I'm finally impressed - My first real tow

I have been much less than impressed with my Tacoma in these 7000 miles. While this doesn't make me want to keep it, it does make me less opposed to it. This isn't my boat but I will be getting one next year. I'd say this was close to 4000lbs loaded up. It towed this Skeeter far better than I expected. The last time I towed this boat was with my 2017 Silverado and it actually didn't like it back there much. You can see my fuel economy wasn't that bad and the truck barely sagged. I've got blocks with stock springs and Bilsteins. At speed a hill definitely needed 4rd and sometimes 3rd gear. S4 with ECT was the ticket. I did let it go to 5th a few times.

Aside from that... The truck rode about as bad as it does without a big trailer back there. When I'm towing a boat, I expect that.

 

Did you have to stop fast at all while towing? That’s my concern. I’ve only towed a uhaul trailer with my taco with my tool box. Maybe around 3k total. Truck towed it ok as it should. But I also drive it like a 80 year old who was blind in one eye. Where as my F150 I could pull 10k flying like a bat out of hell and you didn’t even know you were towing anything.

That being said my truck has a hard time stopping for a few of those last second red lights. Couldn’t imagine it possible to stop like that with a load behind me

 

I didn't have to but I never felt it was an issue. The trailer had brakes too.

 

I tow about 6k lbs with mine. Added airbags and the ride was much better. The airbags are too big for the small space between the frame and the leafs, so I took them out for winter when I added an OME BP-51 lift. Drove the boat to get winterized last week. Still tows pretty nice.

I hear you on the "feeling it back there" but my argument is you are towing and you should. I have found that the more you push this truck to work, the better it responds. Always impressed when I'm wheeling, towing or hauling. More disappointed when I'm mall crawling.

 

It towed just fine. I feel it back there but much less than I expected I would. I am continually disappointed with normal driving.

 

How?

 

Drive line vibrations. Shifting issues. I've got a "Field technical specialist" looking at it for a final repair attempt this week. We'll see what they say this time.......

 

A Shift Sense Pro will solve 9/10 of the shifting mess. They can be picked up for 75-130 used all over this website.

I did a couple of months ago.

If you’re lifted with blocks and didn’t correct the driveline angle with shims, the vibrations are there for good.

 

I am lifted with blocks and they are angled. I had the issue prior to the lift as well. If not, they still wouldn't be there for good. Luckily blocks are removable.

I'm not buying anything to correct something that Toyota gave me from the factory. They've got their last chance to fix it this week.

 

I tow 5500 easily with electric brakes on trailer no issues.

 

Did you catch any fish?

 

towing with 4.88's is better.

towed 6k lbs of jeep tj and vehicle trailer about 400 miles. was able to hold 5th on flat roads when the wind died down. pretty impressive.

definitely knew it was there but acceleration out of a rest stop was good and i never felt i couldn't get up to speed.

braking is what it is. a good trailer with brakes will help.

 

I can imagine it could be better.. I'm just saying I was pleasantly surprised at how it did. The brakes on the trailer were just mechanical and worked fine.

 

This was the GA BASS Nation Classic. My weight pre-fishing on Thursday would have won it for me... I was a co-boater and didn't get on any real fish Friday or Saturday....

 

Seems pre fish days are usually better.

 

I generally try not to pre-fish but I don't really like West Point. I wanted some confidence... Which I got with 3 2-2.5lb fish.... Just didn't translate...