Opus Off-road

Hello all:

So I’m a place with a travel trailer. I bought one that weighs 1,500, but Lippert screwed up the frame/axle something fierce.

I can either ask for a new frame or upgrade to a beefier off-road model, and pay the difference of course.

That off-road trailer weighs about 2,800 dry and max capacity of 3,500.

I have a winch/bumper that weighs around 110lbs, sliders 80lbs, and a roof rack 50lbs.

With my weight, my wife, son and dog, plus gear, is it realistic to be towing this trailer up and down hills? I of course have a brake controller, but that is not what makes towing safe, it’s weight.

250lbs mods
450lbs family & dog before Christmas dinner.
600lbs Bikes, generator, gear being generous
This equals 1,300lbs
Trailer 2,800
Total = 4,100lbs

Its crazy because you wouldn’t think to add in all the excess weight, but once you do, you quickly get close to hitting your 5000lb tow rating. It means we shouldn’t really have over a 2000 lb trailer if you have beefed up your rig and carry gear with it.

so what do you think, can a 2017 TRD pull that much trailer and weight comfortably? Am I missing something?

Matthew

 

I think I confused you. The total weight is 4,100lbs. Not 7,500.

 

As a rule of thumb towing ratings are designed to deliver max capabilities, but "comfortable" i typically try to do half, so I'd keep it at 2500lbs loaded, wet, ready to go. Factor your cargo in the 4Runner against your tongue weight. Also, consider hills, elevation, and things which make the truck work harder/breather harder.

I tow a 1100 lbs NuCamp T@G Boondock XL trailer, and loaded it's around 1450#.

It's about as much as I care to tow with this truck, but it does it pretty well and I get 14-15MPG doing it. Makes for a pretty pleasant drive. It does have brakes.

**NOTE** Do not use WD bars on these 4Runners, the hitch is just bolted to the rear cross member, not to the frame rails. This is explained in the owners manual.