Towing
- Thread starter MadRunner
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gizmopt2002
New member
Yes, KellyJ is right, 5,000 # if properly equipped. Which engine do you have?
2003Can4runner
New member
You'll be fine. Use the ECT power, turn off overdrive and your laughin'
i hauled two horses in a two horse trailer. towed it fine, but could use stronger brakes.
i have a 2000 Limited.
i hauled two horses in a two horse trailer. towed it fine, but could use stronger brakes.
i have a 2000 Limited.
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I tow my 2400# racecar with my '99 SR5 on a 16' open flatbed trailer and it does just fine. It's not ideal, but very doable. The wheelbase is short and the V6 leaves a little to be desired in the power and torque catagory vs. towing with a big truck, but it's a great compromise between a tow vehicle and a car that you can drive everyday. The things I would suggest are:
1) Load the trailer correctly! This is very important w/ the short wheelbase of the 4Runner. You should have 300-400 lbs of positive tongue weight. It will make the runner sag, but won't hurt anything.
2) Get a trailer with electric brakes. The stock 4Runner brakes are not enough to stop w/ a loaded trailer. You'll have to get a brake controller installed to use the trailer brakes.
3) I'd highly recommend a sway control bar. It greatly reduces buffeting in windy conditions. I forgot to use it once on a 100 mile tow and was hating myself for it. They run around $100 and it's money very well spent IMHO.
Edit: I've towed from Tucson to the bay area and back twice (Sears Point and Laguna Seca) with this setup and had no issues. Be aware that an avg open trailer will weigh about 1500#, so you'll be pushing right up against the 5000# limit w/ a 3500# car.
- Scott
1) Load the trailer correctly! This is very important w/ the short wheelbase of the 4Runner. You should have 300-400 lbs of positive tongue weight. It will make the runner sag, but won't hurt anything.
2) Get a trailer with electric brakes. The stock 4Runner brakes are not enough to stop w/ a loaded trailer. You'll have to get a brake controller installed to use the trailer brakes.
3) I'd highly recommend a sway control bar. It greatly reduces buffeting in windy conditions. I forgot to use it once on a 100 mile tow and was hating myself for it. They run around $100 and it's money very well spent IMHO.
Edit: I've towed from Tucson to the bay area and back twice (Sears Point and Laguna Seca) with this setup and had no issues. Be aware that an avg open trailer will weigh about 1500#, so you'll be pushing right up against the 5000# limit w/ a 3500# car.
- Scott
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polvadis
New member
I'm happy to read all the good things about 4Runner towing capabilty, but I have heard and seen opposite of these.
I bought my '02 4Runner with 58k miles on it. When I bought it a found a towing receiver in the rear storage, and was told that the previous owner did some light towing. 6k miles later my transmission went out. I was told by the dealer that someone did "A LOT" of towing with that car, and that the transmission looked "abused". I have a new transmission now with a new 60k warranty. But at that time I've called everyone, and no matter who I talked to they all said the same story of how Toyotas are not great towing cars.
While at the dealers, I sat next to a guy who was waiting for a third transmission replacement in his 140k mile V8 Tundra, he said he used it mainly for some trailer towing.
I've got nothing to tow, but I don't know if I'd pick a 4Runner to do it with if I had. But then again I'm still angry about my transmission replacement at 65k miles.
I bought my '02 4Runner with 58k miles on it. When I bought it a found a towing receiver in the rear storage, and was told that the previous owner did some light towing. 6k miles later my transmission went out. I was told by the dealer that someone did "A LOT" of towing with that car, and that the transmission looked "abused". I have a new transmission now with a new 60k warranty. But at that time I've called everyone, and no matter who I talked to they all said the same story of how Toyotas are not great towing cars.
While at the dealers, I sat next to a guy who was waiting for a third transmission replacement in his 140k mile V8 Tundra, he said he used it mainly for some trailer towing.
I've got nothing to tow, but I don't know if I'd pick a 4Runner to do it with if I had. But then again I'm still angry about my transmission replacement at 65k miles.
Getting a trans cooler for you 4runner might be a good investment if you do a descent amount of towing. I see a lot of guys here that run an aux trans cooler and there fairly cheap from what I've read can see. I don't do any towing but check yotatech.com and search transmission cooler or something.
That's true. I forgot to mention that I did install a trans cooler on my 4Runner. I would highly recommend it if you're towing on anything other than smooth, flat highway. The install was a piece of cake and only took an hour or 2.
The tranny is definitely the piece I worry the most about stressing when towing. I am starting to sense that something isn't quite right with the drivetrain on my truck, but I'm not sure whether it's the trans, the diff, or an axle or something. When I go to accelerate from a standstill, it will occassionally hesitate a little, then kick hard into gear. I was going to start by replacing the diff fluid and going to a better ATF. We'll see if that helps. Unfortunately I don't know much about automatic transmissions, so the problem isn't obvious to me.
The tranny is definitely the piece I worry the most about stressing when towing. I am starting to sense that something isn't quite right with the drivetrain on my truck, but I'm not sure whether it's the trans, the diff, or an axle or something. When I go to accelerate from a standstill, it will occassionally hesitate a little, then kick hard into gear. I was going to start by replacing the diff fluid and going to a better ATF. We'll see if that helps. Unfortunately I don't know much about automatic transmissions, so the problem isn't obvious to me.
98_4runnerSR5
New member
I'm happy to read all the good things about 4Runner towing capabilty, but I have heard and seen opposite of these.
I bought my '02 4Runner with 58k miles on it. When I bought it a found a towing receiver in the rear storage, and was told that the previous owner did some light towing. 6k miles later my transmission went out. I was told by the dealer that someone did "A LOT" of towing with that car, and that the transmission looked "abused". I have a new transmission now with a new 60k warranty. But at that time I've called everyone, and no matter who I talked to they all said the same story of how Toyotas are not great towing cars.
While at the dealers, I sat next to a guy who was waiting for a third transmission replacement in his 140k mile V8 Tundra, he said he used it mainly for some trailer towing.
I've got nothing to tow, but I don't know if I'd pick a 4Runner to do it with if I had. But then again I'm still angry about my transmission replacement at 65k miles.
I'm one on the opposite side. I HATE towing with the 4-runner. It's slow as balls with a loaded up trailer behind it and get's horrible gas mileage. If you disagree with me than you're in lala land or just haven't towed with a real truck or big SUV. I towed when I was stock quite a few times- 20 foot ski boat, u-haul trailer loaded with furniture, car and hated it. The only reason I towed these times was because I didn't have access to my pops vehicle. I usually tow with a 97 Suburban 1500 and that thing is a beast of a tower. Maybe it's because I've towed with trucks and big SUV's before the 4runner and they made it look so much easier? If I have the option to use other vehicle I do so!
:thumb3: I did the same thing a while back. 89' Rx-7 and it was not a fun tow! haha She was struggling big time to pull the trailer/car especially on the highway!
6000l+
in 2004 my dad bought a 20ft flat bed 25ft total. We cut off all the plate steel and converted it over to a sail boat trailer. He cut through the wires countless times with the torch set and braised his had once. Long story shot no trailer brakes lights and we tow a 5000lb 30 ftlong sail boat with all the sails and 2 outboard engines mast and dock box all adding with trailer a little over 6000lbs
in 2004 my dad bought a 20ft flat bed 25ft total. We cut off all the plate steel and converted it over to a sail boat trailer. He cut through the wires countless times with the torch set and braised his had once. Long story shot no trailer brakes lights and we tow a 5000lb 30 ftlong sail boat with all the sails and 2 outboard engines mast and dock box all adding with trailer a little over 6000lbs
matthinnant
New member
I wouldnt recommend towing anything like that no matter what others are telling you I have a 01 limited with the airlift bags on the rear to help give me a extra 1000lbs towing and it sucks. I tried to tow my buddys cobra on a uhaul flatbed trailer and it killed my truck the fenders were nearly touchin my tires, I was very disapointed in it. I wish I had the pics to show but if you have the aluminum trailer it may work better cuz its lighter but i had the steel one which is heavy as hell along with the cobra. I would like to see some pics of stock ones with a load on them
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LittleCaesar
New member
Towing and gas mileage do not go hand in hand, no matter what vehicle is doing the towing.
I have towed a 5500 lb boat, motor and the works 5 miles before. Not too bad, but it became bearable with the Tundra brakes and a tranny cooler. My 06 Tundra now pulls the boat 10x better. The short wheelbase on the 4 runner does not help things.
The OME 906 spring install really helped on my 99 with Billys all around.
If you are out to tow frequently, buy a diesel and call it a day.
I have towed a 5500 lb boat, motor and the works 5 miles before. Not too bad, but it became bearable with the Tundra brakes and a tranny cooler. My 06 Tundra now pulls the boat 10x better. The short wheelbase on the 4 runner does not help things.
The OME 906 spring install really helped on my 99 with Billys all around.
If you are out to tow frequently, buy a diesel and call it a day.
Looking for a 5 x 8 or 6 x10 enclosed to tow one or two motorcycles (400 lbs. each) to the track. 2 out of three places I go aren't overly hilly, though one is in some areas. I've got a trans cooler waiting to be installed but starting to wonder about towing with this thing. Anyone have any comments on towing up around the 2k lbs. max range? Greatly appreciated.