Your thoughts on the 4Runner as a tow vehicle

[gaber6]

I've been making 20+ mile trips to get lumber to frame out a new house. Full loads of 2x4's etc. 90+ boards with some pressure treated. All of this on a medium duty 4x8 utility trailer. Then straight up a 125 foot rough-poured driveway in low gear with no strain at all.

I couldn't imagine pulling a larger trailer in wind as the v6 does work a little bit more on uphills in 45mph zone, but it's great for this task.

 

[Codywilsonfishing]

I’ve got a 20’ bass boat with a 225hp outboard. Aprox 4,000-4,500. I tow it anywhere from 50-150 miles almost every weekend with no issues at all. Trailer does have brakes. 03 v8

 

[Bumbo]

I do tow, but I consider myself a novice when it comes to towing from a seat time perspective. That said my regular crowd of peers come from a background with years of tow experience... I learn a lot from them. 5th wheels with big toy trailers to bumper pull very heavy loads pushing ½ ton trucks.

Driver skill and equipment go a long way.

Loading the trailer correctly
Trailer Brakes
Air bags on the truck for load leveling
Knowing how to drive with a load
Rear coils vs leaf springs on a truck

Most trucks, even bigger ½ ton and ¾ ton truck that dedicate their lives to towing are generally setup differently. You really can’t have it both ways. Most trucks that excel in towing drive like crap without a trailer, very stiff.

My biggest problem with towing heavy with a 4Runner is that it can be a white knuckle experience barreling down the highway sometimes. I don’t want to re-work the rear suspension either, so I bought a different truck for my hauling and “truck duties”. I can hitch up the same thing to my Silverado and the drive is more comfortable and feel like I still have headroom for more.

 

[blind squirrel]

04 v8. Agree with all above, we tow our 21 foot ski boat ~5000 lbs and my dads 23 foot ~6000 lbs without issue. Our 21 foot did not come with trailer brakes, that was the first upgrade I did and glad I did. Pretty scary pulling her home without them.

 

[Bumbo]

04 v8. Agree with all above, we tow our 21 foot ski boat ~5000 lbs and my dads 23 foot ~6000 lbs without issue. Our 21 foot did not come with trailer brakes, that was the first upgrade I did and glad I did. Pretty scary pulling her home without them.

Trailer brakes should be enough to stop the trailer and truck, I bet it made a HUGE difference.

Unlike campers, toy boxes, and other generic trailers… I think boat trailers are pretty well setup and balanced for what they are carrying. Probably one of the easier things to actually pull around.

Take the same weight on a smaller camper or toy box carrying water and or an uneven load and the entire game changes.

 

[charlier180]

Charlie180, I just bought an 08 4R 4.7 for towing my boat. I've been towing with an older F250. Is there anything you can tell me about where to find the dual cam sway control that you mention, also the install process? Thanks in advance.

herscman

Wow, I guess I must have subscribed to this thread years ago when I owned my 4Runner.

Back then (and now) I use the Reese, Straight-Line, Weight Distributing Kit with Sway Control. Depending on your towing needs you might want to consider this same kit but with the heavier trunnion bars. That kit is also on the web site and has a different part number.

Be advised that this kit DOES NOT include the Weight Distributing Shank that you have to purchase separately.

I have attached a photo of my old 4Runner taken during one of my towing trips. If you magnify the photo you can see the hitch I used back then which is the same hitch setup I use now with my Toyota Tundra.

Also depending on the width of what you are towing you may have to consider towing mirrors to supplement the stock 4Runner mirrors. In my case I had to have them since I was totally BLIND due to my trailer's 8.5 foot width. You can see these mirrors in the photo as well. They are excellent quality McKesh mirrors not the cheap/crappy clip on mirrors.

If by chance you need mirrors I still have these mirrors and would make you a deal on them.

One other VERY important thing to remember about the 4Runner when used as a tow vehicle... No modification you can make will EVER increase the towing capacity of the 4Runner. Toyota's published specs for Towing Capacity, Cargo Capacity and Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating are the numbers to live by. If you get into an accident when towing those numbers can and will be used in court which will either prove you were towing within specs or outside of specs (ie towing overloaded). The former will help you, the latter will bury/screw you.

FYI, one time when I was towing my trailer I was pulled into a weight & safety inspection run by my local township's Police Dept. They pulled EVERYONE in towing a trailer be they private or commercial. They checked my paperwork and weighed my 4Runner & trailer. I had no problems since my paperwork was in order and by rig was under it's Towing Capacity, Cargo Capacity and Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating. Had I been overweight I would have been fined and required to park my rig until it could be towed safely with a tow vehicle with the proper towing capacities.