Towing with 3rd Gen Tacoma

I had been reading a lot of threads on this site about information on towing with my 2017 Toyota Tacoma and thank you for all the info that I found. I towed my Rockwood tent trailer with fully loaded approx. 3700 lbs with a weight distribution hitch from Lake Havasu City, AZ to Southern California and followed pretty much the suggestions off the many threads. I was very happy with the way my Tacoma pulled this travel-trailer averaging anywhere from 50 to 65 mph with gas averaging 14-15 miles to gallon. I will be looking forward to many more travels with my truck.

 

Welcome to TW. We pulled a popup for over ten years and had a blast at national parks all over the western US. Enjoy and send in some shots of some of the places you go.

 

Which weight distribution hitch did you end up going with?

 

I used a Camco EZ Lift 1000

 

I’m just looking for some advice from everyone, when I got my taco having a travel trailer was not in my future but plans have changed. I know I can tow up to 3500 but if I wanted something a little bigger is it feasible to increase my capacity without trading in or getting a bigger truck. I love my taco now but just want to see what options are out there

 

I have researched on this forum about how much of a trailer I could tow & even though my taco towing package is rated for up to 6400lbs, I chose to go with a 21ft EVO that weighs approx. 3800-4000lbs fully loaded with a weight distribution hitch and I truly enjoy how my taco handles the drive. I may have been able to get a little bit larger trailer but I wanted to stay within the 4000lb weight range and not worry about being "over weight". I have driven through different types of areas throughout California especially trough the desert "high winds" and I can really tell that my taco is pulling this trailer and it handles very well. I even went to a public scales to get a full weight done. I am so glad to have been able to do this with my taco instead of having to get a larger one because I just love driving it with or without the trailer.

 

Good looking set up you have. Here's mine weighs in at 2 tons ready to camp. I wanted dual axles for more stability when towing. Just came back from an 1100 mile trip and all was good.

 

My recent purchase. 24’ ft weighing at 4900 lbs. Pulls fine so far with a proper hitch set up.

 

Had a 2007 2nd gen Toyota which I loved but traded in last year due to the need of a rusty frame replacement. Replaced it with the the 3rd gen 2017 model pretty much sight unseen assuming it would only be an improvement over the previous generation. That was probably not such a good idea. Regardless of the numbers posters are throwing around on here, it FEELS like I'm driving a brick compared to the previous generation with the 4.0 L. I've gotten somewhat used to it over the last year, and I understand that it is a truck after all. And it does an excellent job off-roading during my favorite New England shoreline excursions.

But there's still one thing that drives me nuts. I have a 21 foot, 4,100 # travel trailer I tow from time to time to my various destinations. The 2nd gen pulled it with relative ease with minimal gear hunting and minimal engine noise. I also got a pretty steady 14 MPG while towing it which I thought was acceptable. With the the third gen its a whole different story. The gear hunting is incredibly annoying and the cabin noise is ear splitting.

Furthermore, the MPG is worse as well. I frequently visit a campground in Connecticut from RI and take the same route, with the same stuff using the same gas, I get 10.9 MPG, 3 MPG less.

I might even be able to live with that if the driving experience were better but the poorer gas mileage, the incessant gear hunting and the ear splitting noise really ruin the enjoyment.

Now before you all suggest I should have procured a truck with a bigger engine, remember I had my 2007 for ten years and was incredibly happy with it. Shame on me for expecting a similar experience sight unseen.

 

I'd of done same thing and expected same as u expected. I do not tow anything to speak of so I have no experience with this truck . But sorry to hear that for sure. Do you think maybe if you changed your gears to 4.88 it would fix it?

 

Aloha,

I have a 2017 tacoma with v6 motor without the tow package. I installed a receiver to tow when I need to. I’ve been looking around and cannot seem to find what my tow rating is? I know with tow package it’s around 6000lbs.
And the 4cyl can tow up to 3500 lbs. can someone let me know what the tow rating is for my truck. Thank u in advance for your help. Aloha and god bless

 

I am about to do a 3500mi trip with mine with about 4000lbs
I am hoping to get about 9.. But we will see.

Alcan here i come!

 

you got one, nice!

 

Here you go.

2017 Toyota Tacoma Tow Capacity Rating
When it comes to towing, the 2017 Toyota Tacoma presents an extremely capable tow capacity rating:

• Without V6 Tow Option – 3,500 lb.
• With V6 Tow Option – 6,400 lb.

 

Thank you for your help.

I’m curious as to how the v6 can tow only the same amount as the 4cyl. I guess that’s how it is. Again thank u so much for your help. Aloha.

 

No problem. Knew I read it somewhere. About the same as a Rav4, to put in a sad perspective. If you add engine oil, trans (if AT) and PS coolers (as those are the big differences) and that should get your real world tow cap higher. Good luck!

 

Thanks bro

 

I have now been on a few more trips throughout California including up to Kernville recently and I am very happy with my 2017 Tacoma. It towed very nicely and my only concern was the high winds that I encountered much of the way back from the desert areas. It does feel like you are pulling something super heavy in back but with the correct setup it did nicely. I ended up with approx. doing 10-12 mpg so one thing I did learn is you need to really pay attention on your gas so you don't end up "cutting it to close" to empty. There is a big difference between the mpg of driving within California from the mountains to the deserts or the flatlands so other than that my Taco handled nicely. Still more camping to do

 

Moving a trailer is only 1 of a thousand factors that go into a tow rating. A more powerful engine will move more weight easier but that by itself does not change how the vehicle actually controls the weight. Control is 99% of testing rating.

 

I made a video about this for anyone curious of my experience pulling a travel trailer...