How well would the 4runner tow this travel trailer?

I was thinking about purchasing and towing the keystone 175bh travel trailer with my trd offroad 4runner 4.0. The dry weight says 3,050lbs.

I know the 4runner has a max tow capacity of 5,000 but how realistically can it tow this trailer, especially uphill on a highway? I know it’s not the best tow vehicle but will it do it without much headache? I know it would be better to get a full size truck but the 4runner is paid for. This is the trailer. Any input is appreciated thanks

https://www.scottsrecreation.com/Ne...-Travel-Trailer-Hideout-175BH-Turner-14616960

 

I occasionally tow a Boy Scout supply trailer for the troop. It's about 2800lbs and looks to be similarly shaped. It does fine, with some caveats. The longest trip was a bit less than two hours. I drive fairly slowly, rarely getting above 55mph, and I leave it in 4th gear. It struggles going up steep(ish) hills. It also gets moved around pretty good with crosswinds. That being said, I would feel comfortable towing that trailer anywhere but in the mountains.

 

Nice, I kinda figured flat land wouldn’t be an issue. As long as it makes it up those steepish hills I feel like it should do okay.

 

I don’t tow anything more than my motorcycles or ATV but used to haul heavy equipment, excavators and such. If you only use it a couple of times a year for getaways I would just plan to use the 4Runner and just take it slow and you should have no problems. If you are using it every weekend then you might get tired of pulling it with the 4Runner. You will know what you need once you establish how you are using it.

 

I think it will do it ok. It won't be fast but doable without much effort. Here is an example.
https://youtu.be/LlesOEHXGUU?feature=shared

 

I wouldn't worry about towing with the 4R if properly equipped. I.E. trailer brake controller, weight distribution/anti-sway hitch. What I would be worried about is if this travel trailer is going to be a piece of garbage. Seriously, do some research. There are videos everywhere of people having serious problems with the construction on these things. Ask me how I know? I had a 2022 Airstream Basecamp 20X that I towed with the 4Runner. That thing was in the shop constantly. It was falling apart. The A/C unit quit working, trim panels coming off, doors delaminating, etc. If spending $60k got me a huge hunk of shit, what's $18K going to buy? Caveat Emptor. I would MAYBE consider buying a travel trailer made before 2020. Covid screwed that industry up good.

 

Thanks for posting that video. First I have seen someone towing with armor weight, 35's, regear and SC. It did well towing up grades with the regear and SC.

A stock 4r doing the same scenario is totally different. It will do it just much slower.

Also some great data points in transmission temperature. I experienced what he commented on a winch can interfere with transmission cooler placement.

 

Factor in braking ability and cross wind stability, it’s not just about HP.

 

One of my concerns would be the hitch weight. It is listed as 380lb, that is almost always a dry weight without battery and LP. With battery, LP and loaded with your stuff, it could exceed the hitch limit (pretty sure the limit is 500lb), especially since a big storage compartment is up front.

It looks like it has lp mounted, see if they can get a true weight then add like 75lb for the battery to get an idea of where it sits before you add anything else.

The other concern is that with 500lb tongue weight, is the 4runner's listed payload capacity (which makes zero sense). I suspect you will have no trouble staying below GVWR (and GCWR even though I have yet to find that one).

(I was there looking at TT's a couple weeks ago, didn't see the one we think we want though (sun-lite 16bh)).

 

I don't see your location in your profile, so I have to assume you live in Kansas and will be towing the flatlands and any hills you're talking about have almost no rise. It'll do fine. Now, if you don't live in Kansas, or your hills are more hill-like, or even mountain passes, the answer may be wildly different. If you live in the Rockies, or the Sierra Nevada, it might be different still.

 

My biggest concern would be fuel economy. I towed about 4,000# (trailer, people and equipment) with my 2020 Tacoma TRD Sport 6MT and averaged 175miles to a tank. And this was with a towing capacity rating of 6,400#. Cannot fathom my fuel economy in my 4Runner.

 

Flat ground, no wind, sure. Hills, mountains, wind, no.

 

What brand would you recommend? I feel like all trailers in a way are a little cheaply made

 

Being unstable in crosswinds indicate that you hitch height is not correct or the trailer is tail heavy..

 

The tow vehicle’s wheelbase and weight play a role as well.
We recently purchased a new 24.5’ Keystone Outback Ultralight with all the bells and whistles and it has quite a few quality issues. I have pulled out the circuit board from the ‘Smart’ lithium battery charger and sent it back to the manufacturer to get new firmware installed, fixed the power leveling jacks and a bunch of loose tidbits on the interior…..there are still more. I had pretty much fixed all the problems on our previous 2014 Wilderness trailer. I kinda wish I had it back but the wife wanted a more modern one. They all seem to be projects. We have had just about every type of RV over the years and have dealt with many dealers and their techs. Most of the dealers are oh so kind ….until the sale is over and nearly all the techs are hammer heads. I just fix them myself now.

 

I towed a 2 horse trailer with a tack room carrying 2500# of horses with a '98 Dodge Durango with 3.93 axle ratio. Everyone said it couldn't be done. I had a properly set up load distributing hitch and I never experience any sway whatsoever.

How do 25,000# semi tractors manage to pull 55,000# trailers?

 

The semis are designed to do nothing but tow and have a 2 sets of dual wheels out back….apples to oranges.

Advise to the OP.
Buy a used well kept trailer that has had the bugs worked out and has been covered over its life, UV exposure is not your friend.

 

The trailer is pretty well balanced and the hitch is almost perfect. However, I live in Nebraska, and it gets windy here. A 90 degree, 35mph crosswind will push you around pretty good, especially with some sizable gusts, regardless of how good the trailer setup is. Just something to be aware of....

 

I haven't towed anything with my 4Runner yet but my 2nd gen Tacoma with the same drivetrain can pull a 3500 lb (500 lb tongue weight) trailer all day with no issues. It does have an auxiliary transmission cooler, which I strongly recommend for any vehicle that's going to be towing for any distance. Also get a quality weight distribution hitch.

 

Honestly, none. I think someone else in here said it, but buy a used one before 2020 that someone has already fixed. RV dealers are a real PITA to work with when it comes to warranty work.

 

This is why I opted to go with a 6x10 enclosed cargo trailer. $4000 for the trailer, plus another $1000 for materials and creature comforts to make it homey. Didn't put a shower in because most of our camping is at campgrounds or friend/family property with lakes or creeks. Didn't want to spend $15-$20K on a trailer that's going to fall apart.