Makes · Toyota · Toyota 4Runner
2004 Toyota 4Runner towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 5,000 – 7,300 lbs across packages. Exact capacity depends on configuration. Payload is separate from towing capacity and is shown where GVWR and curb weight (or manufacturer payload) exist.
Tow Planner
Select your exact configuration and tell us what you're towing. We'll compare trailer weight, payload, tongue weight and the available vehicle limits. Year-level towing and payload answers below are available without selecting a configuration.
Which configuration do you have?
12 configurations
12 possible configurations match your selections.
What are you trying to do?
Choose a job to open interactive tools. Year-level towing and payload answers appear below even before you pick a configuration.
What can a 2004 Toyota 4Runner tow?
Across 12 configurations with published ratings, 2004 Toyota 4Runner towing capacity ranges from 5,000 lbs to 7,300 lbs. Exact capacity depends on configuration — not every 2004 Toyota 4Runner can tow the maximum value.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 5,000 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 7,300 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 12 of 12
Highest-rated example: Limited V8 · 4x2 — 7,300 lbs
Lowest-rated example: SR5 V6 · 4x4 — 5,000 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 2004 Toyota 4Runner. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limited V8 | — | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 7,300 lbs | 1,215 lbs |
| SR5 Sport V8 | — | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 7,300 lbs | 1,200 lbs |
| SR5 V8 | — | 4x2 | — | 3.73 | 7,300 lbs | 1,240 lbs |
| Limited V8 | — | 4x4 | — | 3.73 | 7,000 lbs | 1,215 lbs |
| SR5 Sport V8 | — | 4x4 | — | 3.73 | 7,000 lbs | 1,195 lbs |
| SR5 V8 | — | 4x4 | — | 3.73 | 7,000 lbs | 1,235 lbs |
| Limited V6 | — | 4x2 | — | 3.91 | 5,000 lbs | 1,275 lbs |
| Limited V6 | — | 4x4 | — | 3.91 | 5,000 lbs | 1,260 lbs |
| SR5 Sport V6 | — | 4x2 | — | 3.91 | 5,000 lbs | 1,255 lbs |
| SR5 Sport V6 | — | 4x4 | — | 3.91 | 5,000 lbs | 1,240 lbs |
Towing capacity by drivetrain
2004 Toyota 4Runner 4x2 towing capacity
Range: 5,000 – 7,300 lbs (median 6,150 lbs) across 6 configurations in this dataset.
2004 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 towing capacity
Range: 5,000 – 7,000 lbs (median 6,000 lbs) across 6 configurations in this dataset.
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 3.73 | 7,000 – 7,300 lbs | 6 |
| 3.91 | 5,000 lbs | 6 |
2004 Toyota 4Runner payload capacity
Payload is not the same as towing capacity. Where both GVWR and curb weight exist in the catalog, payload is GVWR minus curb weight (or the manufacturer payload field when present). Payload covers people, cargo in the truck, hitch equipment, and trailer tongue weight — not the full trailer weight.
- Observed payload range: 1,195 – 1,295 lbs
- Configurations with payload data: 12
Highest-payload configurations
- SR5 V6 · 4x2 — 1,295 lbs
- SR5 V6 · 4x4 — 1,280 lbs
- Limited V6 · 4x2 — 1,275 lbs
- Limited V6 · 4x4 — 1,260 lbs
- SR5 Sport V6 · 4x2 — 1,255 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 2004 Toyota 4Runner dataset. Values are min–max of published ratings in each group — not a claim that every unit in the group can tow the top figure.
Drivetrain
| Drivetrain | Towing range | Configs |
|---|---|---|
| 4x2 | 5,000 – 7,300 lbs | 6 |
| 4x4 | 5,000 – 7,000 lbs | 6 |
Axle ratios
| Axle | Towing range | Median | Configs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.73 | 7,000 – 7,300 lbs | 7,150 lbs | 6 |
| 3.91 | 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs | 6 |
Why does towing capacity vary for this vehicle?
Towing ratings vary across configurations. These are configuration differences present in our dataset:
- Drivetrain: 4x2, 4x4
- Axle ratios: 3.73, 3.91
- Published towing range: 5,000 – 7,300 lbs
Compare this vehicle
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Towing capacity by trim
| Trim | Max towing | Curb weight | Payload* | HP | Torque | Axle | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limited V8 4x2 | 7,300 lbs | 4,245 lbs | 1,215 lbs | 235 | 320 | 3.73 | 109.8 |
| SR5 Sport V8 4x2 | 7,300 lbs | 4,260 lbs | 1,200 lbs | 235 | 320 | 3.73 | 109.8 |
| SR5 V8 4x2 | 7,300 lbs | 4,220 lbs | 1,240 lbs | 235 | 320 | 3.73 | 109.8 |
| Limited V8 4x4 | 7,000 lbs | 4,495 lbs | 1,215 lbs | 235 | 320 | 3.73 | 109.8 |
| SR5 Sport V8 4x4 | 7,000 lbs | 4,515 lbs | 1,195 lbs | 235 | 320 | 3.73 | 109.8 |
| SR5 V8 4x4 | 7,000 lbs | 4,475 lbs | 1,235 lbs | 235 | 320 | 3.73 | 109.8 |
| Limited V6 4x2 | 5,000 lbs | 4,055 lbs | 1,275 lbs | 245 | 282 | 3.91 | 109.8 |
| Limited V6 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,310 lbs | 1,260 lbs | 245 | 282 | 3.91 | 109.8 |
| SR5 Sport V6 4x2 | 5,000 lbs | 4,065 lbs | 1,255 lbs | 245 | 282 | 3.91 | 109.8 |
| SR5 Sport V6 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,330 lbs | 1,240 lbs | 245 | 282 | 3.91 | 109.8 |
| SR5 V6 4x2 | 5,000 lbs | 4,035 lbs | 1,295 lbs | 245 | 282 | 3.91 | 109.8 |
| SR5 V6 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,290 lbs | 1,280 lbs | 245 | 282 | 3.91 | 109.8 |
* Payload = manufacturer payload when present, otherwise GVWR − curb weight. Towing capacity is a separate rating and is not the same as payload.
What affects the rating
Higher figures usually need the tow package, the right axle ratio, and enough cooling. Passengers, fuel, gear, and tongue weight all eat into what you can safely pull — stay under both the trailer rating and the vehicle’s payload.