Quag1
New member
seriously? that trailer only weighs 2500 lbs. What about all the camping gear etc.? Are the CA freeways as bad as the east coast freeways?
Towing experiences with your 5th Generation
- Thread starter dsir56
- Start date
seriously? that trailer only weighs 2500 lbs. What about all the camping gear etc.? Are the CA freeways as bad as the east coast freeways?
FourEyedWilly
New member
I'm looking for some advise. Keep in mind I would never tow using this set up more than ten miles all below 45MPH. As you can tell I already "know" but I don't want to swap my 4Runner for 1% of the time. Here goes...
I'm purchasing a Malibu 22MXZ next week. The boat is 4500 dry. Trailer and gas I'm going to be over 5K I know. Probably in the neighborhood of 6.5K. I'm towing from the ramp to the storage and back. Total about ten miles. That's the extent. No freeway. Not even an express way. Uphill one way, down the other. I used to tow a 23ft day cruiser with a 69CJ5 about the same. I just kept it slow.
So to be clear, Lake Mead to Boulder City and back. That's all. I have the option of using my wife's GLE which is rated at 7,500. Looking for "you're an idiot" to "naw, just that would be okay."
Flame away or share a similar experience. I'm lifted with OME and E-rated tires FWIW.
I'm purchasing a Malibu 22MXZ next week. The boat is 4500 dry. Trailer and gas I'm going to be over 5K I know. Probably in the neighborhood of 6.5K. I'm towing from the ramp to the storage and back. Total about ten miles. That's the extent. No freeway. Not even an express way. Uphill one way, down the other. I used to tow a 23ft day cruiser with a 69CJ5 about the same. I just kept it slow.
So to be clear, Lake Mead to Boulder City and back. That's all. I have the option of using my wife's GLE which is rated at 7,500. Looking for "you're an idiot" to "naw, just that would be okay."
Flame away or share a similar experience. I'm lifted with OME and E-rated tires FWIW.
well.... the hitch itself is rated for 5k. There is that. Someone else on here already bolted up the frame mounted hitch off a v8 4th gen (rated for 7500lbs?) and it bolts up directly. And id add a trans cooler, other than that, id feel comfortable with it.
ScoMey
New member
No really hot flames here brother... but consider this:
Our 5th Gen 4Runners are rated to tow a maximum of 5,000 pounds. No amount of inserting AirLift bags, adding transmission coolers, swapping out hitches, adding E-rated tires, or any other modification changes changes the max tow rating. Sure, some of those mod's may 'enhance' the towing experience within that weight limit, but at the end of the day our trucks meet the SAE spec for a maximum of 5,000. Period. No amount of re-engineering on our parts changes that.
A lot can happen in 10 miles, even at less-than-highway speeds, especially if you're going down hill in what would technically be considered an overloaded vehicle (think Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating). You don't want to be that guy. Right?
Sounds to me like you already have a solution... another vehicle with a proper tow rating for your boat. Sure, the odds are with you... but is it really worth it?
Good luck and be safe.
-sjm
FourEyedWilly
New member
Thanks Sco! I hear what you are saying. I fully understand and agree that you can't raise the tow limits only enhance. I'm not making excuses but one of the reasons I brought it up is the trailer has full four wheel disc brakes and the weight is over the axle and behind making the tongue weight lighter than expected. Like mentioned though. I'll be using the GLE but I will give the 4Runner a shot at least once to see how it feels.
Quag1
New member
If you want another opinion on Toyota Tow ratings look at what they publish in the UK. I did some research on the 2014 Rav4. The US Toyota rating is 1500 lbs (thats a 4 cyl about 180 HP engine). In the UK for the same vehicle they rate it about 1600 lbs for towing a trailer with no brakes and about 3600 lbs with brakes. I do not know what the UK limits are for a t4r. I tow a 2100 lb boat trailer that has brakes with no problem with a Rav4, it drives great. No transmission problems. However I'm shopping for a t4r, as over time I think its too much for the Rav4. In the end its your choice. I would personally never tow any trailer that did not have brakes.
Sig_Fan_55
New member
The truck can handle much more weight of course but we are mostly going from sea level to 6000-7000ft through slow speed twisty roads and I wanted to take it easy on the tranny. With this trailer being 20ft total length I can fit in all the campgrounds and national parks around here. All the freeways and roads suck in CA, this state pisses all the tax money set aside for road repairs on other crap and I swear we should get free alignments every year for how bad they are.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quag1
New member
That's what I thought from sea level to 7000 ft that's a lot. The roads out here in New England are bad but not that bad mostly narrow. When we go to Vermont from sea level Massachusetts we are really only going up about 1500 to 2000 ft. I've got one bad climb for about 10 miles but that's about it. I'm towing a 2200 lb boat and trailer with a 4 cylinder rav4 and it does fine. That's why my surprise. I'm going to upgrade to a t4r so I can handle more. Good luck out there.
Set-up:
2016 4Runner SR5 with stock size P265/70 General Grabber AT2, 2” lift (Bilstein 1.75” + 1/4” spacer up front, Daystar 1.5” spacer plus Firestone Coil-Rite airbags out back @ 25 psi for towing), sliders + full Shrock skids, Prodigy P2 brake controller, Equal-i-zer Weight Distributing Hitch (WDH).
Trailer is a 2012/2013 Forest River Flagstaff Micro-Lite 19FD, 19 ft long, rated 2900# dry from the factory so figure 3500# ready to go with 2 bottles of propane, dual 6V golf cart batteries, camping gear, and empty tanks.
Trip Report:
First trip done, see: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...help-settling-trailer-gvwr-4.html#post2720584
2012sr5
New member
I've had nothing but great experiences towing my little 5x8 trailer from Tractor Supply. I use it to tow my mower or an ATV or to just help friends move. It's kind of like the third row seat–you never know how much you're going to use it until you have it.
This trailer originally had just the mesh floor, but I installed treated 2x6s for more strength with better rain run-off than a plywood floor. Just put new LED lights on it, too. Got a 6" drop hitch to keep the trailer level.
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Which brings along the debate... what makes it the 5k rating? Seeing as the the 4th gen V8 is rated for 7500lbs? The frame is the same. 5th gen has larger brakes, transmission is the same (albeit missing the aux cooler). 5th gen has more HP, although down a little on torque. As noted, the 4th gen hitch mounts right up. Suspensions are both comparable, etc. Not saying just throw a hitch on it and routinely tow 7500 lbs, but i've towed around 5500 lbs on a long trip once and i wouldn't have an issue doing the same thing again if i needed to.
LargeOrangeFont
New member
You'll be fine, I would not worry about it at slow speeds like that. At worst you could put on the 4th gen V8 hitch.
I tow my 23 foot Cobra Razor with my 2016 SR5 just a few miles to the ramp and back with no issue. I do want to put on an extra transmission cooler though.
Quag1
New member
That is a great set up we are looking at doing something like that with a t4r. Did you add a transmission cooler?
No, I have not. Not saying that is right or wrong at this point, really need some means to monitor the temps before I can make an educated decision on an auxiliary cooler.
pcrdude
New member
I'm going to throw out some stuff here, and hope I don't get flamed to a crisp...
I just sold a Scamp 13' trailer that weighed in at about 1,500 lbs. When I bought that camper, I had a 2006 Honda CRV. It towed it pretty well, even at the SUV's max capacity. I kept the trailer pretty empty. It had electric brakes.
When I bought my T4R, I took into account the towing capacity, knowing I would upgrade my camper. At the time, I had no idea about the cross-member mounted receiver, which isn't really good for a WDH.
I am in the process of purchasing a Lance 1685, which has a dry weight of ~3,700 lbs. I KNOW it's going to sag the rear suspension, so I'm adding Firestone air assist bags. I plan on traveling with only about 10 gallons of water (<90 pounds), and keeping total gear to <500 pounds (~4300 total).
I can't seem to find the final word on WDH, but it seems like a bad idea for over torquing the cross-member without some leverage onto the frame. Maybe L-Brackets to join the cross-member and the frame would be good, so I may have that done in the future sometime.
I'll be towing the trailer through the Appalachian Mountains, so I expect I'll be using the truck lanes on uphill sections. I have a proportional brake controller.
I'll report back after the trip (if I make it). Kidding of course.
I expect to be actively engaged with the transmission....
Any thoughts or words of advice?
I just sold a Scamp 13' trailer that weighed in at about 1,500 lbs. When I bought that camper, I had a 2006 Honda CRV. It towed it pretty well, even at the SUV's max capacity. I kept the trailer pretty empty. It had electric brakes.
When I bought my T4R, I took into account the towing capacity, knowing I would upgrade my camper. At the time, I had no idea about the cross-member mounted receiver, which isn't really good for a WDH.
I am in the process of purchasing a Lance 1685, which has a dry weight of ~3,700 lbs. I KNOW it's going to sag the rear suspension, so I'm adding Firestone air assist bags. I plan on traveling with only about 10 gallons of water (<90 pounds), and keeping total gear to <500 pounds (~4300 total).
I can't seem to find the final word on WDH, but it seems like a bad idea for over torquing the cross-member without some leverage onto the frame. Maybe L-Brackets to join the cross-member and the frame would be good, so I may have that done in the future sometime.
I'll be towing the trailer through the Appalachian Mountains, so I expect I'll be using the truck lanes on uphill sections. I have a proportional brake controller.
I'll report back after the trip (if I make it). Kidding of course.
I expect to be actively engaged with the transmission....
Any thoughts or words of advice?
I'm going to throw out some stuff here, and hope I don't get flamed to a crisp...
I just sold a Scamp 13' trailer that weighed in at about 1,500 lbs. When I bought that camper, I had a 2006 Honda CRV. It towed it pretty well, even at the SUV's max capacity. I kept the trailer pretty empty. It had electric brakes.
When I bought my T4R, I took into account the towing capacity, knowing I would upgrade my camper. At the time, I had no idea about the cross-member mounted receiver, which isn't really good for a WDH.
I am in the process of purchasing a Lance 1685, which has a dry weight of ~3,700 lbs. I KNOW it's going to sag the rear suspension, so I'm adding Firestone air assist bags. I plan on traveling with only about 10 gallons of water (<90 pounds), and keeping total gear to <500 pounds (~4300 total).
I can't seem to find the final word on WDH, but it seems like a bad idea for over torquing the cross-member without some leverage onto the frame. Maybe L-Brackets to join the cross-member and the frame would be good, so I may have that done in the future sometime.
I'll be towing the trailer through the Appalachian Mountains, so I expect I'll be using the truck lanes on uphill sections. I have a proportional brake controller.
I'll report back after the trip (if I make it). Kidding of course.
I expect to be actively engaged with the transmission....
Any thoughts or words of advice?
I'd be (and am, for that matter) more worried about a roasted tranny or the lack of torque than whether or not the receiver is adequate for a WDH. It is okay, btw...
A weight distributing hitch with sway control is ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT to making this combo work, IMO. I would not even consider towing without. With my previous tow rig (Nissan Xterra) I heard great things about Equalizer and never looked elsewhere. Stability is great, really ties the vehicle/trailer together, and any sway is essentially non-existent. Passing semis on two lanes, down hills, whatever, this thing is fantastic! Don’t second guess, just do it. I too saw the conflicting info and internet speculation as to whether or not the 5th gen can use a WDH so I contacted Toyota directly:
Also, 2013 4Runner manual eludes to (and thus endorses?) its use:
Don't sweat it, just do it.
Originally posted in: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...help-settling-trailer-gvwr-3.html#post2675810
ScoMey
New member
"I'd be (and am, for that matter) more worried about a roasted tranny or the lack of torque than whether or not the receiver is adequate for a WDH."
Transmission failures related to towing (or anything else for that matter) are a very rare occurrence on 5th gen 4Runners... Read through this entire thread - there are lots of forum members towing pretty heavy trailers up to the max allowed (and some over). Tow in 4th gear as recommended by Toyota, and rest easy - a transmission failure is unlikely.
-sjm
Transmission failures related to towing (or anything else for that matter) are a very rare occurrence on 5th gen 4Runners... Read through this entire thread - there are lots of forum members towing pretty heavy trailers up to the max allowed (and some over). Tow in 4th gear as recommended by Toyota, and rest easy - a transmission failure is unlikely.
-sjm
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pcrdude
New member
I'd be (and am, for that matter) more worried about a roasted tranny or the lack of torque than whether or not the receiver is adequate for a WDH. It is okay, btw...
A weight distributing hitch with sway control is ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT to making this combo work, IMO. I would not even consider towing without. With my previous tow rig (Nissan Xterra) I heard great things about Equalizer and never looked elsewhere. Stability is great, really ties the vehicle/trailer together, and any sway is essentially non-existent. Passing semis on two lanes, down hills, whatever, this thing is fantastic! Don’t second guess, just do it. I too saw the conflicting info and internet speculation as to whether or not the 5th gen can use a WDH so I contacted Toyota directly:
Also, 2013 4Runner manual eludes to (and thus endorses?) its use:
Don't sweat it, just do it.
Originally posted in: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...help-settling-trailer-gvwr-3.html#post2675810
Thank you for that!!! I would much prefer to use a WDH with antisway, and that is EXACTLY what I needed to know/read/print.
Airbags and WDH seems to be the bees knees!!!
Installing a trailer harness (2015 Trail)
I looked underneath and found what seem to be the coverings for the 4 pin and round plug.
Should I just take this to my mechanic to deal with completely?
Or should I pick my own harness (recommendations?) and take it to him to install? (unless its as simple as plugging it in and wrapping it around the underbody I'm not doing it myself).
Or do I just click it in only when using and and take it off when not?
Will probably be uhauling a few long distance round trips in a few months when I move. The 6x12 is 4,400 lbs gross max.
I determined I'll need a ball with 2 1/4" drop.
I looked underneath and found what seem to be the coverings for the 4 pin and round plug.
Should I just take this to my mechanic to deal with completely?
Or should I pick my own harness (recommendations?) and take it to him to install? (unless its as simple as plugging it in and wrapping it around the underbody I'm not doing it myself).
Or do I just click it in only when using and and take it off when not?
Will probably be uhauling a few long distance round trips in a few months when I move. The 6x12 is 4,400 lbs gross max.
I determined I'll need a ball with 2 1/4" drop.
