Towing a 16ft Airstream with a 4runner? Other alternatives?

[nickw]

Buy the Bambi AS camper. The Basecamps have had problems and the resale value is crap compared to the Bambi.

A properly equipped 4runner will do just fine with a Bambi. The Bambi has trailer brakes and is well within the 5K towing of the 4runner. IF fuel mileage is a huge concern you need to find another way to live.

All this doom and gloom above over towing with a 4runner. No wonder the world is going to schidt. Everyone is a pessimist!

Towing capacity is generally not the limiting factor whilst towing, it's payload capacity....AS's can be on the heavy side on tongue weights. The Bambi's have a GVWR of 5k I think and you are in the 10-15% range for tongue weight.

Assume conservative 10% which = 500 lbs (could be up to 750, many folks report 700-800 lbs)
Two adults = 400 lbs
Gear = 200 lbs
More gear, winch, roof rack, bike racks, bumpers, etc. etc. = ????

Thats 1100 lbs+ min, which is maxed out on most 4runner's these days, from what I see 4runners are in the 900-1200 lb range.

 

[vintageracer]

Towing capacity is generally not the limiting factor whilst towing, it's payload capacity....AS's can be on the heavy side on tongue weights. The Bambi's have a GVWR of 5k I think and you are in the 10-15% range for tongue weight.

16 Ft Bambi GVWR is 3,500 lbs.

A 3,500 lb GVWR trailer does NOT have a 700lb-800lb tongue weight.

Specifications | Bambi | Travel Trailers | Airstream

Check out the full list of specifications for every one of the Bambi's floorplans and compare them side by side.

www.airstream.com

 

[nickw]

16 Ft Bambi GVWR is 3,500 lbs.

A 3,500 lb GVWR trailer does NOT have a 700lb-800lb tongue weight.

Specifications | Bambi | Travel Trailers | Airstream

Check out the full list of specifications for every one of the Bambi's floorplans and compare them side by side.

www.airstream.com

I was thinking 20' (what I had)

My math above still works and proves the point even further, 16' AS's are closer to 15% TW, so ~500 lbs.....even though the GVWR is 3500, payload is far and above limiting factor....

 

[Porkchopexpress]

The contrast between this thread and truck camper threads I have read is hilarious. Usually I read comments like "Toyota under estimates payload, just add airbags" or "the only difference between a 3/4 and 1 ton is the leaf springs", or "payload ratings are only enforced on commercial traffic".
Here the OP is asking if a 4 runner can tow a 16 foot airstream, (spoiler, it can) and most comments are saying to go with a full size pickup instead. I agree the full size would pull it better but to claim a 4runner can't handle the load is a misstatement of fact.

The Airstream Bambi sure isn’t light. As others have said you might want a full sized pickup with a diesel or big displacement gasoline. You want 300 plus foot-pounds of torque.

Diesel engine for a bambi? Really!?

 

[Buddha.]

The contrast between this thread and truck camper threads I have read is hilarious. Usually I read comments like "Toyota under estimates payload, just add airbags" or "the only difference between a 3/4 and 1 ton is the leaf springs", or "payload ratings are only enforced on commercial traffic".
Here the OP is asking if a 4 runner can tow a 16 foot airstream, (spoiler, it can) and most comments are saying to go with a full size pickup instead. I agree the full size would pull it better but to claim a 4runner can't handle the load is a misstatement of fact.


Diesel engine for a bambi? Really!?

If you’re living out of a truck and trailer everything you have is packed with you.

He doesn’t have a 4Runner yet.

Why should he limit himself to a 4 runner when typical half tons are the same price. The 4 runner won’t do anything better than a half ton.

 

[calicamper]

The contrast between this thread and truck camper threads I have read is hilarious. Usually I read comments like "Toyota under estimates payload, just add airbags" or "the only difference between a 3/4 and 1 ton is the leaf springs", or "payload ratings are only enforced on commercial traffic".
Here the OP is asking if a 4 runner can tow a 16 foot airstream, (spoiler, it can) and most comments are saying to go with a full size pickup instead. I agree the full size would pull it better but to claim a 4runner can't handle the load is a misstatement of fact.


Diesel engine for a bambi? Really!?

Your reading skills need attention to detail work. You missed the part about “Living in the vehicle/ trailer” which case the 4runner payload is far to small.

Can you do weekend trips? Hell yes!! Can you pack all your crap in it and tow while living out of it? Nope

 

[Porkchopexpress]

Your reading skills need attention to detail work. You missed the part about “Living in the vehicle/ trailer” which case the 4runner payload is far to small.

You are imposing your own values onto his question. He said he wanted to live in a 16' Bambi or basecamp. A 4runner can tow a 16' Bambi and basecamp. Personally I wouldn't want to live in a trailer twice that size but that isn't what the OP asked. I don't take offense to different opinions so please don't question my reading comprehension because you disagree with me.

 

[Porkchopexpress]

If you’re living out of a truck and trailer everything you have is packed with you.

He doesn’t have a 4Runner yet.

Why should he limit himself to a 4 runner when typical half tons are the same price. The 4 runner won’t do anything better than a half ton.

I have a 4runner and had a Tundra. They are both great and obviously the Tundra had a higher payload and tow rating. The 4runner is much easier to park and maneuver in cities, the SUV layout is better for carrying dogs and keeps your payload protected from the elements and sticky fingers. I also have a Ford Super Duty so obviously I'm not anti pickup truck but a 4runner has advantages to some people. Maybe a Sequoia would work better for him?

Also, we have no idea how much this guy owns. When I was 25, I packed everything I own into about 4 plastic tubs from Walmart and drove across country.

 

[nickw]

The contrast between this thread and truck camper threads I have read is hilarious. Usually I read comments like "Toyota under estimates payload, just add airbags" or "the only difference between a 3/4 and 1 ton is the leaf springs", or "payload ratings are only enforced on commercial traffic".
Here the OP is asking if a 4 runner can tow a 16 foot airstream, (spoiler, it can) and most comments are saying to go with a full size pickup instead. I agree the full size would pull it better but to claim a 4runner can't handle the load is a misstatement of fact.


Diesel engine for a bambi? Really!?

Define "handle" load....will it explode into a ball of flames if you overload it, no, but if we are talking about facts.....manuf. payload ratings, trailer tongue weights and general loadout of vehicles can all be reasonably defined quantitatively. When you do that the 4runner payload capacity < actual capacity required all but the most conservative models, no way around that. Especially so if we are talking a TRD which have payload of what, 900 lbs?

The OP asked for alternatives - lots of good alternatives, starting at a 1/2 T truck as a bare minimum....

 

[bkg]

You are imposing your own values onto his question .He said he wanted to live in a 16' Bambi or basecamp. A 4runner can tow a 16' Bambi and basecamp. Personally I wouldn't want to live in a trailer twice that size but that isn't what the OP asked. I don't take offense to different opinions so please don't question my reading comprehension because you disagree with me.

as are you. OP asked for opinions and people responded.

 

[vintageracer]

I was thinking 20' (what I had)

My math above still works and proves the point even further, 16' AS's are closer to 15% TW, so ~500 lbs.....even though the GVWR is 3500, payload is far and above limiting factor....

The rules of aerodynamic weights and balances, the laws of physics and aerodynamic design also proves that a Bumblebee cannot fly.

The Bumblebee does not know this and therefore safely and confidently FLIES anyway!

The same will be true pulling a 16 Ft Airstream Bambi with a modern Toyota 4Runner!

Hook up the Bambi and drive away safely and confidently!

 

[Porkchopexpress]

as are you. OP asked for opinions and people responded.

I gave a factual answer to the original question. Other members are basically saying that the 16' Bambi is too small to live in. That is a reasonable opinion but it does not mean that a 4runner is incapable of towing a bambi.

 

[nickw]

The rules of aerodynamic weights and balances, the laws of physics and aerodynamic design also proves that a Bumblebee cannot fly.

The Bumblebee does not know this and therefore safely and confidently FLIES anyway!

The same will be true pulling a 16 Ft Airstream Bambi with a modern Toyota 4Runner!

Hook up the Bambi and drive away safely and confidently!

Cute story but it's unfortunately a myth, hopefully you don't use that one too much:

The Bumblebee Flight Myth - Animal Dynamics

Blog Author: Professor Adrian Thomas, CSO, Animal Dynamics The bumblebee flight myth: the idea that engineers have proved that bumblebees can’t fly, or that bumblebee flight is not consistent with known aerodynamics is extremely well known. The idea is that bumblebee’s wings are too small for...

www.animal-dynamics.com

The advice you give isn't good. A 4runner will 100% "pull it", just like a Miata would, but it's not the best tool for the job as many have stated.

If you have a 4runner and you want to pull this trailer it would work, you'd likely be outside it's design intent but your call, but there are better options per the OP's question.

 

[Porkchopexpress]

Define "handle" load....will it explode into a ball of flames if you overload it, no, but if we are talking about facts.....manuf. payload ratings, trailer tongue weights and general loadout of vehicles can all be reasonably defined quantitatively. When you do that the 4runner payload capacity < actual capacity required all but the most conservative models, no way around that. Especially so if we are talking a TRD which have payload of what, 900 lbs?

My TRD off road has a curb weight of about 4675 and GVWR of 6300 lbs, 1625 lb payload. Airstream website reads 3500 lb max GVWR for the 16' Bambi. That is 350 lbs on the hitch. That leaves 1275 lbs of capacity inside the 4runner for people and cargo. That is 1500 lbs under the 4runner max tow capacity.
The Bambi was literally designed to be towed by smaller vehicles. A 4runner would tow it just fine.

 

[nickw]

My TRD off road has a curb weight of about 4675 and GVWR of 6300 lbs, 1625 lb payload. Airstream website reads 3500 lb max GVWR for the 16' Bambi. That is 350 lbs on the hitch. That leaves 1275 lbs of capacity inside the 4runner for people and cargo. That is 1500 lbs under the 4runner max tow capacity.
The Bambi was literally designed to be towed by smaller vehicles. A 4runner would tow it just fine.

Look at your door sticker for Payload, you don't get to calculate it - from what I've seen most 5th gen 4runners are ~900 - 1200, what does yours say, lets clear that up.

The Airstreams are TW heavy, throw out 10%, they are closer to 15%.

So do the math
+1200
-500 TW
-200 adult
-200 adult
-200 truck accessories
-75 weight dist. hitch
-100 gear

that is -75 or 75lb over payload.

If you have the option of a tow rig, per OP, no a 4runner is not best option.....100% can do it, but there are rigs that are better suited. My 2019 Ranger towed our 20' airstream but it also had a ~1500 lb payload capacity but I never maxed out the trailer, never towed with full tanks, didn't have a ton of gear and it was marginal.