v6 car towing
- Thread starter 671dsm
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KidVermicious
New member
I didn't look long enough to find a definitive source, but a little poking around says your GCWR is 9000-ish pounds. Your trucks are a little over 4000 pounds, leaving you a little under 5000 pounds left. Based on those numbers, 671dsm is pushing it and VdronA is over the limits recommended by Toyota. It's not just how powerful your motor is, that's actually the last consideration for safe towing. You're worried about your brakes first, and your truck's ability to keep the load stable at speed second. Do either of you have an actual weight distributing hitch? How about a trailer brake control?
The V8 has a towing capacity of about 7000 lbs, so that implies the GCWR must be about 11,500 lbs. 2WD can tow a bit more than 4WD because the truck is lighter.
The V6 can't use a weight distributing setup without installing a frame mounted hitch like the V8 has. The torque from the weight distribution will bend it because it's not designed to work that way. You can buy an appropriate hitch from uhaul or etrailer.com if you need to use a weight distributing setup. such as: Trailer Hitch for 2008 Toyota 4Runner - Hidden Hitch 70779
Uhaul trailers come with hydraulic surge brakes built in, so no brake controller is needed. Definitely make sure the system is working though. Electronic brakes are nicer from what I hear, but I don't have much experience with either.
Any trailer larger than a couple thousand pounds definitely needs brakes. Most states require trailers over 3000 lbs to have brakes, but I would want them on all but the smallest trailers! If the trailer has electronic brakes, you need a brake controller in the vehicle. The V8 is pre-wired for it, idk about the v6.
Do you have any prior towing experience?
Martinjmpr
New member
Even if it's theoretically possible, I wouldn't if it were me. :shrug:
Wife and I went shopping for a new travel trailer, I told her I had a strong preference to stay under 2000 lbs and an absolute limit of 2500. We ended up buying a T@B, about 1500lbs dry weight so I'm happy.
Wife and I went shopping for a new travel trailer, I told her I had a strong preference to stay under 2000 lbs and an absolute limit of 2500. We ended up buying a T@B, about 1500lbs dry weight so I'm happy.
I don't see why you'd have a problem. Just tow it out of overdrive, and don't try to go crazy and go 70+ mph with the trailer.
I'm about to start towing my S13 track car (actually going to pick up the trailer in the next week). I put on the already referenced Hidden Hitch receiver, and picked up a WDH and Prodigy P2 brake controller (my V6 was prewired for it, didn't come with a receiver AFAIK unless the PO took it off). According to the owner's manual she's good for 6300 lbs like this. I'll be towing more around the 4200-4300 lb range with the trailer and car, and a few hundred pounds of cargo on the trailer.
I'm going to install a transmission cooler, but other than that, I'm not worried at all.
Even without the WDH, 4500 lbs is within the limits of the stock V6.
Don't fall into the trap of getting a 10k+ capacity tow vehicle to tow a <5k lb load. Just use some common sense you should ALWAYS use when towing like leaving more space for braking, and not trying to go super fast. Keep her out of OD if she hunts gears and keep the TC locked up.
97hb
New member
Bought my 4runner to tow my other car. Towed 800 miles in 1 day full bed trailer with car and 4 people in my runner. Not so much problems going, just stopping. Haven't towed since I went bigger rotors and calipers so I don't know if they helped or not but it sure feels like it stops better. Try not to tow in lockup unless your on flat ground. If it keeps downshifting tow out of lockup.
wolfgang
New member
Good info here. I have an '03 Sport V6 with towing package and added a Prodigy electronic brake controller. I will soon be towing a 4k# "ulra-lite" (which isn't near the case) 25' travel trailer from VA to FL (1k miles). Not looking forward to it as its via I85 or I95. I do have WDH with trailer but the stock cross member receiver - I was not aware that that could be issue so THXs. I was warned about trans temps and advised to add a trans oil cooler. I get white knuckled doing 55 - and all traffic seems to be going 75-80 mph! Trailer has sat (on blocks) for 6 years so going to replace like new but dry rotted trailer tires. I waited til cooler in between tourist season to make the run.
What calipers and rotors are you using now?
