A 4Runner with a 5,000 lb towing capacity doesn’t leave you much more than a pop-up or travel trailer no more than 20 feet or so.
I have a V6 Xterra with a 5K towing capacity. It pretty much handles my 19 foot Jayco. But barely.
DO NOT exceed a 4,000 lb trailer. After you load it with camping supplies - it will exceed 5,000 pounds. And while you could tow it with your 4Runner - you shouldn’t.
“And while you could tow it with your 4Runner - you shouldn’t.”
Boy this thread is loaded with flat landers and city slickers.
I’m ranch raised in the high sierras and mountain highways and I laughed while reading a lot of this. I grew up with a F-350 under my butt and 13K of goose neck and livestock tied to the bed hitch.
Not enough HP and you will crawl up the mountains roads. Not enough weight in your tow vehicle and that way to heavy trailer will run your ass over and wear out your brakes on the way down the other side.
This is a set up that is guaranteed to piss off all the locals and everyone else around you on the road as well.
Not enough weight in your tow vehicle is a very big hazard to your own safety and every other vehicle on the road.
I want to second this post. We bought a 32 foot airstream and towed it with a Ford F250. It was rated at 9000 but loaded for full timing (4 years) we were always over weight. The trailer had brakes and we got the Ford truck with electronic brake control and never had braking problems. We also never had towing problems, the trailer was so well balanced that we almost did not know it was there —except when pulling out. Then the truck earned its keep. (we had the largest tow rated engine we could get.)
Now after selling the trailer, I would say that a 26 footer would have been better and I would get one without slide outs. They are nice but add a lot to the tow weight and can jam up and fail in the worst places.
We definitely recommend this life style, we had two border collies (large size) and they loved being on the road. Only problem is that our bodies age and we eventually decided car and hotel would be better for us.
So plan for it all. And definitely get a smallish pull trailer and tow with a truck. Recognize that a time will come when it is more work than you want to take on, and that is the time to let it go.
Take care.
KC