2008 Toyota 4runner

[blevtr]

Just bought the 4runner, and knew there would be issues to get it flat-towable. Then I opened the hood and realized the brake booster is not a regular vacuum, but some hydro-boost thingy. So much for the M&G system I was looking at. Back to page 1 one the brakes. The towbar, brackets, driveshaft disconnect and wiring seem doable, but not sure if I want an airbrake based system. Our Journey is great, but may not be our last coach. Downsizing is always a possibility, remembering the 4000lb+ weight of the 4runner. Any thoughts on brake systems?

[lllkrob]

Who told you that the 4Runner was four-down towable?


From the 2008 Toyota Owners Manual:


Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with four wheels on the ground) behind a motorhome. NOTICE Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground. This may cause serious damage to your vehicle. 07 12.25 D

[blevtr]

All the people who are doing it. Of course there are modifications required, its just a matter of doing what needs to be done.

[CJ7365]

I use the ready brake, as my jeep has hydro boost braking


NSA RV Products - Ready Brake and Ready Brute Home

[moisheh]

SMI has a good system that will work. Just ignore the naysayers that keep posting info from owners manuals. Do you have an electronic transfer case?

[blevtr]

I'm looking at the Ready Brake, not sure about the surge load on the tow bar and hitch. The truck has an electronic transfer and a locking center differential. Just got the thing, looking forward to some off-road playtime.
The SMI systems are very interesting.

[lllkrob]

Originally Posted by blevtr

All the people who are doing it. Of course there are modifications required, its just a matter of doing what needs to be done.

Please explain what your planning to do to make it towable. How are you going to disconnect the front drive when towing? You do not have a transfer case with a neutral position, you have a Thorsen 2 speed locking center differential, big difference.

[moisheh]

illkrob: Hundreds, may be more. have towed Toyota 4WD vehicles with an electronic TC. Other than a DS disconnect no other driveline mods are required. We towed an 05 Tacoma with the same eqpt. as the OP. Interesting that both Remco Lube Pump and DS disconnect list a kit for that vehicle.




When you tow your rear-wheel drive car, van, pickup or SUV, the drive shaft to the rear axle must be disconnected to prevent damage to the automatic transmission. This requires mechanical service under the car which is not convenient for RV towing. The Superior Driveline Drive Shaft Coupling (DSC) was developed to provide a quick and easy way to disconnect the transmission while sitting in the driver's seat. The coupling (mechanical clutch) is installed into the rear portion of the vehicle's drive shaft, near the rear axle. When disconnected, the rear axle is free to turn without turning the drive shaft or transmission. The coupling has a control cable attached to it which extends to a location under the driver’s seat. This control cable is pulled out to disengage for tow mode and pushed in to engage drive mode.
The Superior Driveline DSC allows RV’ers to tow their rear-wheel and four-wheel drive automatic transmission vehicles behind their motor homes with all four wheels on the ground - worry free. With the DSC there is no mileage accumulation on cable-driven speedometers. It disengages the drive train in ’tow mode‘ and the vehicle is towed with the transmission in Park. This means there is no rotational movement in the transmission, no wear and tear to the transmission components and the speedometer drive gears are not turning. Modern electronic speedometers have now replaced the cable-driven units so mileage accumulation is generally no longer an issue.

• Precision balanced on Shaftmaster by Superior Driveline
• No transmission damage during towing
• No accumulation of odometer miles while towing
• EZ SHIFT control knob to shift from drive to tow in seconds
• Coupling made with heat treated alloy steel
• Precision cut gear teeth
• Lifetime sealed ball bearings
• Fits most 4-wheel and rear-wheel drive cars, vans and pickups
• Over 150,000 units on the road in 25 years

[blevtr]

Thanks, moisheh. You said what I would have said, but you were nicer about it.

[moisheh]

blevtr: Thanks. Not often I get called nice!!!