Towing 6400 with Tacoma

Hope you dont have a dog.

The " I wear my Tacoma in place of my dick" crew will shoot it

Kidding guys

 

I think the truck is capable of doing 6400lb load but thats based on gears and temps etc. doesnt mean it will do it with ease. kinda like i could run a marathon if i really tried... but i am not designed to.

 

10 mpg isn't bad at all towing that wind block FYI. An F350 gas wouldn't do any better fuel milage towing that thing

 

Watch the Gauntlet on u tube comparing 2nd gen vs 3rd gen. See what happens.

 

I’ve towed a lot with mine, over 7000lbs before.

From my experience, once speeds exceed 55-60 mph a large box trailer or TT (I own a 7X16 box trailer) causes more issues than lower profile heavier loads.

When pulling my tractor or excavator at 70 they both require less shifts and lower rpm than my box trailer (3000 lbs).

The increased wind resistance really kills you.

My only complaint with my truck is starting on a slope while loaded, the clutch gets abused.

 

You're absolutely right, 10mpg isn't that bad, but it's not so much the mileage as the drivability. We towed this with my buddy's Ram 2500 super duty and it was the equivalent of my truck towing a radio flyer. In his truck we got 15-17 mpg and no real speed momentum loss up hills. Strong headwinds are the only thing that really affected his truck towing my trailer.

All that said, I'll tow that trailer all over Texas and further with my truck over the next 4-5 years and not complain a bit.

 

you have ECT on right?

 

If it towed 3500 easily it’s max tow would be over 10k. That’s the way these ratings work. I towed a 5000lbs 5th wheel (a massive wind grabbing front ) with my 4.6L f150 and it was scary... until I completely changed my driving habits while towing. 50-55mph and allot less on in inclines. Did that for 4 years. Never had an issue with overheating or the transmission. And that 4.6 would whine.

I think there’s too much expectations for these little trucks. Transmission shifts crazy at 75mph? Really? At that speed with a little motor even the tailgate will be dragging hard.

All that poor performance, but they don’t break. Maybe they aren’t breaking because of the performance.

 

Don't think I'd put that yellow strap across the back wheels like it. it will roil back a little, strap will fall off. next thing you know, ass end of the tractor will be hanging off the ass end of the Taco.

 

That's a cute little trailer.

 

I bet the bike causes drag also..Screws up you airflow I bet..

 

If Toyota had left the 4.0 in the 3rd gen the bitching would still be at 11.

My truck is outdated as fuck

The Ranger has more HP and torque

The Ridgeline has more HP and torque

Just wait for it in a couple of years all the 2020 owners will be bitching that Toyota won't offer anymore head-unit updates and Car Play will be boned at some point in the next decade. If you want change and more tech be prepared to accept the trouble that it brings

 

The manual says not to tow in OD. That means S4. My Tundra is the same. The manual says no OD in tow/haul mode.

 

So you are looking to pull 4900 lbs. I pull a TT at 5100 loaded and it pulls great but I only get about 9 mpg and definitely feel it behind me in the Tundra. I had no interest in regularly towing this much weight with the Tacoma.

 

When you use gearlock with the OVTune ECT is on, yes.

 

Toyota's customers. Look at their sales.

 

Drive 55-60mph. 70mph way too dangerous and demanding on the Tacoma.

 

OP, here is my setup, my pioneer and trailer set up is very similar to yours. My trailer is only a 10' though. I typically tow in S5 and with ETC on. On both the auto and manual, 5th and 6th are OD. My truck in 4th at 70 MPH is @ 3000 RPM. My truck typically gets between 12-15MPG depending on speed and wind. I typically tow around 65 MPH. I tow through similar terrain as you as I live in central Ohio, but tow through SE Ohio and WV regularly.

I have towed my cargo trailer maxxed out at 3500# and overloaded on payload and never had an issue with power, even going up a 10% grade. @6400#, towing would be very tedious IMO though. I typically wouldn't regularly tow more than 75% or so of the rating.

Sorry you are unhappy with your truck, but I can't see your setup being very difficult. I will say, I have sumo springs and HD dakars in the rear, even just the Sumo's improved towing greatly. If you haven't done anything to the suspension, I'd recommend looking into bags or Sumos. The HD Dakars are nice as well, but certainly not required to tow a SXS.

If you were to regularly tow 6400#, i'd say a half ton would be the much better choice. Will a Taco tow, 6400#, certainly. Would it be miserable? Certainly.

 

Eh, I've heard nothing but praise for the 4.0. There's a reason it was used in the tacoma/4runner/FJ cruiser/etc. It has more low down torque and no Atkinson bs. The 4.0 is still in service today. It has been in use for over 15 years.

 

The 4.0 in the 4 runner makes 12 more torque at 200 RPM lower. It's not a beast either. Neither is the 4.0 in the Taco. Don't believe me? Google towing with a tacoma from 2015 or earlier and read all the complaints. The 4.0 didn't become an icon of towing until the third gen came about and the second gen owners had someone else to shit on.

I liked the 4.0 in my FJ, but it wasn't really anything special. It was fine and I liked it, but I won't hold it in as high regard as my 6.0 or even the 2.0 from my GTi.

For towing at speed, I will gladly take the 42 extra HP the 3.5 has.