Thinking About a TT, Confused About Towing

Thanks all! We don't want to switch vehicles right now, so the most basic question is can the V6 4 Runner pull any TT, real world, not what the towing guides and dealers claim.

epusher, I checked the drivers side door and I didn't see anything that resembled maximum payload rating. I have three numbers -- GVWR: 5580; GAWR FRT: 2550 and GAWR RR: 3060. Is the frt # the only I need? When we do a calculation like you mention, we come out with the two of us at 275 combined, assuming a 5000# GVWR trailer with a 15% tongue weight at 750 and our weight in "stuff" that would be roughly 1300 lbs. Does all this tell me anything?

hookie -- real world experience is best. We plan to drive from IL or FL out west, my son lives in Denver, we'd love to explore the Rocky Mtn area also the Grand Canyon/S. Utah Nat'l Parks loop. So you wouldn't recommend pulling any TT with our 6 cyl 4 Runner? :( bummer. But we've already decided when we're ready to change vehicles, we'll probably go back to a Tahoe V8, which is what David had before we combined households & my 4 Runner was newer.

Thanks! If anyone has any more input, we would much appreciate it! Cheers! Jan & David

P.S. We were looking at anything from an RPod to a Lance 1685, but maybe now we'll put our plans on hold due to the vehicle.

You'll have more luck towing if you have the V8. The payload is about the same, though it's not a heck of a lot less than some 1/2 tons out there, plus it's much smaller, so harder to load it up anyway. I just came back from a two week trip in Sept/Oct to Colorado. The v8 is fine on the flats, works hard on the hills and mountains. It was the 30-40 mph winds that caused me the most problems. The trailer weighs 2800 lbs empty, 3500 gvwr. So, I can't put in too much weight, but I had all I needed and then some on the trip, weighing close to 3500 lbs. Overall, the 4runner did a good job. If you have the V8 you'll be fine as long as you keep the weights down both in the TT and TV, but mostly in the truck.

Keep the TT low profile and limit the gvrw and the V8 4runner will be fine. The V6, I don't think so.

Oh, and for a matter of perspective, I'm coming from a Yukon XL 2500 8.1 4.10 towing monster pulling a 7500 TT.

4runner is nice, but is shares the running gear with a Tacoma, which in the real world is fully capable of towing a decent sized tent trailer. I would not attempt to tow much more despite what everybody might claim. Especially if you want to tow in the hills.

Open your driver's side door and look at the maximum payload rating. It will be on the sticker on the door frame. Probably between 1200 and 1400 lbs. That includes the tongue weight of the trailer, you, any guests in the 4-runner and any cargo in the 4-runner.

Tongue weight is usually between 10% and 15% of the trailer's loaded weight. The closer to 15 the better. The dry weight of the trailer doesn't include any upgrade options, fuel in the propane tanks, water in the water tanks, your stuff in the cabinets, etc. A 5,000 lb loaded trailer will have a tongue weight between 500 and 750 lbs. At 750, me and another 250 lb friend would almost max out a 2006 4-runner on payload.