4-Runner TV
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7332
Printed Date: 20 May 2024 at 9:28pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 4-Runner TV
Posted By: coloradokid
Subject: 4-Runner TV
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2016 at 8:11pm
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Has anyone towed a RP178 or 179 with a Toyota 4-Runner? If so, was it a v-6 or v-8, and how did it do? Thanks for the help. ------------- Tim |
Replies:
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 04 Jan 2016 at 8:35pm
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Yep. A little. New Jersey to California, up to Washington and back. Several New England trips and down to Florida and back. 10K+ miles or so. No problems. Specs in signature. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: coloradokid
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2016 at 8:01pm
Thanks, Fred. Your experience speaks for itself. On your trips out west i.e. the Eisenhower Tunnel west of Denver how much did your Runner slow down? Have a great evening. Tiim ------------- Tim |
Posted By: frogpod
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2016 at 9:15pm
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We use a Tacoma full cab Prerunner TRD with a V6 to pull a 171. I believe it is the same basic vehicle as a 4Runner. We have a sway bar but no weight distribution hitch. Works fine except that "porpoising" is sometimes noticeable. I suspect that a WDH would help this but don't really see it as a big problem. Need a 5 inch drop on the hitch because the vehicle is high. This also may contribute to the roller coaster ride. We don't use overdrive and also can't use cruise control except in flat terrain otherwise it downshifts too often. The thing is comfortable at 55 to 65 mph. Faster and it doesn't feel right and the gas mileage drops like a rock. I did add a transmission oil cooler...a good idea for it regardless of whether you tow or not. We love our Taco. ------------- Leo and Tami with Coltrane the Jack Russell Terrier 2010 Rpod 171 2003 Toyota Tacoma TRD |
Posted By: Mountainpod
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2016 at 10:39pm
We pull with a 2008 Toyota 4 runner v6. We have a 2016 model 179. Did 21 days of camping in Colorado since purchasing in July of 2015. Slows down uphill, but overall did fine. We live at 10000 feet, so we begin going downhill, and return uphill ------------- Mitch & Cindy 2008 Toyota 4 Runner Rpod 179 |
Posted By: coloradokid
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2016 at 11:57am
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Fred, A couple more things. Does your 4-Runner have the factory installed tow package, and did you have to add anything special like a sway bar, etc.? Thanks again for your help. Tim ------------- Tim |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2016 at 3:23pm
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Hi coloradokid, This is my typical towing arrangement:  It's a Reese WHD w/friction sway and Swagman bike rack. Has served us very well. I can't speak to Eisenhower Tunnel on I70. I can say that traveling west in I80 through Wyoming with 50+mph headwinds put a hurting to our gas mileage!! Our 4Runner is a Limited with factory tow package (5,000 lb). My observations have been that wind is a bigger strain than incline. We always tow in "4" (not overdrive). I have experimented with shifting to overdrive on long level straights or down hill, but doesn't seem to really effect mileage. We get the "normal" 10-12 mpg unless we are carrying kayaks. The kayaks seem to help adding 1-3 mpg. Long steep inclines may slow us down a little, but I haven't ever really felt like we were struggling. For us, the 4Runner has been a great TV. Henry, the RVing cat, likes the space to wander while on the road, it's a comfortable ride and economical (22 mpg) without pod. Oh, I should mention that we did upgrade to the Tekonsha P3 brake controller from the Voyager which made a huge difference. We are also very careful with balancing load. Hope that helps. fred
------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2016 at 3:30pm
Toy hauler configuration... fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Commander203
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2016 at 4:42pm
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Very nice setup Fred... ------------- Mike & Erin 2013 Tundra 4.6L V8 (Tow PK) 2006 Honda Goldwing GL 1800 2005 Honda VTX 1800N |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2016 at 5:24pm
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Fred, Looks like you are ready for action!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2016 at 5:36pm
Plenty room in back of 4Runner for Yammy 2400, Weber Q and Henry's bathroom! Fishin' poles are on the dinette. Let's go camping!! Jeez, now I wanna go.  fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2016 at 5:47pm
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I bet there are fish biting somewhere!!!! No ice up here yet to do any ice fishing yet.................................starting to go into fishing withdrawals!!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: shroomer
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2016 at 6:53pm
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You mention getting 1-3 mpg better with kayaks. My pickup does much better with a canoe on the rack. I've headed north on the same road with and without the boat on top. With the boat I make all the hills in 4th. Without the boat I'm downshifting to third. Maybe those pointy things help. ------------- Larry and Debbie w/Rosie the mutt. Old: '13 177, '06 Silverado V6 New: '15 Whitehawk 20MRB '14 Silverado V8 |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2016 at 8:55pm
Leo, hang in there! Was up in North Conway last weekend. Just starting to get cold. Enough snow for a little skiing but looks like another month away for good lake ice, huh? Gotto love White mountain summit forecasts though - Winds 40 - 55 gusting to 90. Temps 0 to -10 with wind chills to -50. Visibility 10 ft. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: coloradokid
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2016 at 11:26pm
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Thanks again, Fred. Your posts have really helped. The pics are a great touch. Tim ------------- Tim |
Posted By: IssaquahWVU
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2016 at 2:46pm
2016 179 towed by a 2015 SR5 ... smooth like butter. Getting 12.4MPG average as well. |
Posted By: SandD
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2016 at 5:46am
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I also tow with a Tacoma. Crew 2wd and bought an E2 wdh. It does not work unless I buy a longer hitch shank. Waste of money. Will stay with the sway control bar and sell the wdh part 6000. ------------- There are two types of people in the world. Those who like RPODs and those who are wrong. Rpodder 2014 RPOD 178 06 Tacoma Prerunner TRD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2016 at 12:03pm
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Buy the longer shank, it isn't that expensive. I had to do it. Better system than just the sway bar. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: LManiac7
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2016 at 11:04pm
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Hi Fred, When you say you tow it in "4", do you mean 4WD? Drove my 180 home today from dealer and I felt like the 4Runner was struggling. This was my first time ever towing a travel trailer, so I'm not sure if I just need to get used to the feeling or if I should have done something diffently.... Thanks!
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Posted By: pnwcamper
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 10:50am
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I believe Fred meant 4th gear. I have a Tacoma with the same transmission. Using overdrive (5th gear) the transmission shift back and forth from 5th to 4th etc. Most conditions I also use 4th as well, but if I have a tail wind or going down a slight grade I do use overdrive.
------------- 2014 R-Pod 177 2009 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4.0 V6 |
Posted By: LManiac7
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 10:53am
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thanks pnwcamper!
I'm assuming then that you have manual transmission? With automatic, I should just leave it in 2WD as recommended by Toyota...does that sound right? |
Posted By: pnwcamper
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 10:56am
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Yes tow in 2WD. I have an automatic transmission.
------------- 2014 R-Pod 177 2009 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4.0 V6 |
Posted By: pnwcamper
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 11:01am
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Just to clarify, you can shift an automatic into 4th in this situation
------------- 2014 R-Pod 177 2009 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4.0 V6 |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 11:13am
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This does mean 4th gear in a 5 speed automatic. This locks out 5th which is an overdrive on Toyotas. For those who can monitor transmission fluid temperature you'll notice the OD position will immediately pump a lot of heat into the transmission. That's bad. 2WD vs 4WD is a totally separate decision.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 11:48am
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Manually force your transmission into a lower gear than the highest. On a 6 speed, that would be 5th, on a 5 speed that would be 4th, and on a 4 speed that would be 3rd. Allowing the transmission to "hunt" will cause higher transmission fluid temps. High transmission fluid temps break down the fluid over time. If you keep the transmission fluid temps down in the low 200-230°F range, the fluid lasts longer, and keeps the transmission safe. Get an auxiliary transmission cooler installed, it can lower the fluid temps. ------------- 2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler 2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 12:09pm
John, Generally true, but there is at least one anomaly. The top TWO speeds of the Honda Pilot 5 speed automatic are ODs. Honda compensates with a higher rear end ratio so it all comes out in the final drive ratios. The corresponding "towing" selection is called D3. The is no way to manually select the 4th gear. Go figure. Your point on high transmission temperatures makes the case for temp monitoring. All trailer owners should acquire and use a transmission fluid temperature monitor. I think most newer cars/trucks report some version of transmission temperature to the data bus and OBDII port. The Tacoma reports two measurement points. Fun to watch. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 1:09pm
Same here with my 2007 Tacoma. ------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: LManiac7
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 1:19pm
ok...this is starting to make sense now. I have never towed before, so this is all very new. Is there a way to turn the OD off, or do I just keep the car in 4th...I apologize for the stupid questions, but this is all greek to me! lol 
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 1:41pm
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Moving the selector to 4th does exactly that: turns off OD. Fifth gear is the only OD gear in a Toyota. The 4th gear position, similar to tow/haul in some US models, is in effect the OD on/off switch. BTW, there are no stupid questions. Only stupid answers and we try to avoid them.  ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: frogpod
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 4:23pm
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My 03 Tacoma with an automatic tranny has a button on the shifter. When you push it "OD Off" lights up on the dash.
I always use this for towing....and never for anything else.
------------- Leo and Tami with Coltrane the Jack Russell Terrier 2010 Rpod 171 2003 Toyota Tacoma TRD |
Posted By: LManiac7
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 5:37pm
| Thank you Frogpod!!! |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 02 May 2016 at 11:32am
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Yeah, everything those guys said above! Generally I keep it in 4th (no overdrive). While crossing the country we did play with downhill and/or tailwind overdrive just to see if it made a difference in mileage. Didn't seem to make any difference. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |