I want to tow with my 4Runner- what mods? (1 Viewer)

[LukeZero]

I have a 1998 4Runner Limited with 193K miles on it. I also have an FJ40 based buggy that, while street legal, is a pain to drive any distance. If I'd purchase a tandem axle car hauler (approximate weight 1500-2000 lbs), and put the buggy on it (approximate weight 3250 lbs)- I'd be exceeding the recommended towing capacity of the 4Runner. Obviously I'd need a class 3 hitch, and I'd need to install a trailer braking control. The rear coils are sagging with no real weight in the truck- so I'd think about upgrading the rear coils to better cope with some tongue weight.

The places I'd go with this setup are within 2-3 hours (ie 120 miles), with no mountains or even hills to speak of.

So- the question is...

Is this a bad idea?

 

[FlatlandTRD]

Well, I'll start off with, it's been done, but I wouldn't advise it. Based on your approximations you may also be exceeding the Class III hitch (up to 5000 lbs). Don't forget all your gear/parts. So for argument's sake, let's say you're going to do this no matter what.

I would recommend a class IV hitch, LC coils, trailer braking control (like you said), tranny cooler (biggest one), and LT tires (I wouldn't tow with passenger tires if you have them). Assuming you have the 3.4 with the better 4.30 gearing, it will still be a dog. You'll also want to make sure your brakes are up to par, which I thought you did recently, and all fluids are fresh, maybe even synthetic. That's just my opinion, not even two cents, so take it for what it's worth.

 

[CruisinGA]

Flat towed my 40 with a buddies '96 Tacoma 5spd, 4x4, 3.4L. Towed fine.

I flat tow mine all over the place with my '93 80. Your 4runner weighs less, make sure you put your gear in the back of the 4runner so you don't get pushed around to bad.

Make sure the towbar is flat when hooked up and you have enough caster in the buggy steering and you should be fine.

Be careful, I've had many a close call flat towing. It is easy to get in a bad place real quick.

 

[d0ubledown]

if your runner has the elocker, it will have 4.30 gears. otherwise, it'll be 4.10s if its a non locked LTD. definitely add an aux tranny cooler...the bigges you can stuff behind the grill... maybe even a PS cooler. gears would be nice, but only if you're on larger than stock. you can use the ECT power on mode, and o/d off to keep your revs up.

no need to lift it unless you're planning on putting bigger meats on and wheeling it. for towing, you can get by with adding some airbags in the rear coils. also, make sure your brakes are up to snuff.

once youve got all the above sorted...you should be good to go whether trailering it, or flat towing.

 

[LukeZero]

I probably won't flat tow it because its on 42" IROKs with VERY soft coil springs at all four corners. It is wobbly. It also has drive slugs in the front- so everything is turning when the tires are turning.

If I do it- it would be on a car hauler.

 

[CruisinGA]

Don't know where i got flat tow from.

I flat tow my 40 on 37" irocks. Don't think size would make a difference. The drive slugs would.

I'm not sure your 4runner is up to the task of towing the 40 on a trailer. Unless it is a very light (aluminum) car hauler, you are looking at a lot of weight. Even then, it is still a lot of weight.

Obviously, good electric trailer brakes would be a must. I would give a definitive "no" if it wasn't for the fact that it is a flat trip. Even then, flat doesn't matter if you need to make an emergency maneuver, or fast stop. 4runners are better vehicles than anything else in their class, but pulling well over 5k pounds with a V6 pushing an eight inch rear end all in a vehicle that doesn't weigh close to that much doesn't give me the warm fuzzies.

Could you make it work? Probably. Should you / will you like it? Probably not.

 

[Jetboy]

I have a 96 ltd 3.6 auto 4runner. It has 4.30 gears. Non-locker. I do have a trailer brake controller. I hooked it up to a heavy duty flatbed trailer. It was a 12klb version, which is a bit heavier than your typical car hauler. Anyway I towed it around with my full bodied fj40 on 38's on it. It did ok. I wouldn't want to pull it up any big passes, but it might be ok on the flats. It squatted the rear end quite a bit though.

If I were going to do it a lot, I'd build a custom trailer. I actually have an idea for one that would simply be frame, fenders, and baskets for the tires. That way you could sit it down lower and keep the weight down. I think you could build the trailer around 1000lbs and stay under 5k total. I would also go with airbags. Easy to install, stable with a load, and I don't think you'd want any lift.

A tow dolly with brakes might be another option.

good luck

 

[JLHEEPETR]

I have a '99 4Runner Ltd. and used it for two years to pull my boat to and from the lake. The boat and trailer is 5000# dry, add coolers, skis, 50 gallons of fuel, wake boards, etc, etc and I'm sure it was around 6000# total. The trailer has surge brakes and my 4Runner has less miles but it did fine. You do need to pay a little more attention, as stops take more space and obviously you won't be whipping in and out of cones but it's easily done in my opinion. Also I was going up and down the mountains here in MT. I used the factory tow package, didn't expect to break any land speed records, and kept my distance and the truck did fine. Hook it up and pull it around a bit...

 

[Mtn Mike]

Wow, I get nervous towing a 2500 lb cargo trailer with my 4Runner. I couldn't imagine towing twice that weight. If you do it, post the results. Have you thought about saving your 4Runner and buying a $500 POS domestic 1-ton as a tow vehicle? 4Runners are great, but they've never been known as good tow vehicles.

 

[CruisinGA]

I have a '99 4Runner Ltd. and used it for two years to pull my boat to and from the lake. The boat and trailer is 5000# dry, add coolers, skis, 50 gallons of fuel, wake boards, etc, etc and I'm sure it was around 6000# total. The trailer has surge brakes and my 4Runner has less miles but it did fine. You do need to pay a little more attention, as stops take more space and obviously you won't be whipping in and out of cones but it's easily done in my opinion. Also I was going up and down the mountains here in MT. I used the factory tow package, didn't expect to break any land speed records, and kept my distance and the truck did fine. Hook it up and pull it around a bit...

What boat were you towing?

Must be a really big one... my 21' inboard wakeboard boat (not exactly light construction) only weighs 2800 lbs dry.

 

[JLHEEPETR]

It's a Monterey 214FS (21'4") with some optional equipment, tower, swim platform etc. It's listed at 3500# dry. 5000# includes the trailer.

 

[bustanutley]

My first gen tundra is just barely enough truck to tow my 40. I think towing with a 4runner would be.. sketch.