Towing with your 4Runner?

[A2toHgt]

Kristin,

I would look up towing guides. Grassroots Motorsports did a nice a guide to towing a trailer. That might have some useful information for you.

Try towing for a short jaunt on the highway. Load the trailer and vehicle up with as much as you plan to carry and see how it feels. That should guide you in terms of if the vehicle is capable.

-h-

 

[MissouriBreaks]

Good morning everyone, I'm going to bump this thread, only because I'm going to play stupid and ask a few questions.

I've never towed anything, ever. Except for a small utility trailer with a lawn mower on it.

I'm relocating (long distance) and I'll be towing a U-Haul 5x8 trailer. Nothing crazy. Just to make sure I don't damage my 4Runner, I figured I'd get the opinions of you fine people.

What do I do and how do I do it? I have a 2013 SR5 4WD. (Again, playing stupid here) Do I turn off Over-Drive? If so, HOW? I've read my owners manual, cover to cover and haven't found anything regarding it at all. Do I put it in "manual" mode and just truck on? I know I won't need 4WD or anything like that, but I don't want any over-heating issues, blown gaskets, etc.

I appreciate ANY input, because as a woman travelling 1900 miles, alone.. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Thank you!

In 2015 I towed a U-Haul 5x8 trailer with my FJ Cruiser. It towed ok, but really cut the mileage down (I probably lost 3 - 4 mpg towing), so keep an eye on your gas gauge, especially in some of the desolate areas where there may not be a lot of gas stations.

I towed the trailer about 200 miles and it towed fine with the FJ Cruiser. I think I had the transmission in 4th gear while towing and certainly had it in 4th gear when going up hills. Just push your gear selector to the left, when it is in drive, and that will put it in 4th gear.

Good luck with your move.

 

[Juicy]

Good morning everyone, I'm going to bump this thread, only because I'm going to play stupid and ask a few questions.

I've never towed anything, ever. Except for a small utility trailer with a lawn mower on it.

I'm relocating (long distance) and I'll be towing a U-Haul 5x8 trailer. Nothing crazy. Just to make sure I don't damage my 4Runner, I figured I'd get the opinions of you fine people.

What do I do and how do I do it? I have a 2013 SR5 4WD. (Again, playing stupid here) Do I turn off Over-Drive? If so, HOW? I've read my owners manual, cover to cover and haven't found anything regarding it at all. Do I put it in "manual" mode and just truck on? I know I won't need 4WD or anything like that, but I don't want any over-heating issues, blown gaskets, etc.

I appreciate ANY input, because as a woman travelling 1900 miles, alone.. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Thank you!

That will be fine, just load the trailer properly, uhaul says like 60% weight in the front and 40% in the rear (they will tell you everything you need to know when you pick up the trailer). 3 years ago I pulled a FULL 5x8 trailer from Seattle, WA to St. Augustine, FL with a 2000 nissan pathfinder with the 3.3L and had 0 issues, just 'turned off' OD while going up hills. 3 weeks ago just did the opposite and drove 3,600 miles back to Seattle from Florida but with a 2008 v8 4runner and a 6x12 trailer, also 0 issues. Keep a lot further behind people in case you need to stop fast and don't make any jerky movements (smoothly change lanes, etc.) and rather be safe than sorry with the gas stations, google maps helped a lot with showing how far the next gas station was when there were no signs. When you stop for gas, do a walk around and make sure everything looks good/trailer lights work, etc.

 

[Juicy]

Thank you for responding so quick! I'm going to be towing a (smaller) sofa, a wingback chair, a steampunk era trunk and like 15 boxes (various sizes). Nothing too heavy. I would just rather ask, before I'm stuck in Arizona, in BFE. The hitch I have is 6000lbs rated, as well. I just didn't know about the whole over-drive thing and have always been told to turn it off. I just don't want to hurt my 4Runner, on a long haul like that. I love it too much.

It should be fine when you are driving on a flat road, it shouldn't be going into OD, but if you are going up hill just put it in 4 until it levels out again.