99 SR5 V6 Towing Capacity

I've got a 99 v6 3.4l. Currently, I live in an rv in the summer time, but it's a pain in the ass to shuttle the thing around from one side of the state to the other. I was planning on getting a trailer to simplify the process. It looks like my towing capacity is 3500lbs. How close to that number can I get in the real world? I am looking at some older 70's model trailers. What length trailer would be approaching my max? Not planning on loading it up with water or anything, just LP.
Thanks in advance

 

While 3500 lbs may be the rated towing capacity of the hitch on your truck, in reality you may not want to subject your truck to that much towing load. I keep my towing to my jon boat (1800 lbs) and a light utility trailer (6'x5'). What are you planning on towing? It's not about the length of the trailer, but how much weight you're putting on it. I would say in general, a single axle trailer with maybe 2500 lbs on it is your max.

 

Definitely Check this towing bible out for the Tacomas

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/4031-tacoma-towing-bible.html

If you have a 1st Gen V6, your MAX tow capacity CAN be 5,000lbs if your use a class III hitch. If you tow off the bumper or with a class II hitch, then you will be limited at 3500lbs. I feel confident with my truck, I can tow up to 5,000lbs, but I wouldnt really want to with any regularity because it will be slow and MPG will suck. Towing will reduce MPGs regardless to be prepared to get about 2/3s of what your MPG is rated at. When Towing, dont lug your engine, and do shift smoothly. Also, be more mindful of fluid changes and do them ontime (Oil, transmission, t-case, differentials, and radiator).
But if you're rated at 3,500 I would feel safe towing up to 3,500. Look into trailer brakes though.

 

I mentioned in another thread that I have felt that my truck is a little underpowered, but I don't have any other Toyotas to compare it too... What I can say is that I have put a small atv in the bed of my truck and a full size atv on a 5x8 utility trailer behind the truck; while it did pull it, when I hit a steep hill on the highway or was trying to pull out on even a small hill, my truck really strained with that weight. I don't know the exact weights of these items, so I can't give you specifics... but in my experience, these trucks aren't made to tow very much. I truly love my Tacoma, but it is no tow rig.

BTW, my truck is a '99 Ext Cab Tacoma 4x4 with 3.4L V6.