Where the Heck Do You Get Vital Info on this Vehicle?

[cmj685]

Guys,
As I have looked over the many forums on the 4Runner I consistently run across things that surprise (or dismay me), never knowing exactly what is true (and in what context) and what is not. Some of these are important as we plan to tow and need to know some extra things about the vehicle. Latest example: the owner's manual is said to forbid using a weight distributing hitch for the v6, something I may need. Or this one: saw a claim that the 4Runner already has the brake controller wires hooked up and ready to go, just waiting for the brake controller to be added. Is that true? Where can those wires be found? Or again: that a towing package has to be added to the vehicle....hadn't even heard that one was available, or what might be involved with it! Thought all 4Runners came from the factory with everything needed for towing. Anyway, the point is that I need some important information before I make my decision--information that I would like to get directly from the source. I have been amazed at how little help the Toyota site has on towing...it is very sparse. Is there anyway to get the actual owner's manual on-line so I can look up the answers to these and other important questions? Or anywhere else to get this kind of technical info? Feeling a little stressed here about some of these things....Thanks!

 

[Koz]

cmj685,

All 4Runners come with a tow hitch (including the adapter, ball, and plug end for wiring) and wiring for a trailer. The wiring plug end is attached to the hitch itself. The V6 comes with a hitch that is rated for a maximum tow weight of 5K lbs. This is the maximum weight the 4Runner with a V6 can safely tow. That is why you can't/wouldn't put on a weight distribution hitch. There is no need to put on a hitch that can accommodate more then 5K lbs. Also you would confuse anyone who might own the vehicle after you. They would look at the tag on the hitch and thing it would be safe to tow more then 5K lbs. If you need to tow more then 5K lbs. but less then 7K lbs. you should get the V8. It has the weight distribution hitch and a trans. cooler. Also if you plan on towing a good sized trailer for long distances you may want to get the Limited V8, it has an optional rear auto leveling air suspension.

As far as the wiring for a controller, I haven't heard or seen anything that would indicate this wiring is pre-installed, unless it runs off the brake light circuit, in the trailer wiring.

Koz

 

[boston_kevin]

More information

All V6 4Runners come with a tow hitch that is capable of towing 5000 lbs with a tongue weight of 500 pounds. The V8 4Runners come from the factory with a hitch that is capable of towing 7000 lbs, but still has the same tongue weight. They can use the weight distributing hitch because of the mount points on the frame and the trailer hitch mounted to the vehicle.

Why did they do this since both vehicles share the same tranny, diff's, and transfer case? Because it is a bigger selling point for the V8 (better than any other SUV in it's class). Can the V6 tow that weight? Sure can if you swap the hitch out for the same hitch that is on the V8's. There is nothing inherently difference except the engine between the V8 and the V6, especially with the '05 model. Personally, I would not tow anything that heavy with a V6 anyway because you may create an additional strain on the V6 which it is not meant for. The V8 has the torque needed to get that trailer weight up and going especially on inclines.

I tow my 22' bayliner behind my V6 Runner without any trouble whatsoever even up 6-8% incline hills in this area. (total weight about 4800 lbs)

As far as wiring for a brake controller... I believe the wiring is already there (a friend hooked this up for me before I took delivery). You just need to add the controller itself.

 

[Koz]

DO NOT EXCEED THE TOW RATING OF THE VEHICLE!

You can not just tow more weight because you put on a higher rated hitch. The tow weight rating is not based on what hitch is installed, the hitch is based on the vehicle's tow rating. If that were the case you could put a WDH on a 4 cylinder vehicle and tow 10K lbs. NOT!

The torque and HP difference between the V8 and V6 is exactly what helps determine the tow rate. Also the GVWR and special equip. (such as trans cooler) help determine the tow rate.

Also the tongue weight should be different between the V8 (WDH) and V6 hitch. The IDEAL tongue weight is approx. 10% of the trailer. So if the V6 is rated for 5K lbs. the tongue weight should not exceed 500 lbs., whereas the V8 is rated at 7K, the tongue weight should be a maximum of 700 lbs. Even if you have a hitch that is tow rated for 10K lbs., you have to follow the tow rating of the vehicle. If you exceed these ratings you will find yourself in world of SHIT if you have to make an emergency maneuver.

Koz

 

[boston_kevin]

don't tow more than the rating

All I was saying is that besides the engine, there is no difference between the V6 and V8 (for towing). Any body telling you different has a bridge in IRAQ to sell you!

GVWR is not a significant factor for towing, otherwise the V8 would have the same tow rating as the V6 (400 lbs is not enough to justify the 2k difference). I have never seen a tongue weight for a hitch that is more than 500 lbs (not to say it doesn't exist - just that I have never seen it, even on my wife's Yukon which has 8400 lbs towing capacity). The weight distributing hitch allows for the weight to be distributed across the hitch not directly on the tongue (not getting into the physics discussion, but different vectors apply).

Lastly, which tranny cooler are you referring to? This is not mentioned on any of the marketing material as a option/feature difference between the V8 and the V6. I added a tranny cooler to mine for off-roading and towing, but I looked under the hood of the V8's and V6's and didn't see the cooler on any vehicles on the lot, just the AC in front of the radiator.

Koz- I am not advising someone to drive beyond the stated capacities of their vehicle, just giving the facts. The tow rating given by Toyota is with the hitch they have installed. I suspect they are not installing weight distributing hitches on the V6 for other reasons beside the HP/Torque difference (namely marketing). I had a 2 - class III hitches on my wrangler which I used as winch points, but the tow rating was only for Class I.

 

[Koz]

What I'm saying is the difference between the engines (and possibly the trans cooler) is precisely what makes the difference in the OEM recommended tow rating.

Extensive testing is done by the manufacture and many factors are considered such as; engine size, transmission, axle ratio, chassis, suspension, brakes, tires, cooling system, and tow packages. Any time a vehicle or trailer is given a rating it is based on the weakest link in the chain, and that rating cannot be exceeded. The weakest link in the V6 and V8 4Runner is the engine. The V8 has more power (torque) and this translates into more towing capability.

As far as the tongue weight rating: the rating is different between a class III and class IV. It has to be. The class III (V6) is rated to tow up to 5K lbs. which would require up to 500lbs. tongue weight. The class IV (V8) is rated to tow up to 7.5K lbs. (some class IV are rated to 10K lbs.), which requires up to 750 lbs. tongue weight (on 10K rated to 1K/1200 lbs.).

Koz

 

[HuntRunner]

I was under the impression that all v8 4Runners had a transmission cooler, is this not the case?

 

[mjfrank]

Mine does, in front of the A/C condensor coil.

I believe it also has an oil cooler, which is mounted between the engine and the oil filter, and has engine coolant circulated through it.

--Mike

 

[daveman]

so only v8 4runners have transmission coolers? I tought the only difference between v8 and v6 is the drive train layout, one is full time, other can be disabled by choice. And isn't the engine oil already cooled by the coolant going through the engine and the radiator? do we need a separate oil cooler to cool the oil???

 

[cmj685]

Ok--so the original question was more about whether anyone knew where we could find an original and reliable source for answers to what obviously are questions that many of us don't actually know. If anyone can find an online source, it would be greatly appreciated by many! And why doesn't Toyota supply this kind of vital info?! The subsequent conversation shows how many unanswered questions there are...and how much many of us don't know what we don't know. So maybe we can find some answers to some of these questions that have now come up too? We are talking here strictly about the v6:
1) Do we need special add-on towing package kind of things--oil and transmission coolers, etc? Is there in fact a "towing package" option recommended or available for the 4Runner--I have to say in all my extensive research I never have run into it until I heard about it on some forum or another.
2) Is there wiring already installed for the brake controller, just waiting for the controller to be plugged in? The strange thing is, I have heard on several occasions in different forums there is...but each time it has ostensibly been located in a completely different place. Makes me puzzled...?

 

[Hank]

Ok--so the original question was more about whether anyone knew where we could find an original and reliable source for answers to what obviously are questions that many of us don't actually know. If anyone can find an online source, it would be greatly appreciated by many! And why doesn't Toyota supply this kind of vital info?! The subsequent conversation shows how many unanswered questions there are...and how much many of us don't know what we don't know. So maybe we can find some answers to some of these questions that have now come up too? We are talking here strictly about the v6:
1) Do we need special add-on towing package kind of things--oil and transmission coolers, etc? Is there in fact a "towing package" option recommended or available for the 4Runner--I have to say in all my extensive research I never have run into it until I heard about it on some forum or another.
2) Is there wiring already installed for the brake controller, just waiting for the controller to be plugged in? The strange thing is, I have heard on several occasions in different forums there is...but each time it has ostensibly been located in a completely different place. Makes me puzzled...?

1) No add-on towing packages are available (from Toyota, at least to my knowledge) and none are needed to safely tow up to 5000lbs w/the V6 (info from owner's manual, dealer brochure & online). However, if you do tow frequently, your tranny can benefit from a transmission cooler.

2) The wiring is all there on the hitch (7-pin connector). I had to get a 7pin-to-4pin adapter to tow a Civic on a U-Haul car transport (w/hydraulic brakes) that weighed about 4,800lbs combined.

Here's a slightly off topic question for those who might know the answer:

Is there any difference of the radiators in the V6 & V8 models? (i.e.- larger size or 2 row of fins instead of 1 row perhaps?) I'm curious because my other vehicle ('93 Quest) had the tow package (hitch not included ) which had a heavier duty radiator (2 row of fins instead of 1), full size spare tire & I believe an upgraded alternator.

BTW, the term "tow package" doesn't refer to a standard towing setup or equipment and varies between automakers. A tow package on some other SUVs just means that you get a hitch, but doesn't mean you get an external tranny cooler, larger radiator, etc. (if available). Just my .02

 

[Koz]

Ok--so the original question was more about whether anyone knew where we could find an original and reliable source for answers to what obviously are questions that many of us don't actually know. If anyone can find an online source, it would be greatly appreciated by many! And why doesn't Toyota supply this kind of vital info?! The subsequent conversation shows how many unanswered questions there are...and how much many of us don't know what we don't know. So maybe we can find some answers to some of these questions that have now come up too? We are talking here strictly about the v6:
1) Do we need special add-on towing package kind of things--oil and transmission coolers, etc? Is there in fact a "towing package" option recommended or available for the 4Runner--I have to say in all my extensive research I never have run into it until I heard about it on some forum or another.
2) Is there wiring already installed for the brake controller, just waiting for the controller to be plugged in? The strange thing is, I have heard on several occasions in different forums there is...but each time it has ostensibly been located in a completely different place. Makes me puzzled...?

If you

 

[Koz]

Found this on a different thread. Looks like the wiring harness does have the wiring for a brake controller.