TRD Pro Towing 23’ Airstream to Up to Tahoe NF

[squawbum]

Recently towed our 23’, double axle Airstream with our Mudbath TRD Pro up into the Tahoe National Forest. We had to navigate over winding, rough, narrow and steep mountain roads and the 4Runner did amazing.

11% grades. Over 5000 feet of elevation gain. It was a great towing experience. And our gas milage was fantastic. Better than our overland trailer (guessing due to aerodynamics of the Airstream).

we used a weight distribution hitch (recommended by Toyota if towing over 5000lbs) and also used our Airlift 1000 airbags.

The Airstream is at the towing limits of the 4Runner but NOT over. And once I understood Tow Haul mode, it was a gamechanger for managing steep decents! Toyota did fantastic designing it!

anyways, to see the towing experience, see our Youtube video. Link below.
Also some pics attached. Hope you’re all well!

26-14 6th Gen Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro Towing An Airstream! Tahoe National Forest! French Meadows

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[BonRunner]

Average MPG? nice camper!

 

[squawbum]

Average MPG? nice camper!

We averaged around 12 mpg. To get up there was just over 10. Getting home was just under 14. Thanks!

 

[Wagzilla]

Curious about temperatures and the transmission did you have to pull over and let it cool down at all?.

 

[squawbum]

Curious about temperatures and the transmission did you have to pull over and let it cool down at all?.

No. But you should watch the gauges. If you push it going up a long sustained climb the temp will elevate. I forgot to keep an eye onnit and started pushing uphill and temp climbed above middle of the gauge, but never near red/maybe a 16th of an inch past middle. The second I let the peddle go and drop into highest gear, temps went back to normal immediately. So sustaining around 60mph uphill leaves temps normal. Done some pretty long sustained climbs pulling our Arkto and Airstream in Sierras, Arkto in Rockies in CO and Canada and some LONG climbs in British Columbia (over 40 miles of 7-8% grade climbs) and always okay.

 

[Trose_808]

Thanks for documenting and sharing your experience. I watched the YouTube video today. Good content.

 

[squawbum]

Thanks for documenting and sharing your experience. I watched the YouTube video today. Good content.

You’re welcome and thank you!

 

[Wagzilla]

No. But you should watch the gauges. If you push it going up a long sustained climb the temp will elevate. I forgot to keep an eye onnit and started pushing uphill and temp climbed above middle of the gauge, but never near red/maybe a 16th of an inch past middle. The second I let the peddle go and drop into highest gear, temps went back to normal immediately. So sustaining around 60mph uphill leaves temps normal. Done some pretty long sustained climbs pulling our Arkto and Airstream in Sierras, Arkto in Rockies in CO and Canada and some LONG climbs in British Columbia (over 40 miles of 7-8% grade climbs) and always okay.

Thank you for your time.

 

[spyder40]

Keep hearing people talk about transmission temps. I have yet to have any issues pulling 4000+ tandem trailer with a non aerodynamic SxS load

 

[josiahg52]

Impressive you towed 6000# or more and probably a load out in the vehicle itself up to Tahoe. I'm very familiar with that route.

 

[shibaman]

I have been to french meadows many times on a road bicyle. Leave forest hill and go down mosquito ridge rd. At 30 mi there is a pipe sticking out of the rocks. Ice cold spring water. The only water until you get to the fm camp ground.
A difficult, but stunning ride. Isolate, except for deer poachers

 

[Nodak]

only time i see bad temps on the trans is slow off roading where there is hardly any airflow underneath the vehicle based on posts in here and other forums.

mpg was good, better than our 23 tundra just carrying 2 people empty (avg was around 13 mpg across 130 fill ups, low was 6.9 mpg and high was 18.5 mpg)

our 18 tundra was avg 11.6 mpg across 249 fill ups and low was 4.4 mpg and high was 17.3 mpg

getting 12-13 mpg towing 6k load is pretty good vs a vehicle that could pull that easily without breaking a sweat.

 

[xp0nex]

You should post a link to the hitch you used

 

[PNBC4Run]

Hi, We have 2026 TRD Sport, towing Airstream Caravel 16rb (4,300lb). We just returned from Lassen Volcanic NP from LA with some steep grades. I felt like the 4Runner could pull even more, and now you have tested that theory. Thanks for posting. If we ever decide to upgrade the trailer, this info is good to have.

 

[Nodak]

You should post a link to the hitch you used

looks off hand to be a b&w to me

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