Just wondering if it would make for a good tow vehicle. I'm guessing the 3.4L V6 won't tow as well as my 5.4L V8 in the Jeep, but I was curious....


Matt

 

we towed a friends civic on a uhaul trailer with a 4runner. didn't seem to have any problems at all

Brian

 

wanna buy a 96' pathfinder (cheap!) it tows great (5-speed is huge advant over auto in my case )

 

I think the 5-speed pathfinder has a 3500 lb capacity while the automatic is at 5000

 

These 4Runners tow very well.

 

3.4L runner is one of the most underpowered SUV's out there

 

There's a guy in my car club (Mark Senior) who tows his ITC Civic Hatch with a 4-cylinder 4-Runner.

I would NOT buy that car used from him...

 

tow capacity 5000lbs IIRC. same as the v6 tacomas.

Should handle your light little hatch no prob.


Modified by elgorey at 5:06 PM 11/5/2003

 

Like all the V6 trucks, they're on the light/underpowered end of the spectrum. They'll do it, just not quickly.

 

IM Wai. he's towing with a 6cyl 4runner.

just saw a review of the new pathfinder armada on motor week. 9000lb towing capacity on the LE model, 6500 on the others

 

yea, its rated like that to save the clutch, my dad has the auto, it is a dog towing compared to the 5 speed, been towing w/ mine for 3 1/2 years, no proble,s. curise control at 70 mph from richmond to cmp twice a year

soon to be traded on the aforementioned armada

 

I towed my car from CT to Summit's Point with a 2003 4Runner with the new V6. No problems at all. Very impressive. The old 3.4L V6 was pretty weasy - the new one is great.

 

What 4Runner has a V8?!?

 

I tow with a '98 4Runner with the 3.4L V6. I figure I am towing around 4400lbs. with the car (1800lbs), trailer (2100lbs), and stuff (approx 500lbs) The limit is 5000lbs. I really don't have any power issues with it except climbing steep hills. It will do it but you have to get on it. It does 65-75 mph with no problem. Going to SP this past weekend I got 15mpg on a 4.75 hr trip.

The big thing you must do with a 4Runner is to stiffen the rear suspension as it is very soft from the factory (for comfort). I installed an Air Lift system in the rear which essentially is an air bag setup inside the rear coil springs. Best thing I ever did for towing.

As for the V8, that showed up on the redesigned '03 4Runner (4.0L V8). My only problem with the new ones is that they still only tow 5000lbs (V6 or V8) and the load leveling suspension is only available on the Limited which starts around $39K.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by speedracer33 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What 4Runner has a V8?!?</TD></TR></TABLE>

http://www.toyota.com/4runner/

The new 4Runner has the 4.7L V8 or an all new 4L VVT-i V6. They are nice nice. Rated to 7300# with a "weight-distributing" trailer.

You can get a Limited for much less then $39k if you try.

 

I see they upgraded the tow rating for '04. Thanks for the info.

 

a mid-late 90s model chevy astro minivan will tow 5000lbs and can be bought for $5000-10,000 - for the financially indistinguished gentleman.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lanceh &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">IM Wai. he's towing with a 6cyl 4runner.

just saw a review of the new pathfinder armada on motor week. 9000lb towing capacity on the LE model, 6500 on the others</TD></TR></TABLE>

Lancer, I have a V8.
It tows great and the trailers I used were the crappiest ones out there..... (uhaul).

In the new 04 brochure, it shows that the V8 model has 7300lbs towing capacity (with weight distributing trailer) while the V6 is 5000lbs (with weight carrying).

Anyone knows what the difference between the 2 kinds of trailers?

This pic was taken before heading out to Expo in PA from IL:

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Lancer, I have a V8. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Duh Lance!!

Yea, wai's 4Runner hauls ***. We drag raced and... well, he won. (no trailer)

Chris - wouldn't recommend the 6cyl 4 runner for towing.

 

V6 4Runner + $2500 TRD supercharger = factory warranty and the ability to easily tow the 5000lb capacity. The 3.4L V6 Toyota motor is a very, very durable motor.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the V8 model has 7300lbs towing capacity (with weight distributing trailer) while the V6 is 5000lbs (with weight carrying).

Anyone knows what the difference between the 2 kinds of trailers? </TD></TR></TABLE>

the difference is not the trailer, it is the hitch setup. weight distributing hitches transfer toungue weight to the front of the tow vehicle. sounds odd, but believe it or not it works.

i found some pics




i know the bottom 2 pics are photchops, but they illustrate how the load distributing hitch works. my suburban has a towing rating of 5,000lbs. with load distribution it is 10,000lbs, effectively doubling the load rating. the only drawback is the hitches cost $300-$500

 

I had the old 3.4 V6 and it barely pulled itself up the mountains so I can't imagine what another 5K pounds would do to it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rodney &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

the difference is not the trailer, it is the hitch setup. weight distributing hitches transfer toungue weight to the front of the tow vehicle. sounds odd, but believe it or not it works.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't see how I could have towed without the weight distribution before....It used to be such a white knuckle ride with the caprice...with he weigh distribution I can pass 18wheelers, down an incline, on a turn whith one hand on the wheel and sipping coffee....even though they are expensive it is money WELL spent...I FULLY recommend getting a weight distribution kit for any mid-size SUV and anything smaller...

 

I pull my R with my 4Skinner. It's a 98 auto. It doesn't like it, but it does it. The tradeoff is it's not too bad of a daily driver. I couldn't handle driving a Caprice or F150 every day up town down town all over town, but the Skinner is cool. I think I will invest in the air bags now though. It's definitely wheezy, but it gets the job done.

 

sorry la. i thought i rememberd you being asked why you didn't got with a V8 back when you bought it but i must be wrong.

or j00r just f'in with me. huhuhu