Towing and Load Limits

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windytrip

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Apologies if this has been covered, I searched and couldn't find anything.

I have a 2004 V8 Limited with what looks to be the weight-distribution hitch receiver on the truck. I think this puts my towing capacity around 7000lbs. The truck has XREAS but does not have air suspension.

I'm thinking about buying an 8.5x20 enclosed aluminum trailer - weight 2800lbs, and I'd load it with ~3000lbs of car, or other stuff (moving my house), so the total tow weight would be around 5500-6000lbs.

According to the manual, this is within the specs for my truck, but is it reasonable? This would definitely be an occasional thing, maybe 6 times a year max, and maybe 200 miles each way, each time.
 
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It should be fine, with the following conditions:
- you have a proper weight distributing hitch
- you have a good anti-sway control on the hitch - very important.
- The trailer has brakes hooked to a brake controller on your tow vehicle. I believe the V8 4runner has the wiring already in place for the brake controller, somewhere behind the glove compartment.
- You keep your speeds moderate. Stability goes down rapidly, and braking distance increases dramatically, as speed goes up.
 
Agreed with RonJR - make sure you add all those items to your to-do list.

I tow an 18' steel car trailer loaded with race car + gear (net wt ~5500 or so) up over the Sierras and back a few times a year. My only towing specific upgrades are a brake controller (that's mandatory), a bluetooth OBDII dongle so I can use my phone to monitor tranny temps (it starts to get pretty hot on some of the climbs up to 7k elevation), and Air Lift airbags in the rear springs to compensate for the tongue weight (cheap and fairly easy to install).

Is this just for moving your house? If so, have you looked at the cost difference vs. renting/hiring a giant box truck/semi to do the trip? 400 mile round trip x 6 times vs. 200 mile trip + rental fee one time...
 
I tow an 18' steel car trailer loaded with race car + gear (net wt ~5500 or so) up over the Sierras and back a few times a year. My only towing specific upgrades are a brake controller (that's mandatory), a bluetooth OBDII dongle so I can use my phone to monitor tranny temps (it starts to get pretty hot on some of the climbs up to 7k elevation), and Air Lift airbags in the rear springs to compensate for the tongue weight (cheap and fairly easy to install).
Click to expand...

I've already got an OBDII sensor, so that's easy. I've never tried checking the trans temp, but that should be straight forward.

Are these the airbags you are referring to?

https://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/60809/

You don't use a weight-distribution hitch?

Is this just for moving your house? If so, have you looked at the cost difference vs. renting/hiring a giant box truck/semi to do the trip? 400 mile round trip x 6 times vs. 200 mile trip + rental fee one time...
Click to expand...

No, the point would be able to haul my car to the track a few times a year as well. Also the move would be a bit complicated, so we'd need a pod-type thing parked at our house for ~3 months and that worked out to ~2500, plus extra hauling and stuff and the moving expenses will be up around $5k.

So I am looking into the option of sinking that 5k into a trailer I'd have long term to haul my track car with.
 
Trans temp via OBD is a little bit complicated, you have to put a custom formula into Torque (or your app of choice). Once you set it up it works great though. Your V8 already comes with a trans cooler, so just give yourself an upper limit on fluid temp and make sure not to cook it.

Yes, those are the airbags. Install wasn't bad at all, but I pulled the springs to install spacers at the same time anyway. I think Firestone has an airbag system that can be installed without removing the springs (the bags are squishy enough to squeeze between the coils when deflated), don't quote me on that though. *I'm not actually sure the Airlift system requires spring removal, it was just easier for me because I was removing springs anyway.

I don't use a weight distribution or anti-sway hitch, but I'd like to get one. I'm careful about loading the car/trailer to have enough tongue weight to keep everything stable without overloading the rear axle, and the airbags counteract the rear end squat. I haven't had any trailer sway with this setup, but I'm very conscious the load is back there and I try to keep all my steering inputs extra smooth while towing. I only have a flat bed hauler though, an enclosed trailer will provide a larger cross section for wind which might be a bigger handful to control...

Wow, that's an expensive move! I'd be doing the same as you, DIY and use the money towards a trailer you can keep using in the future.
 
Should have mentioned the tranny temp. Glad that was added.

I would rate the anti-sway as the most important thing from a safety standpoint - having to make a quick lane change can be disastrous if the trailer starts pushing the rear end of the vehicle around. I lost a young friend to that sort of thing 25 years ago - a 3/4 ton Suburban with a flat-bed trailer and car loaded on to it. Rolled the Suburban. (No anti-sway or weight distributing hitch, probably no trailer brakes.)

With the weight distributing hitch you shouldn't need the airbags. I would do the hitch over the airbags, since that's what Toyota recommends. That will keep the weight balanced over all 4 wheels and improve control and stability. The air bags just help hold up the rear end, but don't transfer any weight to the front.

What you're looking for is a coupling system that makes the trailer and 4runner behave as a single unit to any quick stimuli from the driver or from the road. That's what the hitch and the anti sway will do for you.
 
One of the best things you can do is to take it to the Cat Scales when you are loaded up. Compare your weights to the various weight limitations and make adjustents to your weight distribution hitch, etc. Did this a couple of trips when we hooked up our travel trailer. Realized that our 4runner was to small. That is why we now own a Tundra. Night and Day difference!
 
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