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Topic Closedsuv tow vehicle
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podrunner View Drop Down
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Joined: 30 May 2013
Location: Draper, UT
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Posts: 106 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: suv tow vehicle
    Posted: 17 Apr 2014 at 1:11am
Welcome from a fellow SLC area resident.  I tow with a 2006 V6 4Runner and have not had any problems..Can you tell you are towing a trailer?  Of course..Is it slower going up hills?  Of course.  We have towed here locally in the canyons, made a trip through Duchesne to the Uinta Mountains and last fall took a great trip to Yellowstone.  Never dropped below about 45MPH even on the steepest hills.  Gas mileage is 10 to 11 MPG.  I do not use nor have ever felt like I needed a sway control system.  Happy Trails...
2010 R Pod 151
2017 4runner
2006 Honda Metropolitan
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RCU View Drop Down
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Joined: 12 Mar 2014
Location: Omaha Nebraska
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Posts: 21 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 May 2014 at 7:54am
I also tow with the 4 Runner a V8. I did tow without the sway bar. Several tripsagowe got caught in a a pretty significant storm. I have since installed weight distribution system w/sway. No probs in the last couple of storms, straight and level.

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fwunder View Drop Down
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Joined: 04 Oct 2013
Location: New Jersey
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Posts: 1676 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 May 2014 at 8:54am
I couldn't be happier with my 2008 4Runner Limited V6. Our last 300 mile trip a couple of weeks ago we got 15MPG. I attribute that to empty tanks, recent tune up and a brand new set of Michelin LTX MS2s. We were getting 13.5 prior to new tires. Also, I think I finally found the sweet spot at about 62-64 mph highway. I do have WDH and friction sway.

I should gather some good data in upcoming 8K mile trip.

fred
2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6
Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks!
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RCU View Drop Down
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Joined: 12 Mar 2014
Location: Omaha Nebraska
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Posts: 21 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 May 2014 at 9:22am
Wow our upcoming trip is only is about 1600 mi. Making our way to Copper Falls, and the Apostle Islands. Then a couple of stops on the way to Galina, I'll. Now that the weather is getting better. Have fun on your 8k Journey.
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CO_PILOT View Drop Down
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Joined: 21 Sep 2013
Location: Longmont, CO
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Posts: 21 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Sep 2014 at 7:58pm

We tow our R-Pod 178 with a 2012 Honda Pilot.  It has a 4500 GVWR, 250 hp V-6 , 5-speed  4WD.

In hilly country the tranny spends a lot of time in 3rd gear.

Gas mileage goes from 9-15 mpg (mostly around 10) depending on speed and wind.

60 mph or less will get about 12 mpg.

Do not need load-leveling hitch or anti-sway bars as the rig seems very stable without.
2014 R-Pod 178 -- 2012 Honda Pilot

Roadwise Wisdom for both Bikers and Froggers alike:
http://www.dansher.com/bikequotes.html
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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Apr 2014
Location: Connecticut
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Sep 2014 at 10:41pm
Up until early 2013 I was towing with a 2003 Toyota 4Runner 4.0L V6, 4 Speed Auto transmission. About 236 hp and 282 ft/lbs torque. The 4runner weighed about 4500 pounds. It was pretty good, but on the 65mph highways, it struggled. I had to drive in 3rd all the time, 4th (overdrive gear) was out the door. This meant lower fuel economy (11-13mpg typical) for my 400 mile round trip weekends.

I bought a 2013 VW Touareg Sport TDI 3.0 diesel ... Totally different animal. It weighs almost 5000 pounds. 240 hp and 406ft/lbs torque. 8 speed transmission, and have no issues towing 70mph on any highway or hill. If I stay at 65mph cruise, I get 15-16 mpg ... I even got as high as 17mpg on a trip to New Hampshire. There were far fewer climbs on the trip.

My only beef with the VW was having to connect the brake controller myself, and the prewired harness was a miserable PITA to fish out from behind the dash. Several hours of baloney, but finally got it together. The dealership would have charge a small fortune to do the job.
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Budward View Drop Down
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Joined: 21 Apr 2014
Location: SC/NC
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Posts: 438 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Sep 2014 at 5:49pm
Just returned from a 30 day 10,000 mile trip- probably 8,500 of that was towing - with a 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser- averaged around 11 mpg towing at 60-65.  Saw as low as 8 or 9 on heavy headwinds towing across the plains- oddly we had headwinds going west and 30 days later had headwinds going east- just my luck.Wink
Saw as much as 12mpg towing in higher altitudes and slower speeds.
5th gear (OD) was basically worthless unless there was no headwind or uphill.  Majority of driving at 60-65 was in 4th at around 2500 RPM. 5th would be just below 2000 but the 4.0 V6 just doesn't have the torque to maintain that at least 50% of the time.  For those not aware the FJC has the aerodynamics of a brick, a very upright windshield and sits high off the ground being off road oriented.
2014 179
Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel
Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle!
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