4th Generation 4runner towing experiences/stories

[Pitbull]

Who has towed what/where with the new 4runner? What size trailer and what was your experience. Planning on moving a few thousand miles away and will be taking several pets and other stuff I don't want a mover to touch. What did you do to prepare your 4runner?

Thanks

[04DSGTUNDRA]

I helped family move with our v8 4-runner. Towed a 14 ft. open trailer, loaded it up pretty good, plus loaded the inside of the 4runner. Towed pretty nice, i'm sure you wont have a problem, word of advice, dont follow to closely, as it takes longer to stop...... good luck!!!

[RockyMtnRay]

Originally Posted by Pitbull

Who has towed what/where with the new 4runner? What size trailer and what was your experience. Planning on moving a few thousand miles away and will be taking several pets and other stuff I don't want a mover to touch. What did you do to prepare your 4runner?

Thanks

Keep the total trailer weight under about 5000 lbs, the trailer length under about 20 feet, and be sure the trailer has some kind of brakes...surge work just fine for a one time trip. Towing a trailer that weighs over about 1000 lbs without trailer brakes is like playing Russian Roulette...your stopping distances get so long that even with a lot of prudent driving, there's a very good chance some idiot will pull in front of you then slam on their brakes, and you'll smash into them. And you'll immediately be "at fault". UHaul trailers have surge brakes...if you don't/won't use a UHaul, make sure the trailer has some kind of good brakes.

[khaug]

Originally Posted by Pitbull

Who has towed what/where with the new 4runner? What size trailer and what was your experience. Planning on moving a few thousand miles away and will be taking several pets and other stuff I don't want a mover to touch. What did you do to prepare your 4runner?

Thanks

Excellent advice from Ray! I've towed a car on an open trailer (~4,000#) for 10,000 miles with our '03 Limited. It's an excellent tow vehicle. Be sure you descend grades in a lower gear that lets you avoid using the brakes. Load the trailer so it has 10% or so of the weight on the tongue (i.e., 4,000 total trailer = 400# tongue weight).

Expect ~14 mpg, depending on trailer weight and aerodynamics. Don't worry about stuff like tranny or coolant temp - Toyota takes care of that for you. Take it easy - don't push. Leave at least twice the usual distance between you and the car ahead. Make wide turns. 65 mph is a good cruising speed.

Good luck!

-Karl