Thinking About a TT, Confused About Towing

Dennis O wrote:
Here's our real world experience towing with a V6 4Runner: 2008 vehicle pulling a 2009 single axle Bigfoot fiberglass trailer. Trailer is 20 ft total length, 4200 lbs loaded and weighed, 500 to 550 lb tongue wt (about 13%). We use the WB hitch that came on the car and are right at recommended max for tongue wt and rear axle GAWR. I was concerned about this, but the trailer tows beautifully. No sway even with trucks or crosswinds. Trailer is 9 ft high by 8 ft wide, so not as high as many, and has a lower center of gravity. We're careful how much stuff we take along to stay within the payload of about 1250 lbs. I inflate the rear tires to about 42 psi to give the same footprint they would have without trailer and 32 psi. No unusual tire wear, original P rated tires. We tow with empty tanks except for water heater, about 50 lbs. We've been from Portland to Jasper twice and to Montana two other times. I-90 through Idaho had us down to 30 mph but otherwise we do ok. Headwinds are murder. With no winds, 14 mpg. Drive about 60 mph. Drive in D mostly but use the shifter on hills, in winds, etc. I drove stick shifts for 40 years so using the shifter makes sense. I tried air bags in the rear springs but after eight trips back for leak repairs, I took them out and now use Timbren rubber axle bumpers. We never feel bottoming. I think the Timbrens are probably on the axles all the time, unlike the original jounce bumpers inside the springs. We have about 15000 miles on this combination and usually carry a big 20 ft kayak on the roof and sometimes bikes in the car. This is the max a V6 4Runner can pull, IMO, but a Casita or Scamp would be an easy tow.

I've gotta agree whith this. I used to pull a 1983 Excell 19X7 with my 1991 4Runner V6 with the smaller 3.0, manual shift. The Excell weighed I would guess about 3500 to maybe 3700 pounds loaded for camping. We put everything in the trailer with exception of a few creature comforts like pillows, snacks and drinks. Contrary to what some do, I do and did travel with water tank full. It's especially a good idea when crossing the desert.

The 4Runner isn't really getting the credit it deserves. Our longest trip with trailer in tow was from San Diego, CA. to some city in Kansas my brother used to live in when he was stationed there for the Army. Anyhow, we used the I 70 and with exception to some self induced trouble (cooling issues because I changed the OEM fan to an electric. When we got to Kansas I changed it back to the original fan and cooling issues went away for the return trip), the 4Runner did a great job. The hardest pull was coming back, the aproach to the Ike tunnel. I had to go into 1st gear and roll with the semi's. For the most part, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th were the gears I used regularly. I didn't tow in 5th, not recomended in the owners manual so I didn't. I dropped gears as needed to climb and descend hills. If your 4Runner is a 4X4, there isn't a hill to steep to climb. You've always got low range, if ever needed.

Your 4Runner will do fine with some of the trailers mentioned on here. My only caution would be to ditch the OEM radiator as I've wittnessed a 4Runner radiator explode (top tank) because it is plastic. You can get a very good quality all aluminum after market radiator and not have to worry about this. I've got some pics of after if I can ever figure out how to put pics on this forum. I've done it before but it has been a while. I'll see what I can do.