I am surprised a 3k lb boat gave you that much of an issue with a 3rd gen, but the 4th gen is a lot more rig.

The hills are pretty steep. A few years back I was towing my sons supra in on a car dolly with about 1" of snow on the ground and did not make it up the first hill. The truck started sliding backwards even in 4wd and I almost lost truck, trailer and car over the edge of the embankment. At the last minute, I just hit the gas hard and the tires dugg down and stopped it all. Trailer and car were hanging over the edge by this time. We ran into the bush, grabbed logs and blocked the wheels.No tow truck would come there to help as they could not get around us to get higher and winch us out. I hiked into the cottage and 9" of snow fell that night. The next day, a friendly local business man I knew, drove his bull dowxer 5 miles through the bush and pulled us out. Apparently it is not good for the tracks to drive that far. I gave him $250 for his troubles. He pulled us to the top of the hill and we pushed the car off the dolly and into the bush where it sat until spring. Unlatched the trailer, turned the truck around, hooked up the trailer and drove out. What a weekend! I learned my lesson. no towing there during snow season.

Power aside, the V8 is set up to tow better from the factory including hitch, trailer brake plug and factory pigtail, not to mention that extra gear in the early models. IMO that's the single biggest reason to go for a V8 above the 6. Otherwise, departed continues until the end of time with no real loser.

Word of caution- on some EARLY EARLY V8 models I have seen them saddled with the wimpier hitch, although they did still have the plug for a big trailer out back and the pig tail harness for controller up front.

Early v6 models had a 4 speed, V8 a 5. Nobody is speaking about what sort of engine you need in a 4runner to haul a car up an icy slope. Its been established that a bulldozer or like track vehicle is the answer there.

Your nonsensical take on hitches doesn't help anything. I'll simply state that there is a difference in the hitches between the v6 and v8 and having more of your load distributed more forward, because of the better hitch design, makes for a more safe and stable ride if you have a heavy load behind you.

The hills are pretty steep. A few years back I was towing my sons supra in on a car dolly with about 1" of snow on the ground and did not make it up the first hill. The truck started sliding backwards even in 4wd and I almost lost truck, trailer and car over the edge of the embankment. At the last minute, I just hit the gas hard and the tires dugg down and stopped it all. Trailer and car were hanging over the edge by this time. We ran into the bush, grabbed logs and blocked the wheels.No tow truck would come there to help as they could not get around us to get higher and winch us out. I hiked into the cottage and 9" of snow fell that night. The next day, a friendly local business man I knew, drove his bull dowxer 5 miles through the bush and pulled us out. Apparently it is not good for the tracks to drive that far. I gave him $250 for his troubles. He pulled us to the top of the hill and we pushed the car off the dolly and into the bush where it sat until spring. Unlatched the trailer, turned the truck around, hooked up the trailer and drove out. What a weekend! I learned my lesson. no towing there during snow season.

Your ignorance would be better kept to yourself rather than broadcast to the masses. There is a difference in their design and attachment. I only know because I have been under both, side by side and visually verified it. Why must you pour out garbage into public domain? Is this some sort of pissing contest you're in by yourself? Consider yourself the winner (and loser) if so.