Gettin my 1986 xtra cab 22R pickup ready to tow trailer from Louisiana to Pheonix. Weighed truck with motorcycle and gear in bed came to 4020 lbs. The GVWR on the door read 5080lbs. I have a 5x8 Uhaul triler with an empty weight of 900#. I belive it will weigh in loaded at 1800lbs. Towed it for a trial run for 30 min yesterday and the rear end was sagging so I picked up some leaf spring helpers from pep boys (do these mount torwards the front or rear? instructiions dont specify ita a half leaf type helper?)I know cheap fix but am doing a chvy spring swap after I get to AZ. If anyone has any other recomendations to raise the rear cheaply and safley for towing ? Anyway the engine seemed to pull ok no temp increase but slow getting up to speed but held 55mph ok. with what seemed to be no serious strain on my rebuilt 22R with engine builder RV cam +oversized valves( thanks EB great parts)and complete rebuild with .10 over pistons. My main concern is saftey will my truck tow a 1800 lb trailer with a curb weight with bed filled of 4020lbs? 5820lbs total give of take a few 100lbs? or should I repack and lose some weight? If so how much would be safe? I relize it will be a little over GVWR but plan on driving 55 with safe driving habits. Thank you all on the board you guys have been a tremendous help. Lookin forward 2 wheelin with some of you all in AZ.

Well welcome to AZ!

I towed a large UHaul trailer completly full from phx to flag up 5kft. Its only a 2 hour drive but the truck did it flawlessly with a pretty much stock engine. Tow alum boats and sometimes 2 3person seadoos just fine.

I'd be most worred about the tranny. Its not rated for towing. I'd swap the fluid out with some redline mt90 beforing leaving for some better protection. I really think that it will be too much weight with all the stuff in the back. A helper spring or a AAL would be your best bet. Might want to upgrade your bumper also.

Josh

The important factor is your brakes. That's why at least most late 1980s and later model Toyota trucks have really heavy duty twin piston brakes up front. Not sure about your model though. That's a major factor that guides tow ratings.

GVWR is only for the truck itself, as I understand it. It doesn't include what you tow. The tow rating you need to concerned about is your combined gross/towing weight (GCWR I believe) On the 1989 and later Toyota trucks it's 7800lbs. It's probably a little less on your truck, but 5800lbs sound safe to me.

But be sure to double check those brakes. Especially if you anticipate any long down grades on your trip.

From an upcoming Truck Tech column in the <a href="jhttp://www.tlca.org/" target="_blank">TLCA Toyota Trails magazine</a>:

Per my 1985 4Runner Owner's Manual:
2000 lb. trailer + cargo weight
Total weight of vehicle + trailer + cargo under 5500 lbs.

4Crawler,

Is the substantially reduced towing rating for 1985 and earlier trucks related to the non-vented single piston front brakes? When did they go to a twin piston vented brake system? I know my 1989 has it, but do they have them on the 1986 models too?

Just to add my lack of knowledge to Brians info... 87' and 88's have the dual piston calipers. IIRC my lil brothers 86' 4x4 had dual piston as well. Maybe the change from single to dual came about when solid axle switched to IFS??

~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

Not sure on the braking system changes, either, but the main point is that the towing rating information is in your Owner's Manual (maybe someone with an '86 vintage OM could post that data). And yes, brakes are one main factor in towing ratings.

I also notice that Toyota only has a single rating, not one for brake-less trailer and a higher rating for a trailer w/ brakes. On my DD, there is a dual rating, the w/ brakes rating is about twice that of no brakes.

Well, the maximum combined tow/load rating for a 1989 toyota is 7800lbs. That's a heck of a lot more than 5500lbs. Actually, the GVWR alone, without a trailer, of a 1989 a truck is 5300lbs.

Since the motors, frames, axles, springs aren't really all that different, I have to assume the brakes are what makes the difference in the weight ratings. But I'm only guessing here.

My 4Runner GVWR is 4800 lbs. so looks like some increase in load capacity. May also be a pickup vs. 4Runner difference and the Xtra cab is 20" longer wheel base, that helps, too.

4800lbs, really!? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Are you sure? The lowest GVWR I've seen for a Toyota was 5050lbs. I can't remember which model that was, but I thought it was a mid 1980s truck. I know Tacomas are 5100lbs.

It could mean that your 4Runner is a somehow lighter to start off with, but that heavy 4Runner fiberglass canopy has to weigh at least a hundred or two hundred pounds from the ones I've tried to lift, plus the extra interior, seats, roll bar, etc. That doesn't leave you a lot of room to pack on the weight.

Here's my data plate. GVWR = 5350lbs. It's a 1989 short bed, single cab DX pick-up. Should be pretty much the same size as your 4Runner, but GVWR that is 550lbs more?

If you or anyone else is interested, here's my 1989 Toyota dealer brochure which has some interesting info, including the mention of 7800lbs maximum combined towing wieght.



Here's my Dad's 2001 Tacoma date plate showing that they are 5100lbs GVWR.