Cedarhill
Deep South
Senior Member
Joined: 09/20/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
Here is another (2011, 265HP V-6, 6500 lb. tow rated) Nissan Frontier owner. My truck is very similar to the Tacoma in terms of power and towing capacity. I tow a trailer with an advertised dry weight of 3700 pounds (Flagstaff 21FBRS). Fully outfitted and provisioned, the trailer actually weighs close to 4400 pounds. I would not want to tow a trailer much larger than that regardless of what the owner's manual says. It would be safe enough and the truck wouldn't die from it but the towing experience would not be fun. 4500 pounds dry weight will translate to well over 5000 pounds loaded and the truck will struggle to maintain speed on hilly terrain.
|
wv_boy
HOME
New Member
Joined: 03/22/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
As mentioned eariler I think, the weak link on the Toyota Tacoma is the syspension, it is built for a soft ride, not load carrying. There is even a TSB that Toyota will do to add another spring leaf if you are under warranty and complain enough. Even with weight distribution our 3500 lb smaller profile 18' trailer is translating a lot of bounce and instability to the truck. I am looking at aftermarket products like Roadmaster springs now, very glad we didn't go with the 4,500 lb trailer that the salesman said we could handle.
|
boosTT
Milwaukee
Senior Member
Joined: 03/03/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
From what I remember, the payload is extremely low. Like 900lbs for a crew cab. I was thinking about getting one, but my ATV was over or right at the payload.
|
ewarnerusa
Helena, Montana
Senior Member
Joined: 12/20/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
profdant139 wrote:I tow with a Pathfinder -- similar capacity to a Tacoma. But my trailer is very small --see blog for more details.
We used to tow the same TT as profdant139 (Funfinder X 139) with a 2003 Tacoma (3.4L V6 engine, 5000lb max towing capacity). The Funfinder 139 had something like a 3500lb GVW. This setup did fine, went from Montana to Alaska 2 different times, and it is still pulling this towing duty today by my father. Of course it could use more power and 60 mph is about the top speed that it can easily maintain. It isn't the weight so much as the aerodynamics that hold it back. No WDH, but it does squat and the use of one would probably help. It has a single sway arm but it really never gets used.
Your newer Tacoma has more power and a higher tow rating, but it weighs more and I would expect similar performance. In other words, your TT should be very light. Probably nothing big enough to have a double axle.
|
afob3
Maryville, TN
Senior Member
Joined: 04/17/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Towed the rig in my sig for two trips with a Tacoma and it wasn't fun. However, our previous HTT was perfect for it at 3800 lbs maxed out. Yes payload is a weak link but the biggest will be the hitch. Max hitch weight is 650 with our without WDH.
To be sure it has the factory towing package just look at the radiator fan. If it's base is pink it is a towing package model. Blue equals no towing package.
The book will recomend he knocks the trans into 4th to lock out 5th while towing. This gives you a pretty noisy ride at 3k rps at 65mph. It worked well for us for three years until we upgraded to the TT.
2012 Koala 25DS
2011 F150 Ecoboost SuperCrew with Max Tow Package
www.familyobrien.net
|
|
|
bgum
South Louisiana
Senior Member
Joined: 02/22/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I would not exceed 4500lbs gross and 19ft. This will leave a little wiggle room but make for a safer and more comfortable towing experience.
|
luv2batcamp
N.H
New Member
Joined: 05/29/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks so much for all your advice, most are in agreement with me but I'm now thinking even smaller trailer and so is my Brother. I stopped by the dealership today (he's planning to go there Saturday) just to see what they might have. Salesmen said, "oh you'd be fine with up to a 5,000lb TT". I literally laughed at him and said he could tow it but we sure won't.
Anyway, thanks for all your help, it's definitely given me more to assist my brother.
|
Magblue10
Valparaiso, IN
Full Member
Joined: 04/24/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
I had a tacoma and it is a capapble vehicle just stick to no more than 5000 loaded. Now if your brother is going to tow every weekend for half the year he may get sick of it faster but if he tows it 5 or 6 times a year Im sure he will be happy with his truck. Some people make it seem like the trailer is hooked up 24/7/365. My good buddy pulled a 28ft BH with his which got a bit tough at times and I dont recommend this but in the flatlands he was able to do it. Just be smart and get a ultra lite. The tacoma is strong and does pull well. Just have him check the rear springs. There should be a four pack leaf back there. If there isnt and its still under warranty there is a tsb for it if you tell the dealer its squating when you put a couple hundred pounds in the back they will warranty it, if not go to another dealer.
|
luv2batcamp
N.H
New Member
Joined: 05/29/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
OK, Hope I'm posting this right. Here's what I just found out about the Tacoma truck. GVWR 5500lbs (thought he said it was 6,500), GAWR FRT 2755, GAWR RR 3110. I realize it would be best to have more info, but from all the feedback and this info I'm thinking small ultralight or max of 3,600lb trailer if they travel light?
|
happycampin4
Haymarket, VA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/01/2007
View Profile
|
Lots of useful information here: Tacoma Towing Bible
Happycampin!
HappyCampin4
Me and Her, da boy (19), da girl (14)
Maggie May the bassett/beagle mix. (Front half Bassett, back half beagle, Beagle brain.)
2000 Starcraft TravelStar 21CK
2006 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab V6 w/ Factory Tow Pkg
Reese W/D w/ Dual Cam, Prodigy
|
|
|
