Towing report with the V8 4Runner

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BigK75

New member
Hey Folks:

I thought I would give a quick towing report just in case anyone else is interested in towing with the 4Runner. I towed a Starcraft 19CK fully loaded with stuff (It was my buddies). I had no WDH or sway control. I towed on a two lane highway with trucks constantly passing me by. There was no sway whatsoever and I towed between 55-60mph. I had the upgraded tow hitch and a prodigy brake controller. The 4Runner has ample towing capacity and does a great job towing the 19CK.

I will updated my report once I bring home my Rockwood 23SS trailer.

Thanks,

Claude
 
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Thats correct Peter74. I planning to pick it up in two weeks. I will write up a separate report. I will be towing it home without WDH or sway control so I will not have a full write up until next year when I add WDH and sway control.

However from everything I have read it seems that it is possible to tow the Roo 23SS with the 4Runner. Either way I will give you a report.

Thanks,

Claude
 
The Roo's are pretty nice, but that thing is 4k lbs. dry. That is a lot of weight once you get it loaded up with gear. Good luck and I will be looking for your report on how that bad-bay tows (or maybe pushes?).
 
racedirt1 said:
The Roo's are pretty nice, but that thing is 4k lbs. dry. That is a lot of weight once you get it loaded up with gear. Good luck and I will be looking for your report on how that bad-bay tows (or maybe pushes?).
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This trailer I towed today was 3200lbs dry and it was full of stuff that my buddy uses for day to day camping. So I figure it was closer to 4K. With the prodigy, stopping was a breeze and there was no sway at all.

i will definitely post how it went once I get the Roo home.

Claude
 
BigK75 said:
This trailer I towed today was 3200lbs dry and it was full of stuff that my buddy uses for day to day camping. So I figure it was closer to 4K. With the prodigy, stopping was a breeze and there was no sway at all.

i will definitely post how it went once I get the Roo home.

Claude
Click to expand...

Whatever happened to the report?
 
Not sure if this is going to help anyone, but I just towed my 21ft SeaRay with my 06 V8. The boat is about 3,700 dry. With fuel, toys, coolers, I figure about 4,400. Shoot me, I tow around 65 mph but pushed to see what it would feel like. 75 mph was not an issue, no sway, 4Runner was not working hard at all. My MPG reader was at 15.8, normally it's about 17.8. Off the line, of course you know the boat is there, but it pulls strong. The trailer is a tandem axle if that factors in for anyone. I did not use OD either. The only annoying thing was not the 4Runners fault. The way our freeways are cut here in Vegas it makes it feel like you are humping the road.

My 4Runner does have the Daystar lift and All Pro spacers. Hope that helps with some choices for people.
 
Hey Mikefos:

I just realized that I forgot to post a report. So I got home from Michigan. This was without WDH and without any sway control. I stayed on my local roads and 90km/h. The 4runner towed it fine without swaying. However like mentioned it was empty. I can say you can actually feel that this trailer is behind you but I did not feel it was unsafe. Once I got it home I took it to the dealer to setup the WDH and sway control. I have not taken it out since. It has been in storage of the winter. I am going to try and take it out this weekend for a run down the freeway. I will let you know. My feeling is that it shouldn't be a problem, but will see.

Claude
 
So I was supposed to repost how the 4runner handled the 2006 Roo 23SS. I have an EAZ-Lift WDH with two sway bars. I can say with confidence that 4runner does great. I usually keep it around 100km/h and I have had no problem. No sway even in strong cross winds. Yes I have to adjust the steering wheel but its no problem. I have now done 600km with this trailer and its been great. I will report after doing a 1000km round trip in July.

If anyone has any other please let me know.

Claude
 
I'll be towing a car and trailer across this grade here next week.
grapevine, ca - Google Maps

Total trailer weight will probably be around 4500-5000#. This next trailer I'll be using won't have any brakes, but my 4r brakes are beefed up, so it likely won't be an issue.

So far with the approximate same load, different car hauler, same car load, same 06 V8 4runner, around town it's been great. You can feel it a bit on acceleration and braking, but it's nothing I can't get used to.
 
Hello all new to forum:
I am looking to haul a trail lite travel trailer 30ft with my 2006 4runner V8. I have trailered many boats with this vehicle but never anything this big.. I am currently searching for the brake controller hook up but having trouble locating. I found the wires in the glove box. guess I'm headed to Toyota.
Has anyone here hauled a trailer of this size with their 4 runners, and what kind of mileage did you get out of her? GVW on the trailer is 6100lbs. Any recommendation's on a brake controller? I have purchased a weight distribution hitch with a sway control.
Thanks for all your help,
Bruce
 
I towed a Jayco Jay Flight 22FB (total length a little over 26') w/ a GVWR of 6K pounds. We were usually loaded up around 5K pounds. That's about as big as I would tow w/ mine (05, v8, factory tow pkg). It really sucked the gas up! About 58-60 mph was its sweet spot on level road. I don't think the vehicle would have lasted long if I kept towing that rig, so I upgraded to a truck as we really like the 4Runner and want to keep it for a long time.

If you have the wiring harness for your car, any quality brake controller will work, and the retailer can usually install it (for a fee I'm sure). We had Tekonsha Primus and it was fine.

Mike
 
woohoo found the coupler
Hoping to get two years of full time traveling out of her. I expect the fuel costs will convince the wife we need a truck... lol
I'm expecting to get about 12-15 mpg out of the 4runner and at 20 gals, I'll be filling up every 240-300 miles, that will drive me nuts.
But as usual I have to buy a vehical that will carry the dogs...3 labs
and trucks are not very dog carrying friendly...
 
fishndaflats said:
woohoo found the coupler
I'm expecting to get about 12-15 mpg out of the 4runner and at 20 gals, I'll be filling up every 240-300 miles, that will drive me nuts.
But as usual I have to buy a vehical that will carry the dogs...3 labs
and trucks are not very dog carrying friendly...
Click to expand...

Good luck w/ that mpg wish, even on flat land ;*) Ours got more like 7-8 mpg on moderately flat Central Texas and coastal Texas trips. We have a 23 gal. tank. The limit we hit was after tongue weight of 650# (I have a tongue scale so I know) and hitch head weight it only left us w/ enough vehicle cargo capacity for me, my wife, little dog, and a kayak on top. Everything else had to go in the trailer, which is not a bad thing but it illustrates the limits of the vehicle. Have fun, but bring your gas card:cheers:

Mike
 
I am looking to haul a trail lite travel trailer 30ft with my 2006 4runner V8
Click to expand...

That's a lot of trailer for a T4R. You may be okay with the weight but you are in for some white knuckle driving with that length. The T4R has a very short wheelbase making sway a big issue. My 20' at 3800lbs sways with the big rigs and gusty winds. Small friction type sway bars won't help much with that length. If you're going to do it you may want to consider finding a used Hensley Arrow hitch (expensive $3k new), bigger truck or smaller trailer.

Either way be safe.
 
I just towed 1800 miles over the last week and a half

I have a bass boat with tandem axles. Towing in 4th gear, I averaged between 11.5 and 12.5 depending on the hills for that tank of gas. My boat is a 20 footer, probably weights 4000 loaded (BassCat Cougar). I had hoped for better mileage, but it is what it is. Most of my driving was on 4 lane limited access, so I probably averaged the speed limit. I did not detect any sway at all, but the bass boat is not a wind sail either. I owned an Excursion in the past, and I can honestly say towing with the 4 runner is not a lot differrent going down the interstate. I do miss the room of the Excursion. And it is much easier to manever the boat with the 4Runner when backing up or turning in parking lots.
 
Thanks for the info, I will see how this whole rig is going to hold up in about a month.
I was towing a 21 ft 5000lb boat around with it and was getting 18 mpg with this t4r at 65mph, with no problem(flat land Florida). I understand there is a difference between 21ft and 30ft but can't be all that different. Maybe I'm in for a shocking moment, but been there before and worked it out to be safe. would never travel 65 with the length of this trailer hoping to get 55 out of her. I'm in no hurry
 
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What kind of weight distribution hitch are you planning to use? We used an Equal-i-zer 1000/10000 and it handled things great. Wind and semi's are always going to move you around somewhat, but anticipating them and experience makes it manageable and you a safer driver. Just keep the speed down, like you said, and think safety at all times.

Mike
 
fishndaflats said:
Thanks for the info, I will see how this whole rig is going to hold up in about a month.
Click to expand...

Please remember to come back and post an update on yoru experiences with it.

I'm hoping that Claude (BigK75) stops in soon and updates us again regarding the 23SS, because this is exactly one that I was considering, but was worried that it still was on the heavier and longer end.

These are the ones I'm considering currently (all Rockwood):

21RS - 3659 UVW / 4930 GVWR
21SS - 3972 UVW / 5243 GVWR
23RS - 3847 UVW / 5718 GVWR
23SS - 4108 UVW / 5979 GVWR

(PS - yes, I know that the UVW is typically 200-300lbs less then actual)

But still looking as I'm not in a hurry to upgrade from my 10" pop-up yet.
 
2007 4runner towing rockwood roo 183

I just upgraded my Coleman , 3000lb fully loaded for a rockwood roo 4600lbs fully loaded.
I towed to Coleman for 4 years with a 2007 v6 4runner with no issues. I towed the roo back from the dealer, 100miles, with propane, battery and some water with no issues and without WD. I've recently upgraded the truck with trans cooler, new hitch and WD.
I don't expect any issues but will keep people posted.
 
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