Apparently V6 4runners have a 1650 lb. payload capacity and 4cyls have over 1800 lb. capacity.
Specs
Thats over 3/4 ton! In comparison a 2000 Blazer can carry 1200 lbs. I don't know how they calculate those numbers, but I wouldn't feel very safe carrying that kind of weight. Trying to stop with five people onboard is scary enough, I couldn't imagine doing it fully loaded. What could you carry that weighs that much? Yourself and 17 90 lb. bags of concrete? Two Big Block Chevy motors and some spare parts?
Plus the rear axles are not the full floating kind you find on true 3/4 ton pickups.
But I always thought it strange that this truck uses 6 lug nuts when it really only needs 5.

I don't think its to smart to carry a lot of weight in a SUV, wagon or van because in a accident your load will turn you into hamburger.

My record is 800lbs of people and cargo and it was slooow accelerating and not fun braking.

 

Why does the 4 cyl have a higher payload capacity than the v6? Was there a typo?

 

I've also carried 800 pounds. In fact, it made my rear suspension bottom out and ruined my stock springs. A set of LC springs and I'm back in business. I won't carry anything over 500 pounds from now on.

 

Im guessing, but they both (4cyl and 6cyl) have the same brakes, suspension and frame so since the 4cyl weighs less that savings in weight goes to the payload.

 

I have only had around 800 lbs total (including passenger weight) in the 4Runner and I tried to distribute pretty evenly between front and rear. That was all of our camping gear, two bikes, food, 2 cases of water, and us.

I can tell you that I felt like I was driving and big rig with the way it felt like it was accelerating. Although it handled the mountains in AZ and NM pretty well and we still managed to get about 19.6 MPG.

 

400 pounds or so with new bumper and bricks, I have seen a 4runner towing a full sized truck before. and other runners towing huge sport yachts by searay.. mostly the 30 footers but nothing bigger

 

I had 770lbs of quickrete in the back of mine and the OME's held up just fine (you could definetly tell there was some weight back there while driving though). A 4runner can easily carry 5 people and maybe 400-500 lbs of cargo while still driving pretty normally, its the weight distribution that makes a big difference too.

 

Yes, thats pretty much standard procedure. It is ironic that the truck with the weaker engine can carry more weight.

 

The payload is calculated through gross weight. So Gerdo is correct. The 4 cyl weighs less so that means a larger payload. It has nothing to do with the power of the engine.

I've carried probably a 1000 pounds of people and gear. I blew out my airshocks and bottomed out the whole way home. But it was under warranty.