Little Trucks

[Ewok]

I got a question about how my 4Runner towed my RZ2 in a different thread so I thought I would start one to answer questions and give tips if I can.

My 4.7L V8 4Runner is rated from the factory at 260hp@5400 rpm and 306lb-ft of torque @ 3400 rpm rated to tow 7,000lbs (7,300 lbs 2wd). *It pulls great, I recently moved from TX to WA and if you read the thread below, it will explain how much I overloaded the boat and trailer with moving stuff. *If you tow with a little truck I recommend getting 4wd, Toyota had a nice locking center diff and gearing for 4wd low, which helps put the torque on the wet and slippery ramps. *I have not had any issue pulling my boats out of steep wet ramps with my 4runner.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13920

Sadly, the 2010 4runner dropped the V8 option, but added a bigger V6. *It's now a 4L V6 for 270hp@5400 rpm and it's rated to tow 5,000lbs. *I don't recommend pulling more weight than the truck is rated for, and most would be surprised how much their boat and trailer weighs above the dry weight listed on the Tige website. *My boat is 4150 dry weight but with the trailer, full gas and gear, I'm looking at about 6500-6600 lbs on a regular day.

The other little truck we looked at when we bought our 4runner is the Nissan Pathfinder. *The 2011 Pathfinder still has a 5.6L V8 option good for 310hp@5200 rpm and 388lb-ft of torque @ 3400 rpm, rated for 7,000lb towing. *The new jeep Cherokee is also a nice small truck with a V8 option good for 6-7k lb towing as well.

So, to those with little trucks as tow vehicles, post up your impressions, tips and tricks. *Pics too if you want to, here is a pick of my little rig during the move:

[Booms]

Nice post. I used to tow with a Toyota 4Runner with the V6 and it did a great job for a small truck. The boat I towed then was a 2000 Toyota Epic X22 and it weight in dry at 2,950lbs. It was a nice setup a Toyota 4Runner towing a Toyota Boat. Had a guy in a jacked up Silverado drive by and yell "Buy American" once.

At least you stayed at a Motel with a Liquor Store.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

I tow with a '06 Tacoma with the 4.0. It's 4x4, 5 speed automatic and I just leave it in 4th when I tow. It's been towing my Tige's since I bought it. It works great. Tell the monkey who yelled "buy American" that the Tacomas are assembled in the USA with American labor, and his Chevy was manufactured in Canada. Says so on his driver's door jamb.

[Ewok]

I saw another V8 4Runner towing a 22-23' Malibu yesterday, only 4runner I've seen towing somehing that big besides me.

[smuurph84]

thanks for the info ewok. yeah I think if you over weight it they can void any insurance claims or so I have heard if you were to get into an accident. (someone on here may know the truth on that one?). should I look at an RZR or do you guys think with it loaded down it will be over the 5,000lb. limit as well? I have a 2wd 2002 v8 tundra for a work vehicle but really wanted to be able to tow with the wife's ride as well. not alot of room in the Tundra. Also this is my first truck that is a 2wd that I will be towing with. should I adjust the height of the ball so there will be more weight on the tongue to help with traction? I never even put my old truck into 4wd when launching but would hate to have it become a problem at the ramp (I have seen tons of people launching large boats with 2wd vehicles burning thier tires on the ramps)

[smuurph84]

I got a question about how my 4Runner towed my RZ2 in a different thread so I thought I would start one to answer questions and give tips if I can.

My 4.7L V8 4Runner is rated from the factory at 260hp@5400 rpm and 306lb-ft of torque @ 3400 rpm rated to tow 7,000lbs (7,300 lbs 2wd). *It pulls great, I recently moved from TX to WA and if you read the thread below, it will explain how much I overloaded the boat and trailer with moving stuff. *If you tow with a little truck I recommend getting 4wd, Toyota had a nice locking center diff and gearing for 4wd low, which helps put the torque on the wet and slippery ramps. *I have not had any issue pulling my boats out of steep wet ramps with my 4runner.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13920

Sadly, the 2010 4runner dropped the V8 option, but added a bigger V6. *It's now a 4L V6 for 270hp@5400 rpm and it's rated to tow 5,000lbs. *I don't recommend pulling more weight than the truck is rated for, and most would be surprised how much their boat and trailer weighs above the dry weight listed on the Tige website. *My boat is 4150 dry weight but with the trailer, full gas and gear, I'm looking at about 6500-6600 lbs on a regular day.

The other little truck we looked at when we bought our 4runner is the Nissan Pathfinder. *The 2011 Pathfinder still has a 5.6L V8 option good for 310hp@5200 rpm and 388lb-ft of torque @ 3400 rpm, rated for 7,000lb towing. *The new jeep Cherokee is also a nice small truck with a V8 option good for 6-7k lb towing as well.

So, to those with little trucks as tow vehicles, post up your impressions, tips and tricks. *Pics too if you want to, here is a pick of my little rig during the move:

nice pic by the way. I hope you didn't tow that sweet boat in ice while getting toasted at the motel/liquor store
j/k in all seriousness I would never have the guts to tow my boat with roads looking like that!

[jmhatchett]

thanks for the info ewok. yeah I think if you over weight it they can void any insurance claims or so I have heard if you were to get into an accident. (someone on here may know the truth on that one?). should I look at an RZR or do you guys think with it loaded down it will be over the 5,000lb. limit as well? I have a 2wd 2002 v8 tundra for a work vehicle but really wanted to be able to tow with the wife's ride as well. not alot of room in the Tundra. Also this is my first truck that is a 2wd that I will be towing with. should I adjust the height of the ball so there will be more weight on the tongue to help with traction? I never even put my old truck into 4wd when launching but would hate to have it become a problem at the ramp (I have seen tons of people launching large boats with 2wd vehicles burning thier tires on the ramps)

That is just negligence on their part, 90% of the time i use a 2WD silverado 1500 so absolutely no rear weight and i slip little to none depending on how wet the ramp is. it is a very steep ramp and is private so that helps but all you need to do is throw it in 1st gear notch your Ebrake on 2 clicks and go slow mine handles that just fine!

[Ewok]

thanks for the info ewok. yeah I think if you over weight it they can void any insurance claims or so I have heard if you were to get into an accident. (someone on here may know the truth on that one?). should I look at an RZR or do you guys think with it loaded down it will be over the 5,000lb. limit as well? I have a 2wd 2002 v8 tundra for a work vehicle but really wanted to be able to tow with the wife's ride as well. not alot of room in the Tundra. Also this is my first truck that is a 2wd that I will be towing with. should I adjust the height of the ball so there will be more weight on the tongue to help with traction? I never even put my old truck into 4wd when launching but would hate to have it become a problem at the ramp (I have seen tons of people launching large boats with 2wd vehicles burning thier tires on the ramps)

I use a raised hitch adapter and timbren helper springs to keep the boat and truck level. I also measured the tongue weight to make sure it was balanced properly. An RZR or Z1 would be lighter and a lot closer to the 5k lb tow rating or look for a truck upgrade. I know V8 4runners and pathfinders are hard to find, I had to order mine new from the factory to get V8 and 4wd.

I don't normally tow in the snow, it was dicey and I don't want to do it again but my work didn't give me a choice of when to move.

[Ewok]

That is just negligence on their part, 90% of the time i use a 2WD silverado 1500 so absolutely no rear weight and i slip little to none depending on how wet the ramp is. it is a very steep ramp and is private so that helps but all you need to do is throw it in 1st gear notch your Ebrake on 2 clicks and go slow mine handles that just fine!

Agreed, mostly operator error, but when you have a smaller truck with smaller tires sometimes you need all the traction you can get. A 1500 is not a small truck in my book.

[Joeprunc]

I haven't heard much about the new 4.0L, but it looks like it has some fancy new technology to boost an additional 35 HP. It looks like they went with a variable timing...actually and individual valve variable timing. 24 valves to keep in check, I sure hope its a non interference engine. I love Toyota, but I would wait a year or two for the bugs to be worked out on that motor. The horsepower max on the new 4.0L is close to 6k rpm...usually when towing you need that horsepower at lower rpms.

It would be nice to get better mpg while not towing, but if towing was your primary use of the SUV, I'd stick with the V8 selections, especially with your boat dry weight of 4150 lbs...add trailer, gear, fuel...you are over the 5000.

I saw a new 4runner on the road the other day and really didn't like the new styling....they seem to be much much bigger. If you love Toyota and want the V8, I'd go look at a Land Cruiser, price tag is a bit more, but I don't feel like they are that big.

[jmhatchett]

Agreed, mostly operator error, but when you have a smaller truck with smaller tires sometimes you need all the traction you can get. A 1500 is not a small truck in my book.

I guess it just is to me sorry, we raise professional bucking bulls so it is the smallest truck you will see around my place. From GMC C4500 to F-250 V10's the 1500 is the smallest it only brings a 5.3L 2WD to a big boy party where im from. But just know how to use it and you shouldnt ever have problems!!

[Ewok]

But just know how to use it and you shouldnt ever have problems!!

"that's what she said"