Can a Tacoma really tow 6500 lbs safely and reliably?

I hear what you are saying. I have towed many times in the past - it is all about expectation management and setting up the rig correctly. I agree that you shouldn't exceed stated capacities nor should you regularly tow at the max level. We're hunting for a TT now, and looking about the range you are towing.

 

I pull this guy around with no problems. 4,112lbs. full of fuel, and Idk what the trailer weighs..

 

I also pull a hi-lo trailer with no problems (2206 towlite) in CA

 

I just finished towing about 5k lbs in mine and I bottomed out some times. My rear end was sagging a lot too. Not cool.

 

Get WDH. I am on stock shock. No sagging.

tntrac

 

You need Firestone Ride-rite air springs; that would be the end of your saggy issues.

 

2017 Toyota Tacoma 4 x 4 V6 pulled car hauler from uhaul with 1967 Plymouth satellite approx 900 miles. Total combined weight was right around 6k. 3300 for car and 2300 for hauler and several hundred inside car. Truck did not accelerate very well and really struggled uphill I would gradually lose speed. Never went over 60 mph. 12 Hour Dr. took me nearly 20 hours but it did the job.

 

About 90% of my miles are spent pulling +/- 3200#. Ive pulled a variety of things now but the most I've pulled was about 6000# or so worth of hay bales a couple times with my Tacoma and I thought it did great. One trip was a couple hour drive, mostly flat until I crossed the river then it was super hilly. I would agree with most everyone here. On flat ground it was a dream. Plenty of passing power, I had to break suddenly once and it stopped fine (I don't have trailer brakes.) I do have an add a leaf and I feel like that really helps keep the weight supported.

Hills was a different story. Hit a couple hills I had to shift down to 3rd and it still was struggling. The place we delivered the hay had a horseshoe driveway steep uphill to get in, steep downhill to get down. Of course everything was covered in snow. To get the angle I needed to back to their barn I had to nose the truck downhill (in the snow) and the weight of the trailer behind the truck started pushing the truck down the hill, there being no good traction. It was a bit scary. Had to give it some gas and pull on down the hill and loop around and try again. Most of that situation was probably due to the snow rather than crazy trailer weight but still. I agree with flatland= more than fine to push the limits, hills= not so much. That said I wouldn't do it all the time and don't expect that kind of capability from a 1/2 ton truck. So all in all I was still pretty pleased with my little truck.

I also agree with the enclosed vs open trailer notion. The 3200# I pull regularly is an enclosed trailer that sticks up higher than the back of the truck. The hay I pull around on the open double axle trailer sits behind the truck pretty well. On flatland or moderate hills I swear the double axle trailer with 5-6000# of hay pulls easier than the 3200# brick wall of enclosed trailer. That air drag really gets you.

 

I pull a 2000 lb camper 200 miles a couple times a year with my 4 cylinder and 5mt. I really don’t have any issues. Won’t win any races, but it’s a pretty easy tow. I wouldn’t think twice about 1200 lbs.

 

I'm glad I found this. We're buying a new travel trailer that is just under 5000lbs. We're getting a good brake controller and weight distribution. I'm going to do some test pulls at the dealer before we finalize the deal to determine how it can handle it. I have a 2017 Double Cab 4x4 SR5, and as mentioned it's rated at 6400. I'd like to stay 900 under that. Most of our early trips will be short, on level highways for the most part, and we will go slow. I expect I'll need to upgrade to a full size truck, but I'd like to get another year or two on my Tacoma before I trade it to get some more value out of the trade. Based on what I'm reading that doesn't sound crazy as long as I'm careful. Is that not realistic?

 

Depends. I’m still in the shopping mode myself for a trailer. Out trucks are rated to tow 6400 pounds, but only has a payload capacity of 1175 pounds. What’s the tongue weight of that trailer loaded up? Any other passengers and gear in the truck? Toyota says keep the tongue weight under 640 pounds, which I think you’ll be pushing with that trailer as it. That leaves you 535 pounds for you and everything else in the truck...

Also remember that the Tacoma’s GCVW is 11360, meaning if your pushing max payload (which you probably will be unless you’re by yourself in an empty truck towing) you only have a 5785# of towing capacity left.

I regularly push up against the max payload on my Taco making deliveries for work and it’s not the happiest truck going down the road with 1000 pounds in the bed. It gets moving just fine but I can tell the stock SR suspension is at its limit and braking is significantly worse. Then add in another 5000+ pounds of trailer? Thanks, but No thanks. Get a lighter trailer or a bigger truck.

 

I may be wrong, but if the vehicle is already at max payload or close to it. There is no way you can continue to pull an additional couple of thousand pounds. This is because your GVWR is 5600lbs and ifit is already at max or nearly there. Pulling a trailer will add a tongue load that will subtract from your available payload which is already at capacity.

 

Correct. If you have 1175 pounds of stuff in the truck, you can’t (legally) pull any trailer.

I was working backwards from a maximum tongue weight of 640 pounds, which leaves you with a max trailer weight of 5875 (to stay under GCVW) and a max load of people (and driver!) gear, etc in the truck of 535 pounds.

 

There is also more proof that manufacturers include safety margins in the weight ratings for these vehicles.

truck for example: 17 ACLB 4x4 6MT
Curb weight: 4325lbs
GVWR: 5600lbs
Door sticker payload rating: 1100lbs
Online advertised payload rating:1275lbs

5600
-4325 = 1275-1100 = 175lbs safety margin for single driver included.

 

I own a small timber Frame company and my 2013 Tacoma Limited is my work truck. First off, like all other trucks (excluding heavy duty), the rear suspension is too soft and it squats too much when a lot of weight is put on the pin. I had two more leaf springs installed and I run 10 ply rated tires. Now it can carry the max pin load and payloads without feeling like it's overloaded. I have no problem hauling the maxim weight or pulling the maximum weight all day long. These are flatbed trailers and they pull at lot nicer than travel trailers. I have a 23 ft Forest river Surveyor that loaded is about 4500 lbs and its bitch to tow compared to a 6000 lb flatbed trailer. The Tacoma is not a full size truck but it is a truck and will pull and haul two thirds as much as a standard full size truck. For me it's all I need.

 

Man Steadfast you make her work!

 

6500lbs on a tacoma is meant for a Work truck with a single driver and no passengers pulling a heavy load for his/her business.

 

You're going to get different answers from everyone. It really depends on your expectations and towing experience of what to expect. We just got back from a 450 mile round trip with our 25' camper loaded about 5100 lbs. Taco does fine for what it is, a midsize truck. It's not a speed demon but it gets the job done. Yes the full size trucks are going to pass you and leave you behind. But the truck does fine towing and I keep it at 65 mph. It will slow down some going up a big grade but I've never gotten below 50 on a really long one. Granted this was down to sea level and back up. I have mine set up with a OME 3" lift with medium Dakar's in the back and running a WDH and running 285's. I've come across quite a few with the new taco's hauling the same size trailer as mine with no issues. You just have to realize you're not going to get there in a hurry and you don't need to be in a hurry anyway. I've hauled a Winnebago Micro Minnie 19' that weighed close to what your trailer does and it does really well.

 

Trucks with trailers can't go faster than 55mph anyways, atleast in California.

 

As a former owner operator hauling almost everything almost anywhere, and having owned big 5th wheels, travel trailers etc. I thought I would chime in. It's all in the setup like some have said with wdh , brake controllers and sway control. Most importantly, it's about your experience level. If this is your first rodeo, start smaller and work up. Don't be like a guy I know that went out and bought a 42' toyhauler and F350 Diesel truck with little to no experience towing just because he could. Accident waiting to happen. I am in the process of buying a new travel trailer empty weight of 4800 to pull with my 18 ORDC. I live in Colorado but this won't be a cross country rig. We have lots of cool places like Moab, Ouray etc within an hour or two from us. If I go to Moab or Ouray, we will leave water out until we get there (500 lbs) and since we obviously don't live in it full time, minimal furnishings like dishes etc. Most people make the mistake of loading the wagon without think of consequences.