Tow boat with Toyota V6

[larry1167]

Thinking of buying a 2008 Toyota 4Runner with 4.0 V6. Anyone tow approximately 3,500lbs with the same SUV or similar? How does it perform?

Going from Ford Explorer with 4.6 V8 so I am a bit concerned about two less cylinders.

Torque and horsepower are about the same on each engine.

Any input would be appreciated. Explorer tranny went out.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

I have an older one with the smaller less powerful V-6 ..... tows excellent.

 

[River's Revenge]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

I tow a Glastron 16cvx with mine and can do 70 down the road,, up hills, down, it doesn't matter, runs well. the boat isn't all that heavy but I also tow a 14 foot camper that weighs just over 3000 and I take it alot slower, she still takes the haul tho. any way you look at it, if you come close to the max the truck can handle well, things will wear out and break much quicker. The real thing i look for is saftey. Am I gonna hurt somebody with this thing. Also as I'm sure you know, wind, down hills, brakes, they all play a factor in the towing game.

Good luck.

 

[sbbamafan]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

I had a 2006 4Runner and loved it - best car I ever had. I sold it to one of my best friends and he is still loving it. Back to your question...I also had the V6 with 2wd. It towed GREAT!!! Much better than my Dodge Dakota Quad Cab with a V8 and probably as good as the Chevy Extended cab truck I had before that. FYI, my boat and trailer were (and still are) about 4,300#. Great car and great tow vehicle. Now I am all sentimental....

 

[insearch]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

Should read about the guy who wants to tow with a little toy jeep

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

I have an '07 Toyota FJ Cruiser, Not sure what the weight I'm towing is: 1985 17' Bayliner bowrider w/85hp O/B. All I can tell you is, I don't even know it's back there, can't feel a thing. I trailer about 20-25 miles one way to the lake on a windy, semi rolling-hilly, 45mph, one lane road & no problems. I was just down at the Toyota Dealer on Saturday morning checking out the 2010 4Runner. I'm thinking about trading in the FJ on the 4Runner. Both have the same motor & I think the 4Runner is less truck weight wise, but don't quote me on that. I'm trading because it's time for a new truck,(Co. requires sales to drive a car no older than 3 years, plus the 4Runner loos great with a lift & a set of "real" tires on it). Hope this info helped, if not "PM" me.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

Explorer tranny went out.

Might I ask how many miles / KM on the tranny when it gave out. ????

 

[drrpm]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

Same horsepower and torque, so no problem.

I tow a ~5,000 lb boat/trailer combo with an 07 Tacoma and that works fine. I believe its rated to 6,500 lbs. The 4runner should be similar.

 

[larry1167]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

The torque converter on my 2003 Explorer failed just as I passed 100k miles. I did some research and found out this is somewhat typical for 2003 Explorers. I believe a tranny should last longer than 100k so I am not buying another Ford. I had all the required maintenance done to my Explorer and took it easy while towing and it still took a crap.

The 2008 4Runner has a towing capacity of 5k lbs. My boat and trailer gross 3.5k lbs. Buying from Carmax and they have 5 day return policy. I'm going to hook up my boat and see how it tows. If it doesn't tow weel I am going to take it back and get a Toyota Sequoia.

I typically only tow my boat 10 miles to our local lake. We rarely go anywhere else. 99% of the time the tow vehicle is the family hauler taking the kids to school etc. I want better gas mileage so that's why I am considering the 4Runner with the V6. The Sequoia gets horrible gas mileage.

 

[wbc1957]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

I have the Toyota T100 with the 3.4 V6 engine. I've towed my 2,400lb boat with an additional 500lb plus load without any problems. Current mileage is at 237,000 and counting.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

Larry-

We have an 06 4Runner with the V-6, towing package already installed. It is a commuter/ grocery getter / towing vehicle. Our boat is about the same weight as yours, and have never had any problems. The tranny gets a little busy in the hills, but it ( the motor) never seems to labor. I doubt our terrain here is similar to yours, but with a city called El Dorado Hills, it must be kinda hilly there.

I have also towed both of my 14 -16 foot enclosed cargo trailers with the same vehicle, and it seems to be fine.

As a side note, last spring one of my contractor friends got stuck in the ditch of our driveway . It was really soggy soil on the sides, and he buried the right two wheels of his heavily loaded double axle trailer in the mud. His two wheel drive Ford dually could not pull it out alone- he just sat there spinning the tires to no avail.

I hooked up the Toyota to the front of his truck with some logging chain, got out on the street and gave her all there was. He was amazed that I was able to turn the tires of that 4 Runner on pavement, and that it got the job done so well. My wife was so proud of her 4 Runner! I guess my point is that it has plenty of power for us....

One thing to watch out for, is really heavy tongue weight. Initially , I set all the weekend gear in the front of the boat, as that is how I tow it with my 03 Sprinter cargo van. The 4 Runner does not like this setup at all and the front brakes locked up well before I would have liked during a quick stop at a traffic light. I now load it the boat differently depending on what tow vehicle I am using.

Hope this input helps.

 

[hostage]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

I tow with my Acura MDX w/ a 3.5L V6 and never notice any problems. It gets 21MPG highway and I average about 17-18mpg overall (not when towing). I never have towed anything before until now, so it might be hard to compare. My boat + trailer is about 3k to 3.5k lbs. My vehicle is rated at 4.5k lbs for boat when properly equipped: i.e. power steering cooler, tranny cooler, hitch, and wiring harness. Also make sure not to tow in Overdrive.

I use to like Toyota a lot, but I hate to say the quality has slipped, my g/f's 2006 Avalon needed a new engine after the faulty oil return line raptured, Toyota wanted nothing to do with us, until they issued a recall on it. Then there was the sticky accelerator recall. Now it looks like that their shotty welding is rusting at the seems for both passenger doors. After this, fords don't sound that bad. The car doesn't drive the same as it use to.

I love my MDX it has a great ride, good on gas for a large/midsize SUV, towes what you need, and comes standard with seating for 7. The 3rd row seats fold down and do not need to be removed like I think the 4runner does. Honda also makes a version of the MDX called the pilot, which is also pretty nice, just not as many bells and whistles.

Before I had my fun w/ Toyota I was looking at the Toyota Highlander. Though I still prefer the Pilot/MDX over the Highlander.

Even GM seems to be making better vehicles lately. The new gen Equinox seems pretty cool, though I don't know if would meet all your needs. The Acadia seems to be a nice option. I don't like the look of the Traverse as it looks to mini-van like.

Hope this helps,

Hostage

 

[magoo]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

I pull my 14 foot smokercraft that is fully built and heavier than a regular 14 footer with an 01 taco 4x4 around colorado at altitude with no issues.
That new 4.0 liter is a real gem. it pulls hard. My buddy has an 07 and i wish i did too.
We hooked up my boat to it and it will leave rubber and at the ramp no need for 4 wheel drive, just crawls right out..I put mine in 4 low so i dont spin and tear up ramps.

 

[Skook]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

I have an '06 4Runner with the 4.0L V6. It is rated to tow 5,000 lbs. However, the 4th generation 4WD V8 4Runner is rated to tow 7,000 lbs. and the 2WD V8 is rated at 7,200 lbs. The V6 Tacoma can be equipped to tow 6,700 lbs.

My point is that by looking at the ratings of Toyota's other similar vehicles, I think you will be fine. The V6 4Runner gets the same auto transmission as the V8, and they are rated to tow up to 7,200 lbs. They also have the same wheel base, frames, brakes, etc. However, the V8 has a tranny cooler and a weight-distributing hitch, which are upgrades from the V6. The Tacoma, rated at up to 6,700 lbs, uses the 4.0L V6.

When you distill all of this info down, I would say that the vehicle chassis itself can tow up to 7,200 lbs., the tranny and brakes can handle up to 7,200 lbs (with cooler and trailer brakes), the engine can handle up to 6,700 lbs, and so on. You get the point. Of course, I wouldn't recommend towing anything at the max rating.

The weak spots of the V6 4Runner may be its weight-bearing hitch and lack of tranny cooler. These can be remedied for a few hundred $$, but I think they'll work fine for anything less than 5,000 lbs.

 

[magoo]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

really for what its worth.
The other day here in colorado i saw a honda pilot pulling a 19-20 foot big heavy fiberglass ski boat.I got next him on the highway and he was running right at 55 mph. No telling if it will stop or pull it out of the water BUT he was pulling it.right or wrong.
That 4 runner will be fine. Ive seen alot worse around here. trust me. The antics to get to the lakes in the denver metro area are just unreal.

The best one ive seen is an old (79-83) toyota p/u 2wd at chatfield res.dropping in a HUGE cabincruiser yacht lookin thing.thing had to be like 38 foot or so. couldnt believe it. dont know what happened i was leaving the ramp area on a busy day and had walleye on my mind.

 

[larry1167]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

Thanks Skook - great information. I will look into the tranny cooler.

I want to stick with a body on frame truck and the 4Runner seems like a good choice.

My old ski boat is a closed bow('87 ski sanger) so there is not much weight up front. I have dual axel trailer too.

Thanks to everyone for their input. It's nice to have a second opinion from fellow boaters because the car dealers will tell you anything you want to hear.

Larry

 

[TBTOsterman]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

I too tow with a Toyota FJ Cruiser. My 20' Caravelle is about 3500lbs loaded. I used the FJ to tow for the first time this summer- usually tow with an Armada. The FJ pulled with no problems thru the hills of SW Missouri / NW Arkansas, a 75mi trip. The only thing I would mention is I can definitely tell the wieght difference between the tow vehilces. We tend to get shoved around a little more in the FJ than the Armada. If you are going from an Explorer to a 4Runner, you may not notice anything.

Good luck!

 

[Augoose]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

Should read about the guy who wants to tow with a little toy jeep

I tow my 20' caravelle with either my '79 CJ7 Jeep or my '01 Tacoma V6. No issues whatsoever.

 

[northernmerc]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

I towed with several Toyota 4x4 pickups for many years. In my experience, they did not stand up to heavier towing.

If your truck has a five speed manual transmission, tow in fourth gear. Fourth is direct through the transmission and using it helps prevent very expensive transmission rebuilds. Ask me how I know. The transmission repair shop compared Toyota manual transmissions to sewing machines; in other words - light.

I also took out several rear wheel bearings on Toyota pickups, presumably because of towing. That truck did not have many miles on it either when the wheel bearings failed.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Tow boat with Toyota V6

really for what its worth.
The other day here in colorado i saw a honda pilot pulling a 19-20 foot big heavy fiberglass ski boat.I got next him on the highway and he was running right at 55 mph. No telling if it will stop or pull it out of the water BUT he was pulling it.right or wrong.

The best one ive seen is an old (79-83) toyota p/u 2wd at chatfield res.dropping in a HUGE cabincruiser yacht lookin thing.thing had to be like 38 foot or so. couldnt believe it. dont know what happened i was leaving the ramp area on a busy day and had walleye on my mind.

I think we've all seen things like that. Believe the technical term for those drivers is 'Moron'.

Seriously, my wife's RAV 4 could PULL my 8000 lbs of boat and trailer with a strong enough hitch. Getting it all moving is the easy part...

My .02