Buying a new vehicle, will a 4Runner V6 work for an Elite

[jrpruitt]

The 4Runner is rated to 5000 lb towing capacity. We plan to make one trans-continental trip per year and want to be comfortable during our drives but reasonable in mpg when using the vehicle around home when not camping. Any advise is welcome.

[Mike and Carol]

Would this be for a small Ollie?

[jrpruitt]

Yes, the small Ollie. We are empty nesters camping with 2 medium dogs. Getting the solar package and composting toilet for some boondocking.

[John E Davies]

We have discussed the 4Runner as a tow vehicle for the Elite in the past and the general consensus is that it is “adequate” in the eastern states, but when you get into the high hot mountains it does not perform well. It just does not have enough reserve capacity to handle the load easily.

 

Everyone wants good mpgs and good towing performance. It’s a goal that is almost impossible to achieve without going to a turbo diesel. Gas engines are inherently very thirsty when loaded down for days at a time. To be honest, the 4Runner has pretty discouraging  economy even driven around empty. There are much better choices. Though it is one heck of a fine trucklet. I am a huge fan of Toyota “real” SUVs. I am not counting the cars and crossovers. For some reason all of the SUVs, including Sequoia, Land Cruiser and the big Tundra, all get really poor fuel economy. I am not sure the reason. Maybe because they are heavily built.

 

http://www.fuelly.com/car/toyota/4runner

 

If you can tolerate driving a full sized vehicle, an F150 2.7 EcoBoost would be a great choice for the little trailer. Lots of power and teriffic mpgs for this class of vehicle. 19/ 24 mpg with 10 speed and  4wd, which you definitely need. ... https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2016/04/best-ford-f-150-engine-smallest-one-can-buy/

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

[John E Davies]

Yes, the small Ollie. We are empty nesters camping with 2 medium dogs. Getting the solar package and composting toilet for some boondocking.

 

I have to comment that it will be a really tight fit if you intend to sleep with your dogs inside the trailer. I have two 40 lb Labradoodles and it is tough in our bigger unit, sometimes. One dog would not be an issue. Floor space is the problem.

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

[SeaDawg]

Our dog sleeps on her bed, on one of the small dinette cushions. If your dogs are too big for the dinette, you could drop the table at night, and make the small dinette into a sleep sofa for two medium dogs.

[ScubaRx]

Every night, Reacher (the 100+ lb Doberman), gets the side dinette made down into his bed. The two little dogs sleep on our beds.

 

When we had our Elite (one of the rare twin bed models) the big dog slept on the floor.

[bwright]

We have a 2011 v6 4runner and a 2015 Elite.  We have been all over the USA towing our Elite.  the 4runner has worked well for us.  We get 16-17 mpg except in mountains when it goes down to 14 mpg.  The 4runner gets 19-20 mpg alone.  We love Toyotas and have had a Tacoma, Sequoia, and now the 4 runner.  All have been great, but we really like the 4Runner so we can do some back country driving and camping.