Toyota 4Runner, WDM and 21NE

[DennisJGray]

Tow Vehicle update... 2020 Toyota 4Runner, with WDM and 21 NE.

Hi Folks... Picked up our 21NE in Sumas Tuesday.

TEAM ESCAPE TOTALLY AWESOME.

ALL good so far. Stayed at Deception Park night one... Beautiful.

So to Tow Vehicle feedback as I see lots of chatter on Tow Vehicles... on the Escape Forums.

Zero challenges with the 4Runner and NE. We were typically speedlimit or five miles an hour over the mountains.

The WDM clearly amazing. Stable and comfortable driving. Temp never went over 198. It was only there for about five minutes after the longest upward haul. Normally it runs at 186 degrees. Sway... None. Added about 600 pounds to the trailer. SUV another 250 pounds plus two of us.

Gas milage not great but yesterday we did an hour in the am... Camping World and grocery shopping in town.. Stop and go. Then we hopped over the mountains... Gas milage for the day 12.5 mpg. My guess the trip back to Ithaca NY will average about 14.

Would it be better to have a diesel or a bigger capacity truck... yep. I know the pleasure of driving a diesel truck over the Canadian Rockies from years of snow mobiling.

The 4Runner... Probably not first choice as a TV.. But with a good WDM, and calibrated expectations.. all good.

New Escapee tip... Best investment... Rear view camera. Really aids driver situational awareness.

Thanks for all the tips and guidance!

Wanapum Campground. We will be back.


Tks Dennis and Maricelis Acevedo
https://www.parks.wa.gov/288/Ginkgo-Petrified-Forest.

[Brian B-P]

I'm guessing... was "WDM" supposed to be "WDH", for "weight distributing hitch"?

[WillyB]

If you want to pick up a few MPG's on your way back to Ithaca you're more than welcome to drop off your new 21NE in my side yard here is St. Louis.

I "promise" I'll make sure it's well cared for.

[Great Eggstrications]

Originally Posted by DennisJGray

Tow Vehicle update... 2020 Toyota 4Runner, with WDM and 21 NE.

Temp never went over 198. It was only there for about five minutes after the longest upward haul. Normally it runs at 186 degrees.

Wanapum Campground. We will be back.

Suspect that you're talking here about engine coolant temps - way too low to have been transmission temps. Our old 4Runner's happy place for engine coolant is 193 degrees - seldom varies. But beware of heat soak - not just for 4Runners. Last June we were heading up 89A from the east to Jacobs Lake Junction, ambient temp about 102 degrees, stuck behind a big slow truck. Kept the ratios low and the revs up and the tranny pretty cool, but the coolant slowly headed up to about 200 degrees. Slid in to the parking lot, waited a bit, and turned the engine off - it gradually heat soaked up to 210 degrees and I started feeling faint - visions of fried head gaskets - so started the engine back up to cooler 'er back down.

You might want to have a look at this 4Runner thread:

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...cle-20057.html

Post #7 has links to more 4Runner stuff.


And "Amen" to Wanapum!

[Kags1969]

I am in line for a 21ne. I just got a magnuson supercharger for my paid-off 2016 4runner, waiting for my mechanic to work me in... Glad to hear this worked well for you.

[rotorbudd]

No better sound than a supercharger whine!

[Great Eggstrications]

Originally Posted by Kags1969

I am in line for a 21ne. I just got a magnuson supercharger for my paid-off 2016 4runner, waiting for my mechanic to work me in...

Please keep us updated on your supercharger experience.

[Mike Lewis]

When I bought my 2013 Tacoma there was a dealer-installed supercharger option. Didn't need that. Given their similar drivetrains, is/was there such an option on the 4Runner?

There was also a dealer-installed option for big four-wheel disk brakes, meant for racing. I wish I had gotten this option.