4toy89

I have looked around on the web and what not and have found that the towing capacity is rated for 5 to 6k on the truck but I was wondering if someone has had personal experience towing larger loads with their 4runner. I'm thinking about buying a trailer to tow my 65 mustang and wanted to use my 4runner to tow but was wondering how it would do. I've towed before with my old 22re and that thing would damn near pull anything. Not very well but it never gave up.

93toyrunner2

I had a recent experience with a rod that decided to go about 200 miles from home on my 2001 4Runner 5VZE auto. I rented a U-haul full car carrier trailer and pulled it home with my 1993 4Runner 4X4 3VZE 5 speed. Problems during tow - a little brake chatter during braking, and forget about using cruise control if you are traveling in an area with any hills. Otherwise, no problems to report.

4toy89

So you pulled your 01 back with your 93? Am I reading that correctly? I pulled a 99 4runner with my 22re about 15 miles. It wasn't on a trailer it was just with a tow rope but it never gave up on it. My mustang only weighs around 3k I'm guessing so with a trailer and car I should be around 4k.... The 3rd gen 4runners are Dailey heavy if I'm not mistaken. Do you know what they weigh?

93toyrunner2

Yes, I had to tow the 2001 with the 93... I decided to use a yellow bottle oil instead of Castrol one day, and have regretted it ever since.
I will check the exact weight of the 2001 when I get back to the house later on today.

4toy89

That sucks big time. It's not super important I was just guessing that your 01 probably weighs alot more then my 65 mustang. So I should have no trouble st all pulling it besides getting 8 mpg lol

93toyrunner2

The 2001 weight is 5250 lbs.

NJRunner86

The pulling part of the tow isn't what you are going to have to worry about. It's the stopping that will be more of a concern. The earlier 4runners don't really have the brake setup to handle stopping heavy loads.

Having said that, you should be ok as long as you take it slow and give yourself plenty of room/time to stop.

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Call Uhaul. They will tell you.

IMO your 4Runner is too small to tow especially stop a trailer with a vehicle on it.

:wabbit2:

MaK92-4RnR

I wouldnt tow anything more than an offroad trailer/tent trailer with mine. I wouldnt suggest anything bigger either, Unless you have a lift, air bags and a 3.4 or other chevy motor pulling it.

4toy89

I used to tow about 3000 to 3500 with my 88 22re and that was pushing it on the brakes and the transmission. Does the V6 model have a much stronger transmission and braking system? or is it fairly similar?

MaK92-4RnR

the brakes are enlarged and the transmission is an r151/r150 ( i forget the code, its one of those ) and its claimed to be stronger. the rear differential is stronger too.

Greg_Canada

Slightly upgraded front brakes and much stronger tranny.

Upgrade to QUALITY vented/slotted rotors and hawk LTS pads, you will get better braking

Another set-up for better braking, is added T100 calipers and rotors.

WORMS

I have hauled a 14 ft trailer with over 5000 lbs many times with my 3.4 toy... you just cant stop fast

4toy89

Thanks for the help. It wont be something i do frequently i just wanted to know if the rig could handle it if i needed too. It sounds like i shouldnt have a problem, especially after i add my intake, exhaust and headers. I was a little owrried about towing and heat issues with the 3.0 but not after i do these mods.

4toy89

I also have hauled a 03 jetta tdi with my 99 auto 4runner (sold it) using a dolly trailer and ended up shredding the fly wheel. It looked like someone cut a perfect star out of the middle of the thing. My mechanic said that he had never seen anything like it with a toyota. So having that happen gave me a little concern but i also factored in that it was an automatic tranny and may not have been as durable as toyotas manual tranny's

Team420

I towed my 92 4runner on a uhual traler behind my 93 4runner , I towed it about 40 miles to my house, at the time, I lived at the top of a large steep hill, she got up the hill no prob, just couldnt get above 20 mph... lol
I also towed this same rig with my 93 down that hill when I moved out.... that was a bit different.... after a couple corners those brakes started to heat up, and got less effective with every corner, I made it safely, just had to use low gear and crawl down the hill.
So as others have said.... make sure you have plenty of room to slow down, and if in steep terrain, get something else to tow it with.

fishtruck28

plan out your route go around obstacles and avoid city driving if possible
(drive it like its a 18 wheeler, slow!)

sb5walker

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=332491
http://www.sherline.com/lmbook.htm

riptide

What exactly do you guys consider "towing". Are you guys flooring the throttle to pull some of these heavy things? Or are you able to cruise at a safe 60mph with about 50-75% throttle? I have 1995 170k auto 3vze pickup truck 4x4, and it seemed to struggle with 1600 pounds at about 65% throttle going 58mph.

Reason I ask is because that 1600 pounds was a empty 7x12 enclosed trailer. I do motorcycle racing on the side and have just filled that trailer to roughly 2500-2700 pounds. I'm wondering if my Toy will be able to pull it from Richmond, VA to Alton, VA at a steady 60mph without blowing the motor up... I'm also wondering if I can keep it and always tow this trailer when going to the track, again without throwing a rod. The truck is in awesome shape, the motor is good (apart from the normal valve ticking). Nothing but the best oil, either full synth royal purple or Rotella, and treated tranny fluid.

Here's a pic:

markfagus

I will be watching this for some informed opinions. I have a 88 3.0 AUTO that has a hitch on it. I am wondering if I would have any issue pulling a pop up camp trailer weighing approx 1700 lbs.
I would be ok adding an external transmission cooler if that is the only issue.

My truck is totally stock, no mods other than a bar on the front end

Thoughts????


Mark