Towing experiences with your 5th Generation

[joehadams]

I am in a similar situation as you. Airbags helped a lot with the sag and handling.

The ride without a trailer is like 15% rougher even with minimum psi.

Unlike some I could not get the bags installed by sliding them into the spring. Had to get them installed professionally.

Curious to hear more on your experience towing this type of load as I am in a similar situation as far as weight goes with a 22 pontoon.

Its actually not that bad. I could distribute the weight better by moving the axles 8-10" further on the trailer frame. But I don't tow this far enough to justify that hassle. I keep the boat in a slip, so I really only have to tow this 2-4 times a year, but never further than 10 miles. I dropped it down to S4 and it towed it just fine, stop and go through town up to 50mph. Based on what I have experienced so far I am not going to do airbags right now.

And just because I like to show off the truck/boat combo...

 

[Hertz4R]

Man, so many times I wish I knew how to weld.
Those trailers look great! The price of the 105MA3 is $1500, so not a steal by any means.

It's tempting to just have a huge trailer that I don't have to worry about, but I have a feeling it'd kill MPG & by the time I had the tongue refitted to handle the gate swing & tow height ($650), I could have spent $2150 on a new cargo trailer...the military rigs just look so cool...

I went with a m416 (1/4 ton) style military trailer made by Ruger trailers. Pulls almost unnoticeable and stops great with electric brakes. Plus I can still move it around the garage by hand with no problems.

The m105 is a Monster trailer. It's a 1 1/2 ton trailer made to be pulled by a Super duty truck not a 4runner. I would steer away from this.

You could go with something in between like a m101 3/4 ton. It's still a big wide trailer and I would not want to take it on the trails offroading but the 4runer could handle towing it.

Electric brakes and a break-away system is a must for these types of trailers IMO. If you are worried about MPGs with the trailer then you shouldn't get one. I get about 40 MPG going down the mountain and about 4 MPG going up :whoo:

 

[mikenac]

18' camper and just shy of 5000lbs fully loaded. Does well except in high winds. Tandem axle trailer would definitely help that though.

 

[Riverfisher]

Pulled like a champ!


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[Quag1]

Towing a Boat

I'm a new member. I'm looking into buying a used 2015 t4r (suggestions welcome on models) for towing a small boat. The boat and trailer is 2400 lbs. I plan to tow long distance 2x per year. I figure a loaded t4r with wifie, dog and gear will add about 600 lbs for a total of 3000 lbs. In case I get a bigger boat I'd like it to tow up to 4000 to 4500 lbs. I'm not into off roading but I want something that is durable, reliable. Its going to get a lot of highway miles and dirt hard pack. 4WD part time? How is the factory OEM package? Also considering a double cab Tacoma.

Thanks

 

[007Tacoma]

I'm a new member. I'm looking into buying a used 2015 t4r (suggestions welcome on models) for towing a small boat. The boat and trailer is 2400 lbs. I plan to tow long distance 2x per year. I figure a loaded t4r with wifie, dog and gear will add about 600 lbs for a total of 3000 lbs. In case I get a bigger boat I'd like it to tow up to 4000 to 4500 lbs. I'm not into off roading but I want something that is durable, reliable. Its going to get a lot of highway miles and dirt hard pack. 4WD part time? How is the factory OEM package? Also considering a double cab Tacoma.

Thanks

Honestly, for "mostly highway" the 4Runner is very comfortable, and it does a decent job at towing 3500#. However, when you get closer to 5000# the highway uphill becomes a challenge for the drivetrain. Also, the shorter wheelbase is not ideal for heavier loads. You may want to look at a larger vehicle.

 

[Quag1]

Honestly, for "mostly highway" the 4Runner is very comfortable, and it does a decent job at towing 3500#. However, when you get closer to 5000# the highway uphill becomes a challenge for the drivetrain. Also, the shorter wheelbase is not ideal for heavier loads. You may want to look at a larger vehicle.

thanks I guess the drive train for the Tacoma is a bit stronger and can tow up to 6300 lbs. The published towing capacity to the t4r is 5000 lbs. I do not think I'll ever need to tow more than 4000 lbs maybe 4500 at the very most. So wifie may make be buy the tr4 and not the cooler Tacoma sports package.

Do you know anything about the factory towing package in the tr4. The factory package in the Tacoma is sweet.

Thanks

 

[zcruiser]

Do you know anything about the factory towing package in the tr4. The factory package in the Tacoma is sweet.



Thanks

https://www.toyota.com/4runner/features/weights_capacities/8642/8646/8670/8672

Doesn't appear to be a "tow package", they're all rated the same.

A "tow package" implies to me a (beefier) trans cooler, stiffer suspension, wiring, and maybe a brake controller. What's your definition?

 

[JasonKoko]

I tow my turtleback on every trip. On our last trip we passed by a scale and weighed in at 8700 lbs trailer, truck, myself and two kids, full water tank, cvt mt Denali and every bit of our exp gear.

Going up the mountains on i70 in Colorado we averaged 7-9 mpg and felt like we were stopping for gas every 90 minutes. And. 65 was about as good as we got, no passing power.

Love my 4Runner. But wish it had more power. Really only complaint!


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[Quag1]

[QUOTE Doesn't appear to be a "tow package", they're all rated the same.

A "tow package" implies to me a (beefier) trans cooler, stiffer suspension, wiring, and maybe a brake controller. What's your definition?[/QUOTE]

I agree it appears the t4r does not have a "real tow" package disappointing I'm leaning back to the Tacoma

 

[Quag1]

I tow my turtleback on every trip. On our last trip we passed by a scale and weighed in at 8700 lbs trailer, truck, myself and two kids, full water tank, cvt mt Denali and every bit of our exp gear.

Going up the mountains on i70 in Colorado we averaged 7-9 mpg and felt like we were stopping for gas every 90 minutes. And. 65 was about as good as we got, no passing power.

Something is strange about that the GVWR which should include a the weight of all of the above for a t4r is about 11,400 lbs. you are way below that at 8700. I wonder if its the thin air in CO and steep mountain grades.

 

[Sig_Fan_55]

Finally got to take our new to us trailer out, 4Runner towed it fine just slowed to 40 on some longer uphill grades. About 14mpg average. Did a lot of searching for this trailer as it was the biggest I could go with the least weight (2500lbs) and the ability to sleep with it in hybrid mode or left closed up for colder weather. My brother with the excursion behind me in the photo blew a front tire out on the freeway on the way back, that was fun to deal with on a busy CA freeway with small shoulder.

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[davidbeitz]

4runner tow

which trailer did you end up with?

 

[Ride S40T]

Had read here that some are using Sport mode to tow and got me to thinking about the times we towed heavy with our Gen 4 Sport Ed (had a trans cooler). Never moved it from "D" and it performed just fine. Around 14 mpg on those pulls.

Asked Toy Corp the "S" versus "D" selection and this was their reply: "We have done some research for your question on whether to leave the gear selector in "D" or "S" while towing. Toyota recommends you leave the selector in "D". If there is a special situation where you need to keep in a specific gear such as pulling a boat out of the water, you may use the "S" mode."

Lastly, dismayed to hear there is no trans cooler on our new '17. In years past, thought the "tow pkg" set the truck up to in fact - be a hauler, with cooler installed. Anyone know why they went away from this setup? Do the newer models not need the cooler to haul the meager 5,000 lbs?

 

[Sig_Fan_55]

which trailer did you end up with?

It's a 2002 R-Vision Trail lite B19.


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[(none)]

thanks I guess the drive train for the Tacoma is a bit stronger and can tow up to 6300 lbs. The published towing capacity to the t4r is 5000 lbs. I do not think I'll ever need to tow more than 4000 lbs maybe 4500 at the very most. So wifie may make be buy the tr4 and not the cooler Tacoma sports package.

Do you know anything about the factory towing package in the tr4. The factory package in the Tacoma is sweet.

Thanks

https://www.toyota.com/4runner/features/weights_capacities/8642/8646/8670/8672

Doesn't appear to be a "tow package", they're all rated the same.

A "tow package" implies to me a (beefier) trans cooler, stiffer suspension, wiring, and maybe a brake controller. What's your definition?

[QUOTE Doesn't appear to be a "tow package", they're all rated the same.

A "tow package" implies to me a (beefier) trans cooler, stiffer suspension, wiring, and maybe a brake controller. What's your definition?

I agree it appears the t4r does not have a "real tow" package disappointing I'm leaning back to the Tacoma[/QUOTE]

Had read here that some are using Sport mode to tow and got me to thinking about the times we towed heavy with our Gen 4 Sport Ed (had a trans cooler). Never moved it from "D" and it performed just fine. Around 14 mpg on those pulls.

Asked Toy Corp the "S" versus "D" selection and this was their reply: "We have done some research for your question on whether to leave the gear selector in "D" or "S" while towing. Toyota recommends you leave the selector in "D". If there is a special situation where you need to keep in a specific gear such as pulling a boat out of the water, you may use the "S" mode."

Lastly, dismayed to hear there is no trans cooler on our new '17. In years past, thought the "tow pkg" set the truck up to in fact - be a hauler, with cooler installed. Anyone know why they went away from this setup? Do the newer models not need the cooler to haul the meager 5,000 lbs?

There is no "tow package" for the T4R because it essentially comes with it stock... The Tacoma "tow package" includes a larger alternator, trailer wiring, hitch, engine oil cooler and a small supplementary trans cooler. That's it. No suspension changes.

Our trucks come with all of that stock, except for the supplementary (air to oil) trans cooler, we only have the water to oil cooler in the trans. How many posts do you read on here about overheating transmissions? I think I've read one and it was from a bad sensor. Check out the jeep JK forums and you'll see where all of the overheating transmissions are.

That being said, I added a large (much larger than the OEM taco cooler, about twice as large as what came on the V8 4runners) cooler to mine just for piece of mind. It cost $100 and a few hours work. With the mechanical fan always pulling air through the radiator, cooling isn't much of an issue for these things.

The thing I really wish we had is the Tacoma final drive gearing. the 3.73s are good. I'd prefer 4.11s.

Also, if looking at the Tacoma, consider a few other things: The 4R has 1" larger front brakes, vented disk rear brakes (instead of drums...), better rear suspension, and a more proven and reliable overall driveline.

 

[Ride S40T]

There is no "tow package" for the T4R because it essentially comes with it stock... The Tacoma "tow package" includes a larger alternator, trailer wiring, hitch, engine oil cooler and a small supplementary trans cooler. That's it. No suspension changes.

Our trucks come with all of that stock, except for the supplementary (air to oil) trans cooler, we only have the water to oil cooler in the trans. How many posts do you read on here about overheating transmissions? I think I've read one and it was from a bad sensor. Check out the jeep JK forums and you'll see where all of the overheating transmissions are.

That being said, I added a large (much larger than the OEM taco cooler, about twice as large as what came on the V8 4runners) cooler to mine just for piece of mind. It cost $100 and a few hours work. With the mechanical fan always pulling air through the radiator, cooling isn't much of an issue for these things.

The thing I really wish we had is the Tacoma final drive gearing. the 3.73s are good. I'd prefer 4.11s.

Also, if looking at the Tacoma, consider a few other things: The 4R has 1" larger front brakes, vented disk rear brakes (instead of drums...), better rear suspension, and a more proven and reliable overall driveline.

Thanks for all the info, puts me (at least) a bit more at ease if we do venture into some heavy pulls.

On the Tacoma gearing, not sure if they got it completely right with the trans married to the new (for Taco) 3.5L direct injection motor. Had made a deal on a '17 Taco only to move back to the t4r because of the excessive downshifting experienced on the test drives. Simple grades with an empty truck and it downshifted too much, sometimes to 4th. These were slight inclines.

Yes, I did make sure the shop tested to see if the latest trans update was applied. Even with the new mapping it was just too much shifting for my preference. Neighbor has one and it's one of his minor complaints as well. Gearing for highway travel was likely done to maximize MPG. Speculation at best.

 

[Dalko43]

Larger oil and/or transmission cooler would maybe add a little value, but not much, to something like the 4runner.

The 4runner's 4.0l v6 and 5 speed auto just isn't an optimal powertrain combo for towing anything 5k lbs and above.

The Tacoma's new 3.5l v6 really isn't much of a towing/hauling engine either.

These are both gasoline engines designed for every daily driver use, with some amount of towing capabilities thrown in for good measure.

If you really want to tow consistently, look for full-size trucks and up. Better platforms and better powertrains for towing.

 

[smallfry]

Towed my MR2 on a uhaul flatbed from Colorado through Wyoming into Utah with no issues.

 

[Quag1]

There is no "tow package" for the T4R because it essentially comes with it stock... The Tacoma "tow package" includes a larger alternator, trailer wiring, hitch, engine oil cooler and a small supplementary trans cooler. That's it. No suspension changes.

Our trucks come with all of that stock, except for the supplementary (air to oil) trans cooler, we only have the water to oil cooler in the trans. How many posts do you read on here about overheating transmissions?
That being said, I added a large (much larger than the OEM taco cooler, about twice as large as what came on the V8 4runners) cooler to mine just for piece of mind. It cost $100 and a few hours work. With the mechanical fan always pulling air through the radiator, cooling isn't much of an issue for these things.

Also, if looking at the Tacoma, consider a few other things: The 4R has 1" larger front brakes, vented disk rear brakes (instead of drums...), better rear suspension, and a more proven and reliable overall driveline.

Good info thanks, sounds like if I add a tranny cooler to the t4r to tow a boat and trailer between 3000 to 4500 lbs (at the very most) for a 2x a year (NC to VT, 890 each way generally flat except the last 40 mile stretch in VT) I should be ok. Damn I wanted the TRD Sport Tacoma wifie wants the t4r guess who wins!