I have plans of buying a boat for the 2011 Season. I know that is far away, but I like to plan ahead of time. Currently I'm driving an EconoBox Corolla. Got it about 7 months ago when I traded in my Tacoma. (That's another story though for another day).
I need something that will allow me to also tow it long distances, say two hours of highway driving. That will be a seldom thing, but its something I want to do at least once a Summer. Take the boat down to Lake George for a weekend. So I will need to change my car in the next 6 months or so to something that will allow me to do that. The rest will be taking it down to the marina about 20 minutes away. I just don't know if the 4Runner can do this. While I have never been an owner, I have always loved the styling and feel of the 4Runner.
So the question: Will the current generation 4Runner with the V8 be enough to tow my future boat? I really want either a 24 - 27 foot Baja. It will be pre-owned so it will be determined by what I find. 24' is the lowest I will go, 27' the highest. I will be buying whatever vehicle I use to tow it at least a year ahead of time. Break it in real well before I go ahead and start stressing it with towing.
The boat at its worst is 4800lbs. --- Best Case is 4400lbs
Gas at its worst would be about 600lbs --- Best Case is 480lbs
Trailer at its worst 1500lbs --- Best Case is 1250lbs
As you can see that puts me at 6900lbs (Best case is 6130, but I never like to go by this). I will still need to load the back of the 4Runner with say a couple of coolers, maybe 2-3 bags of luggage. Say that's 200lbs. Plus the family that's a another 650lbs. That's a total payload on the Runner of about 850lbs + whatever the boat in the back with 6900.
Would this be pushing it. I know the v8 is rated for 7000, I would get the 4WD. At 6900, is that too close for comfort. I don't want to get a full size truck like the mammoth of the Tundra or the Titan. But will if I must. I'm also hoping that the Toyota would come to its senses and maybe put the new 4.7L V8 that's in this years Tundra on the new 5th Gen T4R and maybe increase the towing capacity by a few hundred which would make me feel much more comfortable.
Thoughts are greatly appreciated or comparisons to what you are pulling now and how you are fairing.
I need something that will allow me to also tow it long distances, say two hours of highway driving. That will be a seldom thing, but its something I want to do at least once a Summer. Take the boat down to Lake George for a weekend. So I will need to change my car in the next 6 months or so to something that will allow me to do that. The rest will be taking it down to the marina about 20 minutes away. I just don't know if the 4Runner can do this. While I have never been an owner, I have always loved the styling and feel of the 4Runner.
So the question: Will the current generation 4Runner with the V8 be enough to tow my future boat? I really want either a 24 - 27 foot Baja. It will be pre-owned so it will be determined by what I find. 24' is the lowest I will go, 27' the highest. I will be buying whatever vehicle I use to tow it at least a year ahead of time. Break it in real well before I go ahead and start stressing it with towing.
The boat at its worst is 4800lbs. --- Best Case is 4400lbs
Gas at its worst would be about 600lbs --- Best Case is 480lbs
Trailer at its worst 1500lbs --- Best Case is 1250lbs
As you can see that puts me at 6900lbs (Best case is 6130, but I never like to go by this). I will still need to load the back of the 4Runner with say a couple of coolers, maybe 2-3 bags of luggage. Say that's 200lbs. Plus the family that's a another 650lbs. That's a total payload on the Runner of about 850lbs + whatever the boat in the back with 6900.
Would this be pushing it. I know the v8 is rated for 7000, I would get the 4WD. At 6900, is that too close for comfort. I don't want to get a full size truck like the mammoth of the Tundra or the Titan. But will if I must. I'm also hoping that the Toyota would come to its senses and maybe put the new 4.7L V8 that's in this years Tundra on the new 5th Gen T4R and maybe increase the towing capacity by a few hundred which would make me feel much more comfortable.
Thoughts are greatly appreciated or comparisons to what you are pulling now and how you are fairing.
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