Traded my '16 DBL Super White TRD Off Road for a........

If you have a 4200lb dry travel trailer and you're going camping you probably have another 400lbs on it.

Periodically dropping into 2nd gear @ 5000rpm isn't all that big of a deal on ascents. 2nd @ 5000rpm, that's about 55mph, right? If you were going up Cottonwood Pass, you sure were not in 2nd @ 5000rpm for the entire 10 mile ascent. You'd be doing about 55mph the entire way and that is not possible.

 

There is a big difference in weight of a trailer as opposed to weight plus mass of what you are towing.The OP was pulling a travel trailer which in itself is a wind catching bill board,then factor in the incline equation.I have a Toyota that is "capable of towing almost 10K they say.The 6k travel trailer I tow really works the Tundra in hilly areas,doubt I would want any more weight/mass behind me.So no it is not necessarily pretty reasonable to expect any 4200 lb trailer to be easily towed with the Tacoma.

 

You didn't get the point of my post and I don't know everything... I said if he stopped and THOUGHT about it for a second he could have easily came up with the right pick that wouldn't be so costly. Way to much vast knowledge on the internet to make a mistake like that. If he said he had to make a decision with a day or two then that's understandable mistake. It came down to the truck not being able to tow what he wanted... so he should have known if he was going to tow close to 4000+ lbs into the mountains that it would struggle to his unliking feelings of over stressing the drivetrain.

I'm all for learning from mistakes. Best learning experience over any thing you can find on the internet is learning from personnel mistakes but a level of thought needs to be applied from the get go.

 

I had the 4.0 towing a 3800lb travel trailer in the same area around Buena Vista, over Cottonwood Pass. I towed the same trailer with the 4.7 V8 over Cottonwood, both had to drop into 2nd gear at times that's just how it is. It's not a BFD.

 

But that's not even an apples to apples comparison. 3/4 to 1/2 ton. Diesel, and not diesel.

 

If he can swing it, why not. Let his lessons learned be food for thought for others considering.

 

Wasn't saying it was a big deal. I wouldn't trade in my vehicle after it struggle to carry that much weight into the mountains bc I know it can but I also know it would struggle doing it. I don't tow all the time but I wanted a vehicle that could if I had to and I knew it would struggle and almost get worse gas mileage than a tundra carrying the same load. My post was that he was concern about the stress on the drivetrain like he had no idea...

 

what was the mileage when you sold it back, and was it a buyback to a toyota dealership?

 

FWIW, I just gave someone a ride down off a mountain yesterday in my 08 tacoma TRD OR who had ridden up in a mutual friend's Tundra TRD OR, both vehicles mid 2000s. he said my Taco rode much better on the badly washboarded 10 miles of forest service road. I did note the tundra driver had LT michelin highway tires on his, while I have a nearly new set of KO2's (both in same size). my taco is the 4.0V V6 with a 6-speed, J's Tundra is the V8 with a automatic. I suspectmy Taco, at 19k miles, has much lower miles on the shocks than J's Tundra, that may account for some of the ride difference, I dunno.

Towing, I just got back from pulling a ~ 3000 lb Casita 1000 miles, including a fair bit of mountains, desert playa, and some cow pasture. it towed just fine with the stickshift, you just use 1 lower gear than you would otherwise, and maybe downshift again if you want to accelerate uphill. true, I never went as high as 11000 feet, but I had no problems at 9000'.

the Taco TRD OR porpoises something fierce towing the Casita trailer without a WDH, but with a WDH its just fine.

this is my opinion, and its worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

I'm all for learning from mistakes. Best learning experience over any thing you can find on the internet is learning from personnel mistakes but a level of thought needs to be applied fr[/QUOTE] ............... Mistakes are an expensive way to learn.You cant rely lots of time on forums such as this for info that fits your situation.I get a big laugh at the towing section here and especially on the Tundra forum.Where the trucks are pulling at near max or over max and getting bs gas mileage while doing so and towing with ease.

 

It's all relative to how much weight, how far, how frequent , and road conditions
when it comes to choosing the right tow vehicle.

If you know ( camper, large boat,equipment trailer etc) you will be
towing 2-3 tons, for 100 miles or more , up in the mountains, 2 or more times
a year, without question you should choose the Tundra or equivalent vehicle.

If you decrease any of those values , you're in a Tacoma.
IMHO as always

 

I should add, the Tundra driver mentioned in my post above, he tows his wife's horsies with an old Ford(?) 3/4 ton diesel

 

Yep.

 

Hi John
Say, what is a WDH ?

 

Just being technical if it has a payment you don't necessarily own it yet.

 

Tundra hasn't changed mechanically in 10 years. It's also ho hum in reliability testing and a gas guzzler compared to every other full sized on the market. Toyota faithful drive the Tundra. Everyone else buys something from the big 3.

 

Weight distribution hitch...well worth the investment

 

I'm on board with those words. No idea why Toyota leaves their trucks unchanged for decades. Because it works? But you would expect them to put out a new truck every 5-7 years that would still 'work'.

 

You Are right on.....the gas guzzler part is also on in regards to highway mileage.I know of several that have GM and Ford products and their combined and city driving is right inline with the Tundra though.
....

 

I couldn't agree with you more. I said my opinion on another thread on how I didn't like this persons build and everybody erupted on me. This is America where we have the freedom of speech. No one believes in opinions anymore!