Towing Rating
- Thread starter jclark
- Start date
SteveM
New member
Yes, very weird. I just went and looked again and the structural portion of the bumper is an integral part of the frame. The receiver is very stoutly attached to the bumper/frame. I have no doubt it will tow our little tent trailer.
I had been towing this trailer with an Astro van and I was using a weight distributing hitch because the van handled poorly with the 220 pound tongue weight (10%). The weight distributing hitch made that rig tow really nicely.
I had been towing this trailer with an Astro van and I was using a weight distributing hitch because the van handled poorly with the 220 pound tongue weight (10%). The weight distributing hitch made that rig tow really nicely.
As JClark had mentioned, the hitch on my 04 V8 and all others I have seen here in Canada in now way resemble my hitch. Mine appears to be located closer to the notch in the bumper, and seem to mount on a crossmember that is immediatly in front of the bumper. The hitch that Mshrake has appears more substantial than the unit installed in the Canadian models that I have seen 
bluewolf
New member
TechWrench said:
I'm not sure I know what this WD hitch is that you all are refering to, but I do know that Toyota is currently installing the SAME hitch on every tow-equipped '04 V8 4runner. I was very persistant about getting someone to answer this question when we purchased the vehicle (I wanted the best available tow package) and the Toyota tech supposedly verified it with the factory. His words were, and I quote:
"If it's a V8 4Runner and it came from the factory with a hitch-receiver, it's got THE towing package offered by Toyota, which includes a transmission and oil cooler, and is rated for 7000 lbs."
Incidentally, the gear-ratio does not change throughout the 4Runner line (no lower gearing for vehicles with towing capacity).
Dunno about Canadian models, although it seems odd that they would be excluded. Dunno about 03 models either, or what was previously offered 'cause it didn't apply to me.
TechWrench
Senior Member
Wai said:Guys, WD hitch does NOT come from Toyota. It's a device that you add on the tongue of the trailer that you're towing, or some are installed to the tow vehicle by an aftermarket installer.
You wouldn't want a WD hitch coming from the factory, because that thing looks ugly and takes up a lot of room in the back.
I've towed over 1000 miles last month to different tracks with my 4Runner. I have no WD hitch and the total trailer weight was approximately 4000 lbs. It towed great.
I went back and checked some old threads and the Toyota site, and in April '03 Toyota upgraded all V8 4Runners (US) to what they call a weight distributing hitch with an increased capacity rating. I have seen photos of the new hitch and it is very different from the one I have on my '03 V6. You can also check the Toyota site and check the specifications sheets for the '04. They specifically make the distinction between the the two types of hitches. They call one a weight-carrying and the other a weight-distributing.
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Wai
New member
TechWrench said:
I seem not to be able to find the info that you mentioned. My 4Runner was made prior to the April 03 date and my user manual stated a towing capacity EXACTLY the same as the newer 4Runners (highest 7000 lbs for V8 4wd).
This is how a WD hitch look like. I really don't see how it could be equipped from the factory:
As Wai said, the WD hitch does not come from toyota. The 4runner comes with a receiver capably of carrying 7000lb when equiped with a weight distrubuting hitch (as illustrated in the picture from the last post). If you dont have a weight distributing hitch, then you it's termed "Weight carrying".
SteveM
New member
I suspect that the smaller hitch receiver assembly found on the earlier 4Runners is not suitable for a weight distributing hitch because of the shallow depth of the receiver (due to spare tire interference).
I know I wouldn't want to cut down my WD draw bar assembly to make it fit the receiver on my 4Runner.
Toyota probably can't say that the shallower receiver is capable of mounting a WD hitch.
OK - I went and RTFM.
My manual states that the max trailer weight is 5000 pounds (this is on a 2WD V-8). Additionally, it states the following:
"Use only a weight carrying hitch designed for the total trailer weight. Toyota does not recommend using a weight distribution (load equalizing) hitch. "
The manual makes no distinction between 2WD, 4WD, or V-6 and V-8 in the towing section. I suspect Toyota got themselves in trouble with that early hitch receiver design and then made a midyear change.
edit: I agree that the WD distinction is determined by the thing you plug into the receiver. I have a WD hitch from my previous vehicle and they really tow nicely.
I know I wouldn't want to cut down my WD draw bar assembly to make it fit the receiver on my 4Runner.
Toyota probably can't say that the shallower receiver is capable of mounting a WD hitch.
OK - I went and RTFM.
My manual states that the max trailer weight is 5000 pounds (this is on a 2WD V-8). Additionally, it states the following:
"Use only a weight carrying hitch designed for the total trailer weight. Toyota does not recommend using a weight distribution (load equalizing) hitch. "
The manual makes no distinction between 2WD, 4WD, or V-6 and V-8 in the towing section. I suspect Toyota got themselves in trouble with that early hitch receiver design and then made a midyear change.
edit: I agree that the WD distinction is determined by the thing you plug into the receiver. I have a WD hitch from my previous vehicle and they really tow nicely.
TechWrench
Senior Member
Wai said:
Here is the link to the Toyota site I mentioned. Unless they, or I am confused, they call the hitch on the V8 a weight-distributing unit.
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2004/4runner/specs.html
And I will try to find the specific thread about the hitch change on the '03 V8s and post it.
SteveM
New member
TechWrench said:
That table is confusing in the way the tow ratings are described. What it is trying to say is that the max tow rating is 7,000 pounds when you use a weight distributing hitch. If you use the hitch receiver without a weight distributing hitch, the max tow rating will be less. Most other manufactuers show both ratings, plus it is usually called out on a sticker on the hitch receiver itself.
(i.e. the sticker will give the max tow rating when used with a weight-distributing hitch, and a lower rating for weight-carrying hitches)
See those two bars in the photos of the hitch? When installed, they are under tension and convert some of the tongue weight to an upward force on the vehicle, thereby balancing the tow vehicle much better than if the entire tongue weight is acting downward.
Wai
New member
TechWrench said:
Thanks for the link. I read thru the "Capacity" section and clicked on the little "7" after the "Towing Capacity" title.
It has the following disclaimer:
Before towing, confirm your vehicle and trailer are compatible, hooked up properly and you have all necessary additional equipment. Do not exceed any Weight Ratings and review all instructions and cautions from your trailer hitch manufacturer and Toyota vehicle Owner's Manual. Note that the maximum amount you can tow depends on the total weight of any cargo, occupants and available equipment in the vehicle.
I put the important part in bold. When it says *additional equipment*, I'm sure it means a WD hitch or the like.
Wai
New member
mshrake said:
Not exactly.
When a WD hitch is used, part of the tongue load would be transferred to the front wheels, so the rear suspension won't squad as much.
However, when you get rid of the squad thru raising the rear height (increasing pressure in the air bladders), you make the suspension stiffer but the load would still be concentrated in the rear.
The ride and tow quality would be different even though they might "look" the same.
TechWrench
Senior Member
Wai said:
Considering the history of the occasional poor translation in the manuals, I can see that they may have meant a separate weight distributing hitch would be needed to acheive the tow ratings they list. Forgive my confusion.
As for the change made during the '03 V8 production run, I was only able to find this link on the Yotatech site.
http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?t=9219&highlight=hitch
bluewolf
New member
jclark said:
This is a contradictory statement ....I need to find the original quote. I was confused as to what you guys were refering to before (WD hitch supplied by Toyota) but I think I understand now. Please correct me if I'm wrong:
You have two main components, receiver & hitch. Refering to the RECEIVER, weight distributing (WD) is any receiver which bolts securely to the frame. Obviously this would be requirement #1 when combined with a WD HITCH apparatus, which forces weight UPWARD on back of the vehicle's frame, thereby distributing weight DOWNWARD on the front of the frame (weight equalization). If you do NOT have a frame-mounted receiver, I can certainly see why Toyota would recommend against using a WD hitch, because the "prying" action would break whatever the receiver is connected to. Perhaps someone can describe what the previous '03 receiver is mounted to. If it's mounted to the frame, perhaps is was not attached sufficiently in Toyota's mind, causing breakage at the attachment point if a WD hitch is used.
The only other reason Toyota might recommend against using a WD hitch would be if they thought the integrety of the frame was not strong-enough to take the pressure. I just can't believe this would be true. If so, they have would NOT have put a 7000 lb tow rating on this vehicle. That would be absurdly unsafe, and irresponsible!
IMO, at 4500 lbs, this vehicle is far too light to safely tow nearly twice its weight. A weight-distributing hitch should be MANDATORY for towing anything over 4000 lbs, otherwise your trailer will be moving the ass-end of your vehicle all over the place.
bluewolf, I agree it is hazzardous to anyones health to tow over 4000 lbs without a WD hitch. In alberta I believe it is illegal to tow without it at that weight. I have gotten two quotes for WD hitch assemblies for the 4 runner v8, so it has to be supported or you would not be able to buy them.
bluewolf
New member
SteveM said:
I didn't see this post earlier. If this is the type of reciever that came standard on the 03 models I can completely understand why Toyota wouldn't recomment a WD hitch.
SteveM, you can get a good aftermarket receiver which will bolt-up to the frame for $200.00. EZlift makes a good one, I've got one on my Toyota pickup.
This is one Reese offers. It looks nice too.
http://search.cartserver.com/search...eywords=2004&keywords_2=Toyota+4Runner&GO=GO!
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