towing long distance

I am quitting my job to travel for several months around the US. I own a 2016 Tacoma with tow package. My camper is 241 lb hitch weight and 1937 lbs base weight. It's 16 ft long. I was wondering if any of you would have concerns towing it for several thousand miles. I've already towed it 900 miles in one stretch and it seemed to go well. Just wondering if I should do anything to prep my vehicle for towing for a very long distance other than making sure oil is good...Thanks

 

Keep an eye on trans temp. Should be fine.

 

I'd worry more about the trailer than your truck.

Enjoy the trip.

 

Enjoy your van trailerlife.

 

Should be just fine, take it easy on the truck going up hills especially the LONG grades & Watch your temps.

Most importantly ENJOY

 

Trailer brakes? Especially in mountains. As a truck driver I’ve seen a lot of pickups towing trailers with glowing brakes at night.

 

I’ve towed over 10,000 miles with my Tacoma thus far

recommendation #1: 10 extra gallons of fuel. It’ll save your ass at some point.

I also have a 12v compressor. Lots of tires and pressures change with temperature and elevation. Good luck trying to find air somewhere if you need it.

 

What kind of trailer are you towing? I have an older 16' casita that is similar to the weights you have described and I have towed several hundred miles in a shot. I think everyone has already covered the main concerns you might run across. If you are towing in the more remote areas of the west carrying extra gas or making sure you really know what mileages you are running and where your next gas station is going to be are critical.

 

As mentioned, I’d be more concerned about the trailer in this scenario. The truck is more than capable for this load as you already know. If you are not familiar, get familiar how to grease the axle bearings. A spare tire and possibly even a spare bearing and the associated tools required will keep you from getting stranded or having to pay someone a ton of cash to do it for you.

 

Quitting work to go travel? I love it! If you can swing it, good on you, there's more to life than punching a clock.
Another compliment. It's great to hear you did your homework and bought the right sized trailer! Once a month, someone stops by they ask if they can tow some ridiculous sized trailer with their Tacoma.
Definitely trailer brakes, good spare, tools, patience, some cash, and a nice camera.
Enjoy, travel safe!

 

Thanks for all the helpful replies...I have trailer brakes and a brake controller..I have two 2.5 gallon rotopax I will take with me.....It's a 2010 Rpod 151. Ive towed it in the Colorado mountains before and it was running 5k rpms going up long inclines...Should I avoid doing that for long periods? I'm guessing no cruise control either?

 

You probably know this, but a spare set of timken bearings and races for the trailer as well as tools and grease for install are good to have.

 

Nah it's made to make power in that range, don't let Johnny Bigblock with his tiny pecker, convince you that your little V6 is going to melt.

 

you're good, do it. mine's 3300 dry. I wouldn't sweat 2000lb.

 

I did 4500 pounds for several thousand miles with no issues.

 

WHat bout using cruise control when towing?

 

I don’t tow a lot with the Taco at heavy weights, but I do hula my RZR on a 16 foot car hauler that I also haul the taco on from time to time with my Ram. Between the RZR and the weight of the trailer, and what else I had, I was looking at close to 4K. Other than towing the weight, I didn’t even notice it back there. Load your camper correctly, set up the gain on the trailer brakes so it’s braking itself and your truck is just guiding it so to speak. You’ll be fine.

I never understood why people are so against towing on the heavier side. Coming from a trucking family, I know that fully loaded the towed trailer is often twice the weight of the truck. Then you look into doubles on the thruway, you’re looking at 3-4 times what the tractor weighs. The thing is their set up correctly

 

Pickup's aren't road tractors. For one thing even though most Tacoma's are rated for 6500 lbs the tongue weight will exceed payload at closer to 4500 lbs unless the truck is empty and only has a 150 lb driver in it. An empty truck with a 150 lb driver is how the towing specs are determined on all light trucks. If you start adding passengers and cargo to the pickup you severely limit what you can tow. Not that it won't pull it, but due to payload.

Towing heavy with a 5th wheel, whether on a road tractor or pickup, is a lot easier than pulling from a hitch at the rear. That is why they make 5th wheel trailers. But since a 5th wheel puts about 20% of the trailer weight on the trucks suspension very few 1/2 tons have the payload to handle it. Many 3/4 tons will not.

In short a road tractor is designed to pull 2X-3X the curb weight of the tow vehicle. Light duty trucks are best with closer to 1.5X curb weight.

And even then you have to choose carefully. The vast majority of 1/2 ton trucks on the road aren't meant to tow with at all. Many of them won't handle what a Tacoma will handle.

 

I guess I should buy a Dodge 3500