Does anyone tow a 210 with a 4Runner?

[ShireRider]

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. Still patiently waiting for my 210fsh to show up at the dealership. I signed the purchase agreement the day the 2022 prices were announced.

My question is about dragging a 210 to Florida from Ohio with a 2022 4Runner. My wife & kids are flying into Miami & I’m driving down. I have to take the 4Runner or if I take my dodge 2500 we will have to rent her a car because she doesn’t drive stick unless it’s an emergency. The concern is that we are leaving mid March & there is a chance that my boat will be in by then, but I haven’t towed it anywhere. If my boat isn’t in, it’s not a big deal because my current boat is able to be towed by my 2006 jeep (the 4Runner can certainly handle it!!).

thanks for reading. Here is a picture of the Jack Crevalle I caught on vacation in Mexico a few weeks back:

 

[HangOutdoors]

If I am not mistaken your tow rating is 5000lbs. Dry weight is listed at 4020 lbs. I would make sure the tongue weight is dialed in, most of our boats come from the factory, dealer not correctly adjusted for tongue weight. You shouldn't have a problem. Would also depend on how much you put in the boat as well. Hopefully some whom actual have towed with them will chime in.

 

[AZMark]

I did for a while and quickly sold it for a bigger tow vehicle. It’s not very confidence inspiring and the power is marginal for that amount of weight. I have hills though and you may not.
If it’s just the one trip it would get the job done fine.

 

[drewkaree]

Fancy 4Runner here (Lexus GX470). Mine hauls it just fine, comfort-wise, although like @HangOutdoors said, dial it in with the tongue weight. Mine IS different than what you've got, since I've got a V8. From what it sounds like, it's going to be a power issue - I would think the geometry will be fine. Take it on the one trip as your feeling-out process. It'll be fine, IMO, but not as ideal as your 2500, and you might even burn more fuel with the 4Runner, as you're going to notice a sizeable drop in mpg towing the boat, and that 4Runner is at 15-ish mpg for day-to-day use, and not for towing.

 

[BlkGS]

My Sx230 is a similar weight and all the guidance I got on the 4runner was "it could technically do it but you won't be happy doing so". Gutless was I believe the word used to describe the v6 trying to tow something that size.

If it was me, I'd rent a Tahoe. Especially if you're not staying somewhere where youre gonna be docked the whole time and you'll only have to move it once.

 

[Smiley]

I tow my 195 with my 2017 4Runner, same truck basically. I know the 210 is a bit heavier though, so YMMV.

I have towed to Florida twice, once to Cape San Blas and once to Cape Canaveral. Getting the tongue weight right is key. I threw a bunch of stuff in the front of the boat with the family and all of our stuff and the drive down to Canaveral was not comfortable. On the way back, I shifted everything around and it was much better. Trip to San Blas was a breeze both ways. Getting ready for a trip to the Keys in April, so it’s definitely not stopping me.

I drag our boat all over North Georgia otherwise with no problems whatsoever. I typically run to Lake Allatoona or Lake Burton, which is in the mountains, and I do not feel the need to get a bigger tow rig. I do want to add some Firestone air bags to keep her level when the trailer is on.

I am considering trading into the Lexus GX this year, but not for the towing…

 

[drewkaree]

I am considering trading into the Lexus GX this year, but not for the towing…

If it doesn't have a tow package on it, you can add it later. The only thing the Lexus setup adds is the fancy L on the hitch cover, and they hook up the lighting stuff. The amount they remove from your wallet for that fancy L is ridiculous, and you can do all the wiring yourself, if you're handy. If you ask anyone at the dealership, they'll imply that you're about to set your rig on fire and it may explode like a meth lab gone wrong. Get on the LOC or Club Lexus forums, and you should be able to suss out what needs to be done. Only bad part about those forums are the guys who feel the need to chime in and crap up a thread with "I was afraid the car would never start again if I simply pulled a screwdriver out of the drawer, so I paid it done because I'm scared of doing work, since I just got a manicure". If that guy sounds like you, sorry I just hit you in your purse.

 

[Smiley]

If it doesn't have a tow package on it, you can add it later. The only thing the Lexus setup adds is the fancy L on the hitch cover, and they hook up the lighting stuff. The amount they remove from your wallet for that fancy L is ridiculous, and you can do all the wiring yourself, if you're handy. If you ask anyone at the dealership, they'll imply that you're about to set your rig on fire and it may explode like a meth lab gone wrong. Get on the LOC or Club Lexus forums, and you should be able to suss out what needs to be done. Only bad part about those forums are the guys who feel the need to chime in and crap up a thread with "I was afraid the car would never start again if I simply pulled a screwdriver out of the drawer, so I paid it done because I'm scared of doing work, since I just got a manicure". If that guy sounds like you, sorry I just hit you in your purse.

I doubt I would be intimidated by a hitch install, but I am waiting to see what 2023 brings to both the 4Runner and the GX, neither have had more than a facelift for quite some time.

 

[ShireRider]

If I am not mistaken your tow rating is 5000lbs. Dry weight is listed at 4020 lbs. I would make sure the tongue weight is dialed in, most of our boats come from the factory, dealer not correctly adjusted for tongue weight. You shouldn't have a problem. Would also depend on how much you put in the boat as well. Hopefully some whom actual have towed with them will chime in.

How does one adjust the tongue weight? I can only imagine this would be done by physically moving the axle forward or backwards (unless the boat can be shifted forward or backwards) to change the bias?

 

[ShireRider]

I tow my 195 with my 2017 4Runner, same truck basically. I know the 210 is a bit heavier though, so YMMV.

I have towed to Florida twice, once to Cape San Blas and once to Cape Canaveral. Getting the tongue weight right is key. I threw a bunch of stuff in the front of the boat with the family and all of our stuff and the drive down to Canaveral was not comfortable. On the way back, I shifted everything around and it was much better. Trip to San Blas was a breeze both ways. Getting ready for a trip to the Keys in April, so it’s definitely not stopping me.

I drag our boat all over North Georgia otherwise with no problems whatsoever. I typically run to Lake Allatoona or Lake Burton, which is in the mountains, and I do not feel the need to get a bigger tow rig. I do want to add some Firestone air bags to keep her level when the trailer is on.

I am considering trading into the Lexus GX this year, but not for the towing…

This answers my question to the first reply about adjusting tongue weight. My wife & kids are flying down & I'm leaving either Thursday night or Friday morning to pick them up at Miami airport Saturday. We will be planning on sending all the bags with me, so I can for sure move things around to get a good weight bias.

As far as selling your 4Runner, we just got my wife hers & I couldn’t believe how much the used ones were selling for!! Do a bit of research if you’re going to get rid of it, maybe hit up r/4Runner on Reddit. We actually paid less for a 2022 TRD sport than the dealer wanted for a used certified 2019 SR5 with 25k miles on it.

 

[ShireRider]

My Sx230 is a similar weight and all the guidance I got on the 4runner was "it could technically do it but you won't be happy doing so". Gutless was I believe the word used to describe the v6 trying to tow something that size.

If it was me, I'd rent a Tahoe. Especially if you're not staying somewhere where youre gonna be docked the whole time and you'll only have to move it once.

I’m for sure trying to keep my wife happy at the moment, especially if my dealer comes through & I can take delivery of my 210 before this trip. If they do come through I’ll probably use her runner to pick the boat up from the dealer & see how it tows on the hilly hour drive home.

My other vehicle option that she will drive is the ram 1500 that we lease so she can tow the horse trailer… that’s out of the question as the following weekend while I’m driving back with the boat, my daughter has a horse show & my wife will need to trailer her there (horses > boat so

My Sx230 is a similar weight and all the guidance I got on the 4runner was "it could technically do it but you won't be happy doing so". Gutless was I believe the word used to describe the v6 trying to tow something that size.

If it was me, I'd rent a Tahoe. Especially if you're not staying somewhere where youre gonna be docked the whole time and you'll only have to move it once.

The reason I’m having to take one of the two automatics on the trip is so we don’t have to rent a car, if not I wouldn’t hesitate to drag it down there with my ram 2500 6-speed diesel.

 

[drewkaree]

I doubt I would be intimidated by a hitch install, but I am waiting to see what 2023 brings to both the 4Runner and the GX, neither have had more than a facelift for quite some time.

I had heard they were doing some sort of upgrade to the new model, but I don't recall if it was just cosmetic, or mechanicals-related as well. I know the LX was said to be getting a major update, but at that price, honestly, I'd be more interested in the Land Cruiser, as to my eye, there's not much difference separating the two at that level.

 

[drewkaree]

How does one adjust the tongue weight? I can only imagine this would be done by physically moving the axle forward or backwards (unless the boat can be shifted forward or backwards) to change the bias?

Moving the winch post is the fastest and easiest way, and most likely all you will need to do. You'll need a tongue scale, or do the math using your bathroom scale, but it's really not hard.

The rear wheels are closer than most vehicles to the hitch, so it's quite well balanced already, as far as ride comfort, but with the smaller engine, the closer to perfect that you can dial it in, the better the towing experience. My neighbor has often commented, when pulling me out, how surprising it feels in my vehicle. He thought it would be a lot more noticeable. He definitely noticed the improvement after I moved my winch post, and after we talked about it for quite some time, he may have borrowed my tongue scale to dial in his wife's pontoon to haul behind his F250. I do know that they rearranged where things were stored on their boat, so it'll make a difference in any vehicle, moreso with your 4Runner.

Your setup might only need a tweak, like mine, or yours might be a bigger change, like @HangOutdoors had. Same boats, one year apart, much different changes. Don't trust your dealer's setup - mine seems to have been closer to ideal, but it may have just been a difference in what either of us perceive to be comfortable to tow. Even after any changes are made, you may find it to be changed to the point it's uncomfortable for you now, so make sure you keep that in mind. Changes should be made until you feel secure.

 

[drewkaree]

Here's the extent I had to move my winch post. Vehicle geometry, hitch setup, and driver comfort will all play a part in how you feel towing. Don't take someone else's "must have" setup as gospel, they don't have to tow YOUR boat with YOUR car, with YOUR experience. @HangOutdoors had a bigger move to make, but he also has a different vehicle with different geometry, and likely a different setup from his dealership. MULTIPLE variables, and small changes can make a huge difference. Start with the small and easy-to-do changes, and you'll likely get 80-100% to where you like it.

Note the rusty line. That's where my winch post originally sat. That's not quite an inch, and that changed enough that it didn't feel like it was hopping or jerking on me. I've hauled lots, and with lots of different types of vehicles - I drive truck, and did heavy equipment delivery. My comfort level will be different than someone else. Your winch post is the easiest thing to dial in, and small changes can/will make a big difference. Start there. Good luck, and share your experiences for those following in your footsteps. Pics, or it didn't happen!

 

[Smiley]

This answers my question to the first reply about adjusting tongue weight. My wife & kids are flying down & I'm leaving either Thursday night or Friday morning to pick them up at Miami airport Saturday. We will be planning on sending all the bags with me, so I can for sure move things around to get a good weight bias.

As far as selling your 4Runner, we just got my wife hers & I couldn’t believe how much the used ones were selling for!! Do a bit of research if you’re going to get rid of it, maybe hit up r/4Runner on Reddit. We actually paid less for a 2022 TRD sport than the dealer wanted for a used certified 2019 SR5 with 25k miles on it.

The dealer I bought it from is offering me what I paid on trade in right now, they won’t stop bothering me. I told them we would talk when the 2023’s came out.

Getting the weight loaded right is everything to me. It’s not a big deal on the 25 mile run to our usual spot, but for a long haul it makes a huge difference. The 210 FSH looks to weigh around 600-ish lbs more than my 195s. Our full load is about 80-85% of the 4Runner’s towing capacity, which is about where you can run comfortably. You’re probably right around the max of what you would want to run. Take your time, and possibly think of adding a trans cooler.

 

[Liveto99]

Yes. You just should not to in overdrive so you will not get great mileage I told mine about 7000 miles with one.

 

[Liveto99]

This was at a rest area between New York and Florida. The colored tape is painters tape. The bugs get stuck on the tape and you just pull it off.

 

[Liveto99]

The dealer I bought it from is offering me what I paid on trade in right now, they won’t stop bothering me. I told them we would talk when the 2023’s came out.

Getting the weight loaded right is everything to me. It’s not a big deal on the 25 mile run to our usual spot, but for a long haul it makes a huge difference. The 210 FSH looks to weigh around 600-ish lbs more than my 195s. Our full load is about 80-85% of the 4Runner’s towing capacity, which is about where you can run comfortably. You’re probably right around the max of what you would want to run. Take your time, and possibly think of adding a trans cooler.

If you’re gonna trade up the forerunner I will go to the tundra hybrid or the Sequoia hybrid I just towed my JetSki to Florida at around 80 miles an hour just did the mileage and it was 27 miles per gallon with the Hylander hybrid.

 

[AZMark]

Yes. You just should not to in overdrive so you will not get great mileage I told mine about 7000 miles with one.

View attachment 171640

Hell of a good looking setup

I miss the 4runner. I’ve had a few.

 

[SCP1]

I had heard they were doing some sort of upgrade to the new model, but I don't recall if it was just cosmetic, or mechanicals-related as well. I know the LX was said to be getting a major update, but at that price, honestly, I'd be more interested in the Land Cruiser, as to my eye, there's not much difference separating the two at that level.

Land Cruiser is no longer an option if looking new, as they are not selling this model in the U.S. anymore. The 4Runner is suppose to be getting an update, I'm hoping they up the tow ratings. As I need a 3rd row suv that can tow the boat. I would consider downsizing from a Suburban if the tow ratings were increased, as I wouldn't mind less of a bus. LOL, I would enjoy a more nimble vehicle and it would fit better in my garage. If the tow ratings were adequate I would even considering getting a Cargo Box for trips. I looked at the new Tahoe's as well but in all honesty they drive and feel just like the Suburban. I'm not sure why but when driving a F150 it never felt like a bus and the F150 was longer. Ford could bring the Everest to the states as well as they just did an update to this and it looks pretty good. This would be a direct competitor to the 4Runner as right now the 4Runner is really by itself and has no competition.