Oh yeah, Toyota recommends against using a weight distributing hitch.

 

What? Where did you read this? I think you must be taking this out of context. I think if you are using a weight distributing hitch as a justification for exceeding the GVWR then that is an accurate statement. But just broadly recommending against the use of a wd hitch, no way. Even a 3000 pound load I would have the wd hitch hooked up. It allows me to increase the tongue weight and greatly improves overall handling. I explain the difference to people this way: The wd hitch makes the tow rig and trailer/load feel more like one big vehicle instead of a tow rig attached to a trailer.

 

If you are talking about an occasional thing--just to move here to there I think you will be fine. Must haves 1. Trailer brakes in tip top condition (4Runner too of course) 2. Transmission cooler 3. Prodigy brake controller 4. weight distributing hitch with sway control 5. OD left OFF 6. Patience 7. Keep speed to 60 mph or even less. If you have to live in the thing I would get the biggest thing I could tow and lighten it as much as possible before moving it.

 

I'll find where I read this, but I'm pretty sure it was in the owners manual.

 

I got this PM from another forum. An RV forum... So I think I will look into that range. And if it won't pull it, then I guess my boss will have to pull it down on his F250 PS after he gets done pulling his 39' FW.

 

I used to tow my 21 foot wakeboard boat (total weight approx 5000 lbs loaded) and will never do it again. I ended up completley blowing out my rear end and bending both my rear axels. However, I did tow it way too much and on diffucult terrain (over mountain passes, pot-holed dirt roads, steep and questionable launch ramps etc..) You may be ok if you are more careful than I was or at least more aware. I didn;t think twice about it untill I heard clunking from the rear and my runner wouldn't move anymore. Just a word of caution from somebody that learned the hard way.....

 

Man, I can't imagine how must abuse that 8" must have taken for that to happen; the one piece Toyota housings flex less under load than most Chevy 3/4 ton units.


Jeremy--I would highly consider finding a trailer with a dry weight closer to 3,500 lbs. By the time you add your camping gear, food, water, bicycles, etc totaling 1,000 pounds, you will still have a 500 pound reserve before hitting the max tow limit. Get what you want, but a lighter trailer will make your trips less stressful on yourself and your 4Runner.

Have you looked at R-Vision's Trail-Lite series? They're lighter than the Zeppelins and *really* light if you get the "expandable" models. (Expandables have fold-down queen beds at the ends of the trailer--sort of a hybrid between a hardshell trailer and a tent trailer.) I considered buying one a while back--quality is great and they're very space efficient and extremely light.

Ken

 

I will look into those R-Vision's. I would like to find one of the one's with the rear queen slide (they have hard sides) to make up a little footage. Maybe an 18' with rear slide. I got a post on that RV forum of a taco owner. I just need to keep searching all the models.

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The advantage the Tacoma is the rear leaf spring suspension which sags less and has more stability for towing.