Just bought a trailer....

I second that the Rockwood GeoPro is a great Tacoma size trailer!

 

I don't mean to sound condescending but do you adjust your brake controller each and every time according to the manufacturers specs? Are you a "set it and forget it" type of person or the type that adjusts it just right once the brakes are properly warmed up on the trailer?

I tow over some serious passes on 33's with 4.88's and a trailer loaded over 4K lbs and haven't torched the brakes yet. I feel like the truck tows well as long as you're not overloading it and everything is configured properly.

Towing should be handled like you're about to go flying, check list the safety items to be "pre-flighted" and walk around before putting anything into motion along with understanding your equipment so you're not endangering your passengers, others on the road, and most of all the people who have to use a snow shovel to scrape you off the road.

 

Nice rig!

As mentioned WD hitch and BC are musts, definitely sway controller as well. Take it slow, stay in 4th. Look into ways to read trans temps for long hauls, they are cheap.

Have fun, be safe!

APEX 249RBS, about 4800 empty wt. Only towing short (<1.5hrs) distances in FL;

 

This is spot on.

 

I think there is no doubt that a Tundra is much better for your towing needs. But it sounds like you can make your Tacoma work IF you abide by a few rules. Personally, if I was gonna be in the camping thing long term...I would trade the Tacoma for a Tundra.

 

Nice! I love my 19FBS, but I wish I had gone with a 15' or 16' model like yours simply for slightly better towing, because slightly better towing in a Tacoma is much better towing.

 

That is kinda weird. Did the trailer come 'stock' with more than 2 batteries or propane tanks all sitting on or near the front?

I originally opted for 30lb propane tanks instead of 20lb and it increased my tongue weight by 50lbs. With my bike and spare gas cans my tongue weight was too high so I had to trade them back for 20's.
I added two rotopax tanks to my trailer for those long west Texas drives with no fuel (while I'm getting 8mpg in a headwind). Those full weigh 26lbs each.

 

I was thinking the same thing but didn’t feel like typing all that out. Trailer brake settings shouldn’t be a static setting. Power on my p3 is constantly are adjusted for the load and boost settings change depending on the terrain. No boost around town, first boost setting on the flatland interstates and the second boost setting in the hills.

 

What wheels/rims do you have on your Tacoma? They look great!

 

Thank you for that. It's about time someone spit out some real world honesty. You can only ask so much from a little truck. It's a little truck fella's. Lol
Zim

 

I spy a plumber working on your trailer!

 

Keen eye my friend although I was not the plumber in the pic.

 

My question is- if you own your Tacoma outright can you still trade it for a tundra.

 

I’m in the same boat. I already our RV. It’s a 23ft. 4400 dry. I have yet to try it with the Tacoma. I purchased the extended mirrors, WD hitch and Anti-Sway bar. I had already setup the brake controller. I’m hoping it can tow it well as we really only use it 2-3 times out of the year. Didn’t want to buy a full size truck just for that. And we lived n South Texas so our only difficult thing would be wind. Land is pretty flat here.

 

Heavy tongue weights are typical of "Toy Hauler" models since the manufacturer anticipates (as best they can) the weight of another vehicle being loaded into the rear. Owning a toy hauler is another area of knowledge that you need to be aware of if you want to be safe as far as placement of cargo etc...

One other thing I keep forgetting to bring up on towing with these smaller trucks is the width of the trailer makes a ton of difference as well.

 

Thanks man, they're Level 8 MK6's. They were discontinued but Discount tire picked them back up and they're available. They are one of the finest wheels on any gen Tacoma. I think they were actually designed with a Tacoma in mind.
And they are NOT expensive!

Mine are the 0 offset, 16". They make a -10 offset too.

 

Looks really nice, but too much hitch weight loaded for my Tundra. I got a 22' with 575 hitch weight.

 

All I can add to what was already discussed- be extra careful on what you stuff the storage cubbies with. Pots and pans and folding chairs seem like negligible weight, but they add up surprisingly fast. With an empty weight already tipping the scales like that, just realize you might not be able to carry fully furnished like some of "those guys" you see at the parks.

All you guys are a lot braver than I. My little trailer maxes out at 3200 including extra batteries and full water tank. I sure as hell wouldn't want to go over that. The milage is bad enough as it is, I tend to get pissed if I see it drop below 14.

Escaping the city for some true isolation this weekend:

 

So I was really worried about the 645 lb tongue weight on the dry trailer so I went to actually measure the tongue weight at the dealership and it came in only at about 475-500lbs, so with WDH I should be fine! I’ll let you all know how it goes when I pick it up Wednesday! I guess worst case I could always up to a tundra

 

The WDH will probably 100lbs to the tongue before you attach the trailer.