Hey there. My fiancee and I are looking to replace her POS Volvo with an SUV and are eyeing a 2004 Toyota 4Runner with the 4.7L V8. I saw on the spec sheet that the towing capacity is 7000 #, which caught my eye. I have a '75 Chevy fullsize that is in the process of being turned into a worthy trail vehicle (including chopping it down/lightening it.) Will the 4Runner actually be a viable way to get my rig to the trail, or am I asking for trouble? I believe my Chevy weighs 5500 # (don't have a trailer yet.)

(I know the "right" way to do this is to get a real truck to tow with, but I want to know if this would be safe, even if it would be slow up the hills.)

Thanks. :grinpimp:

your chevy and trailer will weigh more than your tow rig, which is never fun when the tail wags the dog. I personally wouldn't do it, even out here where there aren't any hills. I don;t know where burbank is, or where you plan on towing too, but shitty weather (sleet/snow) will be the most nerve-racking thing ever with that much weight behind you in a light towrig...

Have you had the chevy on the scales yet? My RamCharger registered right at 7k according to the scales at the local landfill.

Duane

Even if your truck actually only weighs 5500#, and you can even find a trailer that'll haul it that is only 1500#, you will be at max cap before you even add a cooler of beer. Get something bigger:shaking:
Travis..

Yeah, I sort of figured it was a bad idea but wanted to ask people who actually tow stuff (since I don't yet.)

Thanks. :goofball:

Another vote for a bad idea. Get a 3/4 ton something. Even a 1/2 ton Yukon/'burb/Expedition, is going to be at it's limits.

I used my 98 Dakota, 5.2L V-8, 5-speed, 4wd, a couple of times to tow when I had it. It was marginal at best.

your chevy and trailer will weigh more than your tow rig, which is never fun when the tail wags the dog.

You're an idiot. Please show me one semi tractor that weighs more than the trailer, how about a one ton truck that weighs more than it's towing capacity?:shaking:

I agree that with a 5500 pound load and a 1500 lb (if you're lucky) trailer, there's no margin left. However, your reasoning is full of shit.

lets see my 3/4 ton dodge diesel only wieghts 6000 pounds and i hual alot more then that all the time. Its more of a wheel base issue and have things setup up properly. You will need to have air bags put in the back of the four runner. I towed with my moms jeep grand once and it squated the back like crazy. but it pulled it and it wasnt scary just felt bad for the axle! And make sure the load is done up right. It comes down to you having everything else setup right because when you tow with something that small there isnt much room for error.

You're an idiot. Please show me one semi tractor that weighs more than the trailer:shaking:

Maybe, but that's not why, good example, wrong lesson. A semi or 5er or gooseneck loads the entire vehicle (all axles) drawing the weight. In a bumper pull scenario the tongue weight unloads the front axle while overloading the rear axle(s). This is true to some extent always unless you're loading on the scale and really care. One other thing, semi hitches articulate up and down only, no side to side articulation like a gooseneck or double axis 5er. hth