Great info, Mark, thanks. I'm looking to overland for an indefinite period and considering modding my 4R for towing. Do you know what the weight of your trailer is? And has it still been going well? From the video above it just seems like the vehicle would be constantly working so hard - like, fine for a weekend, but as a way of life maybe not so much. And he was just going over hills, while I'll be going over mountains. Do the mods really help? Do they either improve gas mileage or even reduce it further? Ugh, torn...

@@amy2brno2b The above modifications I mentioned have really made all the difference in the world for towing. Our trailer weight is right at 1,600lbs loaded (CAT Scale - June 19, 2021). Our trailer is a HEO (Highland Expedition Outfitters) T3.5 with an aluminum body/frame that is heavily modified and loaded up. Even with the light trailer, the tongue weight is high enough with my full steel rear bumper that the airbags have been a true life saver for ride quality and handling. I really have not found anything that helps with MPGs... The 4.0L V6 just isn't made to make good torque until you get into the higher RPMs. The higher RPMs means the more fuel you use unless you retune the engine. The biggest improvement I found was regearing. This helps the engine run at higher RPMs and makes it not work as hard. What this does for the driver is help with fatigue as you aren't fighting to find the right gear, and the drivetrain components are not under as much stress. The downfall is that the "taller" gear ratio you go with means the more RPMs. That translates to using more fuel when you are unloaded. We take our setup to Colorado several times a year (we are originally from Fort Collins area). Towing the trailer over mountain passes is a night-and-day difference when you regear, and we only went with 4.56 gears - 4.88 gears would be even better if you are doing full-time towing. The reason I went with 4.56 over a taller gear ratio is because this is also my daily driver. My 60 mile round trip to the office means I chew through fuel, and 4.88 gears would mean my fuel economy unloaded would go down as well. The other thing is that I live in Texas - land of 80 MPH Interstate Speed Limits. With the 4.88 or 5.29 gears, I would really eat up fuel to be at 80+ MPH. That being said - the 4.56 gears love to cruise at 80 MPH. I average 16 MPG with mud tires, bumpers, winch, extra fuel, hi-lift, armor, and a fridge when I am using my 4Runner unloaded as a daily driver. Towing will take me down to 13-14 MPG depending on conditions. The 4Runner is still much more comfortable to tow with after making all the changes I made. The biggest things that KILL your fuel economy - tire roll resistance, aerodynamics, and WEIGHT. I have all 3 working against me. Daily driving ~16 MPG Towing+Loaded ~13-14 MPG

@@TrailorSailYT wow thank you for all that info. Dang, you did all that for 1600lbs; the travel trailers I'm looking at will end up around twice that. :\ And I'm really eyeing that new lime green TRD Pro.

my friends four runner got stuck in his back yard. it's 4x4 but street tires ain hooking up like an aggressive tire would. he pulled it out with his z71

same here and I was playing the video at 1.5x speed. The first couple seconds I was like, "is he really tailgating with almost 4000 on his ass at 105 mph?!?!?" "oh, it's gotta be kph ha so like 60 or so lol"

Me too, I went out to the garage to check mine. I was thinking, "I thought my odometer stopped at 120 mph". LoL

Any videos on this? Have you weighed the tongue weight or everything at a station? Also are you hitting any inclines or declines during your road trips? One last question any passengers or cargo adding extra weight? I plan on getting a 4,200 lb trailer just looking for real world feedback

Do you think it could pull a 6K boat out of the water? My boat, motor, fuel, trailer + gear = 6300lbs. I just need to pull out of the water x2 a year and bring to mechanic about a 1mile away. thats it. Any reason why it wouldnt do it?

when you were towing were you on 2wd or using 4 low ?

@@Pete1987pl you can’t use 4 low. He was probably in 4h

Are you actually towing with your 4Runner now? My TRD Premium has a placard that states a maximum of 835 lb payload capacity with a yellow amendment sticker that says "Payload is reduced another 50 pounds due to vehicle modifications". Seem like the limiting factor for a 4Runner wouldn't necessarily be the Tow Rating, but rather it's Payload Capacity. 3 adults + a 350 pound trailer hitch would put it over the limit.

@@TheJaxsonjack If I tow anything it’s very short distances with few people and gear inside the vehicle. You’re absolutely right that its payload is a huge limiting factor. I think if you want to tow something substantial or just frequently, you really just need a truck.

Yeah I can see that but damn it would be at over 3000rpm the whole time.

workplaytv yeah, it’s crazy. They do it with the Tundras too.

would you recommend S4 for towing a 3k pound boat even if its in no elevation like flat florida?

@@workplaytv The gear that you were thinking was 4th gear was actually 3rd gear.

@@EricAlanMedia I’m thinking the same. Sadly they only have 5 speed transmissions. It would be nice if they did get the 3.5/6 speed option that the Tacoma uses. Extra pep and fuel economy.

Josh Atkinson great! Glad to help

What are you doing for an electric brake controller in the 4Runner? There is no factory brake controller that I'm aware of in 4Runners.

@@nukerog Mine does. It senses when the trailer is hooked up with the stock round towing plug under the left-rear side. Works TONS better than the aftermarket I have on my old truck.

@@justal4844 wtf how?

@just4844 is it a Toyota-installed factory option? What year?

@@DrXtophYes 2021

better, duh

I am thinking of getting a similar trailer. Did you already try out ? If so please let me know how it is. TIA.

Sajesh Enampurath no I didn’t yet still currently use 2017 f150 to tow it. I think 4runner is underrated for towing as most other vehicles like it would be able to tow 6-7k pounds like the Tacoma

We bought the wife a 2019 TRD OFF ROAD. Just towed with it for the time today. I was extremely impressed in how it performed with a 20ft boat and tandem axle trailer. It towed better than my Ford 5.4l. 18.2 mpg while towing. Barely could tell the boat was back there. No braking issues, no issues pulling the boat out the water. Towed it at 70mph for 2 hours. Up hills down hills etc.

I'm thinking of going with a 13ft scamp for my 2020 ORP Scamp trailer is 1000 pounds. Should be able to tow regularly across country and elevations.

@@jx3s300 how does it tow better than a half ton truck? That’s crazy

I towed a 18ft travel trailer with the v6 and anti sway e2 equalizer hitch 4th gen. I would not go any longer because of how short the wheel base is. It did fine.

@@AdamConstantine how much weight I’m looking at a 19’ 3500lb dry weight to tow.. gx460 though so tow capacity is higher with v8 but same chassis pretty much as 4Runner

Did you ever get the casita? I’m in the same situation. Bought a 21 4r and considering a 17’ casita. If you did buy it, how is the 4R doing pulling it?

@@bebedubz559 Yes, we took delivery in September. We have only had two camping trips so far, the furthest was only 45 minutes away, just to get a feel for towing. The 4R tows without issue. You barely knows it's even back there. I did add a trailer brake controller since we plan much further trips out west, and since the 4R was pre-wired for it, it was a snap to install.

@@CRHK88 omg congratulations!!! that’s great. So when you guys hook it up does the 4r sag a lot? Hows the mpgs when towing? Sorry I’m just so indecisive. But the casita is on top of the list just cause of the weight. They also seem like great trailers.

@@bebedubz559 Thank you. We love it. It's only two of us which is the perfect size, but our 80lb German Shepherd is kind of pushing it for space sometimes. lol When we are full loaded with camping gear, and grill, it is already a lot of weight in the 4R, so when I hitch the Casita, it does cause enough sag that my headlights rise (annoying to oncoming traffic.). It's not too bad and drives great, but enough to notice at night when our headlights are running high. But, I did install an Anderson Weight Distribution Hitch after our last trip, so we will see how that works. I am told we could just rearrange our gear to the camper to better distribute the weight and we should be good, but we will likely travel with a lot of gear and would prefer to have a WD hitch to be safe. For the price/features, it's hard to beat the Casita. It tracks like butter and I prefer the body on frame of the 4R to me previous unibody SUV, a Subaru Ascent. We haven't had long, but it is truly full featured and has good sized tanks, compared to others we looked at, we upgraded to the larger size water tank. Also, the carpet interior seemed odd at first, but after camping in 40 degree weather 2 weeks ago, it really seems to make a difference. Our heater didn't have to run that often to keep the camper at 70-72 degrees The 4R was a no brainer though. Wanted one for 20 years and it doesn't disappoint. It doesn't have near the features of my previous vehicles but it is sure footed and very capable, and most importantly has a reputation for reliability. In terms of MPG, I have been getting around 12-14, but that is with a LOT of weight in it. We are new to camping so we likely carry way more than we need. We scaled back each time we go, so probably after a dozen or so trips, we will be down to about 60-70% of where we are at now.

Sounds great. You need to post a video one day when you get the wd hitch and trailer hooked up. I’d like to see what it looks like. I’m really leaning towards getting one now though. Thanks 🙏🏽

Damone Blackman Awesome buddy

Luis Estrella I pay for it! Haha

After alot of research I found a 4wd RAM 1500 5.7 liter with 4.10 gears in the rear end. I tow a 3200 lb trailer + camping stuff and it can power up any hill. Living out west it was important to me not to have loaded semi trucks pass me up hills or worse try to pass on a two lane highway. That happened once and the truck almost head on crashed into an oncoming car. Another issue is cross winds and the surface area of a travel trailer giving you wag or sway and the needed extra weight of the two trailer. I love the RAM 1500 and it is a hot rod if not towing. The 4wd is there to get unstuck in 2" of mud if pulling off the road or not be afraid to go out in the snow.

Great info! I plan to tow 4k lbs across the country (3k miles). Your comment gives me confidence.

The 4runner transmission is crap, I hate the transmission, it's the worst part of the vehicle.

@@bobsokoloski9559 whats wrong with it

I noticed the same thing. Pretty important for 4Runner owners watching this video to know.

Neo Craft Hey man that’s awesome!! Great customer service too!! Man I know I want it!

workplaytv I can’t wait for you to get it!! Have you been using your red one a lot more lately or do you need to keep it at a certain mileage to do the trade in deal? How many miles are on it now?

Neo Craft Hey been trying to use it as little as possible but hasn’t helped. Lol

110k kms

Tito Riaz Well you will aspects of your 4Runner and love the truck at the sane time.

What did you decide? I'm looking at doing the exact same thing very soon, but I will be solo. Did you keep the 4R? Have you been pulling the 3800lb trailer?

@@tyleranderson2115 wow that is really good to hear, I'm encouraged. Sounds fun!! :)

I tow my 19ft ar195. It’s not too bad at towing. I wouldn’t go larger though.

Just to correct my mistake, I have an '05 V8 runner already, I'm looking to buy a '24 before they go away. Yes I already have a '23 GX460 on top of my '05 GX470 -- I'm just scared of the V6 being undergeared & underpowered.

Its weird, most people did not see the guy standing there at the start of the merge lane on the highway(including the driver in the 4Runner). Obviously, I would be cautious when approaching him and drive slowly.

How’s it do?

@@alphawolfadventures1470 It tows ok if you stay on level ground. I don't think I would test it going up and down mountains.

Sergio Terrones Haha yeah

You towed a 32’ 10k lb with a 4Runner?!😂

Good suggestion in extras I watched a video on the air bags and sway bar but it def needs a super charger 😢😂so slow ugh

How is that camper working out? I'm looking to do the same, but I'm torn about whether to keep my 4R or just get something else. Have you gone long distances? Hills/mountains? Do you know what the dry weight is of your camper? Finally, what kind of gas mileage are you getting? I knew it would be bad but damn, 8-9 is ugly... :\

@@amy2brno2b GVWR 3860, does ok as long as you take it slow. The hills of PA and Harper's Ferry had been OK. Packed too much on a beach trip to Delaware and it road heavy. Will refrain from hauling fire wood, 4R full of family, and trailer at the same time as that much weight really starts to bog it down. At 45 MPH, speeding down hills and going slow up I could almost get 13 MPG.

David Hillbrand Yeah only kept it in drive for purpose of the video.