What can a 1st gen tow?

Hi All,
I'm looking at buying a 1st gen Tacoma and would like to know what the 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder can tow.
I have a ski boat and it ways around 3000lbs can I tow it with a 4 cylinder?
I won't be driving very far and at most I would drive about 20 miles and it would be all back roads.

 

It will do it. Turn off overdrive.

The 4 cylinder has plenty of low speed torque. Make sure Trailer has brakes.

 

It's won't be fun.

 

It will be TONS of fun.

 

If you like shifting a lot.

 

So DON'T SHIFT A LOT. Pick the proper gear and let it be.

 

Low?

 

I owned one they are no ball of fire yes it will tow it but it won't be happy about it. My 97 was flat out geared too high to make it an easy tow and that was at the time with just with a popup camper. If you are just on back roads you'll probably be OK but it won't keep up too well with highway traffic with 3000+ pounds of weight.

 

We use to tow a 19' travel trailer behind a gen 1, 4 banger with a 5 speed 4x4. It would make it to the beach about 2 and a half hours away mostly flat highways. The truck wasn't happy about it but it did it. My concern with a ski boat would be getting it it of the water.

 

If it seems overgeared, you've picked the wrong gear. You don't have to use 5th.
Now granted the newer engine (2TR-FE) has a vastly flatter torque curve thanks to VVT than the older 4-cyl engines (now are we talking 2.4 or 2.7?), but 3000 pounds really is not all that much. Especially if your load is reasonably aerodynamic. For instance, a ski boat (like OP is talking about) is FAR more aerodynamic than a camper, even a popup is a square brick. Generally on the highway, weight won't impact your ability to "keep up" with traffic, just how long it takes to get there, and what it takes to climb hills. The thing that really holds you back, is aerodynamics. Wind resistance. Get to a hill and it needs a downshift, throw it into third, drop the pedal to the floor, and let it rip. You just don't want to be doing that on flat roads to keep your speed at the speed limit.

Not really sure what you mean by "it won't be happy about it". Toyota 4-cyl can do a million highway miles in 3rd gear and when you're done, it'll beg for more.

 

Why would that be a concern? Getting in and out of the water is a function of traction. You apply all of 5 horsepower to do the work.


Just don't do it like the mexicans on youtube and boat launching is an easy task that can be done with a ford fiesta.

 

Having towed with 4-bangers before, this theory only works if you're towing someplace flat.

In low range & 1st gear it should walk a boat up the ramp without any problems. If my tired '96 Hardbody could do it, a Tacoma can do it.

 

Works everywhere.

 

Sure it does. I don't know what I'm talking about. After all, I only drove 4 cylinder 5 speed 4x4's in hill country for years. Couldn't possibly have any personal experience to draw from.
A 4 cylinder truck towing 3000lbs on the winding, hilly back roads of Western Maine requires frequent gear changes if you want to maintain anything remotely close to the posted limit and not burn through fuel like Charlie Sheen burns through coke. It just does. If you don't believe me you can come to the state and test it out.

 

While you are climbing a hill, do not upshift unless it can actually SUSTAIN speed in the higher gear, otherwise you will just be downshifting again, which is what automatics do. Its called gear hunting. Don't be an automatic transmission!

Downshifting to the *proper* gear at the BOTTOM of a hill, and then upshifting at the TOP of a hill, is not "frequent gear changes". It is NORMAL DRIVING.

 

I towed a small Uhaul across the country in my v6 automatic. As said before, it will do it. It just won't be happy about it.

 

tgear.shead, sounds great in theory (and all the caps really help support your argument), but then there is the real world. Grades and curves and traffic conditions are not linear and uniform. And your NORMAL DRIVING is FUCKING TIRESOME.

 

I think that the driver is the one who isn't happy.... and probably because of the automatic.

 

Yes, I'm aware of how to drive a manual transmission, thanks. Been doing it on the road since I was 15. But long hills with changing grades or sharp curves aren't always conducive to that strategy, which means that you will have to shift before you crest the hill. Some roads don't go in straight lines or have sustained grades. Around here, that's most of them.

Not knowing where the OP's from, it might be irrelevant. But it might not.

 

This isn't theory. This is daily experience.
You might consider switching to a wheelbarrow if you don't feel like shifting EVER.