Towing 5,000 lb TT with TRD Pro Taco

Check it out at 10:16

The engine is screaming at almost 6k RPMs and they don't even mention it. How in the world is that acceptable.

They're rating system is crap, btw.

 

They're going up a notoriously steep incline, and I think they do mention the rev., in this video or the other.

 

I'm surprised to hear your Taco couldn't handle a 14', 2800lbs camper. I've seen them haul more than that without breaking a sweat. Possible you didn't have it hooked up correctly?

 

It's not that it couldn't handle it, but it was struggle.

We live in a hilly area, and it just screams going up hills. None of my other Tacos did that with our old pop-up (slightly heavier).

Braking wasn't bad (but it does have trailer brakes). Accelerating wasn't bad either, but as soon as you hit a hill, it just screams, and I can't stand it.

The tongue weight also seems to be little much, and the truck gets blown around by wind pretty good.

Overall I don't think this camper is a good match for the truck.

The truck does tow our loads of parts much better, and they are always much heavier. Wind and tongue weight make a big difference.

 

Am I the only one who came here expecting to see a new TRD Pro Tacoma towing a Trophy Truck up to Vegas!?!?

 

I agree with you about the screaming part. The Taco I witnessed towed a trailer through Portland and to Mt Hood, and it stayed right around 3k, a little higher on hills, but no where near 6k.

The fellas in that video I posted earlier have another video about Taco towing, and in it they tow a trailer that's 5600 (5140 truck) on flats and I think it revs to 4.6k the entire time. Kinda nuts.

 

There's a hill that I go over a few times a week to go mountain biking. The Taco would sustain 4,500 all the way over to maintain 60mph.............without a trailer.

 

I wouldn't tow that with my 2016 tacoma.

 

I'll trade you my 17 DCOR for your GC! How's that for an answer?

 

I have a 3rd gen Tacoma and I tow my 3000 pound TT. It definitely screams at 3rd when going up semi steep inclines but for the most part it stays at 4th gear the entire time. I'm thinking about upgrading to a 5000 pound toyhauler in the near future with my taco but I'd definitely need to upgrade the suspension to do that

 

You might also need to upgrade to a Tundra. The Taco is really going to scream with 5,000 pounds behind it.

 

I tow my Travel trailer that’s 3,900lbs dry (probably 4,300lbs loaded) and have been for about a year. I would say I’ve taken it on 10-15 trips all within 3 hours one way.

It tows OK, the worst part is the truck not being able maintain 65-70mph on any kind of incline without having to downshift to 3rd gear which is 4,000+rpm. If it’s decently flat roads with no wind it can maintain it in 4th gear. Gas mileage is terrible, I’ve had it as bad as 8-9mpg, best is probably 10-11.

 

That screaming that everyone is talking about is 18% more hp you have pulling that trailer than 2nd gen 4.0 which would just bog down.
Big deal so the rpm is higher. Power is power and winning is winning.
I pull 4800 flat terrain with a Wireless airlift, Fox suspension, with trailer brakes with zero issues.
Perfectly level ride with airlift adjustment.
It pulls the same load faster and smoother than my 2nd gen did. Fact, or I would have sold the 3rd gen and moved on.
Wouldn't look back after buying this 3rd gen.

 

I pulled this from Phoenix to Sedona and back up two very steep grades. This is an ultralight weighing in at 3400# unloaded. Once we added gear, water, food, and all the crap people bring along with them camping I would put this setup at 4500#. I barely noticed it during the steep climbs and flat towing. I also didn't keep it in ManuMode, just D with ECT engaged. The only crappy part was fuel economy, you'll get a whopping 230 miles from a tank with that much load. People who haven't towed with a third gen who comment crack me up. It's honestly a capable truck.

 

You really shouldn’t keep it in D while towing, you want to stay out of the Overdrive gears (5th and 6th). Constant downshifting from these gears is not good. S4 is ideal for towing.

 

Once the TCU figured out what was going on, it was staying in 4th under minor load on small inclines or 5th on perfectly flat ground, never saw 6th the whole trip. I have a BT/OBD2 monitor watching temps, never saw anything suspect or concerning. I tried staying in S4 when I took the trailer to the dealer 25 miles away with minor grades on overpasses...

...The truck absolutely hated that!

BTW, the owners manual states that ECT and S5 or lower should be used for towing to keep engine braking and charging system levels up. Staying in S4 only is overkill for flat ground towing. I believe the TCU is smart enough to identify the additional load and keep it out of the highest O/D gear. It will lock you into a single gear if the trans temp gets too high on its own. Pretty intelligent transmission, honestly.

 

That is the type of camper I am looking at. My SIL has a 34 foot camper and wants us to get one so we can go with them. Theirs is pretty full to capacity with 5 kids. Still not sure if we want the headache and monthly payment, but thinking about it.

 

My FIL has a 2017 tacoma with ECT. I have a 2nd gen and don't have that, but he wanted to know all about it. I wondered if you needed to shift down now that you have ECT available. Question answered. Also, ppl say that you need to stay in 4th gear, but with 2nd gens, they only have 5 gears. With 3rd gens, it makes sense staying in 5th...not 4th.

 

Interesting, I'm picking up my trailer today after getting some warranty work done so I'll give it a shot in Drive. I do know that when I've tried S5 the truck cannot maintain any speed in 5th. If I'm going downhill or something and the truck up-shifts to 5th, it immediately downshifts back to 4th.

I too have an OBD2 dongle but don't use it, which app. do you use to check temps? Which temps do you watch for, and what's considered too high?

 

I use "Torque Pro" on android. Love it! I use it to monitor everything from Trans temps to airflow.