The Toyota 4Runner was introduced into Toyota’s lineup as one of the first SUVs in 1994 and is still made today. The 4Runner has many features consumers expect from today’s SUVs, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a 2008 Toyota 4Runner?
A 2008 Toyota 4Runner has a maximum towing capacity of 7,300 pounds.
The 2008 Toyota 4Runner tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.
How Much Can The 2008 Toyota 4Runner Tow?
The 2008 Toyota 4Runner has a towing capacity of 7,300 pounds.
The 2008 Toyota 4Runner tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.
You can always reach out to your local Toyota dealership for details to confirm how much your 4Runner can tow.
You can check out our guide to Toyota 4Runner towing capacity by year if you’re looking at a different model year’s max towing number or if you want to compare different years of this vehicle.
2008 4Runner Tow Capacity By Trim Level
There are several trim levels for the 2008 4Runner, and some engines and features are not available on certain trims, so they can each have different max towing limits.
Here’s the max tow capacity broken down for each trim level on the 2008 Toyota 4Runner:
2008 Toyota 4Runner Trim Level | Towing Capacity |
2008 Toyota 4Runner SR5 | 7,300 pounds |
2008 Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition | 7,300 pounds |
2008 Toyota 4Runner Limited | 7,300 pounds |
Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain
2008 Toyota 4Runner Engine Towing Specs
There are two engine options for the 2008 4Runner, which are a 4.0L V6 engine that makes 236 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, and a 4.7L V8 engine that makes 260 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque.
2008 Toyota 4Runner 4.0L V6 Engine Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2008 Toyota 4Runner 4.7L V8 Engine Towing Capacity: 7,300 pounds
2008 Toyota 4Runner Drivetrain Towing Specs
The 2008 Toyota 4Runner comes standard with two wheel drive, but four wheel drive is available as an option.
2008 Toyota 4Runner 2WD Tow Capacity: 7,300 pounds
2008 Toyota 4Runner 4WD Tow Capacity: 7,000 pounds
Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2008 Toyota 4Runner engine. Your Toyota 4Runner may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.
2008 Toyota 4Runner Payload Capacity
The maximum payload capacity of the 2008 Toyota 4Runner is 1,500 pounds.
This means that the 4Runner can can carry a total of 1,500 pounds of weight (passengers, cargo, etc.) within the vehicle itself, which is a fair bit of cargo!
Note that the max payload capacity of your 2008 4Runner will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain and whether or not a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler is installed.
You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.
2008 Toyota 4Runner Tow Package
Toyota offers a trailer hitch that comes standard on all trim levels of the 4Runner, and you can purchase a trailer ball directly from Toyota when building your vehicle if you choose.
We definitely recommend getting the tow package if you plan on towing anything with your 2008 4Runner.
2008 Toyota 4Runner Towing Capacity Vs Competitors
The 2008 Toyota 4Runner has a maximum towing cap of 7,300 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty trailer towing.
The 2008 4Runner’s tow capability is similar to its main competitors which are the 2008 Honda Pilot and the 2008 Ford Explorer.
Here are some similar vehicles to the 2008 Toyota 4Runner and their towing capacities below:
2008 Ford Explorer Towing Capacity: 7,130 pounds
2008 Honda Pilot Towing Capacity: 4,500 pounds
2008 Nissan Armada Towing Capacity: 9,100 pounds
2008 Dodge Durango Towing Capacity: 8,950 pounds
2008 Toyota SUV Models Towing Capacity Chart
2008 Toyota SUV Model | Towing Capacity |
2008 Toyota Sequoia | 10,000 pounds |
2008 Toyota 4Runner | 7,300 pounds |
2008 Toyota Highlander | 5,000 pounds |
2008 Toyota Rav4 | 3,500 pounds |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2008 Toyota 4Runner Owner’s Manual on Toyota’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2008 Toyota 4Runner.