I was always under the impression--from reading reviews, that the 03 4runners (V6 and V8) both had the same towing capacity--5000lbs. Last night while reading through the owner's manual, here are the numbers it states:

1GR-FE engine (V6)
2WD without towing package: 5300lb
with towing package: 6700lb

4WD without towing package: 5000lb
with towing package: 6400lb

2UZ-FE engine (V8)
2WD: 7300lb
4WD: 7000lb

That is straight out of the manual. Is this news to anyone else, or just me?

 

That had me wondering, too. My dealer says the new hitch coming soon will up the tow ratings to those in the manual. It will be a dealer installed option and retrofit using the current receiver as part of the support. Sounds something like the setup on Montero.

 

So you're saying that they can not handle those weights from the factory? I never read anything in the manual that said you have to use a different hitch. That doesn't make sense. I'm not bashing you in any way, I'm just trying to figure out why they would specify those weights in the manual if they are wrong?

 

Also, what exactly does the towing package consist of? The transmission cooler? I noticed it doesn't say anything about the towing package on the V8 models, and I think the V8 comes standard with the tranny cooler.

 

Just to add to the confusion, when I was configuring different models before ordering, there was no towing package available for either the V6 or V8 on the Gulf States web site configurator (http://www.shopatgst.com). Is it possible that the manual is outdated?

 

The Towing Package, standard on the V-8, consists of the engine and tranny oil coolers, plus (I think) the wiring harness connector for electric brakes.

Even when the new hitch arrives, I can't say for sure what it's rating will be, despite what my dealer says. I've read in other sources that the rating will increase, but to 6,500# with the V-8 4WD, not 7,000# listed in the manual. Factory rating with the hitch currently supplied is 5,000#.

 

a shot in the dark would be that they are using class III hitches that have a max capacity of 500lb tongue weight and 5000lb total weight.

To get closer to the 750/7000lb ratings they will have to order a class IV.

with most class 3 and class 4 hitches you can use a weight distribution hitch to up the class 3 rating to 1000/10,000 and 1200/12000 if my memory holds up. Is this the case or is toyota STILL saying that they dont recommend weight distro. hitches?

Steve

 

I know Toyota's web site says 5,000 is the max towing weight.

I think I also read somewhere that the reason you can't use the wieght distribution attachments is because of the X-REAS suspension.