Towing with the 2005 V6 4Runner

[LV4R]

If you add a trans cooler and the weight distributing hitch the towing capacity goes up to 6700 for the v6. The GCWR goes up to 11000. This is great considering GCWR on the v8 is 12000 so there is only a 1000 pound difference. I think Toyota may be trying to sell more v8's by not offering the v8 tow package on the v6. The v8 would have the power advantage though due to the engine size and be able to pull it better. But if you do not tow frequently and would like to exceed the 5000 mark then you have the option.

Here is a link to the brochure for towing with your Yota.

Towing Guide

 

[charlier180]

Actually, I hope not to have to get close to the 6,700 lbs limit. I own a 1969 Mustang and I plan to tow that around.

I have no clue what the actual weight of the car is but I believe it is somewhere the 3,000 to 3,500 lbs range.

I don't have the trailer yet but I have seen some that weigh about 1,100 to 1,200 lbs.

So I should be somewhere around 4,500 lbs hopefully.

I want to change the hitch because I would really hate to be at the upper end of the 5,000 lbs limit that the V6 hitch has.

Thanks for the input though.

For an open trailer, your figures are fairly accurate. If you have given any thought what-so-ever to getting an enclosed car trailer then you will be much closer to the 6,700 lb limit.

When I was shopping for my 4Runner I knew I was going to buy an enclosed trailer (3,200 lbs, empty). Knowing the weight of the trailer and the vehicles I would be towing in it, made the V8 the clear choice.

BTW, one nice advantage to an enclosed car trailer is that it can act like another garage at home which comes in handy when garage space is at a preminum.

 

[Koz]

If you add a trans cooler and the weight distributing hitch the towing capacity goes up to 6700 for the v6. The GCWR goes up to 11000. This is great considering GCWR on the v8 is 12000 so there is only a 1000 pound difference. I think Toyota may be trying to sell more v8's by not offering the v8 tow package on the v6. The v8 would have the power advantage though due to the engine size and be able to pull it better. But if you do not tow frequently and would like to exceed the 5000 mark then you have the option.

Here is a link to the brochure for towing with your Yota.

Towing Guide

Just because you put a trans cooler and better hitch doesn't mean your tow capacity automatically increases. There is a reason why the V6 has a 5K lb maximum tow rating.

I know the "Towing Guide" you posted seems to be from Toyota but there is problem with the ratings listed for the V8. The V8 4Runner is rated at 7K lbs for the 4wd and 7300 for the 2wd. Something is wrong!

Koz

 

[CVsGX470]

Haven't even bought the new 4Runner yet and here I am asking a couple towing questions...I'm not too excited about the purchase! Naaaaahhhh!
Hey, it struck me odd today: I was going to check Toyota's site to see what they said about towing with the 4runner in general (mostly curious about what they had to say), and specifically whether a weight distributing hitch is even available for the V6. But oddly....I couldn't find a word on the Toyota site about towing. No help, no specs, no information, no reference, no anything.... In fact, they don't even seem to have bothered with a "search" function on the website. That seems really strange to me. Ford has all kinds of information and help about towing on their site... What's up with that do you think? I mean, suppose I wanted to look up something as simple and fundamental as towing weights and hitch weights for my vehicle...does Toyota not even supply it?! Thanks for your input.

I used to tow with my V6 03 with no problems!

 

[charlier180]

Just because you put a trans cooler and better hitch doesn't mean your tow capacity automatically increases. There is a reason why the V6 has a 5K lb maximum tow rating.
Koz

I believe the answer to your concern is actually in the Towing Guide:

"Towing Capacity: Maximum weight the vehicle can tow"
"Exceeding this weight could damage the engine and transmission"

Personally, I would not tow a weight higher than the weight recommended by the manufacturer. Say what you will but I believe that doing so will shorten the life of the engine/transmission. Some automotive engineers I know also have the same opinion.

Towing more than the recommended weight can/will lead to the warranty being voided on the engine/transmssion in the event of a failure. It might also add to one's legal troubles should you have an accident while towing too much weight and the other parties involve sue you. Given our lawsuit happy society, do you really want to take the chance?

 

[boston_kevin]

I believe the answer to your concern is actually in the Towing Guide:

"Towing Capacity: Maximum weight the vehicle can tow"
"Exceeding this weight could damage the engine and transmission"

Personally, I would not tow a weight higher than the weight recommended by the manufacturer. Say what you will but I believe that doing so will shorten the life of the engine/transmission. Some automotive engineers I know also have the same opinion.

This brings up the bigger question then... If this could potentially damage the engine and/or tranny, then the V8 should also be 5000 lbs since they share the same tranny, right? Okay, okay, so the V8 has more horsepower and torque, but does that honestly affect the ability to control the vehicle? Yes it helps in getting on the highway and pulling the load up inclines, but in reality, the V6 and V8 are identical except the engine (especially on the 2WD models), and everyone knows that braking, suspension, and steering have more impact than HP and torque when towing (unless you are in a Dodge Hemi comercial). And, let's not forget that a dealer installed option for the V6 is the Weight Distributing Hitch... So then this would not be a warranty issue, this is a dealer issue and the dealers won't do anything without Toyota's approval, so this becomes a Toyota warrantied change (and yes, I have checked with the dealers in my area, 3 of them in fact, and they will install this hitch on a V6 increasing the tow rating). Pesonally, when I want to tow something heavy I'd rather use a larger vehicle (like my wife's Yukon). I tow my boat with the 4runner and/or the Yukon and the Yukon tows better, more controlled...

 

[Koz]

Most of the towing experts recommend not towing more then 80% of the OEM recommended tow rating. Also on some vehicles they recommend using aftermarket weight distribution and/or sway control devices to tow at/near the maximum tow rating.

Anyone can tow over the rating and not have a problem by being extremely careful but there is always the possibility of experiencing an emergency situation that you can't prevent and you will not be able to safely get through it. When I picked up my PUP I was towing it home being really careful because it was the first time towing this trailer. After about an hour on the road I started to get really comfortable with the trailer, because it only weighs approx 3K, when someone slammed on their brakes right in front of me. I had to hit the brakes as hard as I could to stop in time. To say the least, I had my heart in my mouth. I was expecting to see the trailer come flying by. I had just installed the Prodigy brake controller and it worked GREAT. I could not believe how quickly, straight, and controlled the truck/trailer stopped. It immediately made me think about what would have happened if I was over weight. It also made me think about all the times I had towed without the proper equipment and being over weight, when I was young and dumb, and how LUCKY I was.

Koz

 

[boston_kevin]

I agree with you Koz... 100% That's why I have a trailer brake controller and tranny cooler installed. I think the extra big side mirrors are a personal preference, but everything else when towing is required.

2 years ago I saw some bozo in their Discovery towing a travel trailer down from the White mountains... Apparently they weren't paying attention and when the traffic slowed down quickly the driver slammed on the brakes.. When I made it through the traffic jam this driver created and saw the result, the Discovery had been pushed over the Jersey barrier in the middle of the highway by the trailer (vehicle stopped before the trailer did - obviously no trailer brakes installed) and the Fire trucks were out trying to cut the hitch tongue to let the vehicle down off the barrier so they could tow both of the pieces out of there.

As far as the tow ratings are concerned... There is more to the tow ratings than what is actually on the vehicle... If Toyota marketed the V6 with a 7000 lbs tow rating they could lose some business... People towing 7000 lbs with a V6 would say that the V6 is sluggish, can't accelerate quickly with a load, and really is not a good match - gaining poor media attention. Now with the V8, they can say that the V6 is good to 5000 lbs, but the V8 is better rated for heavier loads due to the ability to accelerate more quickly when towing a load. Also, from a boating perspective, the added torque is nice when removing from the water. Now they have the best of both worlds.... If the only difference between the V6 and the V8 is the engine (which if you add the tranny cooler it is), and they are both equipped with the same hitch, how can one justify a higher tow rating based on HP/Torque alone? Interestingly enough the Tacoma is only rated at 3500 lbs max towing capacity (same as the Rav4)... Why?? It would detract from their Tundra sales most likely... Also, the Sequoia with the VVTI V8 4.7L is rated to tow only 6200 lbs (albeit a heavier vehicle)

 

[JungleJim]

Just because you put a trans cooler and better hitch doesn't mean your tow capacity automatically increases. Koz

Sometimes it does...

When the 03 V8 first came out, it had the same hitch as the V6 and had the same 5000 lbs towing limit. When Toyota began equiping the V8 with the different hitch, the towing limit automatically went up :

 

[supergreff]

Towing with V8

My 2003 TR V8 tows a 4500lbs (loaded probebly close to 6000lbs Rvision 28ft Travel trailer with factory installed hitch plus WD bars.
No problem. We towed all the way to Newfoundland and back last summer (over 10,000 kms) and after a while it was like there was no trailer behind.

 

[LV4R]

I know that everyone has a different opinion about towing but I am simply stating what the manual says for my 2005 v6. There is a section that states that adding the trans cooler and weight distributing hitch increases the towing capacity to 6700lbs. I know that one probably should not go to that limit but I will probably tow a trailer once in a while that will weigh around 6000lbs. I will let everyone know how that goes.

At least I have the manual to back me up in case I do manage to break something

 

[rweddy1]

I just wished my '04 V-6 4Runner would have came with the 5 spd tranny instead of the 4 spd. Toyota owes me one on that ripoff!

I was under the impression that the 4spd is actually stronger than the 5spd. They added a 5th gear but did not increase the overall dimensions of the transmission. This 4 spd is derived for the 93-97 FJ80 tranny that is completely bullet proof.
The final drive ratio is the same for the 4 vs 5spd, but the 5spd does give you a lower first gear.

 

[Koz]

Sometimes it does...

When the 03 V8 first came out, it had the same hitch as the V6 and had the same 5000 lbs towing limit. When Toyota began equiping the V8 with the different hitch, the towing limit automatically went up :

There is always an exception to the rules.

Koz

 

[Koz]

I know that everyone has a different opinion about towing but I am simply stating what the manual says for my 2005 v6. There is a section that states that adding the trans cooler and weight distributing hitch increases the towing capacity to 6700lbs. I know that one probably should not go to that limit but I will probably tow a trailer once in a while that will weigh around 6000lbs. I will let everyone know how that goes.

At least I have the manual to back me up in case I do manage to break something

If the manual has that statement it should be OK. This is the first time I've heard that; you learn something everyday. That's great to know and great for V6 owners.

Koz

 

[charlier180]

I know that everyone has a different opinion about towing but I am simply stating what the manual says for my 2005 v6. There is a section that states that adding the trans cooler and weight distributing hitch increases the towing capacity to 6700lbs. I know that one probably should not go to that limit but I will probably tow a trailer once in a while that will weigh around 6000lbs. I will let everyone know how that goes.

At least I have the manual to back me up in case I do manage to break something

Sounds like the manual has indeed been changed since my '04 came out. In your particular case I would be somewhat concerned towing that much weight with the tires you are running according to your sig. Not much tire for the extra stress towing that much weight will place on them. Just curious, does the tire manufacturer have any warnings about using this size/model tire for heavy towing?

A tire failure when towing can/will have disasterous consequences.

 

[Koz]

Sounds like the manual has indeed been changed since my '04 came out. In your particular case I would be somewhat concerned towing that much weight with the tires you are running according to your sig. Not much tire for the extra stress towing that much weight will place on them. Just curious, does the tire manufacturer have any warnings about using this size/model tire for heavy towing?

A tire failure when towing can/will have disasterous consequences.

The V6 and V8 have the same tires.

Koz

 

[Baba Booey]

The V6 and V8 have the same tires.

Koz

From his signature, it looks like LV4R is running 22" 40s. I need to check my owner's manual for the info about towing with the V6. I was thinking of adding a trans cooler, and my dealer's parts department was clueless when I asked them about it.

If the manual says it's an option to increase the V6 tow rating, I guess a dealer-installed cooler would be covered under warranty, which was my biggest concern about adding one.

 

[boston_kevin]

From his signature, it looks like LV4R is running 22" 40s. I need to check my owner's manual for the info about towing with the V6. I was thinking of adding a trans cooler, and my dealer's parts department was clueless when I asked them about it.

If the manual says it's an option to increase the V6 tow rating, I guess a dealer-installed cooler would be covered under warranty, which was my biggest concern about adding one.

I had my dealer add one in October 2004 after purchasing the vehicle at the end of September 2004 (new '04 V6 SR5). They added the V8 tranny cooler for about $150 including parts and labor (easy to add, I was just too busy to do it). I have the receipt from the service manager also stating it would be covered under warranty. I have not updated my hitch, but there is no reason why you couldn't do that at the same time.

 

[Baba Booey]

Wow! I just got off the phone with my dealer, and they want $347.50 for a "Tacoma" transmission oil cooler. The guy asked me if I needed prices for the lines and other mounting stuff, and I said no, I have heard enough.

I called Partznet, and they want $250.47 for the "V8" 4Runner cooler - again I said don't worry about the lines, etc.

It looks like if I want to add a cooler, I will probably go with a Hayden for about $50 - $60.

Where does Toyota get off charging $350 for a $50 part?

 

[boston_kevin]

Dealers will almost always overcharge for parts... I got mine so cheap because I added it in as part of the vehicle purchase (just took a week or so to get the part in).