Trailer Haul questions

There is another thread that touches on hauling a trailer and I wanted to ask questions before I possibly buy a new 2016 Tacoma.

I presently own a 2013 ram 1500 and I use the ram to haul my camper around. I don't use it a lot but I do like to use it 6 or 7 times a summer. I also have a light weight fishing boat I haul as well.

Do you think it's a poor decision to get rid of the ram and buy the new 2016 Tacoma? My camper trailer weighs 4,100lbs dry and 6,050 loaded.

Reason I am considering the new Tacoma is I will be mainly using it for light off-road use but mainly in town driving. Hoping to get better mileage then the Ram.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...r-pulling-trailer.404920/page-7#post-11335907

 

If you're ram 1500 has the 5.7L v8 Hemi there is no doubt you will get better mpg in the tacoma. On the other hand, 6,050 loaded is in my opinion pretty heavy to be towed behind the tacoma. You also have to factor in the people that will be going along with you, which I'm guessing is quite a lot with the size of the trailer. It's rated at 6800, but that's in 2WD and access cab. You are probably going to be going for crew cab and 4wd (that makes up most of the tacomas sales)...which I believe is about 6500 pounds. You did say you'd only be towing about 6 or 7 times though..so it's a tough call. I would also factor in the condition of your pickup and if you plan on keeping it much longer. I personally wouldn't want to tow more than 4000 pounds with it. Guess it's up to you...what do you care more about, mpg or towing capacities? There is no doubt the ram will be the better hauler, while the tacoma would be the better daily driver, only you can decide what works best for your needs. Good luck.

 

The Tacoma doens't exactly sip gas , even the 3rd gen

 

I'll be totally honest with you.... The Tacoma can handle it, but you probably won't enjoy the experience.

Granted, I never towed with a Tacoma - so take this for what it's worth.
I used to tow a 6500lb built Jeep/trailer around (many years ago) with Grand Cherokee. THe Grand Cherokee (at the time) had similar GVWR and tow rating as a Tacoma. It handled it...but, at times...white knuckle ride. Things get sketchy when the vehicle (load) you're towing weighs more than the vehicle you're towing with.

We bought a Dodge Ram. It towed like a DREAM and like nothing was back there.

So...you're used to towing 'like a dream' - the Tacoma might not be as dreamy to tow with (based on your past experiences).

 

My 2007 Tacoma is rated at 6500 lbs towing. According to the specs the 2016's are rated at 6400 lbs. It is my opinion that I don't really like to get over about 75
-80% of what anything is rated to tow, that would mean anything much over 5000 lbs is pushing the limits for me. Your camper is pushing it right to the limits and probably a bit beyond after you factor in cargo.

But don't assume a 1/2 ton is significantly better. Properly equipped some 1/2 tons are rated for 10,000-11,000 lbs towing. But most of the 1/2 tons on the road are only rated to tow 7000-8000 lbs. Your Ram is probably rated for no more than 8000 lbs. But that is enough to give some margin for error with a 6000 lb camper. Some 1/2 tons are only rated for 3000-6000 lbs, less than a Tacoma. If you read the ads and watch the TV commercials for all of the big 3 USA truck companies you'll see gas mileage as high as 24 mpg and tow ratings well over 10,000 lbs. But that isn't with the same truck. The ones that get 24 mpg won't out tow a Tacoma, and the ones that tow 11,000 lbs get fuel mileage in single digits when towing.

 

I have a 4cyl manual 4x4, and 3500 is the most I would tow

 

Thanks for the advice.

Hard to justify a new Tacoma if I can't pull my trailer comfortably.

 

I agree, not something I would feel real comfortable doing. Your gonna be at about the max payload that the truck can handle. Towing from a full size to a mid size is a big difference. If your not traveling very far maybe it won't be so bad, but a long trip I wouldn't feel comfortable. I'd imagine you'd get increase sway as well.

The real way to see how well it will handle it is to take a truck home for the night from the dealer. Hook your trailer up and drive a few miles and see what you think. If your comfortable with it then ponder it. If not then look for some different options.

 

I am going to try and see if the dealer will let me do that. Great advice.

I don't plan on going very far towing our camper but I also live in the mountains so I will be going up and down hills a lot.

 

You didn't say long the trailer is but the empty and loaded weight is approximately the same as what we bought. We had a 2010 (Gen 2) Tacoma with the towing package and we knew when we bought our RV that it would be marginal to tow. It only took a couple of trips to decide that the trailer was too much for the Tacoma. We ended up trading the Tacoma in on a F150. The Tacoma did tow the trailer, but not well or comfortably.

 

Just ask them to take it over night so you can really see how you like it. I wouldn't really mention to them that your gonna try your trailer. We let customers take home vehicles all the time, shouldn't be an issue

 

I have a bass tracker and an RV trailer. I estimate the boat at 2800 lbs. No problems towing it except for the freaky transmission shifts (automatic). At 70mph on the freeway I averaged about 14mpg. Overall performance was good. It's not a V8 but for a V6, it's okay.
My RV trailer is 3000 lbs dry and tandem axle. With it, I averaged 10mpg on the freeway at 70mph. 14mpg at 63mph. Again, performance is okay considering, I'm not trying to win a race pulling a trailer.
I bought the Coma (I prefer the term Coma as that's what I think the transmission is in) for off road and hunting. I can live with how it pulls the boat. I'm not thrilled with how it pulls a heavier trailer, 4000lbs loaded, but since I figure I use it over 90% of the time not puling the trailer and maybe 80% of the time not pulling the boat, for the far majority of the time, it's just the truck and that's just fine with me. Shit, also sounds like a song! I could have gone with a full size truck and been happier maybe 20% of the time but then not as happy the other 80%. We'll be going to Alaska with the trailer in late summer. I'll be the guy just sitting back cruising at 60mph, bitching about the freaky transmission!!!

 

Heya Barry, thx for this post, I've been looking for this kind of info/experience. I just took delivery on a '16 TRD Off Road Access Cab Auto 3 days ago. My RV is a Chalet Arrowhead A-Frame popup, I keep the weight around 2200-2400lbs. Once I have several hundred miles on the truck, the brake controller hooked up and the canopy on the truck, I'll be looking forward to heading out with the trailer.

The truck drives beautifully as it is, I mean the tranny works as designed, I'm frankly VERY pleased with it. Just today I played with the ECT; I think that'll be the ticket with the trailer, that and the 'Sport' shift options. We've many thousands of miles of driving all over the west; SR5, 2002, 2.7 manual, the trailer is great for us, and 99% of the time I'm at 55-60mph. Don't anticipate a change in my operating procedures.
BTW, the popup is sweet because with it collapsed, the height of the RV is the same as that of the truck/canopy, therefore parasitic drag to wind resistance is pretty minimal. Average daily driving I'm in the 20mpg range, hoping for 16-18 AVERAGE with the Chalet. But I'll take what I gets.

Like you, the truck is my daily driver. Pulling the RV will be 5 - 20 days out of any one year. Eh, Might do a cross country coast to coast some day. To the OP in this thread, I agree, the 2016 Tacoma WILL do it, but I fear the experience would NOT be a comfortable. 6000+/-lbs is just asking too much of this truck with this engine/drive train configuration. And what the point if you ain't comfortable, but gritting yer teeth every day on the road. Around town? Sure. But distance traveling? Personally I'd recommend AGAINST that much weight.

Happy travels y'all. maybe see ya at the lake one day!!

 

Thanks for sharing that post. Makes a lot of sense. That is what I am debating. Driving my Tacoma 85% of the time without a trailer behind me.

My boat is a 16.5 kingfisher with a 90hp Yamaha four stroke. Weighs 1600lbs. I'm not too worried about pulling it.

My camper is a Trail Sport R Vision 23RS. Dry weight is 4000 and loaded it will be pushing the 6000lb mark pretty easily. Throw in the family and all the bikes and I will be pushing the max or over it. That's what has me a little worried. That and I live in the mountains in Canada. A lot of hills to climb.

Plans for my camping is to drive two to four hours away from our home to camp. I don't want to do long trips at this point in our lives.

I can handle being the last guy up the hill but I don't want to harm my truck.

Hoping to take it for a test drive next week over night and if the weather co operates I will hook it up and drive it up a few hills.

Decisions decisions.

 

Get a small car to drive for normal driving. Keep the big truck. You know that the Tacoma ain't enuff for your trailer. Get over it.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

IF, just IF you still want to concider the Tacoma and this much weight, do seriously deciding to make your Sport a manual transmission. They do add a heavier alternator, transmission cooler, etc on the AT, but the manual will give you much more power control. You'll still be going slow, but your comfort level will be enhanced. The Sport is offered in both the Access cab and the crew cab with a MT. That's how I was able to enjoy my 2.7 all those years. I'm not concerned with this AT with the 3.5.

 

It is even more important to be in control of the trailer, when you are going downhill.

If your camper has 2 axles; I'm sure your camper has brakes. Just make sure the brakes are working.

When I had a Tacoma, I had downsized to smaller, single axle cargo trailers. Earlier we used a 24' enclosed car carrier, with a diesel F350. Hauling smaller loads; worked for us at the time, so the Tacoma seemed Ok.

But several times, always wet or snow covered roads; I had the 7x12 single axle trailer, actually push the Tacoma. The Tacoma worked fine 85% of the time, the other 15% it was dangerous, again on wet or snow covered roads. The 7x12 single axle did not have brakes., most single axle trailers don't.

That 15% prompted me to buy a Tundra, to pull a loaded trailer. Then of course I got used to the more horsepower, much better ride, more cab space, same fuel mileage, and even better mileage when towing, etc etc. Oh yes, the Tundra is bigger, to park; but we were used to full sized pickups. I'll just take as many parking spaces as I need.

 

I don't think it's going to work for me. As much as I like the truck I think I have to stick with my larger truck.

Thanks for the input. Appreciate it.