Will a T4R be able to pull a 22' boat out of the water

[parkin11]

So I am very close to buying an 02' limited w/ supercharger. See my other thread asking for advise on that. I am worried about towing though.

I have a 22' Tiara cuddy cabin boat that weighs 3650lbs dry. Add gas and equipment and it will easily be 4k plus a boat trailer that is between 800-1000lbs. I will be pushing the 5000lb max

I do not trailer very much. Most of the time literally across the street to the launch and rarely 100 miles round trip.

Am I setting myself up for disaster. Will the T4R be able to pull the boat out of the water or will I end up with my truck in the lake? I have plenty of experience towing so that is not the problem. I am worried about buying this vehicle and then not being able to actually use my boat.

Thanks,

 

[Grenvilleter]

Do you have low range/transfer case?

 

[parkin11]

Do you have low range/transfer case?

I assume so. The T4R I am looking at is 4x4 and I am guessing that low range works but I dont know that for sure

 

[Dous]

In 4LO it wouldn't really have any issues, it might be nice to have a traction aid in the rear. I wouldn't want to tow for any considerable distance, the trailer would have the 4runner all over the road, it would be dangerous for you and everyone else

 

[Grenvilleter]

You could yank it across the road probably with no problem but make sure everything is in good shape when towing any distance. Especially brakes, rear suspension and tranny.
Always disable the O/D function and consider a tranny cooler.
Go easy. Most boating accidents happen while on the trailer.

 

[the great him]

consider a tranny cooler!?!? no that is a must. a locker would be nice got helping with traction, but in 4wd i think you should be fine. i would also invest in a set of air bigs for the rear coils to help with the load, and maybe a 7pin trailer connector with a brake controller in the 4runner. also you should seriously consider upgrading to the tundra 231 brakes.

 

[jsukey]

I found myself in a pinch with my '65 Lincoln Continental. Busted the oil pan while going a little too fast over a bridge, with the airbags a little too low. I didn't want to deal with any of the tow companies. I borrowed my buddies race car trailer. I figured it was a 3000 lb. trailer, minimum...considering it had a full tool box closet on the front of it. Add that, plus the weight of the Lincoln and that adds up to 8000 lbs. I pulled that weight with my 4Runner about 30 miles to my buddies garage. (I did it later in the day, and took backroads to avoid endangering anyone) My non supercharged 4Runner pulled it fine. Stopping that kind of load though...that was a different story! Definitely allow yourself plenty of stopping room and more, and you should be fine. Hopefully, that trailer will have a brake system installed on it. Enjoy your supercharger! My brand new to me supercharged 4Runner Limited 4x4 is currently in transit!! Looking forward to it!!

 

[Diverse4runner]

I would definitely do the Tundra brakes and Tranny cooler before I tow something with that much weight. I have a 18ft Chaparral and it can be pretty hairy while under heavy braking if I needed to. (I have stock brakes)

 

[Jc12]

I have a 17 footer which is about 3700 pounds with trailer, it pulled fine with my previous t4r and my new supercharged pulls even better, you are fine but like everyone said, do the tranny cooler soon and brakes for sure. I just have stocks brakes but new pads etc and i still don't like it, i will be upgrading to tundra soon.

 

[02SE]

My Sister has been pulling a boat that W/trailer weighs right at 5k lbs, for years. This is mostly in the Mountains of Utah. So real Mountains, along with some high elevations.

Her '01 V6 4wd 4Runner is all stock, with the exception of some slightly oversized 265/75R16 Michelin LTX M/S2 tires. The 4Runner is well maintained, and has no issues while towing.

 

[Glock_19]

I'll echo what everyone else said. Upgrade the brakes and do the tranny cooler for any type of distance.

I would also go one step further and say trailer brakes are a must. You don't want 5,000lbs pushing your 5,000lb truck with no brakes.

 

[cordrayj1]

i would never tow 5000lbs w a 3rd gen. ever. i dont even like towing 2-3000lbs. and i tow all year long, on flat ground (except for bridges), and braking is a struggle w stock brakes. never had a close call really, but just because I always keep my distance w a trailer in tow.

can a 3rd gen tow it, sure. will it be pleasant. hell no.

S.A. is probably the most important factor here.
^Situational Awareness

 

[LittleCaesar]

I have pulled this with my 4runner up to ten miles to and from the ramp:

Did I ever do it at peak times? No.

As others have mentioned, tranny cooler and Tundra brakes. The latter, on any boat over 17ft, is a must. Otherwise you can quickly become proficient in changing warped rotors. Also adding 906 OME springs greatly helped in lateral stability with the trailer. I have towed the same package with a 4th gen 4runner with the V8 and it was like night and day. I now have a Tundra that is earmarked for towing duties.

But to answer you question, yes, as long as the ramp is in good condition, along with ample tread on your tires.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Rephrased the question is:

What are the risks of using a 3600 lb SUV to tow a 5000 lb boat?

 

[Nunyabiz]

I used to have a 19' Boston Whaler with twin 70hp Yamahas with tons of equipment on it and a twin axle trailer.
That boat weighed a crap load and I used to put it in and out of the water in Baja Mexico SURF LAUNCHING in the sand and that was with an old 1985 Ford Bronco II.

So a TR4 should have absolutely no problem whatsoever.

 

[SmokeyMcBong]

i pull this one in and outta the water all the time. haven't tried any high speed roads tho, usually just skirt around the back roads.

 

[thatgreentruck]

There's a reason it's rated to tow 5000lb, because its capable of towing 5000lb. I would not do it without trailer brakes and a tranny cooler but otherwise it's fine. It a very strong, if underpowered tow rig. Just don't be in a hurry.
I've towed my M3 track car a few times on a steel trailer which adds up to 5k and its ok provided you have the right tongue weight.
Getting out of the water should be ok in 4lo.

 

[5RUNNERZ]

x2 on what every one has said! I def dont think that i would take that on a 100 mile trip even with all the up grades! I am a 4runner man all the way but they do lack some power! me personally would get a 4th gen t4r with the v8 or a tundra to pull stuff like that! but my 4runner all beefed up, pulls my 22" stingray 240cs. with all my brothers, and me, wich together is about 600ish pounds of man. 15 miles to the ramp, up a rather step bridge and step ramp, she def does not love it but she dose it!

if all my brothers were not in there,just the boat, the truck usually dose not sag that much!

 

[02SE]

Rephrased the question is:

What are the risks of using a 3600 lb SUV to tow a 5000 lb boat?

Considering that Toyota rated the 3rd gen to tow 5000 lbs., the risks aren't ridiculous. If they were, the towing limits would be lower, under the advice of their corporate lawyers.

Suspension lifts will reduce the stability of the 4Runner, and much bigger tires than stock will also reduce pulling power, and stopping ability. So if a 4Runner is so modified, then I wouldn't try towing what it was rated for when stock.

Just for the sake of conversation, the new 2013 Diesel Ram is rated to tow up to 30,000 lbs. The truck configuration that is rated to tow that weight, weighs around 8000 lbs. Are the risks greater than the 4Runner that is towing it's rated capacity?

How about a semi tractor? A day cab tractor might weigh 15,000 lbs by itself, but is rated for up to 80,000 lbs when pulling a loaded trailer.


Obviously you want to be more cautious when towing anything. But if you use the proper hitch that allows towing the max. rated capacity, you have the necessary functioning trailer brakes to handle the trailer load, and the vehicle hasn't had modifications that can seriously reduce it's towing capacity, you will be fine towing at it's manufacturer rated capacity.

 

[Diverse4runner]

What I tow