My 6-cyl 4runner can!

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Apprehensive at first. We can't get in and out of LA basin without passing the dreaded-white knuckle Grapevine-Tejon (14 miles - 6 degree grade), Cajon Pass (also 14 miles - 6 degrees) and Conejo.

In a Carpenteria trip, our first, we avoided Conejo uphill by taking the Malibu-I 10 route.

But can't with the Yosemite trip. Oh yeah, and snowed out.

Took the Grapevine-Tejon on a wing and a prayer. A pleasant surprise. Both downhill and uphill, the 4runner is in full control and way up with power to spare (on 3,400 rpm tops with no sign of over exertion).

I'm pulling a Coleman 17FQ (no kidding, you can't make this up) rated at 3,650 pounds and nearing 5,000 pounds loaded.

Cajon pass next - this time with more confidence on the way to North Rim Grand Canyon.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Geez Ralph, now you have me worrying about something else: tires.

My 4runner is still on stock tires and suspension system. Read varying opinions to change to truck tires and add air-spring suspensions at the back.

But also read from a couple who've traveled thousand of miles coast-to-coast on all road conditions on a 4runner also pulling 5,000 lbs trailer with no problem.

[Ralph_Cramden]

RandomAbstract wrote:

RTCastillo wrote:

rexlion wrote:

RTCastillo wrote:
Apprehensive at first. We can't get in and out of LA basin without passing the dreaded-white knuckle Grapevine-Tejon (14 miles - 6 degree grade), Cajon Pass (also 14 miles - 6 degrees) and Conejo.

In a Carpenteria trip, our first, we avoided Conejo uphill by taking the Malibu-I 10 route.

But can't with the Yosemite trip. Oh yeah, and snowed out.

Took the Grapevine-Tejon on a wing and a prayer. A pleasant surprise. Both downhill and uphill, the 4runner is in full control and way up with power to spare (on 3,400 rpm tops with no sign of over exertion).

I'm pulling a Coleman 17FQ (no kidding, you can't make this up) rated at 3,650 pounds and nearing 5,000 pounds loaded.

Cajon pass next - this time with more confidence on the way to North Rim Grand Canyon.

5000 lbs? The Dutchmen website shows a cargo weight capacity of just 645 lbs for the 17fq. Are you grossly overweight, or did the spec change?

Am referring to 4runner's towing capability while the trailer's dry weight is 3,205 lbs. I drive with all my fluid tanks empty.

I was wondering. I have a Coachman Clipper 17FQ and it weighs 4,000 pound fully loaded and dripping wet. Was also wondering how a 3,500 pound axle could hold up to 5,000 pounds.

I cheat and tow it with a Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi!

Because a certain percentage of the 4000 lbs is on the tow vehicle as tongue weight and with a single axle trailer that percentage is typically higher than a tandem axle trailer. Also a 3500 lb axle is capable of carrying way more than the 3500 lb rating as engineers always list the capacity of anything a long ways below than the true number. The weak point may be the tires. Someone will be along shortly to tell you that you need load range W Goodyear Endurance or Sailuns or something.

Your Coachman may also in actuality have a D35 or if it has Torflex a #10L, which are 4K axles......same as a D30 or #10, different rating.

All the manufacturer has to meet when they print the Fed certification is GVWR less TW does not exceed axle rating.

[RandomAbstract]

RTCastillo wrote:

rexlion wrote:

RTCastillo wrote:
Apprehensive at first. We can't get in and out of LA basin without passing the dreaded-white knuckle Grapevine-Tejon (14 miles - 6 degree grade), Cajon Pass (also 14 miles - 6 degrees) and Conejo.

In a Carpenteria trip, our first, we avoided Conejo uphill by taking the Malibu-I 10 route.

But can't with the Yosemite trip. Oh yeah, and snowed out.

Took the Grapevine-Tejon on a wing and a prayer. A pleasant surprise. Both downhill and uphill, the 4runner is in full control and way up with power to spare (on 3,400 rpm tops with no sign of over exertion).

I'm pulling a Coleman 17FQ (no kidding, you can't make this up) rated at 3,650 pounds and nearing 5,000 pounds loaded.

Cajon pass next - this time with more confidence on the way to North Rim Grand Canyon.

5000 lbs? The Dutchmen website shows a cargo weight capacity of just 645 lbs for the 17fq. Are you grossly overweight, or did the spec change?

Am referring to 4runner's towing capability while the trailer's dry weight is 3,205 lbs. I drive with all my fluid tanks empty.

I was wondering. I have a Coachman Clipper 17FQ and it weighs 4,000 pound fully loaded and dripping wet. Was also wondering how a 3,500 pound axle could hold up to 5,000 pounds.

I cheat and tow it with a Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi!

[Yosemite_Sam1]

rexlion wrote:

RTCastillo wrote:
Apprehensive at first. We can't get in and out of LA basin without passing the dreaded-white knuckle Grapevine-Tejon (14 miles - 6 degree grade), Cajon Pass (also 14 miles - 6 degrees) and Conejo.

In a Carpenteria trip, our first, we avoided Conejo uphill by taking the Malibu-I 10 route.

But can't with the Yosemite trip. Oh yeah, and snowed out.

Took the Grapevine-Tejon on a wing and a prayer. A pleasant surprise. Both downhill and uphill, the 4runner is in full control and way up with power to spare (on 3,400 rpm tops with no sign of over exertion).

I'm pulling a Coleman 17FQ (no kidding, you can't make this up) rated at 3,650 pounds and nearing 5,000 pounds loaded.

Cajon pass next - this time with more confidence on the way to North Rim Grand Canyon.

5000 lbs? The Dutchmen website shows a cargo weight capacity of just 645 lbs for the 17fq. Are you grossly overweight, or did the spec change?

Am referring to 4runner's towing capability while the trailer's dry weight is 3,205 lbs. I drive with all my fluid tanks empty.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Nunyadamn wrote:
5000lbs? for a 17ft trailer? Are you sure that didn't include the 4runner?

The trailer's dry weight is 3,205 lbs. at 21ft. The 4runner's towing capability is 5,000 lbs.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

naturist wrote:
Wonderful! I'm always delighted when anyone finds that their equipment (whatever it might be) meets their needs. We so often hear tales of woe and intrigue that one might wonder if satisfaction is even possible. Good show!

That being said, and with apologies for sounding like a nit-picker, but I wonder where OP finds highway slopes graded in degrees? I've never seen them thus described. Certainly the markers I HAVE seen along the highways and interstates have always spelled out the slope in percent, as feet of rise/fall per 100 feet of horizontal run. And the difference between a 6% slope as thus defined and a 6 degree slope is significant. My calculator tells me that a 6 degree slope is a 10.5% slope (and assuming this geezer remembers his trigonometry correctly, some 53 years after taking it), which would make the OP's experience really, really great.

So, my question to the OP is where, exactly, it was that he found that grade described as a 6 degree slope?

Got me there. My dad, physics and algebra teacher, and my family of engineers would disown me for this.

It is indeed 6% grade. Thanks for the clarification.

[Nunyadamn]

5000lbs? for a 17ft trailer? Are you sure that didn't include the 4runner?

[rexlion]

RTCastillo wrote:
Apprehensive at first. We can't get in and out of LA basin without passing the dreaded-white knuckle Grapevine-Tejon (14 miles - 6 degree grade), Cajon Pass (also 14 miles - 6 degrees) and Conejo.

In a Carpenteria trip, our first, we avoided Conejo uphill by taking the Malibu-I 10 route.

But can't with the Yosemite trip. Oh yeah, and snowed out.

Took the Grapevine-Tejon on a wing and a prayer. A pleasant surprise. Both downhill and uphill, the 4runner is in full control and way up with power to spare (on 3,400 rpm tops with no sign of over exertion).

I'm pulling a Coleman 17FQ (no kidding, you can't make this up) rated at 3,650 pounds and nearing 5,000 pounds loaded.

Cajon pass next - this time with more confidence on the way to North Rim Grand Canyon.

5000 lbs? The Dutchmen website shows a cargo weight capacity of just 645 lbs for the 17fq. Are you grossly overweight, or did the spec change?

[naturist]

Wonderful! I'm always delighted when anyone finds that their equipment (whatever it might be) meets their needs. We so often hear tales of woe and intrigue that one might wonder if satisfaction is even possible. Good show!

That being said, and with apologies for sounding like a nit-picker, but I wonder where OP finds highway slopes graded in degrees? I've never seen them thus described. Certainly the markers I HAVE seen along the highways and interstates have always spelled out the slope in percent, as feet of rise/fall per 100 feet of horizontal run. And the difference between a 6% slope as thus defined and a 6 degree slope is significant. My calculator tells me that a 6 degree slope is a 10.5% slope (and assuming this geezer remembers his trigonometry correctly, some 53 years after taking it), which would make the OP's experience really, really great.

So, my question to the OP is where, exactly, it was that he found that grade described as a 6 degree slope?

[Yosemite_Sam1]

coolmom42 wrote:
That Toyota V6 is a great engine. And the 4Runner suspension is well up to the task, obviously. Looks like you have a good combo!

It is and I'm realizing that now. Actually, almost ideal.

I first thought I've pushed it to the limit. And the TT with all the 7 beds and amenities seemed just right to even take some kids and family members.

Thanks!

[coolmom42]

That Toyota V6 is a great engine. And the 4Runner suspension is well up to the task, obviously. Looks like you have a good combo!

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Radial GT wrote:
4Runners are great rigs!

It is, I realized that now. I was thinking an upgrade to Sequioa or Land Cruiser with full knowledge I would burn more dough on gas.

At ease that my 4runner is more than adequate for the rig that I have.

Colorado soon, lol!

[Yosemite_Sam1]

DutchmenSport wrote:
Always a good thing to test the waters of your equipment a little at a time. Go slow experiencing different situations. Eventually you know the limits of what your rig is capable of. Good luck and happy traveling on your journeys.

And always remember, it's not always about the destination. The journey is just as important! Nothing like having a very pleasant "journey!" Enjoy! Remember, when the wife makes the comment, "Honey, we just passed a billbard advertising such and such. Can we stop?" by all means.... do! enjoy the moment.

Thanks! Always learning from the veterans, err, senior members out there. I appreciate your invaluable advise and tips.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

jerem0621 wrote:
Nice! I use to tow with a Kia Sorento (Not a TT) and it was pleasant how solid it always felt. Same with my Minivan (2014 Chrysler Town & Country). Use them in their ratings and they do a good Job!

Thanks!

Jeremiah

I wonder what these crossovers can pull.

[Radial_GT]

4Runners are great rigs!