Can You Flat Tow a 2019 Toyota 4Runner?

Quick answer: No — Toyota does not recommend flat towing (all four wheels on the ground) for the 4Runner, and that’s held true across generations, including the redesigned 2025 (6th-gen) model. Do it anyway and you risk expensive transmission damage — and, if it fails, a denied warranty claim. The safe way to bring a 4Runner along is on a flatbed or car trailer with all four wheels off the ground.

RV owners love the idea of flat towing — hook up a tow bar, no trailer to store, and go. Plenty of vehicles handle it fine. The 4Runner just isn’t one of them, and it’s worth understanding why before you learn the hard way.

The short version

Can you flat tow a 4Runner?	Not recommended by Toyota — every generation, including the 2025 6th-gen
Why not?	The transmission needs the engine running to stay lubricated; towing with the wheels spinning and engine off risks internal damage
Does it void the warranty?	Damage from improper towing generally isn’t covered
Safe alternative	Flatbed or car trailer (all four wheels up)

Why a 4Runner shouldn’t be flat towed

When you flat tow, the wheels turn the whole time — but the engine is off. On the 4Runner, the automatic transmission relies on a pump that only runs with the engine on to circulate fluid and keep the internals lubricated and cool. Tow it flat for miles with no lubrication and you’re grinding parts that were never meant to move dry. That’s how people turn a “free” tow into a new transmission.

This is why Toyota’s guidance covers the 4Runner across the board, and why “just put it in neutral” isn’t the fix people hope it is.

What Toyota actually says

Toyota’s own towing guidance and the 4Runner owner’s manual advise against flat (four-wheels-down) towing and point you to a flatbed or trailer instead. Toyota’s position is consistent: most of its automatic 4WD vehicles, the 4Runner included, aren’t suited to dinghy towing because of that transmission-lubrication issue. When in doubt, your specific year’s owner’s manual is the final word — quote it and link it.

“But people do it…” — the modified route and its risks

You’ll find forum threads where owners flat tow a 4Runner anyway, usually by disconnecting the rear driveshaft or adding a lube pump, plus the full flat-tow kit: tow bar, base plate, safety cables, wiring harness, supplemental braking system, and sometimes a high/low adapter. It can be done — but you’re taking on the risk, the extra setup at every stop, and the warranty exposure if something lets go. For most owners it isn’t worth it.

The safe way to tow a 4Runner

• Flatbed or car trailer — all four wheels off the ground. Zero drivetrain wear, no drama. This is the recommended method.
• Tow dolly? Not a good fit — a dolly lifts only two wheels, which still leaves the others turning. For a 4WD/RWD 4Runner, go with a full trailer.

Yes, it’s more to tow and store than a simple tow bar. But it’s a lot cheaper than a transmission. If you’re curious which rigs can be flat towed, see our guide to trucks and SUVs that can be flat towed, browse the Toyota 4Runner hub, or check our full towing guides.

Frequently asked questions

Can you flat tow a 4Runner behind a motorhome?

Toyota doesn’t recommend it for any 4Runner. Use a flatbed or car trailer to avoid transmission damage.

What happens if you flat tow a 4Runner anyway?

You risk overheating and destroying the transmission because it isn’t being lubricated with the engine off — and that damage typically isn’t covered under warranty.

What’s the safest way to tow a 4Runner?

On a flatbed or open or enclosed car trailer with all four wheels off the ground.