Ask how much a 4Runner can tow and you will hear 5,000 lb, because for fifteen years that was the right answer. It stopped being the right answer in 2025, when the redesigned truck moved to 6,000 lb, and it was never the right answer for the short-lived four-cylinder. This guide lays out the rating for each generation straight from Toyota's manuals, then covers the limits that decide what you can actually tow.
Where these numbers come from. The "GCWR and TWR" tables in Toyota's owner's manuals for the 2010, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024 4Runner (5th gen) and the 2025 and 2026 4Runner (6th gen). The 5th gen tables are identical in all six manuals we read. TWR means trailer weight rating: the most the trailer may weigh, loaded. GCWR is the most the truck and trailer may weigh together.
6th Gen 4Runner (2025+)
From the 2025 and 2026 owner's manuals, which carry identical tables. Every gas grade is rated 6,000 lb.
| DRIVE | GRADE | GCWR | TOWING (TWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2WD | SR5 | 10,970 lb | 6,000 lb |
| 2WD | TRD Sport | 11,025 lb | 6,000 lb |
| 2WD | Limited | 11,245 lb | 6,000 lb |
| 4WD | SR5 | 11,235 lb | 6,000 lb |
| 4WD | TRD Off-Road | 11,265 lb | 6,000 lb |
| 4WD | TRD Sport | 11,285 lb | 6,000 lb |
| 4WD | Limited | 11,485 lb | 6,000 lb |
Unbraked trailers: 1,655 lb (750 kg) maximum.
What about the hybrid? The manual's table lists the gas grades above. Toyota's press release for the 2026 4Runner gives a single maximum of 6,000 lb for the lineup and does not break out the i-FORCE MAX hybrid (326 hp, 465 lb-ft) separately, so we do not publish a separate hybrid number. If you own or are buying a TRD Pro, Trailhunter or Platinum, confirm the rating on the door-jamb label.
The factory trailer brake controller. The 6th gen manual states that the vehicle comes equipped with a Toyota Genuine Trailer Brake Controller, and that Toyota does not recommend a third-party brake controller on it. Gain and manual brake output are set through the multi-information display. It also describes a Trailer Backup Guide and a trailer-aware blind spot monitor (Trailer Mode BSM) among the trailer settings, on trucks equipped with them. That is why the gear table below does not offer an aftermarket controller for this generation.
5th Gen 4Runner (2010–2024)
From the 2010, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024 owner's manuals. The numbers did not change in fifteen years.
| ENGINE | DRIVE | TOWING (TWR) | GCWR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L V6 (1GR-FE) | 2WD | 5,000 lb | 11,100 lb |
| 4.0L V6 (1GR-FE) | 4WD | 5,000 lb | 11,300 lb |
| 2.7L 4-cylinder (2TR-FE) | 2WD | 2,000 lb | 7,900 lb |
The four-cylinder row appears only in the 2010 manual. Unbraked trailers: 1,655 lb (750 kg) in the 2014 through 2024 manuals; the 2010 manual does not print an unbraked figure. The 5th gen manuals call for a sway control device above 2,000 lb and trailer brakes above the unbraked limit. Unlike the 6th gen manual, they do not state a weight-distributing hitch threshold.
Model years between those manuals (2011 to 2013, 2015 to 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023) were not pulled, but the manuals on either side of every gap agree.
The Numbers That Actually Limit You
The trailer rating is one of four limits, and on a loaded 4Runner it is often not the first one you hit.
- GCWR: truck, passengers, gear and trailer, all together. Weigh the loaded truck. Example: a 4WD 5th gen that scales at 6,500 lb with a family and a roof rack has 11,300 - 6,500 = 4,800 lb of GCWR left, so GCWR, not the 5,000 lb TWR, caps the trailer.
- Tongue weight: Toyota specifies 9% to 11% of the trailer's weight on the hitch. A 5,000 lb trailer puts 450 to 550 lb on the rear axle, and a 6,000 lb trailer puts 540 to 660 lb. That weight counts against the truck's cargo capacity.
- Sway control and weight distribution: sway control above 2,000 lb on every generation; a weight-distributing hitch above 5,000 lb per the 6th gen manual.
- Trailer brakes: required above 1,655 lb. 5th gen trucks have a service connector for an aftermarket controller; the 6th gen has the factory controller.
- Maintenance: towing puts you on Toyota's severe-service schedule, with more frequent oil, differential and transfer case service. See our 5th gen 4Runner maintenance schedule and 4Runner fluid capacities.
Bigger tires and lifts do not change Toyota's rating, but taller tires raise your effective gear ratio and make the truck work harder on grades. If you tow heavy on 33s or bigger, see our regear chart, and for what fits see the 5th gen and 6th gen tire guides.
Links below are affiliate links: toyotadata earns a commission from VEVOR and, as an Amazon Associate, from qualifying Amazon purchases, at no extra cost to you.
| ITEM | USED FOR | BUY |
|---|---|---|
| Weight-distributing hitch with sway control, rated for your trailer | Toyota requires one above 5,000 lb on the 6th gen. Match the rating to the trailer's tongue weight, not the biggest kit | Shop on Amazon |
| Tekonsha Primus IQ proportional brake controller (1 to 3 axles) | 5th gen 4Runners only. Plugs into the factory service connector. Do not add to a 6th gen | Shop on Amazon |
| REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty brake controller (1 to 2 axles) | 5th gen 4Runners only. Alternative to the Tekonsha | Shop on Amazon |
| LED trailer light kit, 10 to 30 V | Replacement or utility trailer lighting, tested before every trip | Shop at VEVOR |
| Trailer hitch lock kit, fits 1-7/8, 2 and 2-5/16 in couplers | Locks the coupler at a campsite or parking lot | Shop at VEVOR |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a Toyota 4Runner tow?
5,000 lb for every 4.0L V6 4Runner from 2010 to 2024, and 6,000 lb for the 2025 and newer 6th gen on every gas grade in Toyota's manual.
How much can a 2025 or 2026 4Runner tow?
6,000 lb on the gas grades in the owner's manual (SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited), 2WD or 4WD. Toyota's press release gives 6,000 lb as the lineup maximum.
Can a 4Runner tow 6,000 lb before 2025?
Not by Toyota's ratings. The 2010 through 2024 manuals all rate the V6 at 5,000 lb.
Does a 4Runner need a trailer brake controller?
Yes, for any trailer over 1,655 lb. The 6th gen comes with a factory controller; the 5th gen needs an aftermarket one wired into the factory service connector.
Does a 4Runner need a weight-distributing hitch?
The 6th gen manual requires one above 5,000 lb of trailer weight. The 5th gen manuals specify sway control above 2,000 lb and do not state a weight-distributing hitch threshold.
How much can a four-cylinder 4Runner tow?
2,000 lb, per the 2010 manual's table for the 2.7L 2WD, with a GCWR of 7,900 lb.
What is the 4Runner's unbraked towing limit?
1,655 lb (750 kg) in the 2014 and newer manuals.
Related Guides
- Tacoma Towing Capacity by Year and Trim
- Tundra Towing Capacity by Year and Cab
- Toyota Towing Capacity Chart: Every Truck and SUV
- 4Runner Troubleshooter
- 4Runner Torque Specs
Sources: Toyota 4Runner owner's manuals (2010 OM35A36U, 2014 OM35A83U, 2018 OM35B46U, 2020 OM35B54U, 2022 OM35B72U, 2024 OM35C03U, 2025 OM35B85U, 2026 OM35C28U), "GCWR and TWR" tables and trailer brake controller section; Toyota newsroom, 2026 4Runner (6,000 lb maximum, i-FORCE MAX output).
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Toyota Towing Capacity Chart: Every Truck and SUV (2026)
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5th Gen 4Runner Maintenance Schedule: 5k to 120k Mile Checklist (2010–2024)
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Key factory torque values for the 5th gen 4Runner (2010–2024) and FJ Cruiser: lower control arm cam bolts 129 ft-lb, upper control arm pivot 85 ft-lb, coilover top nuts 47 ft-lb, coilover lower bolt 70 ft-lb, lower ball joint to knuckle bolts 118 ft-lb, upper ball joint nut 82 ft-lb, sway bar end links 52 ft-lb, rear lower links and lateral rod 96 ft-lb, rear upper links 59 ft-lb, rear shock lower 72 ft-lb, lug nuts 83 ft-lb. Torque every suspension pivot with the truck's weight on the wheels.