Towing with a 4Runner or Explorer---experiences, please!

[coolmom42]

Those 2 vehicles are on my short list of desired tow vehicles for a small travel trailer. I'm aware of the tow ratings, limitations, etc. No need to belabor those points. Just wanting someone's personal, practical experiences.

What kind of sway control/WD system do you use?
Specific problems/issues you've had?
Things you really like?
How well does the tranny cooler work?

That sort of thing, and any other helpful details, will be greatly appreciated.

[coolmom42]

I had a Sequoia and really liked it, but the gas mileage was atrocious, even not towing and being easy on the gas pedal. Looks like it's still about the same at 15-16 mpg overall rating.

The gas mileage issue, along with the WD issue, is pushing me towards a Ford. My first choice would be an Explorer but I need to investigate the WD issue with them, too. That leave an Expedition or F-150 as the next logical steps.

[crcr]

SpeakEasy wrote:
I have a 2010 4Runner - SR5 - not the trail model. It's the V6, 4.0L, 270 HP model and is rated for 5000 lb towing.

I'm using it with WD hitch, and the TT weighs in at 4300 lb.

This whole discussion of the use of a WD hitch with the factory receiver is pretty confusing to me and pretty concerning. I'll discuss that in a minute. First I'll respond to coolmom's original question.

I have had this setup for one season - the 2016 camping season. We took a few short trips around our part of NYS, and we took a longer trip through the Appalachians (West Virginia) and then another trip through Vermont. We probably towed more than 3000 miles total. Lots of it was in mountains. On our first trip I was watching the transmission temperature like a hawk. Based on what I saw, I decided to install a supplemental transmission cooler. Excellent decision! After that, our temps were fine in all conditions. On the steeper hills of WV we knew the trailer was there, for sure, but I never felt we were under powered. I didn't experience what some folks call white knuckle driving. The whole setup seemed pretty stable to me, even though I knew the trailer was there. I don't have any concerns about my towing experience.

I am short of cargo capacity, however. With the tongue weight and the weight of myself and one passenger, I'm at or a bit over capacity. Therefore, I put virtually no cargo in the SUV. It all goes into the trailer. It works for us, because it is just the two of us, and we do pack light. If you have more people and more gear, it will be a problem for you.

Now as to the WD hitch issue. That is a HUGE concern to me, and I wish I had known about this before I bought this vehicle. However, having read the entire thread here and most of the thread over on the 4runner forum, it looks as if Toyota may have revised their restriction. Apparently there was a time when they were putting a clause in the owners manual telling people not to use a WD hitch with this vehicle. That clause is NOT in my owners manual. There is no restriction, no warning, no caution, not a word about WD hitches. But I checked, and the receiver I have is, in fact, the small square one that is bolted to a cross member. It is not the extensive kind with arms that lead forward up to the side frame members. I am very disappointed to discover this, and I am not sure what to do about it. I will contact Toyota and ask them for some clarification.

-Speak

My suggestion would be to research and buy a proper aftermarket frame hitch. Check Amazon, eTrailer, uHaul, local hitch shops, etc etc. I have owned both V6 and V8 4Runners, and I wouldn't use those OEM receivers bolted to a cross member on the V6 models to tow anything heavier than a small utility trailer.

[coolmom42]

SpeakEasy wrote:
I have a 2010 4Runner - SR5 - not the trail model. It's the V6, 4.0L, 270 HP model and is rated for 5000 lb towing.

I'm using it with WD hitch, and the TT weighs in at 4300 lb.

This whole discussion of the use of a WD hitch with the factory receiver is pretty confusing to me and pretty concerning. I'll discuss that in a minute. First I'll respond to coolmom's original question.

I have had this setup for one season - the 2016 camping season. We took a few short trips around our part of NYS, and we took a longer trip through the Appalachians (West Virginia) and then another trip through Vermont. We probably towed more than 3000 miles total. Lots of it was in mountains. On our first trip I was watching the transmission temperature like a hawk. Based on what I saw, I decided to install a supplemental transmission cooler. Excellent decision! After that, our temps were fine in all conditions. On the steeper hills of WV we knew the trailer was there, for sure, but I never felt we were under powered. I didn't experience what some folks call white knuckle driving. The whole setup seemed pretty stable to me, even though I knew the trailer was there. I don't have any concerns about my towing experience.

I am short of cargo capacity, however. With the tongue weight and the weight of myself and one passenger, I'm at or a bit over capacity. Therefore, I put virtually no cargo in the SUV. It all goes into the trailer. It works for us, because it is just the two of us, and we do pack light. If you have more people and more gear, it will be a problem for you.

Now as to the WD hitch issue. That is a HUGE concern to me, and I wish I had known about this before I bought this vehicle. However, having read the entire thread here and most of the thread over on the 4runner forum, it looks as if Toyota may have revised their restriction. Apparently there was a time when they were putting a clause in the owners manual telling people not to use a WD hitch with this vehicle. That clause is NOT in my owners manual. There is no restriction, no warning, no caution, not a word about WD hitches. But I checked, and the receiver I have is, in fact, the small square one that is bolted to a cross member. It is not the extensive kind with arms that lead forward up to the side frame members. I am very disappointed to discover this, and I am not sure what to do about it. I will contact Toyota and ask them for some clarification.

-Speak

Don't you have an auxiliary tranny cooler factory installed? Are you saying that wasn't enough in tough situations?

[coolmom42]

shfd739 wrote:
I know you mentioned a 4Runner or Explorer but I'd also suggest an '03 -'07 Land Cruiser/LX470.

Rated for 650/6500 towing and has the same V8 as the pre 2010 4Runners. These aren't that they much bigger than a 4Runner and will easily go 300k+ miles with only normal maintenance. I'd have no qualms buying one with 100k miles and driving it till the wheels fall off. A few friends tow 5k lb hybrids with these and love them.

Some folks are leery of older vehicles but we're on our 3rd used 100k+ mile Toyota and none have given us any trouble or made us feel that they weren't up to the task of towing or going long distances. I like the money saved by buying used.

Oh you and me both. I'm on my 4th Toyota and routinely drive them to 200K plus.

[SpeakEasy]

I have a 2010 4Runner - SR5 - not the trail model. It's the V6, 4.0L, 270 HP model and is rated for 5000 lb towing.

I'm using it with WD hitch, and the TT weighs in at 4300 lb.

This whole discussion of the use of a WD hitch with the factory receiver is pretty confusing to me and pretty concerning. I'll discuss that in a minute. First I'll respond to coolmom's original question.

I have had this setup for one season - the 2016 camping season. We took a few short trips around our part of NYS, and we took a longer trip through the Appalachians (West Virginia) and then another trip through Vermont. We probably towed more than 3000 miles total. Lots of it was in mountains. On our first trip I was watching the transmission temperature like a hawk. Based on what I saw, I decided to install a supplemental transmission cooler. Excellent decision! After that, our temps were fine in all conditions. On the steeper hills of WV we knew the trailer was there, for sure, but I never felt we were under powered. I didn't experience what some folks call white knuckle driving. The whole setup seemed pretty stable to me, even though I knew the trailer was there. I don't have any concerns about my towing experience.

I am short of cargo capacity, however. With the tongue weight and the weight of myself and one passenger, I'm at or a bit over capacity. Therefore, I put virtually no cargo in the SUV. It all goes into the trailer. It works for us, because it is just the two of us, and we do pack light. If you have more people and more gear, it will be a problem for you.

Now as to the WD hitch issue. That is a HUGE concern to me, and I wish I had known about this before I bought this vehicle. However, having read the entire thread here and most of the thread over on the 4runner forum, it looks as if Toyota may have revised their restriction. Apparently there was a time when they were putting a clause in the owners manual telling people not to use a WD hitch with this vehicle. That clause is NOT in my owners manual. There is no restriction, no warning, no caution, not a word about WD hitches. But I checked, and the receiver I have is, in fact, the small square one that is bolted to a cross member. It is not the extensive kind with arms that lead forward up to the side frame members. I am very disappointed to discover this, and I am not sure what to do about it. I will contact Toyota and ask them for some clarification.

-Speak

[shfd739]

I know you mentioned a 4Runner or Explorer but I'd also suggest an '03 -'07 Land Cruiser/LX470.

Rated for 650/6500 towing and has the same V8 as the pre 2010 4Runners. These aren't that they much bigger than a 4Runner and will easily go 300k+ miles with only normal maintenance. I'd have no qualms buying one with 100k miles and driving it till the wheels fall off. A few friends tow 5k lb hybrids with these and love them.

Some folks are leery of older vehicles but we're on our 3rd used 100k+ mile Toyota and none have given us any trouble or made us feel that they weren't up to the task of towing or going long distances. I like the money saved by buying used.

[coolmom42]

camp-n-family wrote:

coolmom42 wrote:
So basically what I have to do is verify the type hitch that is on the vehicle. Sounds like the only definite way to do that is get under it and look.

The only hitch available on the newer 5th gen models (2010 and up) is the weaker integrated factory hitch so that's what it will have unless you buy used and the previous owner put an aftermarket one on. I would still imagine that would be rare.

UGH.

That sucks.

And why is it so hard to find out this information on a manufacturer's web site? It's ridiculous.

[camp-n-family]

coolmom42 wrote:
So basically what I have to do is verify the type hitch that is on the vehicle. Sounds like the only definite way to do that is get under it and look.

The only hitch available on the newer 5th gen models (2010 and up) is the weaker integrated factory hitch so that's what it will have unless you buy used and the previous owner put an aftermarket one on. I would still imagine that would be rare.

[coolmom42]

So basically what I have to do is verify the type hitch that is on the vehicle. Sounds like the only definite way to do that is get under it and look.

[coolmom42]

xtech wrote:
Pulled a 25 ft TT with a 2005 V8 4runner. First used a standard weight dist. hitch. When pulling with a wind from rear and side was very scary, swayed terrible and I have been pulling trailers for 40 years. Replaced hitch with a Reese Strait Line sway control hitch and it solved the problem. I later went to a Tundra and 5th wheel and now F250. If it was me I would look for a nice older 4Runner with the V8. Ours was a Limited, very nice vehicle. If you do check the hitch. It was said that all V8 4Runners came with the frame mounted hitch instead of the one only bolted to rear crossmember, but the one I bought only had the one on crossmember so I had to replace it with a frame mounted one. Only problem as a tow vehicle is the short wheel base so don't go too long on trailer. Also not sure what my tongue weight was but I was over rear axle GAWR by a couple hundred pounds so watch that too.

There are some nice older 4Runners out there, but most have over 100K miles already. I want to keep this for 10-12 years so would like to start with something lower. Will take some looking, for sure. I definitely will be using sway control.

[camp-n-family]

carringb wrote:
One note on the 4Runner: The hitch is only designed for Class-3 towing, so they make the receiver tube shorter. Many heavier-rated ball mounts won't even fit! I'm fairly certain no WD hitches will work without modifications!

They will fit but may need to cut the excess shank shorter. The problem is not the receiver but the spare tire behind it.

[xtech]

Pulled a 25 ft TT with a 2005 V8 4runner. First used a standard weight dist. hitch. When pulling with a wind from rear and side was very scary, swayed terrible and I have been pulling trailers for 40 years. Replaced hitch with a Reese Strait Line sway control hitch and it solved the problem. I later went to a Tundra and 5th wheel and now F250. If it was me I would look for a nice older 4Runner with the V8. Ours was a Limited, very nice vehicle. If you do check the hitch. It was said that all V8 4Runners came with the frame mounted hitch instead of the one only bolted to rear crossmember, but the one I bought only had the one on crossmember so I had to replace it with a frame mounted one. Only problem as a tow vehicle is the short wheel base so don't go too long on trailer. Also not sure what my tongue weight was but I was over rear axle GAWR by a couple hundred pounds so watch that too.

[carringb]

One note on the 4Runner: The hitch is only designed for Class-3 towing, so they make the receiver tube shorter. Many heavier-rated ball mounts won't even fit! I'm fairly certain no WD hitches will work without modifications!

[camp-n-family]

After looking over the new '16 t4r owners manual, the is no longer any wording included about the use of a wd hitch. Only that a sway control device should be used if more than 2000lbs and that the tt should be double axle if over 3k. The receiver itself is rated for 500/5000lbs.

With the trailers you list you shouldn't need a wd hitch anyway, just a sway device. I used to pull our 19' hybrid at 3600lbs without one. Tongue weight was 450lbs. I didn't upgrade the hitch until we went with the bigger trailer which exceeded the 500lbs tongue rating. (The old v8 was rated for 7200lbs) If you decide on a t4r, try it as is first before spending money on something you probably won't need.

[camp-n-family]

The link I posted may or may not be for a front mount hitch, the ads all use the same pic regardless. The one in Barneys link specifies front mount. Definitely check before buying.

The factory receiver will likely need to be removed first as it hangs under the cross member and would be in the way. When I did the install on my old 4Runner the new hitch used 2 of the crossmember bolt holes, as well as the frame holes. It's not a big job, just a little tricky without removing the bumper cover. Hardest part was getting the factory hitch off as the 2 upper bolts are cover by the plastic bumper cover.

When the new gen t4r came out there was no aftermarket hitch available for it. It's been several years now and I'm sure there is now. Any dealer should be able to tell you.