A believer in the Taco's towing capacity.

I have a 2014 Taco with the towing package, double cab, Prerunner...it's pretty much a stock truck. My wife is a travel nurse, and we decided to buy a travel trailer and pull our "house" with us from assignment to assignment.

For months, I read and re-read the forums on towing for Tacos, both here and on RV sites. I've read from "I tow anything with mine" to " I wouldn't tow over 1000 pounds". I've calculated and re-calculated weights ,GVWRs, CGVWRs, tongue weights...you name it, I've done the math.

Her assignments are 13 weeks, so we'd pull it to a park, set it up, and leave it there...no towing except from park to park.

I didn't want to give up my Taco, for a bigger truck, and I didn't want to sacrifice the good mileage I got on my Taco, knowing that for 3 times a year, I'd be towing and the rest of the time, using the truck as my personal vehicle.

All these calculations, wants, needs, and many others went into the decision making of what kind of travel trailer we would get. I also have to believe that Toyota wouldn't put their towing capacities at what they are, without accepting the liabilities along with it.

With all this in mind, we purchased a Jayco White Hawk Ultralite 23MBH travel trailer. It's factory weight was 5100 pounds. We loaded up the wife's car with all the heavy stuff, and put as little as possible in the trailer...also we kept the tanks empty on purpose...decrease in weight. With the trailer, I had installed a Equalizer WD hitch and a decent brake controller. I'm figuring the truck weighed in at 4200 pounds and the trailer weighed 5400. I physically weighed everything put in both...I'm under the GVW for both and under the GCVW for both. I don't know what my tongue weight was or is, but I can say the truck was level after putting on the WD hitch...I have to believe it did its job and "distributed the weight" accordingly.

So...I hooked the camper up and we left our coastal home in NC and arrived in Texas yesterday, safe and sound. I'm proud to say, the Taco stood the test. Yes, I knew the trailer was back there, and yes, the gas mileage sucked (9-11) but I expected that. I kept my speed at 55-60 and let whatever pass me that wanted to. I felt no sway, even with the large tractor/trailers passing and even the bumps weren't too bad. On the hills (and there are some between NC and Texas) I was able to maintain 50 plus without chugging it down. I also towed in 4th gear...no problems.

If we ever decide to tow to Colorado, across the Rockies, I may upgrade to a larger tow vehicle... But for now, I'm very pleased with the Tacoma....and I'm a believer in its towing capabilities.

 

Any pics?

 

I'm working off a tablet right now...won't upload picks, but as soon as I get to a computer, I'll put some on.

 

Wow, that is a pretty big trailer for a Taco to pull! But well within its capabilities.

I pulled an old Celica on a U-Haul car carrier from Austin to St Louis without the tow package. Probably around 4500 lbs. total. No problems at all, got 14 mpg or so.

 

Extremely impressive. I just purchased a travel trailer last night with a dry weight of 4900 lbs. and the guy I purchased it from has me petrified that my Taco (same as yours) isn't up to the task, and I'll need a Tundra. He also says if a semi passes me with any speed it will cause so much sway in the trailer that it will jerk my Taco off the road (very comforting).

I'm curious; if you went from Coastal NC to Texas, did you go south first and avoid the Saluda grade on I-26 outside Asheville, or the 'Gorge' on I-40 in TN? I'm in Charlotte, NC and that would be a common path for me to get to Pigeon Forge, etc.

 

I can tell you, from experience that I experienced very little sway, if any at all. A good WD hitch is the answer to that...mine is the Equilizer, rated at 10000 lbs. Also, you'll definitely need a good brake controller.

I went south...17, to 74, to 95 and so on...

 

Its not as big as it looks...only 26 feet from bumper to hitch.

 

No offense, but "figuring" your truck and trailer weight is ok is not a valid means of verifying you are within the weight limits! Go to a scale and actually weigh it! I'll put money on your trailer weighing much more than you think!

 

i agree with MAN MAN

 

No offense taken...and I hope you don't take offense to this. It's like I said in the original post. There will be those who agree with me, and those who don't...you don't. That's ok...you're entitled

I know what my curb weights are on both vehicles. And I know what I put in each one, because I physically weighed each item (water, oil. fuel, myself and the two 30 pound chairs in my truck bed). I don't live near scales and didn't have the opportunity to weigh it. If I get to a truck stop and have the opportunity to do so, I will but for now, I'm in a RV park for the next 13 week.

I am well pleased with how the truck and trailer handled, as a whole...I had 1300 miles to evaluate it...crazy drivers, sudden stops, and all.

For now, I'm satisfied.

 

I have ordered a 21' travel trailer. Dry weight is 3050 and GVWR is 4500. Hope my towing experience is as good as yours.

 

Get you a good WD hitch and trailer brakes...don't be a speed demon. You should be fine.

 

As some one mentioned...if you can get it weighed...it doesn't hurt.

 

While it is pretty impressive that your Tacoma can pull that trailer around it seems like it is asking a little much of the truck. If you decide to step up to a full-size truck in the future I highly recommend a F150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine, given your needs. They're not too bad on gas for normal driving (similar to a Tacoma) but they also have tons of power and low-end torque when you need it. It was between the F150/EcoBoost and the Tacoma when I was looking for a truck and I opted for the Tacoma because I don't do much towing and a smaller truck works better in my area.

Drive safe and enjoy your travels!

 

I tow a 15ft toy hauler that is 4800lb wet (motorcycles, generator, etc), my GCVW was 9500lb. I've towed it from East Texas to Moab Utah and back. plus all over my state. I am fully aware and impressed by the Tacomas towing abilities... however, it is very easy to exceed those limits as well, at that point you become a potential liability to everyone else on the road. That is why it is important to weigh a vehicle http://catscale.com/cat-scale-locator there are 3 scale locations within 10mi of me

 

What did you purchase that's 21ft and still close to 3100lbs?

 

My boat and trailer is a little over 6k pounds and the Taco had no problems at all towing it. And that was before the Supercharger.

 

It is an Escape Trailer Industries 21' fiberglass trailer, made in BC, Canada.

 

I'm debating between an Equalizer and an Anderson hitch.