What kind of camper do you have?

have you weighed your set up loaded ? you may be surprised how much you're actually hauling. if you're going off the camper frame stickers, they are VERY misleading.

A camper with a dry weight of 2700lbs can easily weigh 3500lbs before you add camping stuff. AC (~100lb) was likely added at dealership, as were LP tank(s)( 47b ea) and battery(s)(50lb ea), 6gal in water heater another 48lbs, awning add 40-90lbs, any creature comfort add ons ? grill or remote cook top ? add for that stuff. its all NOT on the frame sticker. Frame sticker weight is AS IT LEFT THE FACTORY FLOOR, none of that stuff was in it when it left, it was all added after the fact.
Once you have an actual weight of your LOADED camper, you'll need to find axle weight and check your tire capacity ( again, you might get a surprise, I sure as heck did ) camper weight and axle weight are not the same, camper weight is unhooked from tow vehicle, on both wheels and tongue jack, axle weights tongue connected to tow vehicle. 12-15% of the camper weight should be on the tongue. be sure your tire capacity EXCEEDS actual axle weight, 10% margin is good, then the tires have some capacity left to account for road variables.

you're hauling a large brick shaped object behind a reasonably aerodynamic tow vehicle in comparison. yes, gas mileage is going to suffer, and I doubt a Tundra will get much if any better, if it does, it will only because of the larger surface area of the truck is breaking air for the brick.

 

My 3.4L 1st gen tows my 17ft casita surprisingly well. The casita is more rounded compared to a lot of the stick built campers so that helps with mpg's.

 

The tow police won't approve, but this is what my Taco tows:

Here's the deal. Came out of a '11 Silverado 3500 Duramax & 38' 5th wheel (was just too damn big , felt like I brought the house with me all the time!) Downsized to a '13 Tacoma DC TRD OR & got a '14 26' Cruiser Funfinder /28' overall. Loaded weight of 5200lbs. Tacoma handled power wise ok, but never comfortable with sway, trailer looked huge behind the Taco. Length was just a little over the top for the Tacoma ' it's wheelbase.

Now have a '16 Northtrail 22' (25.7" overall). Tows fine. No sway & feels comfortable. Loaded weight of approx. 5000 lbs. Am in Colorado so at high elevation even at home, so the altitude greatly effects power. Have towed trailers with the Taco at 10,000 elevation, not the fastest vehicle on the hwy, but not the slowest either. More power would be good, but just gave to be a little slower at times. Try to not push the power to the limits but don't baby it either. No issues. My Tacoma has a 3" lift & 285's to make towing even more tricky, but it is ok, again stable & ok. Looks good too!
Do have EZ lift sway wdh. & Airlift airbags to even out stance.

Agree a full size travel trailer is like a big old brick behind you & sure a smaller trailer would be even better to tow, but with sensible driving & braking it is fine. Reading RV forums There are people recommending Dodge 1 T duallies to tow a 12' trailer.

Would an Eco-boost (an amazing engine) F150 tow better? Yes. For me though, a full size is too large for everyday driving in the city of which is 80%+ of my general use. And.....I can actually go wheelin with the Jeep club & do fine with my Tacoma, which I enjoy. So guess everything has compromises.

Most likely Looking to go with a 3rd gen '16 in early Spring, so hope the 3.5 is equal to or better than the 4.0. A tow mode transmission setting would sure be appreciated.

 

Nice set up. How do you like the airlift system? Are they as good as Firestones, if you have any comparison??

 

Erring on the side of caution we went from a popup that did not work for us to a 3100 lb travel trailer. Wanted to stay at about half of the max.
Also skeptical of all the new 3.5 motors everyone is using to meet fuel economy requirements. So I got an 2015.
I also stay in fourth gear. Hope the 2016 works for you. Sounds the ECT button for power will be the way to go when pulling.

 

Love the thought of this set-up, but could never actually pull something this size and feel safe

 

staying under max capacity is good, if you don't already have one, get a ScanGauge2 or Ultragauge and keep track of transmission temps. (you'll have to program gauge to read trans temp, its not hard). knowing how much heat you're generating in trans will help keep problems in check.
I know just pulling my utility trailer with mesh drop gate is enough of a load to get things pretty hot on a 100° day even unloaded, I can't imagine what a full size camper box would do. ( my junk has 258k on it, I wasn't surprised trans temp hit 206°, but it did settle back down to 175ish a mile or so later )

 

Work great, have not used the Firestones

 

Thanks! I had been trying to compare, but most everyone seems to run the firestones but they are more expensive.

 

I don't disagree they are expensive, I bought mine open box on Amazon, $250, box had label ripped off was all that was wrong with them. Keep checking for sale here as well, I missed several before I got mine.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm really going to be shopping and watching the BST area over the winter so I'll be set up by early spring.

 

I been reading about people not liking the 2016's for towing...

 

Here's my '02 SR5 4x4 2.7 5spM/T with a 2300+/- 15' Chalet popup which together have been all over the western US... CA,OR,WA,ID,MT,UT,AZ,NV.... On the interstates, I'll go 65, otherwise 55-60. Flat in 5th, 4th regularly, 3rd on any hill. Even the interstate I'll drop it into 3rd, and motor along under 50mph. No Problem. Installed Firestone airbags to lift the hind end, loved them. There was ONE TIME I had to drop to 2nd coming up 8% in Montana.....

Alas, Time for NEW:

Will be taking delivery on a white '16 4x4 TRD AC OR AT to pull the same load, anticipate same driving technique even though an automatic with ECT. Top of the trailer same height as the truck (will have an ARE canopy installed). Will see how the hind end sag looks with 250lbs of tongue wt; may put the airbags on the '16 too.
In spite of the '16 still being a "mid-sized truck, its STILL larger than the '02.
Very much looking forward to the new setup.

 

I'm looking at a Passport Express Super Lite, model 199ML. The shipping weight is 3571, hitch is 335 and the length is 21' 9". Does this sound like a good match for a 2016 Tacoma?

 

Not sure how to say this but the words No Way come to mind.

 

You'll be upwards of 4500-5000lbs real quick. Match-up pretty marginal IMO.

 

so if I don't want to do anything but hook it up and go (insert TT hard side like a Jayco Featherlite) with my 15 sport v-6 tow package in place, what realistically is my loaded weight max tow without brakes (looking at nothing above 17 ft) bed must hold kayaks and bikes; back seat only one 20 pound overweight dog... thanks... beat a dead horse .... got it but really thanks folks... this forum rocks for information

 

I wouldn't go without a brake controller you won't be able to stop.

 

I have a Jayco Jay Flight 38 FDDS being built now. It should be arriving within the next couple of weeks. It'll be put at my seasonal site on Cape Cod.
And no, my Tacoma will not be hauling this beast.

 

oh come on.that looks like fun.