So I'm moving from Florida to San Diego, camping on the way through. I need some advice about pulling a 6x12 uhaul trailer with my 2000 ltd 2DR RWD 4runner 3.4L with 185,000miles on it. My father thinks I should get a transmission cooler. But when I asked the mechanic about it he said that there is one built in. So my father thinks I need a trany cooler on top of this one. All that I've read about this subject has been both ways, get the trany or you don't need it. This is a one time towing trip. Any advice would be a great help. Thank you!
Towing 6x12 Uhaul with 2000 ltd 2DR RWD 2500miles
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Stick Figure
New member
search the term pink milkshake on here, and you'll have a second reason to listen to pops and get the trans cooler.
LittleCaesar
New member
1. Transmission cooler, such as the B&M 70264 or 70268.
2. New brake pads and rotors, unless yours are relatively new.
3. Brake controller. I'd get one but it is not crucial like the two above.
4. A new Koyo radiator to avoid the pink milkshake.
5. Drain and refill the tranny a couple of times with new ATF fluid.
2. New brake pads and rotors, unless yours are relatively new.
3. Brake controller. I'd get one but it is not crucial like the two above.
4. A new Koyo radiator to avoid the pink milkshake.
5. Drain and refill the tranny a couple of times with new ATF fluid.
WrexHAmm
New member
Bad pun cause they do :lol:
jmt2404
New member
I did it just fine about 3 years ago. I drove from NC to WA. I had a 6x12 open trailer with all my stuff on it. My runner was stock back then and it did awesome. Went kind of at an angle cross country. I don't remember the weight. I have the weight tickets some where if you want to know specifics.
ChildrenOfBodom
Moderator
Yeah... but not a 3rd gen haha
96743runner
New member
Yeah definitely get the aux transmission cooler. Wouldn't want to get the pink milkshake halfway throughout your trip!
Nunyabiz
New member
If I were doing that, which actually I hope to be sometime within the next 5-6 years, going to move from NC to Oregon.
I would do exactly what Little Caesar said except that I would actually do a full drain of ALL 11+ quarts of Trans fluid and replace with 100% Synthetic.
Then you shouldn't have any nasty surprises that could ruin a nice trip.
I would do exactly what Little Caesar said except that I would actually do a full drain of ALL 11+ quarts of Trans fluid and replace with 100% Synthetic.
Then you shouldn't have any nasty surprises that could ruin a nice trip.
Martinjmpr
New member
How much does the trailer weigh? IIRC 4runners are rated for 5,000lb max towing. However, for anything over about 1500 I'd definitely want a trailer brake. The 4runner has enough trouble stopping itself, trying to stop an additional ton or so would be no fun.
WrexHAmm
New member
Who ever mentioned 3rd gen 2 door? The statement was " I didn't know they made 2 door 4runners, " Not I didn't know know they made a 2 door 3rd gen 4runner.
ChildrenOfBodom
Moderator
What do you mean, who ever mentioned a 3rd gen two door? Are you reading the same thread as I am? If I must break it down for you, the first post by OP says his 2000 4Runner Limited (3rd gen) is a 2 door. Singtoe said that he didn't know there were two door 4Runners, obviously referring to the fact that the original poster is incorrect, as they never made a 2 door 3rd gen from the factory. You replied, telling Singtoe that his pun was bad, as they did make one. I quoted your reply, mentioning that there was no 2 door 3rd gen, because this thread is clearly not geared towards 1st or 2nd gen 2 door 4Runners. This thread is posted in the 3rd gen section, it's about 3rd gens.
So, to answer your first question, the original poster, within the first few lines of this thread, mentioned a 2 door 3rd gen 4Runner.
z28forlife
New member
^wow! Haha
I agree. I have new brakes and rotors, but pulling my 2200 lb pop-up camper on relatively flat terrain makes stopping interesting. I can't imagine crossing the Rockies without some extra braking power.
Re: the tran--listen to the solid advice above...advice that I will be heeding as soon as the funds are here.
Related to that, can someone tell me what the ECT Power actually does (in regards to towing)? I understand the overdrive off...but not sure how/when I should use the ECT.
The 6x12 Uhaul trailers I've rented have had a brake actuated by the force of stopping. Basically, the tongue is 2 pieces, and the force of the trailer toward the vehicle moves the part of the tongue via a linkage that actuates hydraulic brakes to the trailer tires.
WrexHAmm
New member
Sounds good. I am not going to argue with you.
Nunyabiz
New member
It changes your shift points.
For instance with ECT off you might normally shift say between 1500-2000rpm while with ECT on it might be more like 1800-2500rpm, unless you give it a lot of gas like petal to the metal then with ECT ON it may not shift until over 4000rpm.
While towing I would certainly have the ECT ON.
Also most all of the trailers that size are usually double axle and in my experience have "surge brakes" so that as you stop the trailer tongue pushes up and that activates the trailer brakes. I used to haul around a fully loaded 19' Boston Whaler, with over 100 gallons of gas onboard and twin 75HP Yamahas plus lots of gear, had to weigh around 4500#+ and did that with my old Bronco II which is smaller than my 4Runner with about 40HP less and I used to haul that boat down to Cabo San Lucas and back every year down a very dangerous road for 1000 miles each way.
now the Bronco II was basically a complete POS to put it bluntly BUT it never left me stranded and it actually handled better while hauling that trailer because the boat trailer stopped the truck FASTER than the truck by itself, also kept it more stable.
Amazingly I was also able to Beach Launch that boat with it, backing up into the waves until the boat floated just enough to back off the trailer under power and then pull it out of the water on a sandy beach.
So if that old POS Bronco II could do that with a 4500# boat & trailer then no problem for a 4Runner with a 6X12 Uhaul
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