Rockwood Roo 21SS - Tow Vehicle

crcr wrote:

Kcskitek wrote:
I am in the process of downgrading my Tow Vehicle from an '08 GMC Yukon Denali rated at 8100# towing max to a Toyota 4Runner w/4.7liter V-8 rated at 7,000# capacity. I am also looking to upsize from a PUP to a HTT 21SS Roo. The dry weight is about 4,300# and 1,200# carrying capacity, but the hitch weight is relatively high at just under 600#. The 23SS has a much lower tongue weight at 435#. Will I be okay pulling the 21SS with a WDH with the 4Runner? Trying to figure out what the maximum tongue weight is. All that shows up is the maximum towing load of 7,000#'s. Also, does anyone know if the factory tow packages on the 4Runner's have transmission coolers. How do I tell if they are factory hitches? Thanks!

I can probably tell you most of what you want to know about the 4Runner, and will refer you to sources for what I don't know. I own a 2008 Sport Edition 4WD 4.7L V-8 4Runner. I previously owned a 2009 4WD V6. The 4.7 V-8 was an option on the 4th Generation 4Runner, produced from 2003 thru 2009. However, that last year of 4th Gen production, 2009, there are very few V-8 models around. I tow a Rockwood 2109S, 21.5 feet long with a slide, Dry Weight is 3586, and GVWR is 4724. I use a Curt WDH with sway control. I get NO sway whatsoever when towing. This is the nicest WDH I have owned, and I have owned a few, and the cost, installed and adjusted was $350.

As you stated, stated tow capacity for the V8 4WD is 7000 lbs and per the sticker on my OEM factory hitch, Max Gross Tongue Weight, 1095 lbs. All V8 4Runners have a frame hitch -- you can spot it by the fact that the tubing coming off the hitch is curved. The V6 models have a hitch that just attaches to the crossmember and has I believe a 5000 lb tow capacity. The hitches don't look anything alike. All V8 models have an external transmission cooler, you can see it down low in front of the radiator, and a 7 pin plug for trailers.

I live in Phoenix, AZ, and during the summer tow our TT from 1100' elevation to 7000' elevation in 2 1/2 hours. The summer heat here is extreme at low elevations. I recommend a Scan Guage II -- the company told me they didn't think I could pull trans temp with it, but they are wrong -- myself and others have programmed in the numbers needed, and are pulling the trans temp with the Scan Gauge. If you buy a 4Runner to tow, I would highly recommend the Scan Gauge. Towing in my extreme conditions, no idiot lights came on, but the the trans temps were climbing a little higher than I liked on long grades in high heat towing, so I changed out the factory trans cooler for a larger one, an easy switch out.

FYI, when I sold my V6 4Runner and bought a V8 one for towing, I sought out and bought a Sport Edition -- those have larger brakes than any of the other models, so not a necessity, but a plus certainly for towing. The 4.7 V8 as someone mentioned, is tried and proven, in Land Cruisers, the Lexus, first generation Tundras, the smaller V8 in the current generation of Tundras, and many of the Sequoias on the road. The vehicles themselves are ultra reliable, as bullet proof as you could find in a vehicle. I know many who have put 200 to 300,000 miles on these, without touching the drive train. And I have seen one 4th Gen runner with 432,000 miles on the clock, does not burn oil, and the drive train has never been apart.

During 4th Gen production run, a number of improved features were added along the way -- it went from 4 to 5 speed transmission, LED lights, plus other improvements, so I would suggest get as late a model as you can afford. Here is everything you would ever want to know about 4Runner history: 4Runner History
And if you want help with anything 4Runner, go to T4R.org, a very very active 4Runner forum.

Best of luck!

crcr....thank you for the valuable information and to the others that have responded. I am now looking at a 2004 4Runner Limited with a 4.7 liter. The previous owner has replaced the timing belt/water pump and has all the service records. The truck is very clean. It appears that it is recommended to install a WDH and upgrade my transmission cooler. I found something in the owners manual that says the tongue weight divided by the tow weight times 100 should be between 9-11%. One of the servicemen at a local camper shop said it doesn't matter what your tongue is as long as you have the WDH with tension springs since you can adjust it to accommodate any tongue weight. Is this a true statement or id the serviceman just blowing smoke?