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Should I get a Tundra or keep the tacoma?

Discussion in 'Towing' started by thsee, Aug 16, 2010.

  1. Aug 16, 2010 at 12:34 PM
    #1
    thsee

    thsee [OP] New Member

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    hello my name is Sarah. I live in TX w/ my parents and bf. I'm going to go to school next jan. After that we plan on getting a travel trailer and moving up to Colorado to find our home. ... or in the northwest but we wanna live in mountains. So I have a 2004 Tacoma 4wd 3.4 liter v6 24v dohc sfi engine 4 speed auto. I don't know what some of that means but im' sure it's helpful to someone. Now everyone is telling me my tacoma can do it. Can pull a trailer of about 6,000 lbs (MAX) up and down mountains... I just gotta have faith. Then I asked some people at a rv forum and they told me no it couldn't so I thought I'd ask the people who ACTUALLY DRIVE the tacomas. Please let me know what you guys think!
     
  2. Aug 16, 2010 at 12:41 PM
    #2
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    I think it could do it, but it wouldn't be happy about it, especially in higher altitudes. If you plan on doing a lot of traveling towing that kind of weight, you may want to consider a diesel. The turbo will do great in the high elevations and 6,000 lbs really won't phase it. If you want to stick with a gas engine, a full size truck will be more comfortable with that kind of weight behind it, especially on curvy mountain roads.
     
  3. Aug 16, 2010 at 12:46 PM
    #3
    xpander76

    xpander76 Well-Known Member

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    Go with the Tundra and 5.7 v8. I've towed b/tw 5000-5500lbs with the tacoma (4.0 v6) and I did not feel comfortable with that weight. I did feel better with a load just under 4,000 lbs though. Hope this helps.
     
  4. Aug 16, 2010 at 12:53 PM
    #4
    misterquad

    misterquad Well-Known Member

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    The way I would look at it. Will it move a 6,000 pounds trailer on flat ground at sea level? - Yes. Would I use it to tow a travel trailer through the mountains of Colorado or the Pacific Northwest - Nope.

    You are going to need a full size, properly equipped truck.
     
  5. Aug 16, 2010 at 12:54 PM
    #5
    tacobox

    tacobox Evasive Maneuvers PMKMS

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    how large of a travel trailer are you talking?
     
  6. Aug 16, 2010 at 1:17 PM
    #6
    Janster

    Janster Old & Forgetful

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    Towing capacity for the 1st gen trucks is only 5,000lbs. You should not exceed the towing capactiy. So, the answer is no.

    If you're towing that much weight on a regular basis - I would definately get a fullsize truck. It'll make the overall towing experience much easier to deal with.

    A 2nd gen tacoma (with factory towing package) can tow 6500lbs - but even towing close to the max can be a handful on the uphills/downhills especially if the trailer/truck aren't setup properly (tonque weight, etc). A weight distributing hitch can help greatly with the smaller trucks.

    Having a fullsize truck just makes it easier. No weight distributing hitch necessary and you won't even notice the weight behind it.
     
  7. Aug 16, 2010 at 1:26 PM
    #7
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    If you're going to tow upwards of 6,000 lbs, you're still going to exceed the towing capacity of some full size trucks. Some of them only have a class III hitch on them which is rated to 5,000 lbs. If you want to go over 5,000, you need a class IV so be mindful of that when you're considering your tow vehicle. Weight distributing hitches and sway control will greatly improve your trailering experience plus vehicles have a higher tow rating if you're using a weight distributing hitch.
     
  8. Aug 16, 2010 at 3:35 PM
    #8
    thsee

    thsee [OP] New Member

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    Thank you guys for all the answers... I thought it wouldn't be able to but everyone keeps telling me I have no faith in my little truck!
     
  9. Aug 16, 2010 at 3:45 PM
    #9
    Janster

    Janster Old & Forgetful

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    You still can't exceed the manufacturers tow rating - regardless of whether or not you have a WDH.
     
  10. Aug 16, 2010 at 3:53 PM
    #10
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    Correct, but if you look at the manufacturer's rating, there's 2 numbers, one with a w/d hitch, one w/out. GVWR doesn't change for either set-up.
     
  11. Aug 16, 2010 at 4:06 PM
    #11
    Janster

    Janster Old & Forgetful

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    I've never seen any listing of two different tow ratings.

    Here's all the specs you need, none of them list a WDH.

    http://www.toyota.com/tacoma/specs.html
     
  12. Aug 16, 2010 at 4:33 PM
    #12
    TAKoma907

    TAKoma907 Well-Known Member

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    Go with the Tundy. Any word on when the diesel Tundy's come out?
     
  13. Aug 16, 2010 at 4:41 PM
    #13
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    Take a look at your hitch. Toyota just claims the capacity 'when properly equipped'. There are 2 ratings on my hitch, one with a w/d hitch, one w/out. the one with has a 50 lb greater tongue weight and 500 lb greater trailer weight. That's the whole point of a w/d hitch.
     
  14. Aug 16, 2010 at 6:48 PM
    #14
    Isthatahemi

    Isthatahemi Well-Known Member

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    The hitch does not determine the trucks towing capacity. It is still 5000#, no matter what any sticker says. GCWR is a far more relevent number.
     
  15. Aug 17, 2010 at 4:52 AM
    #15
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    I think you may have missed the point the point I was trying to make... GCWR obviously governs the overall weight of the truck and trailer but if your hitch isn't heavy enough for the trailer you intend to tow, for instance a class III towing over 6,000 lbs, your GCWR isn't the issue. Strictly looking at hitch capacities, they differ depending on whether you're using a w/d hitch or not. Same hitch, different rating. 5,000 # w/ 500 lb tongue weight w/out a weight distributing hitch, 5,500 # w/ 550 lb tongue weight w/ weight distributing hitch.
     
  16. Aug 17, 2010 at 5:17 PM
    #16
    Isthatahemi

    Isthatahemi Well-Known Member

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    I didn't miss your the point. (It's not relevent to the topic anyhow!) The truck can only tow 5000#, end of story...
     
  17. Aug 18, 2010 at 5:30 AM
    #17
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    :facepalm:
     
  18. Aug 19, 2010 at 6:44 PM
    #18
    Isthatahemi

    Isthatahemi Well-Known Member

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    Did you know the rear tires can handle almost 4000#? Another useless fact, because the truck cannot handle it!
     
  19. Aug 21, 2010 at 12:35 AM
    #19
    trib

    trib Well-Known Member

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    Get both!
     
  20. Sep 13, 2010 at 8:03 AM
    #20
    lasllc

    lasllc Wait. . what’s wrong here

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    I think you need to carefully evaluate your mission requirements; how often do you expect to pull that weight - are you horse people?, is this a business?, etc.
    If all you are going to do is pull out there for your move, check you book and see if the truck is rated for that - does it actually have a tow pack? that is a lot of weight for an aftermarket hitch and no oil/trans cooler. Or brake controller, for that matter. Then take it slow and let the truck run at its own pace (remember, WA,OR have 5 vehicle back up laws in the mountains).
    If this is something you anticipate doing on a regular basis get an appropriate vehicle - Tundra is really nice, so is Dodge (as much as I hate to say it). BUT, remenber, moving up to that bigger truck is increase your running/operating costs by 25-50% per mile.
     

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