Travel Trailer towing experience

[mslim]

My '04 V8 2WD has a gross towing rating around 7000# I forget the exact number it maybe 7200. I have experience towing a 16600# GVWR 5th wheeler with a longbed 4wd crewcab DRW Duramax. I'm wondering how the 4R would do with a 20-25' travel trailer weighing 6000-7000#. The big rig limits my camping options in the less traveled places.

I would appreciate any input on this subject such as:

• Did you use a weight distribution hitch?
• Gas mileage impact from trailer towing
• Additional wear and tear on driveline components

and anything pertinent that I haven't thought of yet.

Thanks in advance.

 

[AuSeeker]

This topic should answer your questions.

2006 Sr5 V8: Can I Tow?

 

[Piggity]

My '04 V8 2WD has a gross towing rating around 7000# I forget the exact number it maybe 7200. I have experience towing a 16600# GVWR 5th wheeler with a longbed 4wd crewcab DRW Duramax. I'm wondering how the 4R would do with a 20-25' travel trailer weighing 6000-7000#. The big rig limits my camping options in the less traveled places.

I would appreciate any input on this subject such as:

• Did you use a weight distribution hitch?
• Gas mileage impact from trailer towing
• Additional wear and tear on driveline components

and anything pertinent that I haven't thought of yet.

Thanks in advance.

Your towing capacity is 7300 pounds on the 2WD.

I tow a 4200 pound travel trailer around 5 times a year with my 4WD V6 4Runner. I use a weight distribution hitch from Equalizer, I think it's the 6000 pound model.

If I'm lucky I might get 10 mpg on flat ground, I average about 8 mpg normally since I like to keep it at 100 kph or ~60 mph.

Keep your tires inflated and all of the fluids topped up, you should be fine. Make sure your auto transmission fluid has been changed (not flushed). The V8 should have an ATF cooler on it from the factory. I had to buy an aftermarket one from Uhaul.

I'm still on stock XREAS suspension, at some point once it's unusable I'll upgrade to the Eibach lift kit. I'd personally wouldn't tow anything more than 5000 lbs with stock suspension, you need stiffer springs or airbags. I bought some Airlift airbags at the beginning of the year and one of them got a hole in them. I'd recommend the Firestore bags to keep the sag to a minimum while towing.

 

[importman]

My '04 V8 2WD has a gross towing rating around 7000# I forget the exact number it maybe 7200. I have experience towing a 16600# GVWR 5th wheeler with a longbed 4wd crewcab DRW Duramax. I'm wondering how the 4R would do with a 20-25' travel trailer weighing 6000-7000#. The big rig limits my camping options in the less traveled places.

I would appreciate any input on this subject such as:

• Did you use a weight distribution hitch?
• Gas mileage impact from trailer towing
• Additional wear and tear on driveline components

and anything pertinent that I haven't thought of yet.

Thanks in advance.

While I don't have any experience towing with my 4runner (4wd V6) I towed my previous camper, (29 ft, dry weight around 5K) with my 07 Tundra many many miles. Based on a few things, I wouldn't feel overly comfortable towing a 6-7K travel trailer with a 4runner even with the V8. Will it pull it? Of course. But, to me, the wheel base is not as long as it needs to be to handle a 6K trailer. You will definitely need a good weight distributing hitch with sway control. And even then you may get pushed around some by the wind off of 18 wheelers. If the question was about weekend trips to the local state park 20 to 40 miles away I'd say go for it. But for extended trips I'd be reluctant to do it. It's a Toyota so no doubt it will hold up to it, but that's still gonna be a lot of stress on the driveline and suspension. One thing to remember too is that if the trailer is rated at 6000 lbs, it will be a good bit more once you get fully loaded. That weight rating doesn't include anything. No battery, no water in any of the holding tanks, no food, pots and pans, sheets, clothing, grills, chairs... nothing. Anyway, not trying to be negative, just cautious. I would try to get something up to about 18 ft., no more than 4500 lbs dry weight. And still get the hitch, sway control etc. It takes a lot of fun out of camping when you get the white knuckle syndrome while traveling.
So far as gas mileage, on my Tundra where I normally get about 18-19 on the highway, with my camper it was closer to 10-11.
My wife and I now have a fifth wheel permanently parked in the NC Mountains. But we are planning to buy a smaller camper in the next few years. We miss the state parks, etc. We will be looking for something small, like a scamp, or casita, maybe even a popup, or anything less than about 15 ft. But there's just the two of us so we don't need a whole lot of space.

 

[flipflopnfly]

My '04 V8 2WD has a gross towing rating around 7000# I forget the exact number it maybe 7200. I have experience towing a 16600# GVWR 5th wheeler with a longbed 4wd crewcab DRW Duramax. I'm wondering how the 4R would do with a 20-25' travel trailer weighing 6000-7000#. The big rig limits my camping options in the less traveled places.

I would appreciate any input on this subject such as:

• Did you use a weight distribution hitch?
• Gas mileage impact from trailer towing
• Additional wear and tear on driveline components

and anything pertinent that I haven't thought of yet.

Thanks in advance.

A great thing about the V8 (I think this applies to your V8 2WD) is they were factory equipped with the full factory tow package - ClassIV hitch, aux trans cooler, 130A alternator. V6 models never had that full tow package.

To get the full 7000lb tow capacity yes you'll need a WDH. The stock rear suspension can't handle the tongue weight of a 7klb trailer. The ClassIV hitch can, but only with a WDH.

I haul a 4klb travel trailer at high altitude and get about 8-10mpg. Lower altitude and flatter terrain the MPG goes up. Nice thing about the 4.7 is the lowend grunt. 4.7 will haul the same trailer over the same terrain in one lower gear compared to the 4.0, I've done the comparison.

 

[RonJR]

I tow 3000 lb (dry weight) rPod with my 2006 V8 4runner. Plenty of power, stability is good, but gas mileage and range (only 23 gallon tank) suck. I get 8-10 mpg at 65 mph. I would not want to tow 6000 lbs with it. Not because it would be unsafe, but it just wouldn't be fun going anywhere. Hard to pass slow traffic, slight upgrades become hills, hills become mountains, etc. Instead of cruising along enjoying the scenery, you're a full-time heavy truck driver. Not how I like to travel.

I put up with towing the rPod with the 4runner because, like the OP, I can go offroading when I get to my destination. However, if I was doing all highway traveling, even for the rPod I'd swap the 4runner for something with at least a 5.7 liter engine and a 120 inch wheel-base and a 30+ gallon fuel tank.(Tundra, Sequoia, F150, etc.)

 

[mslim]

Thanks for all the useful responses. It's pretty clear the 4R, even with the V8 and (as noted) the factory towing package, is not the right vehicle for the job. It works great for towing a cycle trailer or small boat but not a 6K travel trailer.

The gas mileage loss is more than I expected. By way of comparison the Duramax towing the 16K 5'er can get 9-10 mpg unless I'm facing a 35mph headwind west of Midland-Odessa.