Towing experiences with your 5th Generation

[JeremyB]

Towed our 2004 Caravelle 204 out for the first run of the season yesterday. Total trailer weight is ~4600 lbs with a tongue weight of ~380 lbs. Trailer has 2 leaf-spring axles with disc surge brakes on the rear axle.

Although you know it's back there, the setup is stable and the surge brakes keep stopping very civil. There trailer isn't pushing me while slowing. I'd like more power (who wouldn't!), but putting it in S4 gets the job done. If I lived in the mountains I might have a different opinion, but it goes it's gone over nearby grades (5.5% avg, 900 ft gain) without any complaining. I monitor transmission temps over OBD, to make sure everything is hunky-dory.

I eek out 12-13 mpg doing 60-65 or so on the highway. Need to rebuild the hubs before I feel comfortable going faster.

Side mirrors are near useless with such a wide trailer. Currently torn between add-on mirrors and wireless rear-view cameras.
On narrower secondary roads, I have between 0-6" on each side between the wheels and the mustard/mayo, so it makes driving a bit interesting.
A lot of secondary road around here have no shoulders, so going beyond the mayo (outside line) = going off of the road.

 

[williamlv282]

My 5th gen tows really well, but I have a lot of trouble seeing my trailer without the backup camera. I have a 12ft boat and the trailer is pretty narrow so it can be really hard to see. When I had my pickup truck it was a lot easier to back up and launch the boat. I'm thinking about attaching a GoPro to the roof rack so that I can see the entire trailer via live feed on my phone.

Also, someone needs to fire the guy that designed the brake light hookup under the tailgate. I can never get the plug in without actually laying down on the ground.

 

[Danimal]

Also, someone needs to fire the guy that designed the brake light hookup under the tailgate. I can never get the plug in without actually laying down on the ground.

I hear you, it's a pain. However, I see it as an example of Toyota listening to enthusiasts/owners. People threatened the same designer on the 3rd gen because the trailer plug was accessible and thus susceptible to damage off road. Can't please everyone, I guess.

Dan

 

[williamlv282]

I hear you, it's a pain. However, I see it as an example of Toyota listening to enthusiasts/owners. People threatened the same designer on the 3rd gen because the trailer plug was accessible and thus susceptible to damage off road. Can't please everyone, I guess.

Dan

I can see that's why they put it at the angle they did, but it's only really a pain because of the way the hinge opens for the brake light adapter.

 

[Robertw]

2013 runner, 16 ft Harvey open deck car hauler, single axle (front) brake. Trailer weighs 1200 lbs empty (5000 gvwr).

Tekonsha p3 brake controller, miata weighs around 2300 lbs, trailer and car combine to around 3500 lbs, so I setup a tongue weight of around 420 lbs. No bags.

Minimal sag in the rear, the truck doesn't really struggle towing this setup, and the brake controller is set to the #3 preset for braking. Overall very smooth, the truck is stable, and doesn't appear to be overwhelmed with the setup.

My buddies white Taco on the left :eyebrows:

 

[desertred]

^^ Have you towed that through the mountains? I'm looking to acquire a similar trailer to tow my NB.

 

[Robertw]

^^ Have you towed that through the mountains? I'm looking to acquire a similar trailer to tow my NB.

Not yet, but this is about as light a setup as one could get. Towing a miata helps too lol.

 

[johnnotestine]

We recently towed our new RPOD 179 (2900 lbs) from Cincinnati to Alaska. I used a Fastway E2 sway assembly/WD hitch. I went back and forth on if I should use the WD hitch on the 5th gen; I am really glad I did.

We averaged 12mpg on the way up. The worst mileage we got was 6mpg when we had a crazy headwind in the Yukon.

 

[K9Toyota]

View attachment 207644
We recently towed our new RPOD 179 (2900 lbs) from Cincinnati to Alaska. I used a Fastway E2 sway assembly/WD hitch. I went back and forth on if I should use the WD hitch on the 5th gen; I am really glad I did.

We averaged 12mpg on the way up. The worst mileage we got was 6mpg when we had a crazy headwind in the Yukon.

Are you running any sort of trailer brake controller at that weight? That's roughly the weight I'll be running with, but I do plan to have a controller installed regardless

 

[johnnotestine]

Are you running any sort of trailer brake controller at that weight? That's roughly the weight I'll be running with, but I do plan to have a controller installed regardless

Yes, I am using the Prodigy P3. You can get it cheap from Amazon.

 

[mgosts]

Just purchased an RPod 179 last weekend. Just towed it to storage. First mini test this weekend. Headed up to big bear. Have sway away springs in back giving about 12% over stock (i think). P3 brake controller and Fastway E2 weight distribution hitch. I know, i know, i've read that our 5th gen hitch is not rated for WDH, only weight-carrying hitches. Taking my chances until my SSS rear bumper gets here.

4 runner wasn't phased by my 2883lb trailer. Will probably add 500-600lbs of camping crap, but still should be fine. I will be climbing about 6000 ft.

I will report back after next weekend.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[johnnotestine]

Just purchased an RPod 179 last weekend. Just towed it to storage. First mini test this weekend. Headed up to big bear. Have sway away springs in back giving about 12% over stock (i think). P3 brake controller and Fastway E2 weight distribution hitch. I know, i know, i've read that our 5th gen hitch is not rated for WDH, only weight-carrying hitches. Taking my chances until my SSS rear bumper gets here.

4 runner wasn't phased by my 2883lb trailer. Will probably add 500-600lbs of camping crap, but still should be fine. I will be climbing about 6000 ft.

I will report back after next weekend.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You will be fine. We towed that setup 4000 miles through the Rocky Mountains and some of the craziest wind I've ever seen - no problems at all. I've been keeping an eye on the rear cross member and it is 100%.

 

[mgosts]

You will be fine. We towed that setup 4000 miles through the Rocky Mountains and some of the craziest wind I've ever seen - no problems at all. I've been keeping an eye on the rear cross member and it is 100%.

Thanks for the feedback. Did you install a transmission cooler?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[johnnotestine]

Thanks for the feedback. Did you install a transmission cooler?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nope - I was going to but never got around to it before we left. I might still do it just for peace of mind.

 

[mccmr89]

I recently took my '11 800+ miles down I-40 towing a packed 6x12 ft Uhaul with a car full of stuff too. Surprisingly, I averaged about 14 MPG in D, despite the hills of Eastern TN and Western NC (going 65-70 mph). Braking distance seemed a little longer but nothing that noticeable.

 

[CrazyNorwegian]

What's the tow rating on the 4Runner again? As long as the front wheels are still on the ground right? This one was 12k lbs


Disclaimer: I did not drive it on he street like this. Only moved it a couple hundred feet to a different parking lane

 

[Evergreen]

Just purchased an RPod 179 last weekend. Just towed it to storage. First mini test this weekend. Headed up to big bear. Have sway away springs in back giving about 12% over stock (i think). P3 brake controller and Fastway E2 weight distribution hitch. I know, i know, i've read that our 5th gen hitch is not rated for WDH, only weight-carrying hitches. Taking my chances until my SSS rear bumper gets here.

4 runner wasn't phased by my 2883lb trailer. Will probably add 500-600lbs of camping crap, but still should be fine. I will be climbing about 6000 ft.

I will report back after next weekend.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm wondering if this "no WDH" on the stock hitch receiver is web based hearsay, or if there's something put out by Toyota that says that. I have a difficult time seeing much difference between an aftermarket hitch bolted to the frame, vs the stock hitch, also bolted to the frame. The amount of weight transferred is typically in the range of a few hundred pounds, at most. Seeing that you can jack the entire vehicle using the receiver as the lift point, it seems like internet lore. Help me if you can, to track down this claim.

Thanks!

 

[mgosts]

I'm wondering if this "no WDH" on the stock hitch receiver is web based hearsay, or if there's something put out by Toyota that says that. I have a difficult time seeing much difference between an aftermarket hitch bolted to the frame, vs the stock hitch, also bolted to the frame. The amount of weight transferred is typically in the range of a few hundred pounds, at most. Seeing that you can jack the entire vehicle using the receiver as the lift point, it seems like internet lore. Help me if you can, to track down this claim.

Thanks!

I towed my rpod twice so far, guessing total weight about 3300lbs. No issues so far.

Will be towing a couple more times before my SSO rear bumper is installed. Can't freakin wait til that bumper gets here!!!!!

I think the risk of tweaking the rear crossmember increases as trailer weight approaches limits. I am about 66% of limit.

I am assuming i will not experience a problem based on a ton of reading / research of others towing with 5th gens runners using wd hitches with no problems. Fingers crossed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

Show Me Your T4R Towing a Boat!

Want to work on the boat idea with the wife. Maybe an 18'-20' open bow runabout. Can I have some pics, please!?.......

 

[1engineer]

Want to work on the boat idea with the wife. Maybe an 18'-20' open bow runabout. Can I have some pics, please!?.......

There's boats in here. Merged.
-mod-