If you have a 2021 Toyota 4Runner and need to know your towing capacity, you have come to the right place.
Here you will find all the GCWRs, max trailer towing weights, payload capacity and GVWR suggested by Toyota. The information is collected from the 2021 Toyota 4Runner Brochure and 2021 Toyota 4Runner Owners Manual.
The 2021 Toyota 4Runner has a max trailer towing capacity of 5,000 lbs for all variations. Any weight over 1,655 lbs requires a separate trailer braking system.
Toyota says that the tongue weight for any towing should be no more than 11% of the trailer weight and as low as 9%. So this should be taken into account when setting up your trailer.
2021 Toyota 4Runner Towing Capacity
The 2021 Toyota 4Runner can tow up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped. The vehicle either has a GCWR of 11,100 lbs for the 2WD or 11,300 lbs for the 4WD vehicles.
| Drive | Towing Capacity | GCWR |
| 2WD | 5,000 lbs | 11,100 lbs |
| 4WD | 5,000 lbs | 11,300 lbs |
Though the 4Runner can tow up to 5,000 lbs it can only tow that much with a trailer that is equipped with it’s own set of brakes. Any trailer weight being towed over 1,655 lbs also requires this feature.
2021 4runner Tongue Weight
Tongue weight refers to the weight exerted on a trailer hitch/ball mount. Generally speaking the tongue weight should usually be between 10-15% of the total trailer weight.
However, Toyota specifies that for the 4Runner this should be between 9-11% of the total weight. This means for a 4Runner carrying the max capacity, the tongue weight should be between 450 and 550 lbs.
Towing Features
All 4Runners in the 2021 series are equipped with the appropriate towing equipment which are:
- Ball Mount
- Trailer Ball
- Integrated hitch receiver and wiring harness with 4/7 pin connectors
The 4Runner is not compatible with bumper hitch towing.
Trims
There are 8 trims in the 2021 4Runner. These are:
- SR5
- Trailer Special Edition
- SR5 Premium
- TRD Off-Road
- TRD Off-Road Premium
- Venture Special Edition
- Limited
- Limited Nightshade Edition
- TRD Pro
Each of these vehicles has various features available such as interior and exterior design. When it comes to towing there is no impact on the max towing capacity, but the extra features do make an impact on the payload capacity, or the maximum weight that can be carried.
This impact is due to the varying weights of the vehicle.
Payload Capacity
The best way to check the payload capacity is to find the GVWR listed on the certification sticker inside the driver’s side door. But they are mentioned in the e-brochure and trailering guide which are shown below.
The total maximum payload capacity in all of the 2021 4Runner is between 1,550 lbs and 1,700 lbs.
| Trim | Payload Capacity (lbs) | GVWR (lbs) | Curb Weight (lbs) |
| SR5 | 1,700 | 6,100 | 4,400 |
| Trail Special Edition | 1,700 | 6,100 | 4,400 |
| SR5 Premium | 1,700 | 6,100 | 4,400 |
| TRD Off-Road | 1,550 | 6,300 | 4,750 |
| TRD Off-Road Premium | 1,550 | 6,300 | 4,750 |
| Limited | 1,575 | 6,100 | 4,525 |
| TRD Pro | 1,550 | 6,300 | 4,750 |
| Limited Nightshade Edition | 1,575 | 6,100 | 4,525 |
2021 4Runner Engine Specs
The only engine in the 2021 4Runner is the 5-speed automatic transmission 4.0 L V6 engine. This engine supplies 270 hp @ 5,600 rpm and 278 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm.
Additional Resources
Conclusion
Toyota states that the 2021 Toyota 4Runner has a max towing capacity of 5,000 lbs.
Though this guide provides good guidance on how much you can tow with your 2021 4Runner, you should always calculate your own towing capacity.
Not sure how? Read: How is Towing Capacity Calculated? Here you will find a helpful calculator as well.
