Towing with 5th Gen?

[G8RB8_12SR5]

The 4Runner does just fine pulling a 3500-5000 lb trailer - a few times a year. More than that? No. Buy something made to tow. The 4Runner is many things but not a dedicated tow vehicle.

Oh, I tow this weight range a half dozen times a year. It works. A diesel 2500 series Chevy or Ford would work much better and no, that's not overkill.

I can neither confirm nor deny I may quote you to my wife to justify a F250 diesel over an F150 Eco boost lol. I've been tossing the idea back and forth between the two since they're 3" difference length wise but one can tow a ton more weight (literally) just wondering about mpg on the daily commute when not towing (150 gets roughly 22 250 gets 14 which is a big difference even with diesel cheaper). Decisions decisions the saga continues.

EDIT: Also depends on the size boat she wants.

 

[Jetboy]

I can neither confirm nor deny I may quote you to my wife to justify a F250 diesel over an F150 Eco boost lol. I've been tossing the idea back and forth between the two since they're 3" difference length wise but one can tow a ton more weight (literally) just wondering about mpg on the daily commute when not towing (150 gets roughly 22 250 gets 14 which is a big difference even with diesel cheaper). Decisions decisions the saga continues.

EDIT: Also depends on the size boat she wants.

Everything I've been told by F150 ecoboost owners is that they don't get anywhere close to the advertised mpg. My brother has an '14 F250 crew cab diesel and gets about 16ish mpg, but diesel is more expensive fuel.

The best way I know of to think about it is that we're all looking for the best mpg under high and low load. Some engines are normally aspirated and vary with really high rpms. Some vary rpms and displacement with turbos or atkinson cycle or bypassing a few cylinders. Both the ecoboost and powerstroke make about the same power. The difference is that the diesel makes high power more efficiently while the f150 makes low power more efficiently. So which one are you doing the most? Towing more miles or more city driving. That would guide my choice to a large extent. I think either truck will tow pretty well.

I would also take a good look at resale value between the two and figure out the lifetime ownership costs between them. I suspect it's not a terribly hard case to make for the 250 other than the ride quality and such that is a lot nicer in the f150.

 

[meltdown]

During hunting season, I regularly tow a Kawasaki Teryx 4 on an 6x14 single axle trailer. It's about a 200 mile round trip to the camp. The terrain is both hilly and flat. Utv has a windshield and roof. Total weight is about 3000 lbs. I averaged about 13 mpg. With the same load, my dad gets 11mpg with his ecoboost f150.

My last truck was a 2500 Dodge diesel. I towed some big loads with it. 32' 10,000 lbs. travel trailer; 17000 lbs excavator; bulldozer; tractors; hay. You get the picture. I'm also very OCD about how my trailers are loaded.

Bottom line is I am impressed with how well the 4runner tows this load and completely unimpressed with Ford's ecoboost.

 

[G8RB8_12SR5]

Everything I've been told by F150 ecoboost owners is that they don't get anywhere close to the advertised mpg. My brother has an '14 F250 crew cab diesel and gets about 16ish mpg, but diesel is more expensive fuel.

The best way I know of to think about it is that we're all looking for the best mpg under high and low load. Some engines are normally aspirated and vary with really high rpms. Some vary rpms and displacement with turbos or atkinson cycle or bypassing a few cylinders. Both the ecoboost and powerstroke make about the same power. The difference is that the diesel makes high power more efficiently while the f150 makes low power more efficiently. So which one are you doing the most? Towing more miles or more city driving. That would guide my choice to a large extent. I think either truck will tow pretty well.

I would also take a good look at resale value between the two and figure out the lifetime ownership costs between them. I suspect it's not a terribly hard case to make for the 250 other than the ride quality and such that is a lot nicer in the f150.

Yeah, that's why I said 22 vs the ford advertised 25 (which was about what I got with the 4R on the highway before lift and tires, now I get 20.5 tops on the highway). On the west coast (bay area, San Diego and Seattle) diesel has been cheaper than gasoline by 25 cents a gallon or more the last couple months. I will probably tow a couple days a month so the city driving and higher mileage at low power will probably benefit me more, plus the ride quality and the niceties they put in the F150 suit my tastes more (and F250 short bed crew cabs are harder to come by, though I'm sure I can find more than I have found locally).

But I digress.. just towed my RV to storage yesterday and actually went the smoothest of the 6 times I've done. Finally got the weight distribution hitch set perfectly.

 

[fishnchips]

Braking while Towing - 5th Gen SR5 w/TRD wheels

2017 4runner feels a little underpowered pulling fully loaded boat/trailer of 3,750-4,000lbs, but totally doable in flat Florida. The issue is the braking. The trailer does not have brakes, and the 4 runner's braking seems soft and requires a very long braking distance.

Is there any upgrade I can do to the truck to improve the braking?

If not, I will likely look to add brakes to the trailer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[meltdown]

2017 4runner feels a little underpowered pulling fully loaded boat/trailer of 3,750-4,000lbs, but totally doable in flat Florida. The issue is the braking. The trailer does not have brakes, and the 4 runner's braking seems soft and requires a very long braking distance.

Is there any upgrade I can do to the truck to improve the braking?

If not, I will likely look to add brakes to the trailer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Greg

Toyota recommends that any trailer that weighs 2500 lbs or more have trailer breaks.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

You'd be surprised at how much a Ranger 520/521 Dual console fully rigged weighs.
Hull 1800 plus
5 batteries 200 plus
36v Trolling motor 60 plus
50+ Gallons of gas 300 plus
Fishing tackle/gear 100 plus
Tandem axle trailer+spares 1400 plus
Power poles 120 plus

Give or take a couple #'s

You forgot to add like 600 lbs for the engine.

I sometimes tow my Clackacraft Eddy drift boat with my wife’s 4Runner, but the boat is a legit 450 lbs, plus anchor and the trailer. I have a Ranger Bass and tow that with the diesel Suburban. Same with the Conch27 I have: diesel Suburban.