Author |
Share Topic Topic Search Topic Options
|
birderdiane526
Senior Member
Joined: 08 May 2016
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 320
|
Topic: Towing Capacity Posted: 11 Jan 2017 at 3:19pm |
What is the general consensus about towing weight meeting your TV's capacity. Our 4Runner has a 5000 lbs tow capacity. Would it be dangerous to tow 5000 lbs behind us?
Thanks for your help.
|
Diane and Michael
2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE)
2007 Toyota Tundra
BLOG:Podding in Paradise,
birderdiane526.blogspot.com
|
|
marwayne
Senior Member
Joined: 25 Oct 2011
Location: Edmonton AB Can
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1002
|
Posted: 11 Jan 2017 at 3:54pm |
I wouldn't go more than 80 %.
|
If you want something done right, do it yourself.
2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd.
|
|
Guests
Guest Group
|
Posted: 11 Jan 2017 at 4:20pm |
Personally, I consider 5K capacity about the minimum for towing a Pod, or something of similar weight. If the budget allows, I'd like to see you in something "full size" and a V8.
An "old timer', years ago, told me to "have a tow vehicle that is rated for twice the amount of the actual tow weight, and you'll do OK". He was pretty smart!
Following his advise, you would want something rated to tow 10K lbs. (or close to it).
You could get down the road with what you have but, I'm not sure how pleasant or safe the experience would be....you would be at the max.
|
|
birderdiane526
Senior Member
Joined: 08 May 2016
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 320
|
Posted: 11 Jan 2017 at 4:22pm |
Thank you David and Marwayne! Good info.
|
Diane and Michael
2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE)
2007 Toyota Tundra
BLOG:Podding in Paradise,
birderdiane526.blogspot.com
|
|
ToolmanJohn
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2014
Location: Connecticut
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 451
|
Posted: 11 Jan 2017 at 4:31pm |
birderdiane526 , As long as everything is correct (4Runner Payload 1255-1295 lbs depending on 2wd-4wd and model) you should be plenty saf. You have to subtract the weight in the 4Runner from the payload capacity, then the tongue weight from the payload capacity. Don't exceed 12XX lbs interior payload capacity(people, cargo, tongue weight).
If you tow max trailer weight assume 10% tongue is safe (can't find max tongue on the 4Runner receiver, but it might be 500lbs because the stock receiver is a rear cross member mounted one, not a frame mounted one.) Frame mounted OE receiver (was available for the V8 and can be mounted to the V6) has higher tongue capacity, but the tow capacity weight would be the same.
If you go to the MAX, your 5 speed will become a 4 speed. Forget about using 5th. It won't happen even at 55 mph. It will CONSTANTLY hunt 4th-5th if you try. Leave it in 4th and accept how it behaves. You will never break any 0-55 mph speed records towing 5000 pounds. It will take a solid 20+ seconds to get to highway speeds when near max tow capacity.
I know these things because I had a 2003 4runner V6 (4 speed). It did not like a 2013 Starcraft 17RD, and it also did not like the 2013 177 R-Pod. 3rd gear was the norm, MAX speed was 65 mph on the flat at about 3000 rpm...period...Or if trying for 70 mph, wringing the engine out to near 3500-4000 rpm all the time.
After 12 months of small trailer ownership and about ten 480 mile round trips, I realized I needed better, and stepped up to a diesel. No reasonable comparison between my soft roader VW Touareg TDI and the off road designed 4Runner. I loved my 4Runner (10 years, I bought it new) but it was NOT a good tow vehicle, and it was NOT fuel efficient under any circumstances. No regrets. Even VW dieselgate won't really hurt me. It's sad about the whole dieselgate scandal, but VW deserves an EPA boot up it's ass for the lying.
|
2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD)
2013 VW Touareg TDI
|
|
Tars Tarkas
Senior Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2013
Location: Near Nashville
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1446
|
Posted: 11 Jan 2017 at 6:12pm |
I think the 80% rule is pretty reasonable. When you're at towing capacity you are at the limit of safety. Some people will argue that the engineers who come up with towing capacity limits throw in an X% tolerance on the high side. That may be true, but it doesn't count legally if you have an accident. But aside from that, if you're any kind of intelligent, reasonable person, in my opinion, of course, peace of mind is on an inverse curve to trailer weight compared to towing capacity. As you close in on reaching the limit or going over it your need to pay attention to every little thing and your anxiety level is going to go way up.
It's the kind of thing I'd do as a one-off, short trip thing, but not as a long term solution.
TT
|
2010 176
FJ Cruiser
|
|
mjlrpod
Senior Member
Joined: 27 Sep 2016
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1214
|
Posted: 11 Jan 2017 at 6:38pm |
I purched a new t.v. because i felt it might be to dangerous. i had a 3000 pound tow capacity vehicle, and my rp172 weighs 2200 empty. The numbers work if you keep the cargo below 500- 700, doable but i would be maxed out. I purchased a nissan frontier with 6100 tow capacity. Now i will have peace of mind. Like anything, it all doesnt matter till theres a problem. Get in an accident, and be found to be anywhere near tow capacity, and you can count on a serious lawsuit, and or criminal charge, especially if someone gets hurt. so not worth it.
|
2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
|
|
mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419
|
Posted: 11 Jan 2017 at 7:17pm |
I think 80% is a good figure, hard to put 500-700 pounds of stuff in an R-Pod. I have hoses, filters, some tools, grill, kitchen supplies, bedding and clothes basically. I carry heavy items in bed of truck (coolers, water, more tools). I use truck space to haul the needed items for trip vice the norm stuff I need for TT. Constantly looking at what is in Pod and eliminating the stuff I never used. I like being prepared. I have an extra fresh water hose and a couple of different sewer lines, extension cords. Mostly small light weight stuff. The stuff I don't want to remove after every trip. I try to balance front to rear and side to side, really about common sense.
|
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
|
|
birderdiane526
Senior Member
Joined: 08 May 2016
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 320
|
Posted: 11 Jan 2017 at 7:37pm |
Thanks everyone! Very helpful.
|
Diane and Michael
2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE)
2007 Toyota Tundra
BLOG:Podding in Paradise,
birderdiane526.blogspot.com
|
|
ronahue
Senior Member
Joined: 02 Jun 2015
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 316
|
Posted: 11 Jan 2017 at 7:42pm |
This URL will take you to an excellent page with a calculator and some explanations of towing capacity.
http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-trailer-weight-tt.shtml
|
Ron & Sharon
2015 R-Pod 179
2022 Nissan Frontier
No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated
|
|