Towing 5,000 lb TT with TRD Pro Taco

So pretty much a guarantee that guy exceeded the GCVWR. Assuming the vehicle was stock and weighed 4,425 + at least one human 200 pounds + 1000 pounds in the bed or cab + 1920 pounds for the uhaul (could only find a 6x12 weight, assuming thats what he had) + 4000 pounds of tools and equipment = 11,545 which is over the GCWR.

And I'd suggest you he had more than that in weight, people FREQUENTLY underestimate weights.

 

Yep, the magic number is 11,360... I live by that number and work hard to stay away from it.

 

It all depends on where the weight is and the setup of the truck. My truck with sumo's and a trailer is no big deal. My truck without sumo's and a trailer, very different experience. Add any weight in the bed and it's very noticeable. I just towed about 3k pounds and got around 15 mpg with a cargo trailer. Never has my truck asked for more than it was capable of handling powerwise. Braking, that's a different story since I have no trailer brakes and am at the limit of going without.
A properly setup truck and trailer combo would tow what it's rated to without issue.
I'm guessing most of the people complaining have weight or weight distribution issues, are towing too fast, or are new to it.

 

Thanks, I do now... no wonder it struggled...lol, actually when it was empty, the truck pulled it just fine..haha

 

I've owned both. The manual is geared lower, but I don't feel the difference was huge.

 

Everyone getting so bent out of shape over numbers. The Tacoma is rated at 6400lbs with tow package. That is the OFFICIAL rating, that means it can tow 6400 safely with no issues. Will it tow 6400 with ease? No, it’s literally the max you can tow. Once again, will it TOW 6400lbs? Yes, it will.

Towed this 6,100lb load 1500miles. Did it do it? Yes. Are there better, more capable tow rigs out there? Of course. Did it get 11mpg? Yes. Did it do it without huffing and puffing up the Tennessee mountain passes? No, but it got me up there eventually.

Did I have airbags? No. Did I have a helper spring? No. Did I have a $300 weight distribution hitch? No, I used one from harbor freight. Most importantly, did I load the truck and trailer in a safe manner? Yes.

 

So 3rd gens are 6400? 2nd gens are rated 6500, not that it makes a lot of difference, just wondering.

 

Long beds are 6400 with tow package and 6500 for the short beds

 

Ah, gotcha! I have a short bed, so that is what I was paying attention to.

 

With a TT you also have to consider aerodynamics not just weight. I towed my Champion bay boat 300 miles. LaFayette, La to Dallas with 2013 Tacoma Baja. I had Helwig helpers on Tacoma and they really helped to keep a levelled truck level. Boat scaled at close to 5000lbs but does not have quite the wind resistance of a TT. I traveled at 70-75 the whole way. Only problem was getting behind slow traffic and having to merge to left lane on a hill. I knew I was going to get back in to a full size one day and the boat put me over the edge. Gas tank capacity not towing power drove my decision. Some lakes I fish would require getting gas twice in the Tacoma. Surprising thing is towing MPGs were identical. Flat ground and short distances I might consider a Gen2 but even if i did not tow I would never buy a Gen3. Buddy had one and is now a happy Tundra owner.

 

A little update. I towed my camper 300 miles round trip this past weekend for our first camping trip of the year. Per recommendations, I increase my tire pressure to 40psi cold (compared to previous 34psi cold) and it made a HUGE improvement, better than I could have ever imagined. The truck was able to maintain speed much better and I was even able to use the cruise control and A/C. Cruise before was an absolute disaster.

 

These trucks really honestly do much better than most people on here make it out to be. It isn't going to be the most pleasant towing experience, but you shouldn't have any issues. Towing a couple times a year with a slightly less than ideal truck was worth it to me vs driving a full size all the time. Ignore my two idiot coworkers in this picture lol. If I had to estimate this was probably about 5,000ish.



Also towed numerous cars with this shockingly heavy little trailer (I swear the trailer itself is made out of lead)

 

It amazes me how many people drive way faster than they should be while towing. They drive the same way they do when they are not towing. Then they wonder why they keep having blow outs on their Chinese trailer tires that are only rated to 65mph.

So glad that we now have a good, made in the USA, trailer tire option. I run these on my TT.

https://corporate.goodyear.com/en-U...nches_american_manufactured_trailer_tire.html

 

I tow a 7k pound wet on the trailer Mastercraft wakeboard boat. In town it’s okay, but anything other than that and it’s scary. I’ve also towed my LJ on my hydraulic tilt 20ft flat bed and that also was batshit scary on the freeway. Anything more than that and I take the powerstroke.

 

I have a 5.7 Tundra and at 13mpg average and gas going up I would think twice if you really need it a lot.

5k is easy for Taco flat terrain.

 

That was me this past weekend. Borrowed a friends boat who's trailer brakes weren't working. So, having manual helped quite a bit to be able to slow everything down. Would I do it again? Probably, but I'd keep it in 4 max and take it easy. Took me an extra 10-15 to get to the lake. But, I'll take that over not getting there.

 

My trailer brakes work, no way in hell I would tow mine without them. that would be so scary lol

 

Yes, that would be a must for me moving forward! But, phoenix is pretty flat. So it worked out. Pulling the boat out gave me a slight lug at the start.

 

the 6X12 u-haul i rented weighted 1800# empty (shockingly) I made one catch air over some railroad tracks. While it was empty it towed like crap, throwing my truck allover (especially when the trailer caught air). After I filled it and my truck to the gills with beds, clothes and other crap I had added ~ 2000# to my gvcw and it towed much smoother.

 

While I agree that a 5000+lb trailer is too much for the tacoma, your description is a little overboard.

Towed this up high elevation Colorado passes (actually the same stretch as TFL Truck and more) and it did fine.



It was never sitting at 6K RPM. The trailer weighs about 3,000 lbs. dry, 21' long. It was probably around 3,600 lbs. on the trip (30 gallons of water + gear/food/etc.). I use a WDH with sway control. It didn't have any issues with getting blown around on the way up. On the way back there was a fair amount of wind, and I could feel it but it was never unsafe.

I towed a pop-up over the exact same route last year, which probably weighed about 1,000 lbs. less.

The trip is about 130 miles, and Google shows this as the elevation profile:



Pop up: 13.4 MPG on the trip up.
Travel Trailer: 12.3 MPG on the trip up.

Does the engine have to work to get up those hills? Well DUH. When I was pulling it on flat roads, my MPG meter was hovering around the 15MPG mark which to me is pretty damned good. Of course, we have very little flat areas around here.