Tow SN with Toyota 4Runner?

From Toyota:

4.0-Liter V6 DOHC 24-Valve with Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing, 270 hp @ 5600 rpm; 278 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm.

Sorry KENO, its not red. Toyota calls their red "Barcelona Red Metallic". Didn't work for me.

JQ

Your set-up is similar to mine. NWZ hull and tandem trailer. Have you weighed your boat & trailer?

JQ

Nice looking rig. Will tow fine unless at high altitude and starting from a dead stop on a steep hill such as getting stopped by road construction just prior to cresting the mountains going into Tahoe. I would also suggest not following the first recommended scheduled oil change. Instead change the oil at 500 miles. Precautionary, anal, yes, but I like to know what is happening inside. If you have a motor running 0w-20 wt. the recommended oil change is 10,000. I change at 5000. My dealer informed me back in 2010 that the government had implemented regulations on manufactures to decrease the recommended oil change intervals to decrease use and waste. 10,000 mile oil changes are not what would be recommended. However, there is a million mile Tundra out there that Toyota bought back and examined. May be 10,000 mile oil changes work.

On paper it seems ok trading my 260hp 306 #ft torque of my 2007 5.7 V8 for the 270hp 278#ft torque of the new V6... but driving it, I get a very different opinion/feel.. I do tow thru mountains and my V8 does great... not sure how many more years/miles I can stretch out of it.

The kicker is, the V6 really doesn't get much better fuel economy.

Exactly. I don't see anyone here wanting their Nautique to have a V6. Wish my Avalanche had the 6.0 and 3.42 axle

I have heard you Dave but still when going through Tennessee mountains with the Super Sport in tow a 308 gear reving to the moon at 50 on the interstate makes me nervous . I have a 6 speed. I’m sure a 3.42 would help a lot and if I did it a lot I’d get it changed. If I was buying new I’d make sure to order it. When I hit the mega million I’m gong to buy a new suburban and have Count Customs turn it into a Avalanche. While I’m dreaming maybe I should have them put a diesel in it too

Exactly, remember the Toyota Epic ski boat that had a Lexus 4.0 L V-8? Wind to the moon but no low end torque. Torque is what gets the mass moving, HP keeps it moving. You cannot beat a large displacement V-8 for a ski boat. Correct Craft has now made the 6.2L the standard engine for the 2019 promo boats, the 6L is standard for all others. Talking ski boats not wake barges.

I have had 4 of the GM full size Tahoe, Denali, Yukon, Suburban's.   The 5.3L is a good engine and pulls very well. I had a Tahoe with the 4.10 rear gear and it was a really strong tow vehicle.   At 70 MPH it was already running at 2,400 RPM. If I had to drop to 3rd at that speed I was over 3,000 RPM so it pulled really well.
The Denali I had came with a 3.42 gear and the 6.0L. That engine was a big power boost over the 5.3L. It flat out hauled when you stepped on it.   Both these rigs got about the same MPG.   I did not like the 3.42 gears in the mountains, both the 4.10 and 3.73 gears really helped compared to the 3.42 while towing. Even with the extra engine power the Denali was always downshifting while pulling the trailer so I preferred the other ratio's.

The old no replacement for displacement statement is now obsolete.
The new Turbocharged Gas and Diesel engines make more torque than the old big blocks did.   My son has a X5 BMW Diesel, 3.0L 6 cyl that has 450 foot pounds of torque at a ridiculous 1,600 RPM and pulls 30 MPG or better on the highway.   
Several other small Diesels are out now changing the game.   

7,000 lb excavator 3,500 lb trailer the hills of S. western Pa 6.0 Powerstroke no problem
V6 twin turbo I don’t think so not even with nitrous

.

I see a lot more diesel pickups being used as grocery getters than I do 4runners being asked to tow beyond their 5500lb capacity. For towing a 4k lb ski boat a dozen times per year, and otherwise used to commute to work and haul the kids around, I have a theory on which is the better tool for the job. The V6 is adequate, if not overwhelming- and the truck in general is well sorted, with good brakes. If the 5th gen is anywhere near as reliable as the 4th gen, it won’t spend much time in the shop. 275k/255k on my 2 so far.

I am surprised its not higher. My Tacoma is over 6000.

I have towed at capacity, but would never recommend towing over capacity.

Some here do it. If you are comfortable, go for it.

If you end up in a wreck every ambulance chasing attorney within miles is coming after you. Make sure your umbrella policy is paid in full.

Pretty certain double cab had higher tow rating than the 4 door. I assumed 4 runners lower rating is because of its rear coils vs taco leafs.