upgraded tire size with stock 4Runner gears for towing

[gnx7]

I just bought a '99 4Runner Limited V6/auto non ELocker with 100K miles and it could use a set of tires in the next 5-10K and if that happens it'll get a lift.

I just replaced the timing belt/water pump/belts/fluids/coolant/plugs to give it a nice fresh start.

Current tire size is 265/70/16 and I was thinking of running a 285/75/16 A/T. Gears are the factory ones which are 4.10's.

My main use for it is camping, skiing in Lake Tahoe, some light wheeling, and towing a 5K lb trailer (boat or car trailer) a couple times per month.

Will 33's makes it a dog for towing?

 

[liljlandon]

I think with 285's it'll be a dog with a trailer. I have 255's and want to gear it. I can't imagine towing with it.

 

[Haggis]

I stayed with the 265's on mine. 285's are a whole different deal. I run them on my Tacoma with 4:11 gears

 

[Jacket]

Have you tried towing with it yet in stock form? I bet it'll be a dog already pulling 5000 lbs up the hill toward Tahoe.

 

[gnx7]

I only tow at sea level..... but ski up there in the mountains with the eagles

Hope to tow with it next week. high bidder on a TRD supercharger on eBay right now! we'll see

 

[chill will]

I suggest you go with 32s a 265/75/16. It won't feel as sluggish

 

[phsycle]

First of all, do you NEED a taller tire? Even stock sized 31's are plenty capable for a lot of trails. But as most have said, with the stock gearing, stick to 265/75/16's at most. An alternative size is 275/70/16's, which are almost as big as the 265/75's, but wider.

 

[gnx7]

I'll look into those 265/70/16s! Thanks for the tip.

Lost on eBay TRD supercharger..... time to finally put this T04 small frame turbo charger to use. Once suspension/lift is done I'll look into a turbo setup. Either homebuilt rear mount setup or underhood style.

 

[danthemanx07]

Older thread, but I have a similar setup and tow, so...

I am running 265/75r/16's now with the 4.30 gears, but I hade 265/70r/16's previously. I tow a 19ft boat fairly regularly. It is a dog when merging onto the interstate or from any stop light, but OK once up to speed. Hills are a challenge though. They sap the power quickly, and I am talking about the "hills" we have on the Gulf Coast, nothing like your mountains.

285's are going to be huge. I would stick with the 265/70r/16's. I wish I had mine back as a matter of fact.

 

[Mr Chuck Norris]

I suggest you go with 32s a 265/75/16. It won't feel as sluggish

This is your best option if you want to keep your 4.10s.

I've been looking into this a bit since I want to swap to 33s, and I'll end up swapping in some 4.30s (with an e-locker if possible!).

 

[Jetboy]

I have 265/70/17s on mine. It works pretty hard to tow my sailboat ~2k lbs over a 7,200ft pass. I do it 2-3 times a month during the summer. It's a 60mph hill climb. I can outrun the semis but it's slower than normal traffic.

 

[danthemanx07]

This is your best option if you want to keep your 4.10s.

I've been looking into this a bit since I want to swap to 33s, and I'll end up swapping in some 4.30s (with an e-locker if possible!).

This is the exact setup I have. 4.30s and 265/75/16. It is fine for normal driving. Acceleration is not what it was with the 265/70s, but it is still decent. I don't particularly like it for towing. Boat probably weighs close to 3000lbs. I have a 5 speed too.

I have 265/70/17s on mine. It works pretty hard to tow my sailboat ~2k lbs over a 7,200ft pass. I do it 2-3 times a month during the summer. It's a 60mph hill climb. I can outrun the semis but it's slower than normal traffic.

Jetboy - do you happen to have a ScanGauge? What water temps are you reading when towing if so? PM if you do so I don't derail this thread.

 

[swederic]

Are you sure you have 4.10's? Most 3rd Gen auto's have 4.30's. Might want to check that. I run 4.88's and 35's and tow my 18' travel trailer (4000lbs ish) around in the summer and wish I was running 5.29's... 285's and 4.88's would be the combination to get though for you IMHO.

 

[danthemanx07]

Are you sure you have 4.10's? Most 3rd Gen auto's have 4.30's. Might want to check that. I run 4.88's and 35's and tow my 18' travel trailer (4000lbs ish) around in the summer and wish I was running 5.29's... 285's and 4.88's would be the combination to get though for you IMHO.

I was under the impression that the 4.30's were much less common. I could be wrong though. There were many different gear combinations in the 4runner. I think you can figure out the gear code based on the VIN, but I dont have a link to that info offhand.

Swederic - Any chance you know what your engine temps are when pulling that trailer?? I have a scanguage and monitor the temps pretty closely. Would like to know where others are running though. I think mine runs a little high at like 210ish.

 

[Mr Chuck Norris]

Are you sure you have 4.10's? Most 3rd Gen auto's have 4.30's. Might want to check that. I run 4.88's and 35's and tow my 18' travel trailer (4000lbs ish) around in the summer and wish I was running 5.29's... 285's and 4.88's would be the combination to get though for you IMHO.

I was under the impression that the 4.30's were much less common. I could be wrong though. There were many different gear combinations in the 4runner. I think you can figure out the gear code based on the VIN, but I dont have a link to that info offhand.

Swederic - Any chance you know what your engine temps are when pulling that trailer?? I have a scanguage and monitor the temps pretty closely. Would like to know where others are running though. I think mine runs a little high at like 210ish.

Most open diff 3rd gens have 4.10s, and most E-locked 3rd gens have 4.30s. They were available with other combinations but a vast majority were ordered like that.

 

[swederic]

Funny, my 3rd Gen e-locked 5-speed had the 4.10's. Best way is to check the VIN as was already stated. Have a look here: http://www.off-road.com/trucks-4x4/tech/toyota-differential-identification-18588.html

As for my towing temps, I'm not sure exactly what it's at but once it gets to between 1/3rd and halfway on the gauge, it never budges from there. Very stable.

 

[Mr Chuck Norris]

Funny, my 3rd Gen e-locked 5-speed had the 4.10's. Best way is to check the VIN as was already stated. Have a look here: http://www.off-road.com/trucks-4x4/tech/toyota-differential-identification-18588.html

As for my towing temps, I'm not sure exactly what it's at but once it gets to between 1/3rd and halfway on the gauge, it never budges from there. Very stable.

Crazy. Maybe 5 speed trucks came with different combos or yours was ordered like that. I've been diff shopping and have yet to see a 4.10 E locked 4runner.

 

[Dell]

Current tire size is 265/70/16

You could go up to a 265/75/16 W 4.10's

forget 285's unless you regear

 

[thatcabledude]

Older thread, but I have a similar setup and tow, so...

I am running 265/75r/16's now with the 4.30 gears, but I hade 265/70r/16's previously. I tow a 19ft boat fairly regularly. It is a dog when merging onto the interstate or from any stop light, but OK once up to speed. Hills are a challenge though. They sap the power quickly, and I am talking about the "hills" we have on the Gulf Coast, nothing like your mountains.

285's are going to be huge. I would stick with the 265/70r/16's. I wish I had mine back as a matter of fact.

I will have to echo exactly what dan said. Agree completely. Ihave 265/75/16 and it is ok. The runner just isn't a towing machine. Jet ski or pop-up camper max IMO.