What do I need to tow 5000lbs?

New Tacoma owner here. I love it. I have a question. I have a 2016 Tacoma TRD Sport that I bought used without a tow package. I added a hitch and 4-plug wiring. I am looking at campers, but I am conflicted with a comfortable weight I can tow. I have a V6 3.5 L Atkinson engine. Can I tow the 5000 lbs? If not, what do I need to do to get my truck to tow that weight? I keep getting mixed information. Thanks.

 

Your owners manual has all the information (page 168). Over 5000lbs requires trailer brakes but I always encourage over 2500lb to use trailer brakes.

4 pin wiring is good for little pull trailers but typically you want a 7 pin with controller for a camper.

I would suggest higher load tires (d or e) for towing simply for stability and they are made for it. The stock TRD Sport tires are shit anyway.



Read all the pinned items at the top of the Towing sub-forum they have lots of good info.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/

 

Make sure you install a transmission and engine oil cooler aswell.

 

Here’s the deal, what Its tow capacity is, is determined by the manufacturer at the factory. No matter what you do to it you can’t change the manufacturers stated tow capacity. You can add mods that will technically increase the capacity but that will not change the manufacturers stated capacity. Towing over manufacturers tow capacity is illegal in most or all states. Should you have an accident while towing over capacity you may receive a citation and if injuries you may get your ass sued off. I know that highway patrol is trained to look for over capacity in accident investigations.

 

Anyone have a link for an oil cooler for a 6 cylinder 2nd gen ?

 

Hi I’m new to towing have a question I have a 12 taco and I’ve read not to tow in D (overdrive) . I noticed there is no switch for turning off overdrive so do I use 4th or 3rd ? I will be towing a camper with a dry weight of 2700 lb

 

Welcome aboard. Put it in 4th to prevent it from gear hunting. When it hunts gears it will generate a lot of heat in the tranny.

 

Yes you should tow in 4. The owners manual also tells you this. If climbing in the mountains and your tranny keeps hunting gears then drop it into 3 briefly while climbing.

 

2700 lbs on level ground isn't hard to pull. By default use 4th gear instead of "D". Your transmission will automatically downshift if more power is needed to get up inclines. BUT... I prefer to anticipate when I'll need lower gears and downshift BEFORE the engine starts to strain and you lose momentum. That will probably require some experience to anticipate when you need to. When going down steeper hills or long mountain grades you want to manually select 3rd, 2nd, or sometimes even 1st gear to let the engine and transmission hold you back. It will save your brakes. Once again it takes a little experience to figure out which gear you need to be in.

With a trailer that light it won't hurt anything to shift to "D" on level stretches of road and use overdrive. But you have to remember to drive the truck like a manual and know when to shift back to 4th gear to get up inclines. If you wait for the truck to do it you're getting the engine and transmission too hot. If you can't or won't do that, or if there is any doubt, then just leave in in 4th gear.

As to the OP. Realistically 5000 lbs is the upper limit of what a Tacoma can tow regardless of what the specs say. Personally 4000-4500 is about all I'd want to pull on a regular basis. For an occasional short distance tow then 5000-5500.

 

Are you shifting with gas pedal still applied for momentum or do you let off?

 

Many of the people here towing are illegally over limit by GVWR alone and they don't even realize it out of ignorance. Tow ratings are for the most part a manufacturer sales tool gimmick, the number means very little when you actually do the math on your GVWR. But no one on Tacomaworld does this math so just send it like the rest of the yahoos on here.

 

I liked that post. Everyone is afraid to actually do the math.

 

There is an SAE test for towing now. Toyota has meet the standard for a few years now. It is quite abusive but impressive.

http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/towing/1502-sae-j2807-tow-tests-the-standard

 

https://www.ebay.com/i/183187115947...MIt4Ha4Oq05AIVFBx9Ch1yuAexEAQYAyABEgIqefD_BwE