Larger Towing Capacity?

Hi everyone, new member here. You guys have a great site, and I was hoping you could help me out with a towing capacity question.

I have a boat+trailer that weighs around 3,500 lbs fully loaded. I'm in need of an upgrade from my current SUV, an old Jimmy. I'm considering purchase of a 2005 Tacoma with the following specs:
Prerunner 2WD
4.0L V6, 245 hp and 282 lb-ft. of torque
No towing package

Would this allow for a comfortable tow for my boat? I would add an aftermarket receiving hitch prior to towing and the 60 minute ride to the lake requires only small hills. I know the listed towing capacity of the truck is 3,500 lbs, right at the weight of the boat, but that's also the listed capacity for the smaller 2.7L, V4's from the same year. Wouldn't there be some added capacity here considering the larger engine?

I've been searching around the Internet for the answer to my question with no luck, so if this has already been addressed I apologize in advance.

Thanks much for your help.

 

If you're towing, I'd try to find a factory tow package. If not though, at least get a transmission cooler added. My truck's limit (prerunner v6 trd off-road) is 6500lb max weight. I've tow'd close to that, it wasn't all that fun lol. However I tow'd my 280z full of stuff + dolly was probably right at about 3500lb and it didn't even seem to hardly phase it. I was passing a lot of people going up 6% grades doing about 70+ (Grants Pass, OR)

 

Tow capacity for a v6 without tow package is 5,000 lbs. Get a sufficiently rated hitch and you're good to go. I regularly tow close to 4,000 lbs with mine, no problem.

 

get a class III hitch and trans cooler and you should be fine. I think the factory also comes with an oil cooler as well. I dont foresee this being an issue. I would say to tow in 4 not overdrive. It will tow 3500 better than your jimmy. Good luck

 

You sure about that? I thought it was 3500 if you didn't have the tow package.

 

It would seem you are correct sir!

Code:

[B]Weights and [URL="http://www.toyota.com/help/glossary/213.html"]Payload[/URL]/Towing Capacities[/B]                                  
                
                
                
                
                                          Curb weight (lb.)                                  
                
                3835                 
                
                                          Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lb.)                                  
                
                5250                 
                
                                          [URL="http://www.toyota.com/help/glossary/213.html"]Payload[/URL] [B][URL="http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:TMSSite.disclaimerHotlink%28'/disclaimers/payload.html'%29;"][3][/URL][/B] (lb.)                                  
                
                1415                 
                
                                          Tongue load (lb., standard/maximum)                                  
                
                350/650 [B][URL="http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:TMSSite.disclaimerHotlink%28'/disclaimers/max_tow.html'%29;"]
[*][/URL][/B]                 
                
                                          Standard towing capacity (lb.) [B][URL="http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:TMSSite.disclaimerHotlink%28'/disclaimers/tow.html'%29;"][4][/URL][/B]                                  
                
                3500                 
                
                                          Maximum towing capacity (lb.) [B][URL="http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:TMSSite.disclaimerHotlink%28'/disclaimers/max_tow.html'%29;"][5][/URL][/B] [B][URL="http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:TMSSite.disclaimerHotlink%28'/disclaimers/tow.html'%29;"][4][/URL][/B]

Check out the Toyota Guide to Towing to learn the proper techniques:

[URL="http://www.toyota.com/pdfs/towguide_part1.pdf"]PART 1[/URL]
 Selecting the Right Toyota Truck or SUV for Your Towing Needs
[URL="http://www.toyota.com/pdfs/towguide_part2.pdf"]PART 2[/URL]
 Towing Trailers, Boats & Driving with a Trailer
[URL="http://www.toyota.com/pdfs/towguide_part3.pdf"]PART 3[/URL]
 State Towing Laws, Toyota Tow Ratings & [URL="http://www.toyota.com/help/glossary/213.html"]Payload[/URL] Capacities                                  
                
                6500                 
                
                                          Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) (lb.) (with Towing Package)                                  
                
                8100 (11,100)                 
                
                                          [B]Fuel tank (gal.)[/B]                                  
                
                21
[COLOR=Red][B]
"Maximum towing capacity and tongue capacity requires V6 engine with available Towing Package. See Owner's Manual for details."[/B][/COLOR]

http://www.toyota.com/tacoma/specs.html

 

http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObj...coma-wolCVgxFcmNRaLzgUh0o1w/3.7?v131040e.html

http://mediap04.toyota.ca/media/pdf/09-10towing_guide_e.pdf

5,000lbs, like I said.

The difference may have something to do with the Canadian Taco's generally having the proper 4 leaf pack from the factory instead of the 3 leaf you guys down south seem to get.

 

I'm pretty sure the canadian taco's also have the oil coolers already installed in all vehicles too. I could be wrong... but I got my specs from the u.s. site...

 

Per USA site..

6500lb towing capacity.

Notes:​

(1) When equipped with optional Tow Package. Without Tow Package, standard tow capacity is 3500 lbs.

 

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far - I appreciate the help. In trying to find my answer I ran into the same confusion and conflicts between sources that you guys are seeing. I mentioned this in my first post, but even though it's listed almost everywhere as 3,500, it blows my mind that it would have the same capacity as the 2.7L engine. I could easily be missing something though.

I'm not sure this is smoking gun proof, but since my OP I found the following, which is not Canadian but also suggests the 5,000 number earlier referenced:
http://www.toyotaoffroad.com/Articles/Toyota/2005_Tacoma/2005_Tacoma_s.pdf

 

Without the tow package, the 3500lb limit probably comes from the ball mount in the bumper being a class II hitch. If you add a class IV receiver you should be able to handle 5k-6.5k lb, but I'd agree with others who reccomended the trans cooler (assuming an AT), especially for summer use.

Leaf springs may or may not matter depending on the trailer. If you're using a 4-wheel trailer there'll usually be less tongue weight. None of the brochures ever mentioned anything about the tow package including different springs, but you might want to check if the truck you're looking at is covered by the TSB for the rear spings and if the fix has been done since you'll probably want that if you'll be towing/hauling much.

 

Just roll with it. You wont have a problem this just get the class III or IV and an oil cooler, you wont have problems, its 3500LBS not 6000

 

The truck w/o the tow package does not come with a hitch so all tow ratings are based on a bumper mount ball. That also includes a max of 350# for the tongue weight. Anything more and you'll rip the bumper off or bend the hell out of it.

IMO if you're going to tow anything but a small rental trailer then you're going to want to tow package and the good class IV factory hitch.

 

True

 

so if i have a TRD OR package with the tow package, i can haul 6000lb?

 

Manual says 6500 lb. Obviously performance will vary depending on what sort of terrain/climate you're trying to do that in (not sure I'd reccomend trying to tow 3 tons over some of the passes around Lake Tahoe at 2PM in the middle of summer, for example), but on a relatively flat run you should be all right.

 

Thanks dont think i will ever haul anything over 3000 lb but dosent hurt to know what your truck is capable of

 

Towing is not as much about power, as it is braking.
Think.

 

I've towed close to or just over 6500lbs... you know it's there. However, it made it up free-way overpasses and everything with really no issue around 40mph and not pushing it all that hard in the power band/gear. They're surprisingly capable... however the trailer was driving me more than I was driving it.. that's what scares me more than engine power.

 

Sorry but you're wrong in this case. In most states any trailer more than 1000# has to have it's own brakes. (some states it's 1500-2000#). The truck brakes are designed to stop the truck at minimum it's GVWR and trailer brakes are designed to stop the trailer at the minimum of it's GVWR so stopping isn't really the issue if your trailer brakes are setup properly.

There are way to many nuances into towing properly as you can be under your tow capacity yet over the GVWR for your truck... even worse over your payload capacity. A properly matched trailer/truck is the key even if pushing the max for the GVWR and payload of the truck. The only downside of towing at your max time after time is extra wear and tear on your truck. For the occassional towing it's not a big deal.

BTW if you're ever in any towing forums and the guys with the "big trucks" all try and tell you that you'll be slow going up hills and not have enough power, tell them to go pound salt because I've seen many a 1 ton DRW hauling a large 5er going pretty darn slow... I've even passed a few pulling my trailer.