Towing with 6th Gen - Turbo/Hybrid Reliability

I towed a good size travel trailer with a 4th gen V8 for almost two decades, all over the western US, with no drive train issues whatsoever. I only sold it because the mileage (240k) was making my wife nervous as a few things were starting to need replacing - but again, nothing in the drive train itself. From there I bought a used GX460 as it was the only Toyota related V8 SUV that would fit well in my garage. (the GX tows it perhaps overall slightly better than the V8 4R did.)

Both my brother-in-law and I are each looking to perhaps get a hybrid 4Runner to tow with, since it is touted as the most powerful setup ever offered in the 4R. He's looking at getting one next year, after the first year bugs are addressed, and maybe a year or so later for me.

And while we have loved the reliability of our Toyota products, we've read about some concerns with the turbo/hybrid system. And even Toyota has some issues the first model year, as I experienced with my 2003 4Runner (mostly electronics related). I've been reading about main bearing issues that some have experienced recently with the 2.4L turbo/hybrid systems in different Toyota offerings.

So is anyone towing something of a good weight (4,000 lbs +) with their 2.4L turbo/hybrid? What is your thinking on this matter - is it something to be concerned about, and/or will Toyota figure it out and make upgrades to things like main bearings, etc.?

Also, what kind of hitch receiver does the new 4Runner have - is it a frame mounted class 4 (which can take a weight distributing system), or just mounted to the rear cross member?

Just wondering . . .

 

Reliability or no reliability has been beaten to death, we just need more data, time, miles, it’s just the question of how you feel about it.

The Fast Lane Truck has some towing videos that might help.

I don’t think main bearing issues have popped up on my radar yet so I imagine it isn’t a big deal so far.

The new model tops out at 6,000 lb rated capacity so that’s lower than both the 4th V8 and GX I believe.

See how folks have been towing with the Tacoma too, it’s been out longer in both hybrid and gas form.

 

No real data yet. I haven seen a couple of drivetrain issues with Tacomas though.

 

Right - the V8 4Runner was 7000 lbs and the GX is 6500. It's interesting that the turbo/hybrid 4R has a much higher HP and torque rating than either, yet it has a lower max tow weight.

Upon further thought - this tells me it's perhaps more about the hitch receiver. Especially since both non-hybrid and hybrid (with much higher torque) have the same 6000 lb rating.

 

The testing standards changed during that time. Every vehicle lost capacity.

 

Hybrid 4Runners seem to have a very limited payload capacity. ~900lbs is the highest I’ve seen so far. I haven’t looked at a non-hybrid sticker though.

My 2011 Limited is 1100lbs payload.

 

While tow ratings have largely been standardized, payload is still not between manufacturers - see this: SAE Tow Ratings System: Still Towing Strong 10 Years On - Explorer RV Club

My 2003 V8 4R had a 1100 payload too. Once putting a trailer tongue weight on it, that became around 600 lbs . . . not much! So when towing I throw most everything in the trailer anyway (mostly behind axels so as not to increase tongue weight too much).

 

Thanks much for that! After reading up on it I see that the new towing standards have been in place for around 10 years now. That definitely would change some things. I wonder what the rating would be now for my old 2003 V8 4Runner which was rated to tow 7000 lbs. I always thought that rating was a little high and always told people to stay well under it - especially if they were towing in mountains (and to possibly add things like tranny temp monitors and coolers).

In looking at the criteria for the tow standard, I didn't see anything that factored in wheelbase or vehicle/trailer weight ratio. That is, a shorter wheelbase and lighter tow vehicle is generally less stable. They ratings seemed to just look at the power side of the equation . . .

 

I think Toyota has always used the standard that everyone uses now. I remember there being a debate about that a few years back.

The V8 was 7300lbs and if I remember right, the V6 was always 5000lbs.

edit: found a PDF of the manual. Gross trailer weights:
2WD V6 w/towing package: 6700lbs
2WD V6 w/o towing package: 5300lbs
4WD V6 w/towing package: 6400lbs
4WD V6 w/o towing package: 5000lbs.

4WD V8: 7000lbs
2WD V8: 7300lbs

 

https://static0.carbuzzimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2025-toyota-4runner-24.jpg https://static0.carbuzzimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2025-toyota-4runner-17.jpg

So does anyone have a good (underneath) picture of the hitch receiver on the 6 gen 4Runner? (from these pictures - see links - it certainly doesn't look like this is a frame mounted hitch receiver. Therefore it is NOT to be used with a weight distributing hitching system!)

 

Not sure if this helps but the manual does say this -
"If the gross trailer weight is

over 5000 lb. (2268 kg), a

weight distributing hitch with

sufficient capacity is required." pics. attached. Hope you can see. Everything from the hitch is welded to the back of the frame members.

 

Thanks! I actually stopped by and looked underneath a 2025 4Runner at local dealer yesterday and saw that. It is the rear member that it is attached to, which seems similar to how it was on the 5th gen. However, they may have beefed-up that rear cross member on the 6th gen.

I continue to see conflicting information, which has made it hard to confirm whether this setup on the 6th gen will actually support a weight distributing (WD) system. Since Toyota is saying anything over a 5,000 lb. trailer requires a WD system, then it leads one to think that the receiver they put on the 6th gen must be able to support that WD system, right?

 

You'd sure like to think so.

 

Yes, for sure it can handle WD hitch. The way it's welded and painted, it's going to last a long time. This arrangement is similar to many pickup truck designs.

 

Thanks. Maybe someone could compare the way it's mounted on the 6th gen verses the receiver on the 5th gen. The 5th gen receiver was not WD capable. When I looked at the 6th gen yesterday, it did appear to be a little heavier than what I've seen on 5th gens.

 

Just a guess but the 5G's are only rated to 5000# max. tow rating which is right at the threshold for using WD on most vehicles so that's probably why.

 

Right

 

Here's your answer: see how it goes with the early adopters.

And don't sell your GX; there's no way the new 4R is going to be a nicer overall ride, and the better fuel economy will be a wash if towing.

If you had an older V6 4Runner, I could see the new powertrain being an improvement, but I don't think there are enough positives for me to consider it an upgrade (especially for the cost), if I were in your position.

 

I hear ya! So my bro-in-law has a gen 5 that he's towing with and is looking at the 6th gen hybrids, since they have such great torque numbers. For him a hybrid looks to be an upgrade.

But for me with the GX460 I'm not so sure. The torque numbers look better in the 4R hybrid than the GX, yet the GX has a higher tow rating at 6,500 lbs. Plus, it has the old style hitch receiver attached firmly to the frame, which works well with my weight distributing hitch system (Hensley Arrow).

 

Yeah, performance-wise it probably is an upgrade over the 4R for towing. Even the gas only model with the 8 speed should be an improvement. I find the 4R can get into a funny spot switching between 3rd and 4th at certain speeds, where 4th doesn't have enough juice, but it doesn't want to downshift or unlock.

But again, unless he has an older 4Runner, I can't see the value in switching. It'll still tow like a midsize SUV, higher torque or not. Now the new GX or Sequoia, that would be an upgrade (for $$$)

 

Just watched a towing video and the guys brought up something I hadn't considered - engine braking going downhill. The more cylinders one has the better the engine braking ability. They compared the 4R regular turbo against the Land Cruiser hybrid. They actually rated the non-hybrid 4R better in downhill engine breaking better than the LC. They said the diff might have been the LC hybrid having more weight.

 

If towing is important then just get a full size truck. More power, better stopping ability, you won’t be close to max capacity, etc. I would rent a truck and try towing with it. Rent a new 4Runner too once they become a bit more available.

 

Yeah I hear ya - I towed with a 4th gen V8 for almost 20 years just fine with zero driveline issues (lots of Colorado vacations too) . . . thing is, that size SUV fits in my garage plus I carry 4 dogs in it.

 

FIFY

 

I've towed with three 4Runners without issues. It's a great compromise for someone who needs to tow occasionally but doesn't need/want a full size truck.

 

How about a Tahoe?

 

I've considered the Tahoe a lot, but it is a fair deal bigger and the garage is already tight. (plus just like Toyota)

 

New member and new 4 Runner owner. FWIW, my last Tahoe was a 2009. Towed a. 3k boat/trailer not too often - for service and annually out of water. Tranny went out at 55k miles just out of warranty. Other issues too made it “fragile” so was my last especially at its price level. YMMV

 

Thanks. I will stick with Toyota products as I think they are tops for reliability. They may not have all the bells & whistles as some others (Detroit), but will almost always get you there.

 

Should note that the Gen6 4R already shares platforms with other full-size vehicles with far greater towing capacities, like Tundra/Sequoia.

Tons of low-end torque, wider track, and the short answer is that it’ll tow just fine.