Help with towing
 

I have a 97 4runner and tow a 1973 Fan travel trailer(16' I think). We have towed it a few times now and it tows ok but fully loaded up for camping I am concerned that I am pushing the limits of the runner's abilities. I am not positive on the weight of the trailer. I am trying to find the specs and not having much luck. The dry weight for the same trailer just a year older is 2400lbs. We don't carry liquids except for two small grill sized propane tanks. We have the normal stuff inside the trailer like dishes, bed linens etc. I would say only about 300-350# of stuff if that. She handles decent but not great. I want to make sure we aren't going to bust the runner towing. I am having trouble understanding the GVWR and all that. It seems I shouldn't have an issue with all the towing upgrades but we had some sway and trouble on bigger grades when we towed this week. We have a brake controller, and got the brakes done before we left. We have a weight distribution hitch but we weren't able to use this trip because the ball was too big for the hitch on the trailer. Any help would be greatly appreciated. We are open to getting a bigger truck but won't be able to for about a year.

If you have a V6 and a hitch installed, your tow limit is 5,000lbs, tongue weight limit is 500. If you're towing on the bumper it's 3500lbs. I'd say you're fine. I tow a trailer that probably weighs a similar amount.

You will prematurely wear out your truck. That's just the nature of towing. Ideally you'd have a bigger truck but you are within its limits. Sway is more often from bad weight distribution.

I have a 17' Bigfoot camper trailer, and it tows great. It's well balanced, and I've made sure to use the right "drop" on the ball to get the trailer level, or leaning just very slightly forward. If it's leaning back, it'll sway. If too much weight is in the back it'll sway. You need the right amount of tongue weight.

On most mountain passes, I'm in 3rd gear, 45mph, flashers on. I never go over 65mph. I never go up to 5th gear/overdrive.

As 83 says weight distribution is critical.
If your trailer weight is 3000 lbs then you need about 300 lbs on the tongue.

A short trailer can be tricky to balance.
You want more weight ahead of the trailer axle than behind, 60-40 is a good rule.

What engine and transmission do you have?

From google
The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), or gross vehicle mass (GVM) is the maximum operating weight/mass of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer including the vehicle's chassis, body, engine, engine fluids, fuel, accessories, driver, passengers and cargo but excluding that of any trailers

it's a '97 SR5 Limited V6 4x2, auto 4speed w/od

You can check your owners manual for the tow limits.

You are fine. All comments above re tongue weight are relevant. Just add a little more air to the trailer tires and T4R and you should be smooth sailing.