wadle5
New member
Well it's a Ford so........but really about spit my coffee out all over my work computer.......thanks for that.:ranger:
I'm surprised you didn't need any runaway semi ramps!
Towing experiences with your 5th Generation
- Thread starter dsir56
- Start date
Well it's a Ford so........but really about spit my coffee out all over my work computer.......thanks for that.:ranger:
I'm surprised you didn't need any runaway semi ramps!
One of the things I noted is they never actually weighed the trailer or tongue weight, so who knows how much it really weighed. Most 'dry' weights from dealers are hundreds of lbs too low compared to what they weight when you drive it off the lot.
Also, hitting the brakes is the worst thing you can do during trailer sway.
<<<<
Senior Member
No experience with 5th gen here but 2004 Sports, yeah...!!! Several pounds of top soil distributed poorly (on the top of double axles instead of forward 60%) swayed hell out of control downhill. Lets say it was a hell of a ride but everyone is fine and the damage was minimal 
Take home message is:
a) check the load personally, trust no one
b) inflate rear tires higher than normal
c) use engine braking descending hills and slow way down.
Take home message is:
a) check the load personally, trust no one
b) inflate rear tires higher than normal
c) use engine braking descending hills and slow way down.
Friggin Idiot
Senior Member
Not for mountains
A couple weeks ago I hauled my 18' bass boat down to northeastern Tennessee. I learned while the 4.0 V6 is fine for that weight and more on flat land, it is barely sufficient in the mountains.
My route from Columbus OH was via US-23 south to Norton VA, US-58 Alt east to Abingdon VA, US-58 east to Damascus VA then SR-91 south to Mountain City TN. I took the same route to return. While down there a pressing need for boat repairs, I also had to drive it from where I was staying up to Bristol TN, and then wound US-421 east from Bristol to Mountain City (known as The Snake). I see no point in paying for the privilege of using the interstate through WV, I hate fighting traffic while towing, and there's so few places to stop.
Overall boat, motor, trailer, fuel, and associated accessories is 2600-2800 lbs. Vehicle had passengers (just me and dog) total 300lbs and gear 600lbs. Northbound trip the cargo was closer to 1200lbs.
Going downhill was never a problem, even without trailer brakes. I generally shift to S5 at the top of the hill 10mph below my desired speed and let the truck have a break and gravity can do the rest. Any time I was gathering too much speed, downshift to 4 and long-pump the brakes a few times and it would be reasonable again even on long 7-8% grades.
Going uphill was a different matter. On flat/hilly terrain, I generally drive in S4 around 65-70mph. Going up any hill more than 1/4mi long I'd lose speed and have to downshift, but that's not unexpected. If I could keep more than 3500rpm the truck would hold 60-65mph in 3rd gear. Anything less, even 100rpm and it would just slowly drop off. There were a couple grades where the only way to save speed was to dump to 2nd gear and watch 0.0mpg come up with more than 4500rpm just to keep it above 45mph. I was doing better than the tractor trailers, but it was obvious that the truck was straining.
I did try turning the A/C off for a few hills and didn't notice a difference. Being it was 88F and 85+% humidity with a dog that likes to cast her bad breath on me when she gets hot, I decided it was pretty important to leave on. I do notice a power difference as a daily driver with the A/C off, although that is probably a combination of both lighter load and cooler air (I always run the A/C above 75F outside).
The Snake. Primarily winding low speed turns and switchbacks. It's impossible to exceed 40mph for more than an instant, even without the trailer. The truck did just fine here in S2, only downshifting to first gear once or twice when the low speed and incline really warranted it.
I've come to realize the power band in the 4.0 is just too high for my liking. The vehicle by itself is fine, but as a towing platform it certainly has limitations. Being that I tow this load & route about once a year, I can live with it knowing that it will take a while and be some work. It does make me wish I'd considered the 4.6L V8 of the GX460 a little harder. I drove dad's 2006 Tundra with the 2UZ-FE 4.7L V8 and that thing is smooth. While I didn't get to use it to pull my boat up the same roads which were giving my boat trouble, I can tell you it would certainly handle them more easily. "There's no replacement for displacement." It has caused me to recently consider the idea of selling the 4Runner and looking for a slightly older GX460 or LC, but I want neither the fancy electronics of the Lexus or bigger size of the LC. I might have to consider going back to a 4th Gen 4Runner instead (same engine as dad's Tundra).
One thing I failed to consider was that fuel would make a difference. I was running BP 87 octane 10% ethanol crap while southbound. Northbound was unknown brand 90 octane 100% gasoline. Between the two, obviously the latter did better on both power and fuel economy. There were less downshifts to 2nd and I had better range while northbound. Average mpg southbound was 11.8, northbound was 12.3. I just wish I could find a reliable source of ethanol free at home (damn Ohio corn farmers). In general the elevation change was primarily uphill on southbound, ~1100MSL origin to ~2300MSL at destination. So the northbound trip was overall more downhill, but I doubt that makes as much of a difference as the fuel.
This is from right after doing The Snake
A couple weeks ago I hauled my 18' bass boat down to northeastern Tennessee. I learned while the 4.0 V6 is fine for that weight and more on flat land, it is barely sufficient in the mountains.
My route from Columbus OH was via US-23 south to Norton VA, US-58 Alt east to Abingdon VA, US-58 east to Damascus VA then SR-91 south to Mountain City TN. I took the same route to return. While down there a pressing need for boat repairs, I also had to drive it from where I was staying up to Bristol TN, and then wound US-421 east from Bristol to Mountain City (known as The Snake). I see no point in paying for the privilege of using the interstate through WV, I hate fighting traffic while towing, and there's so few places to stop.
Overall boat, motor, trailer, fuel, and associated accessories is 2600-2800 lbs. Vehicle had passengers (just me and dog) total 300lbs and gear 600lbs. Northbound trip the cargo was closer to 1200lbs.
Going downhill was never a problem, even without trailer brakes. I generally shift to S5 at the top of the hill 10mph below my desired speed and let the truck have a break and gravity can do the rest. Any time I was gathering too much speed, downshift to 4 and long-pump the brakes a few times and it would be reasonable again even on long 7-8% grades.
Going uphill was a different matter. On flat/hilly terrain, I generally drive in S4 around 65-70mph. Going up any hill more than 1/4mi long I'd lose speed and have to downshift, but that's not unexpected. If I could keep more than 3500rpm the truck would hold 60-65mph in 3rd gear. Anything less, even 100rpm and it would just slowly drop off. There were a couple grades where the only way to save speed was to dump to 2nd gear and watch 0.0mpg come up with more than 4500rpm just to keep it above 45mph. I was doing better than the tractor trailers, but it was obvious that the truck was straining.
I did try turning the A/C off for a few hills and didn't notice a difference. Being it was 88F and 85+% humidity with a dog that likes to cast her bad breath on me when she gets hot, I decided it was pretty important to leave on. I do notice a power difference as a daily driver with the A/C off, although that is probably a combination of both lighter load and cooler air (I always run the A/C above 75F outside).
The Snake. Primarily winding low speed turns and switchbacks. It's impossible to exceed 40mph for more than an instant, even without the trailer. The truck did just fine here in S2, only downshifting to first gear once or twice when the low speed and incline really warranted it.
Wikipedia 1GR-FE said:
I've come to realize the power band in the 4.0 is just too high for my liking. The vehicle by itself is fine, but as a towing platform it certainly has limitations. Being that I tow this load & route about once a year, I can live with it knowing that it will take a while and be some work. It does make me wish I'd considered the 4.6L V8 of the GX460 a little harder. I drove dad's 2006 Tundra with the 2UZ-FE 4.7L V8 and that thing is smooth. While I didn't get to use it to pull my boat up the same roads which were giving my boat trouble, I can tell you it would certainly handle them more easily. "There's no replacement for displacement." It has caused me to recently consider the idea of selling the 4Runner and looking for a slightly older GX460 or LC, but I want neither the fancy electronics of the Lexus or bigger size of the LC. I might have to consider going back to a 4th Gen 4Runner instead (same engine as dad's Tundra).
One thing I failed to consider was that fuel would make a difference. I was running BP 87 octane 10% ethanol crap while southbound. Northbound was unknown brand 90 octane 100% gasoline. Between the two, obviously the latter did better on both power and fuel economy. There were less downshifts to 2nd and I had better range while northbound. Average mpg southbound was 11.8, northbound was 12.3. I just wish I could find a reliable source of ethanol free at home (damn Ohio corn farmers). In general the elevation change was primarily uphill on southbound, ~1100MSL origin to ~2300MSL at destination. So the northbound trip was overall more downhill, but I doubt that makes as much of a difference as the fuel.
This is from right after doing The Snake
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wadle5
New member
Don't know if they are that far east, but for that reason alone I only run Casey's premium with 0 ethanol...and I'm from THE corniest state in the midwest.
I run it in all of our cars and my wife has been trained to do this as well haha. On average I get about 40-60 miles more out of tank as compared to using the garbage ethanol blended fuel.
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sbronemann
New member
Is it really worth the extra 25% more in cost? Just don't see how it's worth it. I consistently get 19.5-20.5 MPG with up to 15% ethanol blend. Used the 87 without ethanol and didn't see any improvement.
salong53
New member
To correct one error, the 4.0-liter V-6 engine with intelligent Variable Valve Timing (VVT-i) that can develop 201 kW (270 bhp) and 377 N·m (278 ft·lb) of torque in the 5th gens.
Even still I agree, the power band in these trucks is too high, even for interstate driving without a trailer. They could really benefit from the GX460 driveline, or at the minimum a better calibrated transmission with a 6th gear. These trucks will pull the weight, but it requires a driver who isn't afraid to press the skinny pedal and plan to refuel every 250 miles.
Jetboy
New member
Where I live the ethanol free is typically priced somewhere around mid grade gas and is usually lower than premium. Must be state tax differences that add that extra cost. I've also found no measurable difference. In theory it would make about a 5% difference in energy per gallon at 15%. So at the mid grade price it's probably about a wash on dollars per mile calculation.
CatahoulaManiac
New member
I tow in S4.
6x12 utility trailer with a rzr on it is all it's hauled, it pulls fine, but stopping sucks.
I'm going to add trailer brakes, which I never thought I'd need for pulling ~3K pounds.
6x12 utility trailer with a rzr on it is all it's hauled, it pulls fine, but stopping sucks.
I'm going to add trailer brakes, which I never thought I'd need for pulling ~3K pounds.
wadle5
New member
Extra 10 cents a gallon for an extra 50 miles plus the manual states if you ever develop an engine tick to switch to premium. So why not pay a little extra for range and overall better fuel for your motor ?
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Friggin Idiot
Senior Member
Not this far east. I miss Sinclair from Oklahoma. By the time I left even QuikTrip had Ethanol-free pumps. There is nothing in the city limits of Columbus I can find. The closest are some marinas on the outskirts selling at ridiculous prices for boats.
It's not just a cost/mpg thing. Ethanol free provides better power, range, and without the worry of decomposition to water, or drying out your rubber fittings. Having worked with a mechanic some, I can tell you long term it will eventually rot the rubber parts of the fuel system until they crumble like stale saltines. Once one piece of rubber hits that point, you might as well replace all the rubber, because it's just an eventuality. Prior to bigger tires and mods, 100% was getting me about 400 miles to a tank at 87 octane. Swap out for 10% corn and funny how the range never broke 330 miles to a tank. Now with 10% crap and all my mods, I'm running about 310 per tank, all mixed driving. It wasn't unheard of running 430 miles with 100% ethanol all highway provided I wasn't driving toward Texas at the time (Oklahoma sucks, but Texas blows).
Thanks for the correction, I was paying attention to torque numbers and missed the Single VVT-i vs Dual VVT-i HP number.
sbronemann
New member
In my experience.....the ethanol free does nothing for performance and/or mileage difference. Regular 87 gas with 10% ethanol is $2.059 currently. 87 with no ethanol is $2.559 or right at a 25% increase in price. So unless you are seeing a 25% increase in MPG(which there is no way), it just doesn't make any sense to not run non-ethanol gas. I had a 2011 F-150 that was flex fuel a few years ago where you could run E-85 and man was it fun. Gas mileage was absolutely horrible with E-85 but man did that 5.0 run hard with E-85! Really wish I'd still had that truck!
josefmd
New member
Just got back from pulling our boat down to Norris Lake, TN. It did great. Avg around 16 MPG. The boat weighs 2900 with the trailer, another 100 lbs of gas in boat, and a few hundred pds of luggage. The 4R was a lot smoother then the 17 Taco Pro it replaced while towing. The tranny was a night and day difference. I have to say pulling a bigger boat(non jet) would be pushing it.
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Looks like a good thread to add my towing experience.
Uhaul 6x12, fully loaded with household goods, 1000 mile trip and flat ground, all highway. The 4r was loaded down also.
Towed great, better than expected, no tail wag the dog or trailer pushing the 4r. Braked good and acceleration was what was expected. handling was awesome and despite the complaints about power, it did maintain speed just fine and accelerated to safe speeds for highway merging (again, just the east coast, no real hills).
So, for the infrequent tow, it does well, but I think if to tow that much weight all the time, something in a higher tow class would be better.
I use to tow a lot but had an F350, so it was a different game with the 4r.
All in all, completely satisfied with the 4r.
Uhaul 6x12, fully loaded with household goods, 1000 mile trip and flat ground, all highway. The 4r was loaded down also.
Towed great, better than expected, no tail wag the dog or trailer pushing the 4r. Braked good and acceleration was what was expected. handling was awesome and despite the complaints about power, it did maintain speed just fine and accelerated to safe speeds for highway merging (again, just the east coast, no real hills).
So, for the infrequent tow, it does well, but I think if to tow that much weight all the time, something in a higher tow class would be better.
I use to tow a lot but had an F350, so it was a different game with the 4r.
All in all, completely satisfied with the 4r.
skratchd
New member
The TRD Tacoma Sport doesn't have the rear locker. That is the only thing I miss on my SR5!
Update on late post(page 15-16)
Hi guys,
So I did a switch on my gas for 91 octane for my towing rig. We did a trip on straight line and the engine kept it's revs steady. For me it was a huge change on performance. Last time my Rv trailer weighted 4200 pounds lightweght. Fully loaded, i guess it's about 5000-ish pounds.
Anyways, I did a trip on labor day for 9 days on heavy up and down hills and it's always going for the 2nd and even 1rst gear to finish the climbing. I think got the maximum of my 4runner right there. Also, when towing, i put my rear tires at least at 45 psi so the MPG doesn't hurt that much. Here is a tax picture near the ocean
:hatsoff:
Hi guys,
So I did a switch on my gas for 91 octane for my towing rig. We did a trip on straight line and the engine kept it's revs steady. For me it was a huge change on performance. Last time my Rv trailer weighted 4200 pounds lightweght. Fully loaded, i guess it's about 5000-ish pounds.
Anyways, I did a trip on labor day for 9 days on heavy up and down hills and it's always going for the 2nd and even 1rst gear to finish the climbing. I think got the maximum of my 4runner right there. Also, when towing, i put my rear tires at least at 45 psi so the MPG doesn't hurt that much. Here is a tax picture near the ocean
:hatsoff:
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sbronemann
New member
Well I traded off my Mazda CX-5 to a 2017 F-150 5.0. So the 4Runner is no longer my main tow vehicle. It is now strictly the family/wife's vehicle. The F-150 and the 5.0 coyote is much better suited for towing duty(even know I only tow about 3000 lbs 3-4x a week for lawn mowing). If only the 4Runner had a V8 option it would be the perfect vehicle(I still love driving, love the looks, not knocking it, just reality).
e60ral
Banned
You want to permanently change your mirrors for the occasional times you tow?
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