing my 4,500lb camper and I did not even need to floor it. As a matter of fact I have not had to floor it ever when towing my camper I think the hardest I had to work it was going up a real steep mountain from a dead stop in second gear and I had to hold it at maybe 4,500 rpm for about 4 minutes.

I think what shocks me the most is the fact my 4runner does not use a drop of oil when I tow my camper and work the truck hard.

 

[leftyrb]

For information, Toyota Canada has posted a towing guide for 2007 products on their web page. It appears that Toyota Canada does not increase the tow rating based upon a weight distribution hitch for the V6

http://www.toyota.ca/NWS/media/pdf/07towing_guide_e.pdf

 

[Thai]

I know nothing about all this towing thingy, but the V6 definitely has some grunt to it...see this FJ video: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29520

 

[Spider5]

It is not the point that the vehicle will perform the task its that the vehicles recommended numbers are exceeded and that could get you into trouble if something happens.

 

[vtd]

The trailer will definitely have brakes on both axles.
Mostly, I'll be towing (on flat surface) to a local boat launch , about 25 miles away from home, probably 10 times a year.

My 4runner has (17 inch wheels and) standard hitch (class III, - I think)-, .....will probably add Reese Heavy Duty Round Bar Weight Distribution System (or Strait-Line Weight Distribution Hitch System -
http://www.etrailer.com/c-WD.htm
what do you think?) , sway control, transmission cooler, and Oil cooler.
_Spider5 got good point,

 

[gizmopt2002]

vtd, you will have NO problems with towing that, I actually doubt you would need sway control unless your area is very windy, or you get passed by semi's alot. Also I doubt you would need a weight distributing device. Tongue loads on boats are generally very light.

Trans cooler. DEF
Oil cooler. No
Sway control. No

Have you considered a canopy/car port? I use that and just shrink wrap the boat for the winter.

Also dunno how big your 3 car garage is, but alot of times angling it and getting the swing away tongue option helps ALOT.

Do you mind me asking how much you will be paying for the boat?

 

[vtd]

Drive out price for the Tahoe 222 is 40k, and swing away tongue trailer is not available for this model (Sucks!!!!).

 

[supercliff]

I tow a 18' boat nearly every weekend with my V6 from the bay area up to the foothills of the sierras. No problems at all in over 2 years. I have the 500 pound hitch. Your boat is a bit bigger, but I'm sure you'll be fine.

I just Upgraded to the hitch on the V8 today because I need more tongue weight to hang my 600CCC motorcycle off the hitch on a carrier. I also had to add air lift 1000 bags for the bike to level out the truck.

I also just bought steel braided brake lines which I'll install next week because I find that STOPPING takes forever when towing because my trailer has no brakes. (I think I'll upgrade the trailer to add brakes soon as well).

Personally, I think ou'll find accelerating and towing just fine. It's braking you'll sketchy.

 

[bzizzi]

I had two different boats an 18' and a 21' both fiberglass I/O's
Boats are verry easy to tow,I had a T-100 with a 3.0 V6 and it towed it just fine.I later had a Tundra with the 4.7 V8 for the 21' and it towed it geat.I now have a 4Runner with a 4.0 V6 and it
tows every bit as strong as the 4.7 V8 in the Tundra did.Just make sure you have trailer brakes.

 

[Thai]

Oil cooler?? What's that?? Do you mean engine oil cooler?? I think that your engine has that already...it's a small unit but you have it already. (my old 2002 4runner had one.)

EDIT: you have engine oil cooler...see: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5367&highlight=oil+cooler

Hope this helps.

 

[charlier180]

It is not the point that the vehicle will perform the task its that the vehicles recommended numbers are exceeded and that could get you into trouble if something happens.

I believe the point others here are making is that if one puts the Toyota weight distributing hitch that comes on the V8 4Runner
on the V6 4Runner the towing capacity increases to about 6,700 lbs.
If the boat, trailer, fuels and other items do not exceed the increased towing capacity of 6,700 lbs how can one get into trouble?
After a potential accident as long as one can prove the weight distributing hitch was being used I don't see there being a problem.

With all due respect to some other posters in this thread one can NEVER BE TOO SAFE when towing.
Those who are saying that sway control is not needed to tow this boat are SADLY MISTAKEN.
They also have probably never experienced a swaying trailer situation or seen the wreckage that results when one does not recover from it.

From what I see on the road it appears that at least some boat owners (and other trailer owners) share the "I don't need sway control" opinion.
I can usually tell pretty easily when their trailers start swaying due to a cross winds or passing tractor trailers.
Sadly these people are either too cheap or too stupid (or both) to add sway control to their trailers.

Betting one's towing safety on never, ever having cross winds or never, ever being passed by tractor trailers or never,
ever having a tire blowout is a fools bet that you will someday lose.

The only question is how many other family members or innocent strangers will also pay the price.

 

[Thai]

If the boat, trailer, fuels and other items do not exceed the increased towing capacity of 6,700 lbs how can one get into trouble

Where is people getting this number?? I thought that it was 6500 lbs??

 

[Koz]

With the upgraded hitch, added trans cooler, brake controller take a test drive to simulate the conditions you will encounter (hills, highway, etc). If after the test drive you encounter any problems you could always add a Hensley Arrow system, which will eliminate any problems.

http://www.hensleymfg.com/whatisthearrow.html

Koz

 

[Camprunner]

I believe the point others here are making is that if one puts the Toyota weight distributing hitch that comes on the V8 4Runner
on the V6 4Runner the towing capacity increases to about 6,700 lbs.
If the boat, trailer, fuels and other items do not exceed the increased towing capacity of 6,700 lbs how can one get into trouble?
After a potential accident as long as one can prove the weight distributing hitch was being used I don't see there being a problem.

With all due respect to some other posters in this thread one can NEVER BE TOO SAFE when towing.
Those who are saying that sway control is not needed to tow this boat are SADLY MISTAKEN.
They also have probably never experienced a swaying trailer situation or seen the wreckage that results when one does not recover from it.

From what I see on the road it appears that at least some boat owners (and other trailer owners) share the "I don't need sway control" opinion.
I can usually tell pretty easily when their trailers start swaying due to a cross winds or passing tractor trailers.
Sadly these people are either too cheap or too stupid (or both) to add sway control to their trailers.

Betting one's towing safety on never, ever having cross winds or never, ever being passed by tractor trailers or never,
ever having a tire blowout is a fools bet that you will someday lose.

The only question is how many other family members or innocent strangers will also pay the price.

I agree ........... I for one think that a sway control should be a law with any trailer or boat over a set size or weight just for safty sake.

I have a friction sway unit I use with my 20 ft Jayco camper and I don't have any sway at all. I have driven rigs without sway control and almost "sh--" myself when an 18 wheeler goes by.

 

[twitch]

I have a 22' kenner that is close to 3k and I pull it long trips. I had to make some modifications to the runner. the first problem I ran into was overheating the transmission. automatic. I installed a HUGE cooler. I recomend you do the same. takes only an hour or two and a few small tools. it will save you thousands in the end. I had to adjust where the boat sat on the trailer. it was pushing to hard on the truck. I replaced the radiator but, it was bad only 1/2 was cooling. Next I recomend breaks on your trailer! this is a big thing for me. I can run 65 - 80 with my rig but if someone ever pulls out in front and stops I will not be able to stop. the boat overruns my breaks and causes the abs to kick in. it is like not having breaks. I am in Texas, allong the coast so, it is hot here. I use a little heavier oil durring the summer when towing. check fluids when you stop for gas. check often and watch what few gauges we have..... TOYOTA ! WE NEED GAUGES! NOT STUPID LIGHTS!
as for the transmission cooler, do a search on here. there are lots of photo's or you can email me I will be glad to help

I'm about to buy the 22.5 ft boat, Tahoe 222 (see link below), and planing to tow with my 04 Toyota 4Runner (V6 towing rate is 5000-lbs). The boat dry weight is 3720 lbs + trailer (1200 lbs).
But the total package length (trailer) is 26.7 ft long.
1_ Will it be ok to tow?
2_ If yes, should I add the Weight Distribution Hitch to prevent wagging?

http://www.tahoesportboats.com/boat/index.cfm?boat=2174

Thanks.


-----------------------------------------------------------
2004 Toyota 4runner SR5, V6

 

[sbbamafan]

twitch - what make / model trans cooler did you install?

 

[charlier180]

Where is people getting this number?? I thought that it was 6500 lbs??

Thai, I stand corrected. Actually both the 6,700 lb number and the 6,500 lb number are incorrect for the 4Runner.
The 6,700 lb and 6,500lb numbers are actually for the Sequioa (GVWR and Tow Rating).

Both the 2005 4Runner Sales Brochure and the 2007 4Runner on-line specs show the towing capacity with a weight distributing hitch is as follows:

2WD = 7,300 pounds
4WD = 7,000 pounds

Sorry I should have checked my facts before my last post.

 

[Koz]

Thai, I stand corrected. Actually both the 6,700 lb number and the 6,500 lb number are incorrect for the 4Runner.
The 6,700 lb and 6,500lb numbers are actually for the Sequioa (GVWR and Tow Rating).

Both the 2005 4Runner Sales Brochure and the 2007 4Runner on-line specs show the towing capacity with a weight distributing hitch is as follows:

2WD = 7,300 pounds
4WD = 7,000 pounds

Sorry I should have checked my facts before my last post.

That is the rating for the V8. 6700 is for the V6 with the hitch & cooler (5K W/O).

Koz

 

[charlier180]

That is the rating for the V8. 6700 is for the V6 with the hitch & cooler (5K W/O).

Koz

Thanks for clearing that up. Is the 6700 number posted somewhere on the Toyota web site on in another Toyota document? Did not see the 6700 number in the brochure or the on-line specs.