first time towing, need advice

Get a camper with heat, it sucks waking up in a cold camper.

 

Also measure hitch height and trailer tongue height. So many people need a drop hitch that don't realize it. If it's not setup properly it will be hard on the truck and it'll make the rear of the truck squat due to leverage.

 

There are millions of tow threads out there. My 2 cents; rent or borrow trailers of various sizes to test before you buy. See what they feel like towing behind your truck. Then buy a trailer that weighs no more then half your tow capacity.

As far as trailer brakes and various hitch designs, whether or not you need one depends entirely on the size of the trailer. For anything less than 2000 lbs, I wouldn't bother.

 

Exactly. I tow 5k easily with electric brakes on dual axle trailer with adjustable air bag suspension on truck for perfect level. Truck has tow package. ZERO sway, tows perfect. 3K and its hard to tell its back there sometimes. Braking with electric brakes on dual axle can pull / drag Taco back when tested in manual test, great system and brakes. Better than my 2nd gen I had as it seemed to buck a lot and could not keep the same speed on same grades as 3rd gen. Because of more hp on 3rd gen. I mainly tow flat terrain. I use my 5.7L Tundra for hilly/mountainous situations and more than 5K loads, however I think Taco could do 6K no issues flat terrain. I've monitored tranny temps when it was 90+ degrees and tranny temps were pretty much at normal with 4500 load, no increase, avg speed 50mph, flat terrain.
My wife can hook this load up herself and drive it 200 miles on the Taco. Love it.
It's one capable truck. Glad I upgraded.
This place made me OCD to look at every issue when towing, and I have found no problems or issues. I would have sold it and moved on if I had. In two years the only problem I have had with this truck was a battery, and I read almost every thread here and know what to look for.

 

Yes exactly what both of these guys said. Tandem axle is the better way to go if you have a choice. Almost all tandem axle trailers will come equipped with electric brakes on usually 1 of the 2 axles. It’s not a deal breaker not having tandem just a better way to go.

 

Yes it does.

 

That will be fine weight-wise. If you have the V6 Tow Package you're set and ready to go with a 7-pin connector and ClassIV hitch. Slap a Prodigy brake controller in, I think all Tacos are prewired in the driverside kick panel. WDH or upgrade the rear leafs, or both. That's probably overpriced being from a dealer, but something similar is fine, a "couples trailer".

I believe that unit has 25g fresh water tank, 15g grey, 9g black. That's adequate for offgrid. It's 7' wide, which is nice with a Taco. 8' wide you need tow mirrors. Looks like it has 15" wheels, that's nice to have.

Only things I can think of that you *might* get (if you look long enough) with a different short, lightweight trailer is a 3-burner stove, two sinks, passthrough storage, dual LP tanks, larger fridge. Lack of passthrough storage can be a PITA, lack of dual LP tanks with automatic switchover can be a PITA. However, you can put a 30lb LP bottle on it.

That trailer has wood framing, aluminum is better, but if it's an AZ trailer it probably doesn't have rot.

Frankly, that's a workable couples trailer. The side AC unit, I think it's only 8k BTU, so you could run it with a 2kW generator if you're in the boonies. RV park with hookups you don't worry about tank sizes or generators.

Best of luck!