jeremys73

I will be selling my '90 Toyota Dolphin soon and buying a travel trailer. I think the rated towing weight is 5000lbs. Is this correct? ('98, 3.4l, Auto, 4.10s)

I'm looking at the Zeppelin (by Keystone) in the 25ft range, among others with similiar weight/length. LINK

That model weighs in at 3,890lbs (dry) w/460lb hitch weight.

I will also be getting 4.30 gears in about two weeks, and may look into the tundra rotors. Does anyone know what the '99 limited (w/4.30s) is rated to pull?

4Mogger

Can it pull the trailer, yes. Can it be considered safe to do so, not in my opinion.
Before you could even consider hooking it up, you would need a weight distributing hitch and a huge cooler for the transmission. Don't even think about letting the transmission access overdrive.
Your main problem is a very short wheelbase. And even though the 4Runner is rated for 5000, that means 5000 pounds total-- including gear and passengers. With anything at all in that trailer, (water, pots and pans, propane tanks full, etc.) you will be way over the limit.

Road Head

By the time you get that thing loaded, you will be near or even over the rated weight. Be careful. I do not know much at all about towing. I will be towing a 3400 lb, 21' boat, but I only have to go 1.5 miles to the boat ramp.

Here is a thread which may help some:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=443215

snap-on

boy thats a lot of trailer.

it may not weight ALLL that much but its a lot to drag behind you (air wise)

460lbs hitch weight is a lot of hitch weight. (in toyota terms)

your gonna need OME heavy duty springs (or simular) or air bags. A GOOD trailer brake controler, an aftermarket tranny cooler, perhaps a weight distrubiting hitch.

I had upwards of 4K behind my truck in the form of a (bring it home) ready mix trailer with like 1.7 yards of concreet in it. I have a 5speed in my truck and it took some doing to get er going and stopped.

jeremys73

That's what I was afraid of... the short wheelbase of the 4runner. The RV people say the rule of thumb is 80% of the rated pulling capacity (80%of 5000=4000)... But da^# that trailer looked big next to it.

I probably won't pull it that often. Mostly just to jobsites aound the state for 2-8 months at a time... Not really for Camping, but some camping occaisionally. I actually prefer tent camping.

What do you think if I had the 4.30s, Tundra rotors, and one of those equalizing hitches. I probably wouldnt load much weight on the front and leave tanks empty to move it. Or maybe just look at smaller ones?
The smallest one is a 19 footer (22.5' total length) #3280 (dry) Hitch #460

miket223

Sometimes you just really need a bigger truck.

jeremys73

Hey, this dude is pulling one with a NISSAN, then one dude has a Nissan pathfinder... they say it pulls it. http://www.rv.net/forums/index.cfm/f...d/17107989.cfm

Jeffires

The 4.30s will definitely help, tranny cooler is essential, and if your going to have to pull this occassionally, I'd go all out on brake upgrades on your truck, and, like snap-on said, be damn sure the trailer brakes are working properly. It's no fun pulling loads like this, but sometimes necessary. In high school and college, I pulled around a 35 hp International tractor with other equipment to work, but mainly short trips.
Good luck

jacksonpt

Braking is going to be a HUUUUUGE issue for you. Also, give some real thought to what kind crap you're going ot put in that baby before you hook it up to your truck. Dry weight might be under toyota specs, but how often are you going to tow it that way?

Can it, probably... should you? I wouldn't.

02SE

It will do it, but to make it as safe as possible, use a weight distributing hitch, (as previously stated) a sway control device, and a good trailer brake set-up.

I'd consider some stronger LT rated tires too. Of course an aftermarket tranny cooler wouldn't be a bad idea either.

All 3rd gen. V6 4Runners are rated at 5000 lbs.

I know of someone that pulls a 6000 lb. boat/trailer combo without any trouble. But they also use their head, and are careful when driving.

They routinely pull that load 350 miles one way, to go boating.

miket223

I'd glady pull a 6k# boat over a 4k# camper if given a choice. A camper's profile makes it a much tougher pull than the heavier boat that has less wind drag. If both have brakes on the trailer, and they should, then stopping would be no problem on either.

jeremys73

I probably will only pull it a few times a year, maybe 150 miles, In Oklahoma (ie. No big or small mountains) I've been searching quite a lot of these trailers. You can get them a lot shorter, but I would prefer driving careful and having more room. And they don;t really get much lighter. This Zeppelin model is aluminum framed, slide-out, is lower to the ground than most and has Independent suspension w/tandem axles. The shortest in this model is the Z191 (19') But it weighs close to the 24'.
Z 191 Weight=3280 Overall Length=22' 5"
Z 241 Weight=3890 Overall Length=24' 11"

The other model I'm looking at has the rear queen slides.
Aerolite 21QS Weight=3486 Overall Length=24' 4"

The thing is, even the 18 footers are the same overall length
Aerolite 18FS Weight=3486 Overall Length=24' 4"

Not really any other brands get any lighter or shorter, unless you get into the hybrids (tents) or popups (tents)... As far as hard walled trailers go, this is about as small as they get.

JHupp

Have a pic?????? of the trailer that is. Does it need electronic brakes??? I have a 16' Haul Mark dual axle cargo trailer, and my Runner is rated to pull it, but I won't I went around the block, with 4 quads, 2 dirt bikes, and camping gear in the back, even with my OME 981s in the back, it sagged sooooo damn low, and did not have the power.

jeremys73

How much was your hitch weight with that set up? The Zeppelin 24' has four 10" electric brakes standard.

Here it is behind a ford


Interior (one of the nicest in its "lightweight" class)

Homer666

Hi; I went through the same issues when I bought an 18 ft Shadow Cruiser. Here is the thread. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...trailer+towing

BTW, I am very pleased with the towing situation but definitely would not want to tow any heavier or longer trailer in the mountains or off-road.

James

jeremys73

cool, thanks for the link...
I think it may pull it, for only pulling it maybe twice a year. I will continue to search other trailers and would appreciate anymore advice/wisdom.

But what gets me is that this GUY is pulling around one just as heavy (Zeppelin 190 with Weight#3820, Hitch weight#570, length=22'5") with a KIA Sorento rated to pull 3500#

I emailed him and asked how well it pulls it.

JHupp

My hitch was rated to 5500 I belive(standard 3rd gen OEM hitch), but I don't remember, it has sinced been junked. I only pull with my 250 now. The truck felt very very sluggish when I was pulling with it, and the ass end, even with OME 891s sagged very low. I have seen people pull comparable trailers to the one I had with Rangers and such, but it really isn't good for the truck. The weight of the trailer, filled at max capacity was 8500lbs, my guess is 4 quads= 1300lbs, 2bikes=400lbs, trailer=about 2000lbs or so(I dont remembers) and just to be safe 600lbs for gear Came out to be about 4500lbs. I am used to towing with an F250 or 350 with a tow package(brake controller, tranny cooler, etc.) I don't want to tell you not to do it, as you may like it, and the truck is very close to the rating. Make sure you install a transmission cooler and the electric brakes if you do want to pull it, IMO though you will definately notice it is a lot slower without a 5.0L V8 or higher.(The thing acts as a sail basically)

KyleT

all i know is my hitch is oem and i only rated for 3500 lbs, and they mean only that much.

dragr1

iTrader: (3)

I wouldn't pull a 25' travel trailer b/c of the overall length and frontal area. Technically it would pull it and with good electric brakes it would stop fine, but you would be only one twitch away from disaster with that length. Now, I have seen plenty of people do it, I just personally would not. I currently tow a 19' popup that weighs about 3700 pounds when loaded. It is a "highwall" model, so it is much taller than most popups when in tow. I pull this just fine with no twitching or weaving and it stops just great with electric brakes and a Prodigy brake controller. I also have a friction sway controller to control the sway. I have often thought about a travel trailer-the lightweight models like you are looking at, but I would not feel comfortable towing them with my 4Runner.

JHupp

hmmm, just check my buddy's '0 and his hitch is rated to 5klbs, odd, I thought all of them were the same, I kinda wouldnt pull it unless you had a stronger hitch, transmission cooler, electronic brakes, and springs that are stiffer than stock, just my .02