Should I upgrade ???

What do you think ? I have a 2007 Tacoma 4 cylinder. 104000 miles. Has a class 3 hitch with brake controller. New tire as of last week. Brand new springs as of monday. I love my little truck. Never had a issue with it in 10 years. Pulls my boat and my trailer just fine. BUT ..... I just bought a 3300lb camper (loaded weight). It pulled it fine coming back from the dealership and I dont think I will have any issue pulling it locally. However I do want to take it to the mountains eventually. Poconos and the Smoky mountains to be exact. Should i look at trading it in on either a 6 cylinder 4.0 liter tacoma ( w/ towing package ) or a Tundra ? I really dont want the payments but If i dont trade it this year the value on the truck is just going to keep going down in the next few years when I do decide to trade it in. I can get $7000 trade in locally now. Probably could sell outright for $10000 but would rather trade.

What do you guys think?

 

If you're going to be towing regularly, I would look into upgrading. Sure, your little truck could handle it, but I'm of the belief it's not good to always run your stuff hard and near the limit. I'd skip the V6 and just hop straight to a Tundra. The V6 could handle it, but you'll still notice it there in the mountains. May as well get a full sized if you can afford it.





Then sell me your truck for cheap for this amazing advice.

 

I would only be towing it a couple times per month. Im not looking to full time tow. Can I afford it? Well that remains to be seen, lol. Prices on Toyotas are very high in my area.

 

That's still very regularly compared to most people, but that's just my opinion.

 

Just my .02. I voted for a Tundra. If you're towing anything substantial, it's the Toyota truck to have.
I would sell the regular cab truck privately to get the most money to have towards the new truck. Also, finding a 2-3 year old Tundra should save some money.
Good luck.

 

Well I found a really good deal on a 2015 tacoma double cab trd sport. It is fully loaded with tow package and only 27000 miles. The dealer has offered me $7000 for my truck as a trade in. Blue private sale is $7600. I have alot of scratches and the interior isnt the greatest from hunting and fishing so much , lol. The 2015 is $27000. $2000 under blue book. I havnt been able to find a newer Tundra for under $30000. Everyone has been out of my price range.
Im thinking 6500lb towing capacity should tow my 3300lb camper with ease. I havnt made up my mine at this point. Im still looking for a Tundra but the 6 cylinder 4.0 liter is looking better all the time, lol

 

A 4 litre Tacoma + tow package will easily easily tow that.

 

Trailers and 4cyl don't really work. If you wenter for a rtt setup then ya keep the 4cyl. But if you wanna tow get the 1/2 ton... most loaded travel trailers overload the 1/4 ton tacoma. 98% of trucks i see in the summer are scary over loaded... I voted keep the 4cyl without reading anything first cause 4cyl is life

 

Why don't you try using your 4 cylinder Tacoma first be for you decide it not acceptable? Sure the Tundra will pull it better but you have to live with the gas mileage and the size of the Tundra for 99% of the time your not towing. I pull a 3,300lbs TT without issue with my 2.7. Pulls it well and cruises along between 65-70 MPH. I've added a tranny cooler and LCE header with better exhaust which helped out.

 

Agreed. Don't upgrade if you don't need to.

 

How does it pull in the mountains? Any issue getting up steeper grades?

 

I don't live in the mountains but I do live in a hilly area. Our elevation is around 2,000' so it's not a issue. You said you plan on using it in the Smokey mountains so that elevation shouldn't hurt it to much. Going up longer steep hill will cause the truck to downshift to 2nd but I can still maintain a decent speed. I have the automatic so when towing the truck has to stay in 3rd gear. Third gear is 1:1 and you always want to stay out of overdrive while towing. If you have a manual trans you would be staying in 4rh gear. I'm so confident in it's capability that I plan on towing my trailer out to the rocky mountains this summer. Going up passes the steepest passes I expect to be able to maintain 50-60 MPH and in the flat I have no problems going 65-70 MPH. I run a stock tire size (265/65R17), run a header and a quiet flow muffler and removed the air baffle in the passenger side fender. All of this helped. If I were you I would try it for one trip. If you found it border line acceptable add the LCE header with the other modes. I also pull a boat that is even a little heavier than the trailer and no issue's there either. I use to pull the boat with a full size Chevy Siverado and my Tacoma can brake the boat quicker.

 

Do you run a brake controller with it?

 

It's actually law where I live that a trailer over 2500 lbs requires operating trailer brakes. Yes I run a controller.

The boat trailer uses surge brake so no controller towing it.

 

Tacoma manual says over 1500lbs requires brakes as well..

 

What size engine?

 

2.7l

 

Well guys this is what I ended up doing ! I brought her home on monday ! 2015 Tacoma 6 cylinder 4.0 liter TRD sport.

 

Congrats! She's a beaut!

 

Congrats! nice looking truck! is it a 5spd auto or 6spd manual? I just picked up my 6spd manual dcsb sport a couple weeks ago. I also came from a 4cylinder and boy is the v6 fun to drive! im still not used to the power yet, but its a match made in heaven