Can a Tacoma really tow 6500 lbs safely and reliably?

I've already read all the post related to this subject, but would still like some additional feedback.

I have an 2010 DC OR with the towing package, and I own an ATV business. I'm considering buying a bigger trailer (20' car hauler) that could haul 6 ATVs at one time. My concern is that the total weight would be close to 6000 lbs (2200 lb trailer and 3800 lb load).

While I know that the Taco with towing package is rated for 6500 lbs max, just wanted to hear from those of you that actually tow this much. I already have a brake controller, and currently tow about 3000 lbs.

I would be towing this load approx 400 miles twice a month.

Appreciate your help.

 

Shouldn't be to much of a problem! I have seen many people on here towing boats and such that are huge! But I would definitely like to see what some people say!

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/27460-show-us-what-you-tow.html

This thread has a lot of first hand information from people who tow with their Tacomas.

 

I've towed my horse trailer twice with my 09 double cab w/tow package, including the prodigy brake controller.

The trailer is a 2-horse straight load, bumper pull with weight distribution hitch. Empty weight is 3850.

My first experience towing, the trailer was empty and the taco did pretty well, including some travel through the outskirts of the Appalachian mountains. I could definitely feel it back there, but it was a fairly smooth ride, with me taking my time.

My second experience towing I had a 1000 pound horse in the trailer and some other items (horse tack). I'm guessing I had a little over 5,000 lbs on that trip. The extra weight made a huge difference and I didn't feel nearly as comfortable towing the trailer, actually I felt a little uncomfortable. I think the tacoma is just too small of a truck with too little power to be comfortably towing anything over 5,000 lbs, but just my opinion. Sure it can do it, but it just depends what your comfort level is.

 

I used to tow a 16' trailer with quads. It was not a comfortable feeling. I would not want to do it on a regular basis. I would go full size if I had a choice.

 

Get a weight distributing hitch to help level out the load and make the towing experience 'easier' on you & the truck.

 

Can I come play??

 

I'd say it would be fine as long as you dont expect it to tow like a full size, and you just let the truck go at it's own pace. I've towed a lot of different loads with my truck, from a single axle trailer with a riding mower, to a double axle with 3 quads or a rhino, to a double axle dump trailer with 1 1/2 cords of firewood or even 1 1/4 yards 2" drain rock, to a 18' flatbed with a 6000lb backhoe on it. The truck pulls awesome as long as you dont punish it and have the right setup.

 

If you are maxed out on a consistent basis you will rapidly wear out the truck. Going over GVWR regardless of your setup is abusing the truck. Search on here to get others feedback on towing heavy loads and you will see that the gas mileage at limit sucks and unless you have the right setup it's uncomfortable. The only vehicles that can do GVWR daily are diesels.

 

It will be just fine to tow the max weight or over as long as there are no hills, all straight roads, no rain, no snow, no ice, no high side winds, no semis passing, no sudden stops, and no one pulls out in front of you.

 

Your going to need a bigger truck. Enclosed trailers tow much heavier than they really are b/c of the wind resistance on the front of the trailer. My boat and gear is close to 6500 lbs and I would say it tows it pretty well, not great, not bad, but just ok. I usually only tow it about 3 miles once a week and only have a few long distance trips a year. The hills are what really gets me, on flat ground its fine.

 

might want to check into the rear spring tsb if you haven't already. rough/harsh ride while hauling heavy loads, towing, etc...

 

Get a weight distributing hitch to help level out the load and make the towing experience 'easier' on you & the truck.
tacoma tow 6500
I usually only tow about 5300 The truck pulls awesome as long as you dont punish it and have the right setup.

 

Exactly! I think a good rule of thump to be safe is not to tow a load thats heaver than the tow vehicle. With the Taco that would be anything over 4,000 lbs.

Last summer I was towing a 5,000 lb Mercedes with a two wheel car caddie with my 2,000 Dodge Dakota. It started raining and when I went to stop at a downhill red light it started to slide. I just barely got it to stop before running into the car in front of me.

 

How about pulling 1200 lbs long distances with a 2.7 liter 4 cylinder and 5-speed manual trans?

 

MaxTacoma...... Four Winns really puts a 6000# boat on a single axle trailer?

 

haha thats what i was thinking....big boat...one axle?

 

Barkslayer;

I pulled a 2,600 lb enclosed trailer w/o trailer brakes from Wisconsin to daytona and Sturgis with my 2006 four cylinder 5 speed. Three times to daytona and twice to Sturgis. Drove it mainly in 4th and down shifted to 3rd as needed in the hills. The only frustrating time was when I had a 30 mph head wind East of Rapid City.

I fixed that by buying a 2009 V6 Tacoma. The four cylinder is a great truck and people under estimate its towing capability.

 

^ Im just going on what the dealer I bought it from told me as far as weight. I dont have a manuel or the specs, but the guy from the dealer told me that its around 6k. And by the time you add gear and the cooler figured it would be around 6500lbs. Its not a 305 its a 350 w/ the volvo duo props. I would much rather it have the tandom axel as well, so I'm not sure why Four Winns would only put it on a single axel.