2003 upgraded hitch

[morry]

I have been off the boards for a while. Has anyone either made the switch or have information on upgrading the earlier 5000 pound hitch to the newer 7500 pound one?

I have a 2003 Limited V-8.

Thanks,
Morry

[hornedfrog]

Originally Posted by morry

I have been off the boards for a while. Has anyone either made the switch or have information on upgrading the earlier 5000 pound hitch to the newer 7500 pound one?

I have a 2003 Limited V-8.

Thanks,
Morry

All V8 4runners built on or after 5/1/2003 Have the upgraded hitch, they also upgraded the towing capacity from 5000 to 7500. Has something to do with the trany. Need to look at the manufature date of your runner. This is one of the features I waited for before buying mine. Thier is no use upgrading really unless your truck was made after 5/2003. But then again if it was then it should have the better hitch already installed as OEM. Hope this is helpful.

[kaneman78]

Originally Posted by hornedfrog

All V8 4runners built on or after 5/1/2003 Have the upgraded hitch, they also upgraded the towing capacity from 5000 to 7500. Has something to do with the trany. Need to look at the manufature date of your runner. This is one of the features I waited for before buying mine. Thier is no use upgrading really unless your truck was made after 5/2003. But then again if it was then it should have the better hitch already installed as OEM. Hope this is helpful.

Where did you get your info on them upgrading the transmission?

[hornedfrog]

Originally Posted by kaneman78

Where did you get your info on them upgrading the transmission?

From my Toyota Dealer and the Toyota website. They have changed the website from 03 to 04 so it is no longer giving specs and capacities for the 03's. It was written in fine print under the capacities section under 4 runner. You really had to look close to see it. I do not think it was an upgrade but a minor modification so the 5 speed trany could tow a load as big as 7300 lbs. I asked my dealer in the early spring if they were going to move the towing weight up with the v8 because it was rated as the same as the v6. Thats when they informed me to wait 6 months and for sure they would have it out for the late 03 model year. Its one of those things were Toyota wanted to release the new runner but didnt want to wait another year to wait on the engineers and PD. If you remember the V6 was not available tell late 02 or even early 03.

[CD]

Question: Where does it say on the vehicle what the towing capacity is? My 03' with V8 has the hitch before the upgrade, but the manual says that my towing capacity is 7,500 pounds for v8 motors and 5,000 ponds for v6 motors.

[KLS]

You guys are really pushing the envelope.

I'm not at all sure a 4Runner is long enough, wide enough, nor heavy enough to safely control a 5000# trailer, much less a 7500# trailer. And, it depends greatly on the type of trailer. A low utility trailer loaded with bricks weighing 5000# is a very different tow from a big ultra-light travel trailer that weights 5k# and acts like a huge kite when a semi or Greyhound blasts past.


Ken

[hornedfrog]

Originally Posted by CD

Question: Where does it say on the vehicle what the towing capacity is? My 03' with V8 has the hitch before the upgrade, but the manual says that my towing capacity is 7,500 pounds for v8 motors and 5,000 ponds for v6 motors.

It sould say on your sticker. I know mine did. The manual is not a good place for this information. If you have any doubts contact your toyota dealer and have them run your VIN to see if you have the Modified tranny. If you manufature date is May 03 then you probably have the 7500 lb towing available even though I would not tow at that weight. I would add the weight of the trailer and the truck with the weight of cargo and people in the truck. Take that number and make sure not to exceed the Max Total gross towing weight of your runner. which is around 11000 to 12000 lbs total. Also remember that these trucks are designed as passenger vehicles and not every day work towing at the max range. If you want your runner to last I would not tow at the maximum for very long if at all.

[Good Times]

Originally Posted by hornedfrog

From my Toyota Dealer and the Toyota website. They have changed the website from 03 to 04 so it is no longer giving specs and capacities for the 03's. It was written in fine print under the capacities section under 4 runner. You really had to look close to see it. I do not think it was an upgrade but a minor modification so the 5 speed trany could tow a load as big as 7300 lbs. I asked my dealer in the early spring if they were going to move the towing weight up with the v8 because it was rated as the same as the v6. Thats when they informed me to wait 6 months and for sure they would have it out for the late 03 model year. Its one of those things were Toyota wanted to release the new runner but didnt want to wait another year to wait on the engineers and PD. If you remember the V6 was not available tell late 02 or even early 03.

From my understanding, the only change made was the hitch. It wouldn't make sense to make any changes to the tranny itself...
As for the upgraded hitch, the only thing you will know if whether you have it or not. The fastest way to check is look at your driver side panel's sticker. It'll state the info there.

I personally don't see why you would want to tow more than 5000# but some people feel the need so

[Nevin]

Originally Posted by Good Times

From my understanding, the only change made was the hitch. It wouldn't make sense to make any changes to the tranny itself...
As for the upgraded hitch, the only thing you will know if whether you have it or not. The fastest way to check is look at your driver side panel's sticker. It'll state the info there.

I personally don't see why you would want to tow more than 5000# but some people feel the need so

Just got an 03 SR5 V8 4runner (built in 02). Would like to tow over 5000# (fewer trips to the mountains to get firewood). I hope you're right and it's not the tranny. Is there an upgrade to the receiver to increase my tow capacity? I bought a new receiver from the dealer - it's different, but they couldn't tell me if it accounted for an extra 2000# towing.