The Tacoma Towing Bible

Pretty easy to scoot the boat boat on that trailer, but the last thing I want is to have the tongue be to light. He said that he thinks its about 400 lbs.

 

Yep

 

another thing I found really helped my tacoma with a heavier trailer is the firestone ride-rite airbag kit. in fact, I stopped using my WDH entirely

 

Air bags do not completely replace weight distribution.

 

no, they don't, but they help a softly sprung vehicle ride better with 400-ish lbs on its hitch. his boat trailer has a single beam frame so there's nowhere to put dual stirrups for a conventional WDH. I've heard of single arm WDH but not seen them

also, not sure WDH is compatible with surge brakes, since the master cylinder is usually right at the hitch tongue. here's a single arm WDH for a 400-600 lb hitch weight...

$390 Husky 32215 Center Line TS with Spring Bars - 400 lb. to 600 lb. Tongue Weight Capacity (2" Ball)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W919GLM/

 

Huh... I think its time to give in and borrow a truck for the long haul. Makes sense that WDH wouldn't work with surge breaks, anything that limits that trailer tongue from loading up would be counterproductive.

 

Thanks for everyone's input. Planning to borrow someone else's larger truck. I put the receiver on the tacoma today... We will see how she sits once the trailer & boat are here, then I will consider something like this. Though I am hesitant to put to much money into the current truck. Probably going to sell it this summer when I get the offer for the new job.

 

So does an aal. And you don't have to worry about them losing air. Although non adjustable. Aren't boats normally pretty good with tongue weights and distribution?

 

AAL?

 

I put sumo springs on my 06 SR5 with the TSB leaf pack and almost no squat with 450lbs on the hitch before engaging the WD hitch. They do ride a little rougher around town but I prefer the hard "truck" ride over the stock squishy ride.

 

Honestly I've had mine on so long I don't remember who mine are from. 5 yrs, and still kicking. I had the stock 3 leaf, and then did the aal. I have a topper and about 100# of tools in the bed, but mine has always rode decent, and takes a load well (insert dirty comment here). I'm resisting taking it in for the leaf spring recall, cause I don't want to argue or have them screw everything up.

 

Excellent thread tow guru! Great job Maverick491.

 

I can't find sumo springs that will fit my 2000 4x4?? Does this sound right? If not, what are my other options (keeping it $300 or less)? I just put brand new leaf springs with an aal in there and I'm still squatting with my 5x10 enclosed trailer loaded with tools.

 

airbag ? firestone ride-rite, you can adjust your ride height with an air pump after loading so its the same as empty, and the truck rides way better. you can get fancy and hard wire it to an onboard compressor so you can adjust it from the drivers seat.

 

1000 miles, at max tow capacity? Without tow package add one like oil and tranny cooler?
I think that's way too much strain on that little motor and tranny. For preservation of your vehicle I would just rent a bigger truck to haul it that far. It will make the drive much better, and with a full size you wont need to invest in all the extras like a WD Hitch

 

if he stays in lower gears and keeps his RPMs up to mid range and takes it slow and easy, I'd not be too worried about the engine+tranny (although I'd be happier if it was a stick shift).

 

Borrowed a bigger truck for the long haul home. Uneventful trip.

 

++ for uneventful. I'm getting too old for excess drama in my life.

 

Alright guys I need some of you to check my math. I have a 17' Toyota Tacoma DCLB OR with factory tow package. I went and looked at RV's the past couple weekends and the wife and I like the Winnebago Micro Minnie 2100BH the best at this moment. We have negotiated a price that seems fair but I want to make sure I'm not going to overload my truck (especially pin weight and payload). They are going to mount two 30lb LP bottles and one battery on the tongue (110lbs???) I will be using a WDH which if I understand it correctly I don't need to calculate for my pin weight but I do add to the payload on the truck? When I run the math it appears I will be at or very near max pin weight (640lbs) and within approximately 100lbs or so near max payload (1120lbs). Here are the numbers:

Tacoma:
GCVWR: 11,320
GVWR: 5,600
Curb weight: 4,480
Payload: 1,120
Tow rating: 6,400
Pin weight: 640

Winnebago 2100BH:
GVWR: 7,000 (it's a tandem axle unit and I know I will not be loading it to capacity.)
Dry weight: 3,760
Tongue weight dry: 430

Passengers: 400
Cargo: 400-800 (not sure exactly and depends on if I'm dry camping or not)

Tank capacity:
31 gal fresh
25 gal grey
25 gal black

When I run the numbers it appears I can not put much cargo in the bed of my truck and it will have to go inside the trailer while traveling.

 

and don't rely on published tongue weights, they assume things are optimally balanced for 10% tongue weight... its best to actually WEIGH your trailer tongue as loaded, if you're anywhere close to the limits. ideally, get axle weights for your tow vehicle while hitched, too.

oh, and don't forget, those truck specs, thats for the stock truck as shipped. anything you've added to it, like a camper shell, nerf bar steps, fancy bumper and underside armor, all thats added to the curb weight, hence subtracted from the available payload. typical fiberglass camper shell is close to 200 lbs, etcetc.