Towing discrepancies on 03 4runner v8

A

argar865

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So I am a little confused. I have started looking for an early 4th generation 4runner v8 4x4. The main reason that I want the 4runner is the toyota reliability and quality mixed with a good 7,000 pound tow rating. I have noticed briefly that the 2003 v8´s have two different ratings one at 5,000 and one at 7,000 and they seem to have different styles of tow hitch receivers... I have been researching it and do not find a lot of info. there is this thread that is not that clear...

Can anyone clarify this for me. I was looking at a nice 4runner at a stealership in Utah that the guy seems to know what he is talking about but he is saying the one he has is rated at 5,000 then later when I asked him about it he said he did more research and it is actually rated at 6,500... :redbrick: → :confused: → :redbrick:

Very confused hoping some of you guys can shed some light on it for me...:fishing:
 
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My 03 Limited came with every option, including xreas and the rear air suspension. I have the hitch rated at 5000 pounds. I can't recall the exact date, but all 03s produced prior to a certain date (July 2003 comes to mind) have the 5000 pound hitch, and ones produced after that have the 7000 lb hitch. From what I know, this was all v8 4runners, trim and options didn't matter.
 
The rear air suspension was not discontinued in 03, its also found on later models.

I'll have to do some searching, there was a post that explained the hitches very well. I do know that the hitches changed in mid 2003.
 
chaz said:
the hitch for the v8 was changed in 04, 4Runner also, what year are you saying toyota stopped offering the ras with xreas for the limited? seems to me it was still available in 08. 2008 Toyota 4Runner Performance | U.S. News Best Cars
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that article clearly states OPTIONAL show me an 08 4runner with RAS and ill take your word on it. I believe toyota still offers an OPTIONAL supercharger for the 4.7L V8 as well but you cant buy one from TRD cuz they found problems with it destroying motors so they quit offering it.
 
I'd just like to say im an extremely argumentative person and i appologizes if i threw the wrong information out there. I had no idea how screwed up the options are on these trucks. I was told by multiple people as well as my manual obviously durring the purchasing of my vehicle that i was capable of towing 7000lbs. My manufactuing date is april of 03. after reading this thread and arguing my invalid points which i deleted so no one would take the wrong info from this thread. im going to go cus some people out a toyota until i get my hitch upgrade for free :ybrick:
 
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After talking to toyota I've been informed that this is the upgraded hitch that they replaced the orignal with can you guys confirm this for me??? the service tech personel informed me that if it has the plate welded on the hitch side of the cross member that it is the 7000lb hitch
 

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I'll look at mine this evening (produced 03/03). I bought mine used, but I believe it has the original hitch. I spoke with the local Toyota dealer a year or two ago about this, they were clueless and only offered to sell me an aftermarkethitch. At least you found a dealer with knowledge of the issue.

Just to add (or restate), the hitch was also changed in 04. The 04 and newer models have a weight distributing hitch, but as far as I know the rating is the same as the new style 03 hitch.

Edit: took a quick pic of mine. Can't say for sure with the spare in the way, but mine looks identical to yours. Since yours was built after 05/01, you should have the updated hitch. Perhaps mine was replaced at some point. I'm not sure exactly what is different about the updated hitch, so hard for me to be certain. Definitely curious about this. I know on mine, the receiver wouldn't fit, it hit the spare tire. I ended up chopping about an inch off the bar. I was thinking this was one of the reasons for the replacement.

photobucket-18091-1335298729792.jpg~original
 
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ARK_SWAMP_RIDER said:
I'll look at mine this evening (produced 03/03). I bought mine used, but I believe it has the original hitch. I spoke with the local Toyota dealer a year or two ago about this, they were clueless and only offered to sell me an aftermarkethitch. At least you found a dealer with knowledge of the issue.

Just to add (or restate), the hitch was also changed in 04. The 04 and newer models have a weight distributing hitch, but as far as I know the rating is the same as the new style 03 hitch.
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thanks, yeah i dont talk to dealers lol i found a guy who knows a **** load of info about these trucks i think he even holds a plaque from toyota as like #1 service tech in a country hes the service tech manager at scott clarks toyota in charlotte northcarolina. 877-578-3014 call an ask for jeff for your most technical questions lol no i didnt get my towing info that i posted up here from him i called an talked to him after arguing throuhg this thread and he agreed with everything you guys stated lol
 
Mine is a 2005 V8 with the heavier-duty OEM bumper- tube form. I think my manual says 7,000 lbs. I woudl never tow that here in Colorado...getting up the mtn passes with 7,000 lbs would be too annoying and slow. However, I can see towing a 3,000 lb camper quite easily. Heck, I could tow my Wrangler if I had to. Good to know that the towing capacity is decent.
 
nah, mine was built in 04 of 03 unless you ment to say 01? i'm assuming you thought mine was built after 05/03(april of 2003 is my build date i originally typed 05/03 but changed it lol my bad). but i was told that if it has that outside plate (the one you hook your safty chains to) that it is the upgraded hitch.. an ours seems to have that plate i just wish there was a way to confirm it befor taking a 6800lb load down the road I did pull a chevy duramax out of the mud once I'm pretty sure he weighed more than 7000lbs plus the extra force the mud adds and i didnt break the hitch or truck in any way who knows?
 
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Those pictures are not of the upgraded WD hitch. The WD hitch is tubular and mounts on the frame rails and not on the cross member like the one you have pictured.
 
aha2988 said:
nah, mine was built in 04 of 03 unless you ment to say 01? i'm assuming you thought mine was built after 05/03(april of 2003 is my build date i originally typed 05/03 but changed it lol my bad). but i was told that if it has that outside plate (the one you hook your safty chains to) that it is the upgraded hitch.. an ours seems to have that plate i just wish there was a way to confirm it befor taking a 6800lb load down the road I did pull a chevy duramax out of the mud once I'm pretty sure he weighed more than 7000lbs plus the extra force the mud adds and i didnt break the hitch or truck in any way who knows?
Click to expand...

My bad, thought I read August somewhere. All this time I was thinking I had the original hitch. I will pull the Toyota service records, I would think the replacement hitch should be documented.

To summarize the discussion here (correct me if I'm wrong).
4runners produced prior to 05/01 had a "bad" hitch. we are not sure what was "bad" about them. However, we do know that models produced after 05/01 have an updated hitch. some people were able to get their "bad" hitch replaced by Toyota.

For the 2004 model year, the hitch design changed again to the current weight distributing one.

My understanding is as follows.
2003 v8 models
Pre 05/01/03 hitch: 5000 lb rating
Post 05/01/03 hitch: 7000 lb rating

2004+ V8 models all have the weight distributing hitch with 7000 lb rating.
 
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