Gen 3 Towing Thread

I'm calling mulligan LOL Mostly thanking the Centerline TS for weight distro and sway control actually. THAT made it feel like I wasn't towing anything, Taco still did good though with ECT

 

If you need weight distributing, your tow rig isn't big enough IMO

 

Towing anything more than a utility trailer with a Tacoma is very feisable, but most definitely an experience in towing. It most definitely is not an experience in over-trucking, towing a 5,000 pound trailer with a full ton diesel. If you can acknowledge this fact, the Tacoma is an excellent rig for towing a small to medium sized trailer.

In our case we picked up a 16-foot Airstream (2,700 pounds dry and right around 3,000 pounds wet) in March. We crammed our year-old son into the extended cab of my 2001 Tacoma TRD with a 5-speed (the right carseat does fit), hooked up the trailer, and headed out. This setup worked great heading from the coastal side of Washington state over Snoqualmie pass to raft the Wenatchee a few times. The little truck proved its moxie in spades hauling everything from coastal Washington to Idaho and all over Idaho rafting for a week this past summer.



This summer we discovered a second son is now on the way. Unfortunately, although I loved my 2001 Taco named Chuck, he did not have four doors. With two kids, four doors unfortunately was an imperative. We ordered and took delivery of a 2016 Tacoma TRD Off-Road with the towing package, four doors, five-foot bed, and a manual six speed a couple of months ago. This one’s name is Jeffe.

While waiting on Jeffe to arrive, I did a bit of research, and learned a bit about how Jeffe works. This really helps when towing. First, this engine has more ways to cool itself than any other truck I have ever owned. Being Jeffe a standard, it does not have a transmission oil cooler, but for the engine there is a engine oil cooler, and a very robust water cooling system. Second, the variable valve timing (Atkinson thing), fuel mapping, and even the drive by wire system does not give you access to the torque and horsepower until around 3,000 through about 4,600 or so.



If you are towing, wind this engine up. The reason is two fold. First, lugging the engine – trying to run in low RPM’s is not good for your engine anyway. It runs cleaner and cooler under load when you wind it up. You’re not driving a V8. Don’t drive it like one. Second, do not fret about making it work. This is where all this cooling comes in. The temperature gauge never even budged this summer when running all over the Olympic Peninsula chasing a friend towing an R-Pod with an Avalanche.

For impressions and thoughts, the truck tows great, but is definitely towing. The rear springs are softer than I expected, softer than my 2001. When towing, the Tekosha P2, definitely is good to have for keeping the trailer behaving when braking. We do use load balancing bars, but I do not fool with a sway controller since our little Airstream has never posed any issues with wandering. The mileage, not surprisingly, is absolutely terrible – typically in the eights or nines. We are towing, so what else can we expect?



The rear springs are a bit of a surprise. Using the same hardware as on my 2001, the trailer is slightly tongue down. I’m going to have to adjust the hitch on the shank, or get airbags to level it out. I’m a bit torn in this regard as I do not want to adversely affect articulation. This is something I need to research before making a decision.

Finally, I love standard transmissions. Although any dealer will tell you otherwise, I prefer them for towing as well. A standard enables you to completely control the engine RPM’s to target the power band you want, and also enables you to control the load coming downhill. I’ve also been driving manual transmissions for over 20 years now, so this may make me a bit biased as well.

Overall, if you want just a tow rig, and are skittish about towing, get a half-ton with a small block. If towing does not bother you, and you want a good balance of towing, off-road, and driveability around town, the Tacoma will not disappoint.

 

You've got it perfect. Aren't trying to push a Tacoma to its limits. Pulling a trailer it is designed to pull

 

I thought payload already counted a driver and gas? Anyways I won't be doing it I decided. But I don't want a Tundra right now because they are remodeling it soon. So I'll have to re think things

 

Cali/ AZ and Nevada deserts get very windy so this Centerline system was bought for the sway control. The weight distro is also designed into the system which is just an added bonus but yes it is not "needed"

 

Makes sense

 

The Tundra is in desperate need of a update.

 

Last I have heard new Tundra won't be here until 2019. Not surprising considering Toyota trucks have long life cycles, probably because they aren't as invested in the full size market as the domestics are.

 

Late model Adventure travel trailer. Approx 3500 lbs, tows good. No need for weight distributing or brake controller yet, but distributing hitch in budget for next year for more comfortable ride.
No sway issues. Brakes, overall control/confidence and rideas is great. Taco feels comfy at about 90-95 km /h. 6th gear (manual trans) is also usable for most of highway. Im running 265 70 17 tires also.
Towing in southern Alberta, elevation 3500 ft. Approx.
Mileage for 600 km round trips averages about 16 L/100 km. These trips are mostly rolling hills type terrain with some nice long flat stretches.
Huge drops of course in mileage @ steep grades.
Overall very happy.

 

My truck works pretty hard any sort of long steep grades at 3500 ft. Maxxing out 3Rd gear and towing 3500 lbs.
I would really like to tow 5500 at least once and see how much harder it works.

Mileage would be horrendous if anything but a grassy knoll was on the route.

 

The Tundra is really far behind all of the full-size competition right now. In every regard except for quality.

 

This: http://www.ktvn.com/story/33018736/crash-at-i-80-near-mogul

 

Payload probably counts driver and gas, but it doesn't count additional passengers and fuel tanks for your quad. For what it's worth, I've pushed my Tacoma to payload capacity with coolers, kayaks, luggage and 4 (large) adults in the 200-250lb range each.

 

There has been speculation that the Tundra may be discontinued

 

Where did you hear this? The Tundra doesn't sell a ton but it has to rake in decent profits since it sells more than the Titan and hasn't been redesigned in ages.

 

There was also a lot of speculation and rumors that the Titan would be discontinued...

 

The easier way to think about it, according to Toyota, your truck + everything in it, including gas, oils, coolant, driver, passengers and all mods, can weigh 5600 pounds. It's printed on the door jam, GVWR, 5600 pounds.

 

I'd see if you could increase the radiator size first. (The auxiliary). And coolant capicity

Much more work but if your goin for gold you can't win with a fan.

 

300 bux on Amazon