Towing with 6th Gen - Turbo/Hybrid Reliability

Yes, I think so too. The TNGA-f platform looks to be quite robust (they add reinforcement plates as needed on higher capacity models).

After reading and looking at some things in person, I think the turbo 4 would do fine towing something that is perhaps 20% under the tow rating . . . just to be safe* and especially towing in mountains. For us, towing a heavier travel trailer (aerodynamics of a brick) of around 5,000 loaded, I don't think I'd want anything less than a turbo 6 . . . or a V8 (like is in our GX460).

Now the turbo 4 4Runners (or Land Cruisers) with hybrid should be really good with 465 lbs of torque! And I think in that setup the electric motor would take some of the strain off the engine . . .

* FYI anything over 5,000 lbs requires a weight distributing system

 

The hybrids you are looking at weigh 1000 pounds more than your V8 4Runner so some of that extra power goes to moving the vehicle.

 

Toyota changes the thickness of the frame components depending on application so despite the same platform and similar underpinnings, true strength varies.

https://www.theautopian.com/why-toyota-is-building-vastly-different-vehicles-on-the-same-platform/

 

Yeah that's true! Kinda like my GX460 having more torque than the V8 4Runner - the GX is about 500 lbs heavier, so it basically evens out. However, I find that the extra 500 lbs makes the GX a little more of a stable towing platform than the 4Runner was. In either case, it's hard to beat either the 4.7 or 4.6 V8 for uber long-term reliability!

 

Y'all, "sharing a platform" means Toyota gets to change out fewer tools on the assembly line. It does not mean your 4Runner is secretly a Tundra.

 

Yes, but trucks and SUVs get the TNGA-f platform, which is different than vans and cars, which get the TNGA-k platform. And it's correct that the Tundra and 4Runner don't have exactly the same - they attach additional plates at stress points on the platform for more strength on higher capacity vehicles.

 

I don’t think anyone’s claiming the 4Runner will also tow 12000lbs. They’re scaled & reinforced differently b/c they have very different use cases, but conceptually very similar trucks underneath. As a result, both are very respectable tow vehicles…within their own classes.

 

True, I edited to drop the cars.