Why no weight-distribution hitch since 2009?

I’ve read many of the posts regarding towing, and am very surprised to find that no one seems to be concerned that the possibility of using a weight-distribution hitch went away permanently as of the 2010 model!
A weight-distribution hitch is one that has arms that reach out to the frame and bolt onto it, allowing weight to be distributed to the front wheels. It is required if one is to use a weight distribution system.
My 2007 SR5 V6 came with the standard receiver, bolted to the rear crossmember. Fortunately, at that time the V8 came with a true weight-distributing hitch. Because of that, every 4runner frame came with the pre-drilled to allow mounting an aftermarket weight-distribution hitch. That’s what I did, and it has worked wonderfully for me for 12 years.
I would love to get a new 4runner with the same type of hitch, but that is no longer a possibility. I’m concerned about hauling my 17-foot Casita camper without a weight distribution system anymore.

 

From my experience of towing with my 2016 Tacoma TRD Off-road and a Jayco 154BH Baja, the Weight Distribution Hitch was a separate unit that attached to the frame of the trailer to help with distributing the weight off the tongue and to help with anti sway. If and when I get another Travel Trailer for my 2024 4Runner I will definitely get a Weight Distribution Hitch. "EZ Hitch"

 

The term “hitch” is badly misused, since it can refer to what’s mounted on the vehicle versus what’s between the vehicle and the trailer. It’s better to call what’s between the vehicle and the trailer a “weight distribution system”.
My point is that you won’t be able to use a weight distribution system to transfer part of the load to the front wheels unless there is a weight distributing hitch on the vehicle, i.e. one that has arms from the receiver out to the the frame rails.
Trying to use a weight distribution system with a vehicle that only has the receiver on the rear crossmember actually invites major problems, as that flimsy receiver cannot deal with the twisting forces that are applied by the weight distribution system.
No generation four or five 4Runner has any provision for a weight distributing hitch. All you get is the receiver bolted to the rear crossmember!
Third-generation 4Runners came with a weight distribution hitch on the V8, but not on the V6. But the mounting holes existed on the V6 as well, so you could buy an aftermarket weight distribution hitch and bolt it right on. That’s what I did.

 

You have your "Gens" mixed up, 2003 to 2009 is a 4th Gen, 2010 to 2024 is a 5th Gen.

The hitch on 4th gen V8s T4Rs has been called by most T4Rs owners as the "V8 hitch"....BUT Toyota does refer to it a "Weight Distributing Hitch" in the owner's manual, but not on Toyota Parts/Dealer websites, but Toyota are the only one who call it that and only in the owner's manual.

In the world of trailer hitches the hitch that bolts to the outer frame rails is called a "Class 3, 4 or 5" hitch, but what you need to look at the weight ratings, but I wouldn't less than a class 4 hitch, the "V8" hitch is a class 5 hitch.

That being said....do a search for "Weight Distributing Hitch" and the results will not be the hitch bolted to the vehicle....it will be a device bolted to the trailer and attaches to the ball on the vehicle's bolted on hitch.

https://www.google.com/search?q="Weight+Distributing+Hitch"&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1069US1069&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

I'm still trying to understand how a bracket bolted to the frame would be stronger than the frame itself. The rear frame cross member is way more beefy than any of those aftermarket hitches, IMO.

 

It's all about the loads and torque applied. The "V6" hitch receiver lacks leverage against the frame, so it's not up to weight distribution hitch loads. The "V8" hitch receiver is much more beefy and can handle the greater twisting loads of a weight distribution hitch.

 

"V6" Hitch, note it's got a tiny footprint and the whole member is subject to twisting by the hitch.



"V8" Hitch receiver, note the wings that distribute twisting from the crossmember to the frame rails directly, PLUS the mount to the V6 hitch location as well.

 

I pull a 23' Airstream travel trailer, rated up to 6500 lbs. with my '04 V8, rated for 7,000 towing and 700 hitch capacity. Normally when you talk about the "hitch" it is both the receiver (bolted or welded to the vehicle frame or bumper) and the hitch with ball. I have always heard the first one called a "frame" hitch, the second a "bumper" hitch. Bumper hitches (which may be bolted or welded to the cross member also) place all of the trailer's tongue weight on the rear of the vehicle. A frame hitch will distribute some of the weight to the back portion of the vehicle's suspension as well as the rear but not the front axle. It does provide a more secure connection because (typically) it's bolted/welded to 4 points on the vehicle.

I use an Equalizer weight distributing (WD) hitch, that inserts into the receiver. Attached to the WD hitch are spring arms that are connected to L brackets on the A-frame of the trailer. You connect the A-frame coupler to the hitch ball and lock it. Then you use the trailer's A-frame jack to raise the trailer and car until you can slide the spring arms onto the L brackets. You put the lock pins into the L brackets then lower the trailer and car. This has the effect of lifting the rear of the vehicle to place weight on the front axle while also putting weight back onto the trailer A-frame. I think of it as lifting a wheelbarrow. When you lift the 2 arms you shift some of the barrow's weight to the tire and your arms.

A WD hitch will not increase a vehicle's capacities for towing. It will shift weight off the hitch/rear axle to the front axle and trailer A-frame, which offsets the full load being on the rear of the tow vehicle. Most WD hitches also offer sway control with the WD capability.

 

So what you are saying is the 5th generation 4Runner cannot handle/use a Weight Distribution Hitch?

 

No, sorry if I confused you. The WD hitch is a hitch you buy and put into the receiver on the 5th gen T4R. It's not factory installed. I believe what you're thinking of is the frame hitch (receiver) that you should have, if you opted for the towing package. Was there an option for a towing package in the 5th gen? What's your max towing capacity?

Your Jayco is single axle so you would benefit from having sway control. Whatever WD hitch you get make sure there is sway control with it.

 

Still on a learning curve with my 2024 4Runner SR5. I only took a hard look today if I had a full sized spare tire! I used to have a 2020 Jayco 154BH Baja Travel Trailer. Now I have a 2016 Minnie Winnie 22R
Class B RV. I am contemplating going back to a small travel trailer? A Weight Distribution Hitch is a must! Stock hitch set up on my 4Runner looks a little "weak" compared to the hitch on my old 2016 Tacoma TRD OffRoad?

 

A quick Google shows the 2024 4Runner has 270 HP, 278 ft lbs. torque, 5,000 lbs. towing capacity 16 city, 19 hwy MPG, V6 4 L, 5 speed auto. The towing package is standard so you should be able to install a WD hitch into the receiver without any trouble. Does the trailer have electric or surge braking?

 

I've read several posts on some trailer forums that Toyota doesn't recommend using WD hitches on 5th gen 4R because of the additional twisting forces applied to the bolt-on receiver bracket, but I can't find anything about it in my manual just that they do recommend antisway. Anyone heard of this before?

 

I came across this thread when doing my research about weight distribution hitches, scroll down to post 310:

 

Thank you for that!

 

I had a 2003 4th gen V8 for nearly 20 years. With it we towed a 20' travel trailer all over the western USA during that time. It had a class 4 weight distributing receiver on it (I think it came installed from the factory), that was needed to properly tow the trailer, which had a gross weight rating of over 6,200 lbs (though I never went much over 5500 lbs). I am also familiar with 4th & 5th gen V6 towing configurations. No V6 4Runner ever had a weight distributing receiver come on it, as they were only rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs. and therefore didn't require weight distribution.

If anyone tries to hook a weight distribution system up to a non-weight distributing receiver, they risk bending things as it is not bolted to the main chassis frame --> only the rear cross member.

From what I see, this is also true of the new 6th gen 4Runners, even though they are rated to pull 6,000 lbs, only seem to have a lower class, non-weight distributing receiver on them. Can anyone verify what class hitch receiver 6th gens come with?

BTW - The 4.7 V8 4Runner was an absolute workhorse and I sold it a year and a half ago with nearly a quarter million miles on it (ran perfectly, but mileage made wife nervous) and got a gently used GX460. Overall all, I'd say the GX tows just a little better than the V8 4R did.

 

Please read my post just prior to this, as I think it will provide the answer to your thread question. (and specifically, the WD hitch receiver was only on the V8 models, which - unfortunately - went from 2003 to 2009)

 

The hitch on the V8 is a frame receiver, often called a frame hitch.The receiver is installed on the frame for additional strength and to spread the torque over a larger area. Is that what you mean? It doesn't distribute any weight back to front like a WD hitch. The WD hitch is installed into the receiver and is a separate purchase. It needs to be properly adjusted to provide the proper weight distribution. I use an Equalizer WD hitch when towing my Airstream and it does a great job of shifting the weight backward and forward.

 

Good clarification.

And I've used a Hensley Arrow weight distributing hitch system (which BTW used to be used by a lot of Airstream owners, but I don't see that much lately). So for further clarification for this thread, a WD hitch system must be used in conjunction with a frame mounted receiver. If a WD hitching system is used with a non frame mounted receiver, damage to the tow vehicle very well might occur as the WD system puts a lot of torque on the vehicle's cross member.

So bottom-line is that anyone towing near or above 5000 lbs. should probably have a class 4 frame mounted receiver, used in conjunction with a WD hitch system to distribute the weight across the vehicles frame to the front wheels more - at least that's always what I've heard. My 25' ultra light travel trailer has an unloaded weight of around 3600, so when loaded it does exceed 5000. For me I want both sway control and weight distributing for maximum control and safety.

 

Agreed, good explanation. The only thing I could add is the weight is distributed to the front axle and also back onto the trailer tongue. I think of it as using a wheelbarrow where you lift the handles and weight shifts to the front (wheel) and back onto the handles (A-frame). It doesn't "remove" any weight. When the WD hitch is dialed in properly the front wheel wheel should be at or close to the height before adjustment, as depicted in your pictures. Nice going

 

I see you have a 2004 V8. How many miles? I sold mine 1.5 years ago with 240k miles - no drive train issues ever!

 

I'm somewhere above 150K, barely I think. I pull my boat and a 23' Airstream with it. Only drive train issue, if you can call it that, was a very small leak out of the transfer case that I had repaired in 2019. I had a CV boot / shaft replaced last December and I think it's torn or not installed properly. I'll have to take it back.

I've pulled the Airstream from Kentucky to Oregon across central US and back across northern US. I've pulled it to almost D.C., Texas and multiple times to Florida where we winter for a couple of months. It's an excellent vehicle for towing. I've never had a problem.

 

Awesome - that's the "million mile motor!" We've towed mostly out west and a lot in the Rockies. It didn't win any speed contests going up mountains, but it never overheated or failed in the slightest (other than an electronic issue here and there early on).

What's the weight of your Airstream?

 

It's not here so I can't give you the unloaded vehicle weight, but the unit base weight is 4500 lbs (no fluids, propane or options) The UVW is calculated for each trailer and posted in a chart on the galley door. Hitch weight is 600 lbs. (no fluids, propane or options) but with the stuff we always leave in there (kitchen, bedroom stuff, drawers of repair stuff, games, chairs, Christmas lights, flamingos etc.) the tongue weight is 730 lbs. GVWR is 6,000 lbs. It sits low to the ground so it handles very well, but emptying the holding tanks is a real pain because of that.

 

Nice! That's just a little heavier than ours and I'm sure it's easier to tow considering wind resistance - our boxy Rockwood 2502 is basically like towing a brick through the air. I do carry a fair amount in it (but admittedly no flamingos), bringing the weight up a good deal. The last time I put it fully loaded (with some add-ons like solar, extra batteries, Hensley, etc.) on the scales I think it was around 5,400 lbs.

And of course, you could hand down that Airstream to the kids! Ours is going on 20 years and is doing fine, but I do wonder how much longer . . .

 

Ours is a 2006 we bought in Feb 2014. Our kids are all grown and none of them has expressed an interest in owning it. They're more interested in my bass boat. They're all scattered in the US and overseas. I don't know how long we can do the traveling. We're getting along in years and we try to stay active but time takes its toll. We like to get somewhere and stay there, preferably a month, but we're happy with a couple of weeks, especially in the winter in Florida. We just hop from state park to state park, mostly in the north where it's easier to get reservations, but colder.

The Airstream tows well but the 4Runner uses a lot of gas. I get 9-10 MPG going into a 15-25 mph wind. Between a tail wind and no wind it's 11-13 mpg. But I tell people I didn't buy it for the good gas mileage. I bought it to tow and it does a good job of that.

 

That's about par for the course, it seems, for most gas vehicles towing a travel trailer. I thought you'd do a little better with an Airstream, but our "brick" is not far from that (though a head wind might drop it to 8 MPG). And I'm seeing generally the same numbers with our 2021 GX, so I don't think things have changed much in that department over the years. (except that the GX "requires" premium gas, and I follow that requirement more closely when towing)

None of my kids have expressed interest in our trailer, but then again it's not an Airstream, however I guess I haven't asked them. Frankly I'm not sure any of them would be interested in maintaining & storing it. In any case, our "grand plan" is to keep it another 4 years, heat-warping side fiberglass and all, and see how we feel about it all then. At that time (or sooner) we may just do more Airbnb/motel or other travel stuff to get out of the Arizona heat . . . but we may miss camping too, so we'll see.

BTW - sold our 2003 V8 (private party) with 240k for $8,200 and people didn't really blink much at that price. The only thing it needed was a master brake controller, as it was starting to leak a little. And even though that part is usually a shop installed item for $2-3k, again no one hesitated at that price, which makes me think I could have pretty easily gotten a bit more.

 

Does anybody have a 6th gen, that they could take a picture of the mounting for the hitch receiver?

 

My kids aren't interested in camping. The wife isn't a campfire person either but she likes going to Florida in winter. It's getting so hard to get reservations in Florida and other places that I'm really considering selling the Airstream. If I had some place to work on it where I can give it the proper attention I know I would keep it longer. My HOA and city both say 24 hour parking on the street and I can't really work on it anywhere else. Airstream is about $130/hr for labor and there's generally something that needs work. I don't think any travel trailer is even close to perfect. The wife is tired of the cold weather here but I can't stand the Florida summer weather, which is 10 months of heat (not that it's much better here right now). I had a neighbor that would rent a condo for 3-4 months a year. I got to use their garage in exchange for watching their house. I parked my boat over there.

The V8 4Runners are (except for rust in some models) in high demand. My son just sold his 2006, with 189K miles, to a family member for $6,000; a bargain. I've been asked about my '04 from time to time; not interested. It's low miles are due to my buying it and driving it once every two weeks for many years until I retired. It's been on a salted road only once in it's life and there's no frame rust at all. Interior is also excellent. The only thing that is detracting from the exterior are the fender flares, mirrors and plastic body parts. It sits in nearly full sun from about 11 AM to 6 PM. I'm going to have those painted before winter arrives.

 

I found a YouTube video that showed the hitch but it's not a clear view. In the audio they say it has 5K towing but it's 6K. There are two different engines but it's still only 6K towing. I would expect a frame receiver but you could probably just go to a dealership and tell them you're considering and comparing vehicles or just tell them you're looking around or go on a Sunday and look. Most of them are closed on Sunday.

Google AI:
The towing receiver on the 6th gen Toyota 4Runner is frame-mounted, according to a Toyota dealer. It attaches directly to the frame rails, unlike some older models that had crossmember-mounted receivers. This design provides a more robust connection for towing and is typical for vehicles built on the TNGA-F platform, which the 6th gen 4Runner shares with other Toyota models like the Land Cruiser and Lexus GX