Need Towing Advice, 5500 camping trailer

I am considering using a new Tacoma (V-6, manual transmission) to tow a 5500 lb camping trailer (27 ft long, 10 ft high). I will soon live in Colorado. Is this nuts? If you've towed or tow a similar load with a Tacoma, please give me your thoughts on this. Thanks!

 

Absolutely. Expect a top speed of 8MPH, a fuel economy of roughly 0.1MPG, and the most miserable driving experience imaginable.

 

Yes, that is nuts.

 

That would be better done with a full size truck.

 

What they said.

 

That won't weigh 5500 pounds after you load it.

 

That's asking a lot out of the little truck. Other people will post screenshots of the manual and do the math on load limits... But Colorado has lots of mountains... and I'm pretty sure the wind would whip you around like you were nothing.

 

I'll be that guy... It's within spec, and with the manual you actually have better stock gears for towing than most of us auto guys. You will be in third gear a lot though.

 

I'd agree with MT advantage......but that size trailer is gonna be pushing the truck around a bunch.

I'd vote get the MT and get a smaller trailer

 

Or MT and a bigger truck for that trailer!

 

Your truck is about 2000 pounds too lite to tow something that big...all you need a 15 knot crosswind and you’ll be on your side.

 

Not on a bet. Not that long.

 

Thanks, people! I currently have a toy hauler, 30 ft and 12 ft high, but I tow it with a Sierra Denali HD Duramax and so I am spoiled. I plan to downsize both, but how far … ? I wonder now whether a Land Cruiser could tow the smaller trailer - it is significantly heavier than a Tacoma.

 

I've done it many times. The truck does not like it one bit and mine was a manual trans too. I traded for a Tundra for this exact reason.

 

I've towed 3500 lbs all over the country with my tacoma and its been fine. I've got a 7x14 haulmark trailer and had a camper trailer for a while too.

If you were in the flat midwest, it wouldn't be that big of a deal but 5500 lbs down the mountain passes in Colorado isn't going to be a lot of fun. Engine braking on these trucks leaves a lot to be desired. Also keep in mind theres only a 21 gallon fuel tank, so when towing I'm stopping about every 200 miles for fuel.

Also 27 foot is a huge trailer behind the tacoma.

 

If your towing 5.5K it will do it without issue. It's the length that's going to be an issue. A good crosswind and you will have a problem. I tow a 2018 Freedom Express that's about 22' long and comes in around 5.2K. No issues and cruise in 5th gear most of the time and sometimes 6th is doable (M6 trans).

 

In the Rockies?

 

Nuts!

 

Technically possible, but I wouldn't do it at high elevation on a regular basis. There are several factors that come into play here. Your engine loses 3% of it's power for every 1000' above sea level. Lots of mountain passes over 10,000 ft. in CO. You'll only be working with about 70% of your engines available power.

Most of these trucks are rated to tow 6500 lbs, but that assumes only a skinny driver in the truck with no other passengers or cargo inside the truck. You also have to consider the trucks rated payload which is about 1200 lbs. It varies by individual trucks so you need to check the sticker on the drivers door jamb. A 5500 lb trailer with a WDH is going to put about 800 lbs on the tongue. That only leaves about 400 lbs for yourself, passengers inside the truck and cargo. Most people can't make that work.

It's not that the truck can't pull the weight. I think it can, even in mountains. It just won't do it very fast and the stress if done regularly would cause premature wear to the engine and transmission. Especially an automatic. You'll really have to watch transmission temps to prevent overheating. The bigger problem is payload which realistically limits these trucks to 4000-4500 lbs. If you had a 4000 lb trailer you could get by without a WDH and only have about 500 lbs on the hitch. This would leave you about 700 lbs available payload in the truck for passengers and cargo. Much more realistic than the 400 you'd have with a 5500 lb trailer.

 

This. I'd bet that actual towing weight is quite a bit more.