Towing trailer with my tacoma

Hi,
I have a 2004 Tacoma double cab V6 pre-runner with a 6" lift. I haven't tow a trailer before but talking to uhal they seemed concerned I could pull a 6x12 trailer. The other option is to pull a smaller trailer 5x8. Although from the specs it looks like I could pull both these trailers, I wanted to see if someone had pulled any of these trailers before and can give me a feedback how the tacoma handle them.
As you know the tacoma is a lightweight truck and although I have installed a towing package rated 5000 lbs it seems like I shouldn't go above 3500 lbs. I'll be loading furniture so potentially it could get a bit heavy. I'll be also driving 1 hour up the mountain to 7000 feet altitude.

I would appreciate your experience sharing!

 

I'll be using my Tacoma dbl cab to pull my 6x12 this weekend. It's only the second time I'll be towing it and I will also be going up a pretty steep grade but I don't think I'll have any problems. Just takin it slow and shift out of overdrive and I also may apply the ETC button to give a little more RPM's climbing.

 

Should be fine. Make sure you have trailer brakes, especially in the mountains.

 

Thanks for the reply!
I never used overdrive before. I guess it is recommended to be ON while towing ? And ETC once I start to go up hill ?
Worst case I thought I could climb with shift in position 2 rather than direct.

 

Furniture is actually considered light, when compared to other things such as livestock, motorcycles, and Snap On Tool chests.

 

By the way I don't think the small uhal trailer (5x8) have breaks.

 

OFF while towing. Overdrive is the weakest physical gear in a transmission and prone to damage if pushed hard. Unless you're on a real long flat stretch where the engine/tranny isn't really working to tow you want it off. It should be on by default. You should be fine in D unless the transmission is hunting for the right gear, then downshift.

I live at about 7k feet, HP is definitely less here than when I drop into colorado, and where I go elk hunting there's about 0 oxygen in the air. And I'm undergeared. So 5th gear is totally useless, 4th is borderline. I can use 5th about 1/2 the time around town though, in the mountains it's generally in 3rd.

 

Thanks for the tips! I'll stick with 5x8 to see how it handles it. If it feels good, next time I'll do 6x12

 

I've towed a 5x8 to Florida and back with two(2) motorcycles (1300lbs) and the trailer had wood planks (400lbs) and going up WV hills had to keep it in lower gear and barely hit 45mph. kept it reasonable on the downward slopes and never went above 65 until I hit flat roads.

Not sure I would want to tow more than 2-3k, not saying you can't but you'll notice it. also if you are going to tow regularly get a trans cooler and read:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/

 

I figured someone wrote a bible about this Thanks for the link. Very helpful.

 

I tow frequently with my 1st gen and have had no issues. Loaded down with building materials or hauling jobsite debris to the dump, I've had both the 5'x10' open and a 6'x14' enclosed loaded north of 5,000 lbs on several occasions. Even pulled a broken-down '99 Superduty several miles; what are those, 8,000+?

It's not necessarily enjoyable, but certainly doable. Just take it easy, keep it in the right gear/OD off and you'll be fine.

*edit: I do have much better aftermarket suspension and upgraded the front brakes to the significantly larger/thicker Tundra 13WL calipers and rotors, so that helps a ton. Depending on what suspension your running, condition of your brakes and the size of your tires, your result may vary.

 

My tires are: 295/70R18 ... so not too small. With 6" fabtech lift I had suspension upgraded, as well as high performance front brake rotors.
I have automatic transmission, so the gear control (AFAIK) is either D or 2. Unless there is a way I am not aware of, with automatic to control the gear.

 

The 34-35" tires won't be doing you any favors, nor will the altitude, but the truck will do it. Unless your furniture is granite-laden, I'd be surprised if you fit more than a couple thousand pounds in the trailer. On the long highway hills just make sure you turn the OD off, or, depending on how heavy the load or steep the hill, shift it to 2nd so the tranny isn't creating more heat by hunting for gears. As Indy said, the OD gear is typically the weakest gear, so you don't want to use it under high-load situations. Using it to drop the RPM's on the flats is fine.

If you're going down any steep hills, especially for any considerable distance, I'd downshift to let the engine help keep the speed down. Oh, and don't ride the brakes for very long, else you might warp the rotors.

 

If you have the Power mode option (ECT/PWR button) I would imagine you would turn POWER mode on when towing ?

 

yeah, forgot that too. it holds the gear a little longer (waits to shift, quicker downshift)

 

I pull a 6x10 with crap all the time. Pulls alright. I can tell something is back there and my mileage blows.....