Towing with a V6 '05 Sport 4x4.

[dingo]

Can you please post some pics of the install? I was also thinking of changing the hitch out while I was underneath the truck last night. I'm trying to determine where the new hitch would mount with relation to the existing mounting points. I also noticed and unused threaded hole on the right whereas the left was used for the existing tow hook. I guess it's time to use my impact wrench. Great thread btw! Good info.

 

[DoTheMath]

Well, I didn't take any pics along the way, but... there was no drilling required for the hitch at all. You do need to remove your mud flaps and the entire rear / side bumper assembly to get to the bolts for removal and replacement. But once you do that - you're good-to-go! Just be sure to get the HH #70411 - I got mine here: http://www.usa-trailer-hitches.com/index.htm and it offers the most capacity of any hitch out here, 7,500 lbs with a WD set up, (which I also bought there). You'll also remove that tie down eye, and I reinstalled it using the same holes for the hitch mount. If you do a search on this site, you can find the removal instructions for the bumper, it sounds daunting but it is easy! All-in-all it took me about 3 hours from "drive in to drive out" of the garage, and that was with a creeper and all the right tools.

 

[jimsi]

What about the Canadian version v8

Does anyone know if the Canadian v8 sport has the 'beefed' up hitch or the standard 5000l version? Toyota.ca has the v8 listed at 5000lb and not 7200 as on toyota.com...I also like to know if I have a tranny cooler or not in my Canadian v8 sport.

Thanks
Jim

 

[spud72]

Re: What about the Canadian version v8

Does anyone know if the Canadian v8 sport has the 'beefed' up hitch or the standard 5000l version? Toyota.ca has the v8 listed at 5000lb and not 7200 as on toyota.com...I also like to know if I have a tranny cooler or not in my Canadian v8 sport.

Thanks
Jim

Can't help with the hitch, but supposedly every Canadian 4Runner comes with a tranny cooler. V6 or V8.

 

[Uneek]

Re: What about the Canadian version v8

Does anyone know if the Canadian v8 sport has the 'beefed' up hitch or the standard 5000l version? Toyota.ca has the v8 listed at 5000lb and not 7200 as on toyota.com...I also like to know if I have a tranny cooler or not in my Canadian v8 sport.

Thanks
Jim

The "beefed up" is the weight distributing hitch as it's called on US spec V8 4Runners, good for 7000lbs. The weight carrying hitch is the smaller V6 hitch on US spec 4Runners, good for 5000lbs.

The weight distributing hitch (V8) is easy to tell. It's a tubular hitch, so the tube is visible under the rear bumper and it attaches to the frame rails (that run the length of the truck) and the rear cross member.

The weight carrying hitch (V6) is a small hitch and it attaches to the rear cross member. There is nothing else under the rear bumper other than the square receiver opening.

 

[jimsi]

I guess in north we don't tow much

Just checked and it's not a tubular style hitch...looks like Toyota Canada feels that Canadian's don't tow heavy trailers with the 4.7l....I guess snowmobiles weigh less than stock cars

Or it's another way to cut costs but still charge us more for less for the same vech [end of rant]

 

[Baba Booey]

Re: I guess in north we don't tow much

Just checked and it's not a tubular style hitch...looks like Toyota Canada feels that Canadian's don't tow heavy trailers with the 4.7l....I guess snowmobiles weigh less than stock cars

Or it's another way to cut costs but still charge us more for less for the same vech [end of rant]

Maybe the Canadian government has stricter laws regarding the towing capacity of vehicles. Perhaps the 4Runner does not meet some type of standard in order to be able to tow more than 5,000 lbs. in Canada, like length of wheelbase or GVWR or something.

I have no idea if this is the case, but there may be reasons why Toyota limits the towing capacity of the V8s in Canada.

 

[c12ashhh]

You can upgrade a V6 with a weight distributing hitch (same on the V8) and add a tranny cooler (same on the V8) to tow up to 6700 lbs. This is written up several times in Toyota's literature, although they don't push this because the V8 is better to tow this extra weight.

Where in the manual does it state this? I have an '04 V6 Sport 4x4 and I don't see any mention of this in the user's manual. Is this piece of info for certain?

 

[jsn]

Where in the manual does it state this? I have an '04 V6 Sport 4x4 and I don't see any mention of this in the user's manual. Is this piece of info for certain?

That is a good point.. I just took it has truth and went with it.

PS took my 4500 lb trailer out last weekend.. 6v pulled it great!

 

[Tucson T4R]

I tow an offroad King Kamper trailer that weighs about 2500 LBS fully loaded. Being towed on back road rugged conditions, I can't use a WDH, I need the full articulation that the Treg hitch has allowing the trailer to roll out of sync with the tow vehicle.

You asked back near the begining of this thread if anyone uses air assisted rear suspension. I recently installed Airlift air bags inside my rear coil springs. I air them up to about 25lbs when towing and air them back down to 5lbs for unloaded travel. So far they have been working great and they do an excellent job leveling the 4Runner with the added tow weight.

Some folks have had problems blowing out the air bags when four wheeling but so far mine have been fine. :bigok:

 

[boston_kevin]

Where in the manual does it state this? I have an '04 V6 Sport 4x4 and I don't see any mention of this in the user's manual. Is this piece of info for certain?

This is not posted in the owners manual but this is straight from Toyota. You can find it on their web site or contact Toyota directly. BTW, I already added this hitch (via Toyota dealer) to my vehicle. My dealer installed it since it was too blasted cold to get under the truck in the snow.

 

[jsn]

This is not posted in the owners manual but this is straight from Toyota. You can find it on their web site or contact Toyota directly. BTW, I already added this hitch (via Toyota dealer) to my vehicle. My dealer installed it since it was too blasted cold to get under the truck in the snow.

thanks!!!

 

[JungleJim]

This is not posted in the owners manual but this is straight from Toyota. You can find it on their web site or contact Toyota directly. BTW, I already added this hitch (via Toyota dealer) to my vehicle. My dealer installed it since it was too blasted cold to get under the truck in the snow.

I can not find it anywhere on the Toyota Web site. Do you have a link?

Another member contacted Toyota concerning adding a transmission cooler to his V6. Toyota's response was that adding one would void the warranty on the transmission, regardless if was OEM Toyota or not.

 

[DoTheMath]

I can not find it anywhere on the Toyota Web site. Do you have a link?

Another member contacted Toyota concerning adding a transmission cooler to his V6. Toyota's response was that adding one would void the warranty on the transmission, regardless if was OEM Toyota or not.

Are you sure about this? I just ordered one (trans. cooler) and would hate to have it put in only to find out this was / is the case!?

 

[gizmopt2002]

Thats complete and utter bullsh!t. In no way can that void a warranty. It prolongs the life of the trans, and is even recommended by mechanics and such. Now that the V6 and V8 have the same trans, and the V8 has a trans cooler already, it would make no difference. If they denied my warranty because of it then I would go to court to dispute, because thats just stupid. The person you talked to probably didn't know what he was talking about anyways.

 

[JungleJim]

This was posted by TheBlueWave:

What Toyota says about v6 tranny cooler install

I got news back from the Toyota people. The following was cut and pasted from my email.

Response (Jessica C) 01/26/2007 08:17 AM Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize; we do not recommend or assist with modifying our vehicles from their original factory specifications.
Modifications could affect the vehicle

 

[DoTheMath]

This was posted by TheBlueWave:

So, that seems like a "blanket CYA" to me... anyone else? I'll just check with my dealer and if they will install it, that's good enough for me! )

 

[Northof49]

It's pretty simple, if the part causes a failure, it is not covered by warranty. For example, if a line pops off your non-factory installed cooler and fries the tranny = no warranty. If a line pops off the factory installed cooler with the same result = warranty.

 

[TeryT]

According to the Magnum-Fergeson act (sp?), they have to prove the part caused another failure. The burden of proof falls to them.

 

[Koz]

There is a lot of incomplete information here... A stock V6 4th gen is only rated to tow 5000 lbs with the standard receiver.

You can upgrade a V6 with a weight distributing hitch (same on the V8) and add a tranny cooler (same on the V8) to tow up to 6700 lbs. This is written up several times in Toyota's literature, although they don't push this because the V8 is better to tow this extra weight.

That being said, I regularly tow a 4200lb boat and trailer every year behind my V6. I added the tranny cooler (cheap insurance) just to be safe while towing in traffic or if we decide to take the boat to the lake (instead of the ocean). Seeing as you are already close to that 5000 lb limit, I would highly recommend changing that hitch to the WD hitch and adding the tranny cooler (maybe looking around $500+ to do both which is a lot cheaper than tearing out the frame or dropping the boat). General rules of towing state you should have at least 10% cushion between the weight you are towing and the maximum capacity of the vehicle (as it is configued).

:iagree: Good information! Also the Toyota V8 hitch is called a weight dist. hitch because it does just that, it distributes more weight to the front wheels because of the way it is attached to the frame. You may want to add some weight to the front of the trailer to give a better ride. The air bags are cheap and will help if there is sag. The ideal set-up is the OEM rear auto leveling air susp.

Koz