Input on Travel Trailers

I’ve been looking at Hiker (MR XL or the XOR), as well as a couple of other square drops that are a bit more insulated (for spring and late fall here in Canada). I realize you are regeared, but how is your mpg? I have a roof top tent, which I don’t mind in snow or rain, but higher winds make it useless. Unfortunately missed being able to camp at some great spots due to high winds (right beside Arctic Ocean, lakefront in a mountain valley, and on top of a high ridge).

 

Don't buy the 22-25 Tundra.

 

I towed an Escape 19 with a 4th gen 4Runner (V8) and a 5th gen 4Runner. They both did fine, though the 5th gen definitely strained a bit, especially through mountains. Gears and/or supercharger would probably make it easier, but I was on 33" tires as well.

The Escapes are good quality and have a solid community of folks. I moved up to an LX570 towing an Escape 23, but still miss my 5th gen and the smaller trailer.

 

After 5 years of owning a 2016 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22R-(Ford E350 Super Duty V8) I am seriously thinking of going back to a small travel trailer. Owing a class C RV is almost a full time job to maintain the rig. I had a Jayco 154BH Travel Trailer before the Class C. At that time I was towing with a 2006 Tacoma TRD Quad Cab with the same V6 as my now 2024 4Runner. I found climbing mountain passes to be a chore. Thinking really hard about making the switch back again. Would definitely add a tranny oil cooler
if I go that route.

 

How many of you TT towers added a cooler? I dug into it and no one at Toyota recommends it, they even discourage it. I've got ext warranty till 2030 but would rather not have to use it so I'm still on the fence.

 

I tow for utility, no camper here, but if I was planning to pull one regularly with the 4R, I would definitely add a cooler. I think tranny coolers aren't needed for the typical 4Runner use case, but I also don't think that covers towing 3000+ pound campers.

Highway driving and moderate grades in S4 is fine, since the torque converter lockup prevents the transmission from getting too hot. However, a lot of times you end up going too slow for 4th gear, and in 3rd there is no lockup, so temps keep climbing as long as you're under load. And I expect camper towing speeds to be slower when climbing vs. my utility trailer experience.

On a recent, heavily loaded trip, I hit 200 degrees at the pan just climbing the pass on I-40 east of Asheville, in 3rd gear. I couldn't go fast enough to stay in 4th, otherwise temps usually top out around 180 when locked up. A longer or steeper climb, or a heavier trailer would have had temps even higher.

 

Also, if you burn up a transmission while towing, I doubt any extended warranty will cover that.

 

I pull a 15.5' NüCamp T@b 320S Boondock (in profile pic) that has offroad tires and a pitched axle. https://nucamprv.com/tab-camper/ We MOSTLY boondock and dispersed camp. We plan to get a second trailer that is a bit more offroad capable for really rugged terrain (Patriot or OFF GRID trailers are the front runners ATM). I hope you find something you really love!