Towing 4runner vs sequoia

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black2kmax

New member
I have an 04 T4R SR5 V6 4WD. I tow a 20 ft Travel Trailer that weighs around 5k or so. I have made the upgrades that I thought that the 4Runner required (trans cooler, brake controller, a real hitch) and while it will tow the trailer it is a constant struggle. I towed up to Yosemite last weekend and went up a pass called Priest Grade. I was to the floor in first gear and just made it to the top. When I got up there you could clearly smell something was way too hot. I was thinking that a V8 4Runner could do the job but coming back the wind was pushing the 4Runner around. After 5 hours of wrestling I am considering buying a Sequoia or maybe even an Armada.

I know that there are other people on here that tow trailers my size our bigger. If you could pick a new truck or if you are happy with your current setup please let me know. I love my truck but I don't want to kill it or me trying to make it do something it really should not be doing.
 
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black2kmax said:
I have an 04 T4R SR5 V6 4WD. I tow a 20 ft Travel Trailer that weighs around 5k or so. I have made the upgrades that I thought that the 4Runner required (trans cooler, brake controller, a real hitch) and while it will tow the trailer it is a constant struggle. I towed up to Yosemite last weekend and went up a pass called Priest Grade. I was to the floor in first gear and just made it to the top. When I got up there you could clearly smell something was way too hot. I was thinking that a V8 4Runner could do the job but coming back the wind was pushing the 4Runner around. After 5 hours of wrestling I am considering buying a Sequoia or maybe even an Armada.

I know that there are other people on here that tow trailers my size our bigger. If you could pick a new truck or if you are happy with your current setup please let me know. I love my truck but I don't want to kill it or me trying to make it do something it really should not be doing.
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You are above the max tow limit of your vehicle. You first need to weigh the trailer with it loaded and add the weight of the load in the truck (people and supplies). You will probably find that you are a thousand or two lbs. over the limit. The VVTi V8 with a good sway system would probably work fine. The V8 4Runner and the Sequoia would have approx the same tow rating. Again you need to know exactly how much you are towing to get a better idea on what will be needed.

Koz
 
I know my Runner is not an 04 like yours, its just a 3rd which is a little under powered but here it goes. I replaced all four shoucks and springs with HD billies and OME springs, this made a big difference in towing for me. I also added a Hayden tranny cooler and only noticed the front hub not being as warm, shifting stayed the same toyo trannies are slick.

While driving loaded off the beaten path I bottomed out a few times and decided to add some air bags from Firestone. For me this made the biggest difference. No more saggy bum, even though the OME cleaned that up. But when loaded the Runner felt alot more stable and secure, not as much swaying. As for power well its still up in the air, when there is a big hill and I'm loaded I give her more gas starting at the dipp of the hill or just take the O/D off.:(

If you tow all the time and feel its necessary for your requirments then a bigger truck might be a must. Now try to slip that one by the wife.:D
 
That is the big problem. The 4Runner is hers.

If you tow all the time and feel its necessary for your requirments then a bigger truck might be a must. Now try to slip that one by the wife.
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Well the Priest Grade is pretty steep,
but a real test would be the Old Priest
Grade! That would seperate the chaff
from the wheat........
 
Just verified my mapquest directions and we did in fact go up old priest grade. To make it worse we went down the same road on the way home. My wife was navigating so I could not make the correction until it was too late. Friday night when we were driving up to the RV park it was around ten so we did not even know that 120 kept going up the nice gradual climb. I did notice the sign that said nothing over 7500 lbs but again we were already commited and could not turn around. I guess that I should be thankful that the 4Runner made it up. The guy next to me at the campground had a Dodge 3500 diesal and also went up old priest grade. He said his truck was also having a hard time.
 
After reading some other people accounts of towing those hills I would have to agree. All I need now is a weight distribution hitch and some sway control.

On another side note. Driving up there I ran premium unleaded and it did seem to pull much better then when using 87 octane. I also got near 16 mph on the way up and only 14 on the way back. I guess there is something to the premium recommendation.

Anyone know a good place to buy a weight distribution hitch and sway control? I was planning a trip out to Campers World in Gilroy later this week unless someone knows of a better place.
 
Unfortunately for you, and me, the '04 V6 came with the 4spd tranny and not the 5spd tranny on the '05+ models. I think it would've made a difference as the gear ratios are different
 
black2kmax said:
I have an 04 T4R SR5 V6 4WD. I tow a 20 ft Travel Trailer that weighs around 5k or so. I have made the upgrades that I thought that the 4Runner required (trans cooler, brake controller, a real hitch) ......
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I don't know what you mean by a "real hitch", but if you put on the hitch that now comes with the V8, the max towing limit goes above 5000 lbs (up to 6700 lbs).

Toyota has caused confusion with the names it chose for the two receivers. The V6 has the WCH (weight carrying hitch)and the V8 has the WDH (weight distributing hitch). The Toyota V8 WDH is NOT the same thing as a WDH system you purchase to connect between a receiver hitch and a trailer. (Shame on Toyota for causing the confusion due to the poor choice of wording.)
 
I agree with the confusion. I replaced my factory weight carrying hitch with a Hidden Hitch weight distributing hitch. I also added a Hayden transmission cooler as per everyone's advice. I too have read (on this forum and towing guides) that the V6 will tow something like 6500 lbs when equiped this way.

I still need to add the true weight distribution hitch and some type of sway control. I am hoping that the weight distribution hitch will unload the rear end of the 4Runner and help out with the handling.

Even with all of the proper setups I still feel that I will either upgrade to a V8 4Runner or a Sequoia in the future.
 
black2kmax said:
Even with all of the proper setups I still feel that I will either upgrade to a V8 4Runner or a Sequoia in the future. [/B]
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The 4Runner and the Sequoia use the same powertrain - the 4.7 V8 and the 5-speed tranny. The Sequoia is some 800# heavier than the 4Runner and is larger so has more aero drag. All of this saps power, and the tow ratings of the two vehicles reflect this. The 4Runner is rated to tow more than the Sequoia.

I've towed a 4,000# trailer extensively with our 'Runner and am utterly pleased with its performance and economy. It's been an excellent tow vehicle (and, yes, I've towed in the mountains).

I think you're asking way too much of your poor 'ol V6.

Good luck.
 
black2kmax said:
I have an 04 T4R SR5 V6 4WD. I tow a 20 ft Travel Trailer that weighs around 5k or so. I have made the upgrades that I thought that the 4Runner required (trans cooler, brake controller, a real hitch) and while it will tow the trailer it is a constant struggle. I towed up to Yosemite last weekend and went up a pass called Priest Grade. I was to the floor in first gear and just made it to the top. When I got up there you could clearly smell something was way too hot. I was thinking that a V8 4Runner could do the job but coming back the wind was pushing the 4Runner around. After 5 hours of wrestling I am considering buying a Sequoia or maybe even an Armada.

I know that there are other people on here that tow trailers my size our bigger. If you could pick a new truck or if you are happy with your current setup please let me know. I love my truck but I don't want to kill it or me trying to make it do something it really should not be doing.
Click to expand...

I tow about the same size trailer as you. I would get a weight dist hitch, and some sort of sway control. The sway control was night and day difference.
 
Kjell said:
If I ever find myself in this situation, I will be shifting into LOW range.....
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:iagree: If you had the pedal to the medal in first and just made it, the low range would have helped big-time! You should also have used 2WD.

Koz
 
black2kmax said:
I agree with the confusion. I replaced my factory weight carrying hitch with a Hidden Hitch weight distributing hitch. I also added a Hayden transmission cooler as per everyone's advice. I too have read (on this forum and towing guides) that the V6 will tow something like 6500 lbs when equiped this way.

I still need to add the true weight distribution hitch and some type of sway control. I am hoping that the weight distribution hitch will unload the rear end of the 4Runner and help out with the handling.

Even with all of the proper setups I still feel that I will either upgrade to a V8 4Runner or a Sequoia in the future.
Click to expand...

Given the weight you are pulling and the incline involved it would seem that you are simply overtaxing the V6.
If you do this kind of towing an a regular basis one has to wonder about the long term impact on the engine and tranny of your V6.

I can tell you from personal experience that a WD hitch and sway control makes all the difference in controlling a large trailer.
My 20ft, enclosed car trailer runs around 5,200-5,300 lbs. With WD and sway control 30-40 mph cross winds barely nudge the trailer.
Without the WD and sway control the trailer will start bobbing and weaving when a small van passes me.
Needless to say I never tow without the WD and sway control. I REALLY wish more trailer owners would use these devices.
 
What was the engine RPM when floored in 1st gear crawling up the grade? And what was the altitude? If RPM was below 4000, you were out of the power band for the engine, and going into the low range would have helped a lot as KOZ mentioned.

Altitude is the other factor. You'll lose about 3% of engine power for every 1000 feet, so that probably hurt a lot too. The good news is that even though at wide open throttle, at high altitudes you aren't straining your engine that much, since reduced air mass intake limits power developed (and strain on engine).

The low speed through air and reduced air density at altitude does make it harder for the engine and tranny to get rid of heat, I imagine that is why your 4R smelled hot. If water temp and transmission temp did not get out of operating range shouldn't be any harm done.

The V8 does provide a bit extra power, but only about 15% isn't it? That wouldn't make a dramatic difference in your towing ability I don't think.
 
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