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Hello everyone!

I posted a few days ago about a challenge I’ve been running into with our new Toyota 4Runner and I’ve received some helpful information since then. Our 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road states that it has an 895lb payload capacity (on the actual sticker on the door). On the sticker next to it, it says the GVWR is 6,240. Tow capacity is 6,000lbs.

I went into a CAT scale yesterday and the unloaded vehicle with a full tank of gas was at 4,840. Everywhere I’ve read and everyone I talk to states that payload is simply GVWR-Curb weight, meaning this 4Runner SHOULD have a payload of 1,400.

We are looking at RV’s that we can tow with this vehicle, and I need to know what payload to operate off of so I can stick within my tongue weight options. My plan is to stay under a loaded tongue weight (not dry) of 600lbs and get a camper that has a GVWR between 4,500 and 6,000lbs, or 3,500 - 4,200 dry. I refuse to go over 4,800lbs loaded, and a 600lb tongue would put us right at around 1,050- 1,100 payload (that’s with two people, drawers installed, a roof rack, and our cat).

If I stick below 4,800lbs loaded, below 600lbs tongue, and below 1,100 payload (seemingly 75% of the true payload capacity), will I be good? Or am I better off sticking under 895lbs payload listed on the door no matter what?

As I’m sure most of you are aware, the 6th Gen 4Runners also have a hybrid model that has heavy EV batteries, but the same payload and GVWR, which makes me think they slapped that same sticker across the board on all models.

We will be living in the RV full time, so we’re trying to get the largest one we can tow without going over 75-80% of our capacities all around.

Thank you!

Hello everyone!

I posted a few days ago about a challenge I’ve been running into with our new Toyota 4Runner and I’ve received some helpful information since then. Our 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road states that it has an 895lb payload capacity (on the actual sticker on the door). On the sticker next to it, it says the GVWR is 6,240. Tow capacity is 6,000lbs.

I went into a CAT scale yesterday and the unloaded vehicle with a full tank of gas was at 4,840. Everywhere I’ve read and everyone I talk to states that payload is simply GVWR-Curb weight, meaning this 4Runner SHOULD have a payload of 1,400.

We are looking at RV’s that we can tow with this vehicle, and I need to know what payload to operate off of so I can stick within my tongue weight options. My plan is to stay under a loaded tongue weight (not dry) of 600lbs and get a camper that has a GVWR between 4,500 and 6,000lbs, or 3,500 - 4,200 dry. I refuse to go over 4,800lbs loaded, and a 600lb tongue would put us right at around 1,050- 1,100 payload (that’s with two people, drawers installed, a roof rack, and our cat).

If I stick below 4,800lbs loaded, below 600lbs tongue, and below 1,100 payload (seemingly 75% of the true payload capacity), will I be good? Or am I better off sticking under 895lbs payload listed on the door no matter what?

The 6th Gen 4Runners also have a hybrid model that has heavy EV batteries, but the same payload and GVWR, which makes me think they slapped that same sticker across the board on all models.

We will be living in the RV full time, so we’re trying to get the largest one we can tow without going over 75-80% of our capacities all around.

Thank you!

Hello everyone!

My wife and I purchased a stock 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off Road (just the regular one, not the trailhunter or hybrid one).

We are looking for travel trailers to pull behind. The towing capacity sits at 6,000lbs, which gives us plenty of options. The issue we’re running into is payload. Our sticker on the inside of the door states that our payload is 895lbs, which is obviously horrible. The website states that payload is 1,390, and I know vehicles will vary, but that’s a massive difference.

Most 3,500-4,000lb travel trailers we’re looking at sit at 350-550lb tongue weight. A 550lb tongue weight (dry) would put us at the top of our payload or over after you add us, a cat, and some gear (most of which will be in the trailer when towing).

What I really need to do is figure out our true payload. I’m fine with it being 895 IF that’s actually correct. Having an extra 200-400lbs of payload would open up our options for campers (we will be living in it full time, so want to try and maximize the amount of trailer without going over weight anywhere, and ideally having 20% of our towing cap and a bit more payload left).

Is my only option to figure this out to go to a CAT scale? Then, take the GVWR (6,240 according to the sticker) minus CAT weight to get our payload? Is that a trustworthy payload number, or should I still stick within the 895?

The hybrid models of this vehicle have EV batteries and the same GVWR and apparently the same payload. Would Toyota put the same sticker on all 4Runners despite mine having more wiggle room with payload just to be cautious? From my understanding, those batteries are super heavy. Should we be aiming for 80% of payload just to be safe, or is it okay to be at the max?

We’re just two people plus a cat and are having this issue, yet I have seen families of four hauling a camper with this vehicle and no squat… am I just overthinking this?

Thanks in advance!

UPDATE: I did end up weight the vehicle. I weighed in at 4,840 with a full tank of gas and no add. This would put our payload closer to 1,400. Thank you for all the support and comments! We’re going to try and stay under 1,100lbs payload and 4,500lbs towing just to be safe.

Hoping someone else has run into this!

My wife and I purchased a 2026 4Runner TRD off-road, NOT the hybrid or premium, just the regular.

Our payload sticker in the door indicates that our payload is only 895. Our GVWR on the sticker next to the tire and load capacity is listed at 6240. I’m not entirely certain of our curb weight, but Toyota’s website puts it at 4,850. I understand that the hybrid models also have a payload of 895 because of the weight of the added batteries, but surely my payload would be closer to 1,390, right (GVWR-Curb Weight)?

Has anyone else run into this? We are looking at purchasing a travel trailer and are hitting a wall with options to fit within that payload. An extra 500lbs would work wonders into the equation (I would even take an extra 200 at this point lol).

Am I missing something that would make ours only have a payload of 895? Is Toyota just playing it safe in case someone misunderstands that their hybrid model can’t tow as much, so they put the lower number on both? We purchased this vehicle stock.

Thank you!

My wife and I just purchased a 2026 Toyota 4Runner in the hopes that it will pull a travel trailer (we are still deciding on which one). The towing capacity is 6,000lbs, so we thought we would have plenty of options.

That said, the payload is horrendous (895lbs). We’re looking at trailers that are under 4,000lbs (probably around 4,500 loaded) and are hoping to have a tongue weight right at 10-12% of that.

Even with that low of a tongue weight, we’re getting close to payload when you count us, our cat, and a bit of gear (although, most of the gear we have will be stored in the camper to save on payload).

Why would the payload be THIS low, when the 5th gen 4Runners were all over 1,200lbs? Is there an issue if we go 100-150lbs over payload on this specific vehicle? What issues might we run into if we go over payload? Our first long haul will be from CO to AK in the spring, so we don’t want to risk it, but we will be living full time in this camper, so we want as much space as possible as well.

Thank you!

Hello!

My wife and I just purchased a 2026 Toyota 4Runner and are hoping to get a travel trailer to go along with it. We thought we had quite a few options with this vehicle, as the towing capacity of the 6th generation went up to 6,000lbs vs. 5,000lbs on the 5th and previous. We learned too late that the payload on these vehicles is not great (only 895lbs). There are a few specific questions we have that don’t seem to be as straightforward as we’d hoped.

1. I’ll start with the basic question that truly gets to the bottom of what we need. We are moving to Alaska, and looking are looking for a four season camper that can be towed by this vehicle. We’re not sure exactly where we will be, but hoping somewhere near the southern coast so that the winters won’t be too brutal. What options do we have for four season trailers that can be pulled by this vehicle? We’re fine with living small, and are open to anything that fits these parameters, as we currently live full time in a 28ft. motorhome.

2. Our biggest issue with finding a travel trailer is the low payload of the 4Runner. We are looking at some four season campers (one is the Alliance 152rks) that have a hitch weight of over 500lbs (dry). After we add us, one cat, and a bit of gear, we’re about 100-150lbs over payload. I plan to get a WDH, and I know that evenly distributes the weight between the tow vehicles axles and trailers axles, but will this effectively lower the weight put on our total payload number? How big of a deal is being 100 or so lbs over payload? Am I overthinking the payload piece and all will be fine, or am I right to be a bit concerned? I’m also open to adding bags or pretty much anything else to support payload and to make towing safer. I have read that bags actually add to the payload, so I’m leaning away from that route, but again, open to anything that will help the big picture plan. We will be traveling from CO to AK in the spring, so we’re fairly nervous that weight may cause us to get stuck somewhere we don’t want to be for too long on the way!

3. What are some of the biggest “needs” we should be thinking about in a four season trailer? I realize with the size we’re looking for, we may be a bit limited, but my hopes are heated tanks, heated underbelly, and double-paned windows, but what am I missing on this and should be asking about when we tour some? It doesn’t seem like there is a true requirement for an RV to be labeled as four-season. We plan on skirting during the winter regardless of what we get.

4. We’re also looking at the Lance 1575 and 1685, as they seem like decent options (low hitch weight and low dry weight). That said, I’ve seen mixed reviews on Lances regarding whether or not they are all true four-season trailers. To my understanding, the ones prior to 2019 are not, but many say that they are. On the flip side, I’ve also seen that you have to add on a specific “package” to make them true four-season trailers. This seems like it may cause a challenge, as we are looking at 2021-2023’s (although, we are fairly open to options). Is this something I can bring to a dealer to add on after-market if I buy from a private party? Does four-season come standard in most RV’s that are advertised as such, or is it a specific add on that has to happen at time of purchase from the dealer?

Thanks in advance, and happy travels!