so i'd really like to get a small popup camper (2 double beds, no queen sized)this season, and i'm thinking i can get some better deals if i buy it in winter. . . .aka now. i just got a little 22re with a 5 speed. it already has oversized tires with no gearing change (i have 32 x 11.5 x 15 BFG AT's). i can easily go 80-ish on the freeway without much effort as is, and i do every day while commuting. but i dunno about while towing a camper. a few years ago i was able to tow a 20 foot speed boat around town without too much problems, but i never attempted to get on the freeway, i think i topped out at like 35-40mph. i have no idea how much it weighed, and i had no idea how much a small popup camper would weigh either. also, these brakes are weak by today's standards. i can lock up my tires if i stomp on them, but i dunno if i'd need to add trailer brakes or something.

so, what do you think? can i do it? or should i wait till i upgrade trucks (i have no idea how long it'll be till i upgrade trucks, it could be several more years).

 

Go for it, realistically how often are you going to be towing it? I would buy a light one though, say 1000-1500 pounds, I know they can weigh 3000+ pounds, which is heavier than the 4runner itself.

 

I tow my 18' fiberglass in board ski boat, the boat and trailer, roughly 3000 pounds. I can run the speed limit on the interstate, but must downshift on hills. I can stop, but I have not had a panic stop yet with the boat. I just take it safe and avoid rush hour if possible.

I have a '87 22re 5 speed 4Runner.

 

You will not have any problem on the hiway, but if you start to get into hills, it will bogg you down a bit....watch your temp gauge when in the hills pulling your pop up!

 

Didnt they make uhaul-boxtrucks and motorhomes with toyota 22re's, so yeah it should pull it due to the torque it can put out, but like any vehicle you start pulling something, you start heating everything up more.

 

If you had one of the older ones then you'd have no problems.
Idk the weight on the newer ones.
Also you might invest in a towing kit or something, because towing off of the bumper is a very bad idea...

 

You should have no problem pulling the pop-up. But if you have the option to purchase one with its own brakes do so (regardless of weight). Also if your brakes feel weak it might be time to check/replace/upgrade. Its always more important to be able to stop than be able to tow at 100 miles per hour

 

Nope. They were all V6's, 1 ton rated at that.

 

Plain and simple, you will experience problems pulling a trailer. Simple physics tells you so. Adding mass will require more torque to move it. Imagine putting an extra 2000 pounds in the back of your truck... a trailer would do nearly as much.

For safety reasons I recommend operational brakes on a trailer, regardless of the towing capacity of the tow vehicle, if the trailer may weigh more than 750 pounds. Braking is arguably the most important safety feature of any vehicle and anything that reduces the braking capacity of a vehicle affects the safe driving environment of the vehicle.

 

not sure what you mean about the "older ones." i have an 89 4runner (1st gen).

also, i have the proper heavy duty (class 3?) tow hitch, so no worries there.

 

It should do okay depending on weight. All summer I tow around our really heavy exmark zero turn mower on a 5x12 trailer and it does okay. The mower weights 1200lbs and the trailer is probably 500lbs or better. Sure it takes longer to stop, and driving on wet roads is a scarry thing. Also, forget interstate speeds if they are as hilly as it is here. But, if you dont mind limping around the back roads you should be fine, its more scenic that way any how..

 

I have a 3VZE engine V6 4X4 with good sized tires, but wanted to share my experience.

I tow a pop up trailer with queen and king bed. It is rather long about 2200-2500 lbs. I have trailer brakes and I wired up my own truck to support those brakes.

Living in California, we have some good sized hills. The trucks with trailers here are restricted, for the most part, to 55 mph. As such, I keep within the range of this speed. The truck seems to do fine. Now for steeper grades(I cant give you a grade reading, but if I had to guess 22 or 25 degress, I tend to run on third gear. I keep it on third and push it hard. My truck is manual so I was told not to worry about trans cooler. So far climbing grades is not an issue.

I have to agree with previous post. I prefer being able to stop than being able to climb the hill. I'm a proponent of trailer brakes.

Oh, I plan to get the Air lift 1000. With my trailer, you would laugh how much it leans back with the kids in the back and my truck pulling the trailer.

I hope I added some value.
cheers.

 

Tow with it like it is, and if you don't like it go find you some 4Runner gears... 4:30's, 4:56s or 4:88s...

You're running about a 3:70 gear right now... And you know these trucks don't like bigger tires...

If you want it to tow better just use some of your stereo money, I don't see the big deal?

 

My 2WD 22RE has been the strongest runner out of me and all my friends. I've towed home a D50 drift truck 187 miles on the highway, with not too much problem. My buddy was steering it behind me tho, and he was using his own brakes, so I don't know about that. I also towed my buddy's 95 BMW 318ti. That this is pretty heavy, and my truck had a tough(er) time going up hills, but it still made it. Also towed my friends 87 Starion a few miles home with no problems. Other than that, I've only hauled my dirt bike and fully loaded camp gear.

 

I have been impressed towing our TT with Little Red. It DOES have surge brakes which I try to keep in working order.

 

They did make the motorhomes dual rear wheels with the 22re, been looking at a few. Only thing I have not liked was they were all automatics.

I've loaded down the bed of my 85 2wd and pulled a 5x8 trailer with a mid sized load (trailer 400# with about 700# load) on it over 2000 miles a few times. Stops very well, no being pulled around by the trailer. Have no thought letting my daughter drive out on the freeway running 70-80 with the big rigs while I'm in the bed with a camper shell asleep.

So with a light pop-up and some weight in the bed of the truck I see it being very doable.

I have pulled stuff like this when my dually was loaded with heavy stuff and we only needed a few more boards.



Would not want to go 2000 miles with that trailer but if you leave room to stop, and drive right it goes really good. That truck is a 200,000+ mile 22re. Just remember when you load a trailer make sure there is weight on the tongue so it is pushing the trucks rear tires down on the ground well but not too much. If it is pulling up on the rear of the truck (trailer louded heavy on the rear) you are sure to wreck on the first down hill you hit.