Need Towing Advice, 5500 camping trailer

Not in my wheel house. I don't care what they rate the two capacity as, I wouldn't tow more that 3500lbs on a regular basis especially in Colorado. Maybe an occasional 4000-5000 lbs for a short trip but expecting good performance from that little v6 regularly is asking for trouble.

 

I got mine to pull a 2700-lb camper—not expecting any problems. Just to quibble a little—who would throw hundreds of pounds of extra weight in theirs? The extra stuff in our camper can generally be carried out in 2 grocery bags. (Plus a couple of 6 packs LOL.) So not sure why the towing weight would be so much more.

 

It's not necessarily the stuff that gets thrown in to travel with (although that adds up more than most people think). But, the dry weights listed by camper manufacturers generally don't include ANY options. Add a battery or two, a propane cylinder, a microwave, an a/c unit, etc...

 

I tow a 4400 dry weight camper twice a year. Probably comes in at 5200 pounds loaded out. I tow it to it's season spot, and home at the end of the season, that's it. I wouldn't tow it here there and everywhere. Nope. I'm just in NH.

 

Not to mention water, propane, clothing, cooking utensils, food... it adds up very quickly.

 

The dry weight on my particular Tab camper is 2700 lbs and includes all accessories. Another model has weights with and without LP and battery, which together weigh 60 lbs.

Again, not to quibble too much, but when I load food I carry it in 1 Trader Joe’s bag. And the utensils fit in one drawer. I doubt if I carry 100 lbs of extra weight when I camp. I almost never haul water unless I know for a fact there’s no water where I’m camping—almost never happens. A 30 gallon tank would weigh about 240 lbs. btw.

I realize some people will haul tons of gear when they’re hunting or whatever. That’s not me or probably most people.

See above—microwave, A/C should be included in most trailer specs unless they’re added aftermarket.

 

Dry weight is a starting point, and you have to consider all of the mass you're carrying in the truck as well. Everyone's usage is different. For example, we boondock off-grid with our 1375 lb dry weight camper 99.9% of the time, so we have to carry everything we need with us. YMMV depending on how and where you camp.

Bottom line here is that, IMO, a Tacoma isn't going to handle pulling a trailer of the size and weight mentioned by the OP in any kind of mountainous terrain without extreme difficulty, and it's on the edge of being dangerous in windy conditions or if there's inclement weather, especially in that kind of terrain.

 

You'll be in SECOND a lot .

 

II guarantee you will not be a happy guy. Not "don't THINK" you'll be , KNOW it. If you want that much trailer, get a full size truck with the HP/torque to manage it .

 

My camper was about 4200 wet weight and it towed great. No weight distribution hitch and stock leafs also. Decent mileage also and could cruise in 6th gear on the flats. But long grades were definitely a struggle (~3 km long). Short grades were managed by shifts and looking ahead. We are at about 3400 ft elevation here for reference also. I would lose steam by end of grade and be downshifting into second for the real bad ones. If your not impatient I'd say it can be done. But 5500 wet weight would be my max for sure.

 

What he said^ And add your weight, the weight of your passengers, tow hitch, armor, fancy tires, custom wheels, bumpers and winch, plus any personal gear and other truck mods you have to the trailer weight.

***And dang, that here4cake’s avatar keeps scaring me! Why isn’t that thing retired!?

 

One word: TUNDRA.

 

I have a double cab long bed with a lowest Tacoma payload possible...950 pounds. If were to have a 500 lbs. tongue weight I would only have 450 lbs. for everything and everybody else.

 

I have towed 5500 lb 22ft trailer through the Rockies on a second generation with about a hundred and twenty-eight thousand miles on it and the original water pump and everything else. I kept the engine temp around 210 degrees and RPMs under 3500. I did not win any races but the truck did fine.

if you're going to take it up to Colorado I am confident your truck will get there. If you plan to be driving all around Colorado and pulling it I really think it is way too big. I really think you want to stay around 5500 lb loaded and no more than 22 to 24 feet in length with the tongue.

You either need to upgrade to a smaller lightweight with slide outs and keep it within 4,500 lb or by a larger full size truck.

Even if you were to say it would only way 3500 lbs, that length is going to be unmanageable and add to that it's a big box you're going to be knocked around like a slinky.

 

Yes, I do a trip every year. Fourth gear on inclines and 3rd on very steep climbs.

 

I live in Colorado and tow a camper on a regular basis with my 2016 DCSB AT. My camper tips the CAT scale at 3800 loaded. It is a 1700BH Winnebago Micro Minnie. Total length is 20’ 9”. I have towed all over Colorado and most other western states. I just got back from a 1000 mile camping trip. I averaged 11.5 miles to the gallon. I did plenty of long sustained climbing. I have a weight distribution hitch and a brake controller. The AT used 3rd and 4th gear for climbs. 4th 90% of the time. I also run 255 85 16 E rated tires. I had some crazy crosswinds coming back across the Navajo Nation from Heber AZ to Gallup, NM. I would not want to tow anything longer, taller or heavier. The truck could tow more, but I think the safety issues outweigh it.

 

Something else to consider besides the weight (which will be too much to be comfortable) is the size. At that size, you are not only dealing with air resistance from the front, but also the sail effect of the sides. You could fairly easily catch a side wind that can redirect where you are going without your consent.

 

It’s heavy but I pull a 21 foot jayco with a stabilizing hitch it’s all right, not great but gets you to the campsite. Take it easy around corners and slowing down. We are like 4000lbs dry maybe 5 loaded

 

I'm right at about the same weight and use a 4 point sway control Equalizer wd hitch. I have absolutely no sway and travel at 65mph. Proper WD hitch set up and weight distribution in the trailer are critical to get a sway free ride. Many people just dont spend the time setting up their hitches properly or rely on a RV center to do it for them. Never trust that the RV center will do it properly, most dont have a clue.

 

I'm towing this:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...idiocy-journal-bs.527020/page-6#post-17893122

before lift with 10000 Straightline load leveler/sway system:



Post lift, same hook up: