4.0 v6 Tacoma and 20ft bay boat

I’ve been thinking of getting rid of my 2016 f150 which pulls a good size boat really well. 325hp and 400lbs torque. I’m just not sure about longevity compared to the Tacoma . Does anyone regularly pull a 18-20ft bay boat Over an hour one way? If so how does the truck do with it?

 

What is the combined weight of the boat and trailer?

 

I’m assuming the 325/400 means your f150 is the 2.7 eco boost?

That engine was built from the ground up to run turbos (and nobody used to question turbo diesel reliability - pre-emissions).

I love my Tacoma but if I was buying a truck TODAY, it would be a 2.7 f150. I’d have no concerns about reliability.

 

Your sig says you have a 2000 Tacoma, but you're asking this question in the 2nd gen forum where we all have either 2.7 liter 4 cylinders or 4.0 liter V6's. Before I answer your question with my experiences towing a 22' high performance boat that weighs about 3,500 pounds including the trailer, which truck, motor and transmission do you have?

 

We really do need to know the weight you are going to be pulling.
And as one guy asked! “What Engine and Trans?”

The 4.0 rated at ~6k towing w/towing package.

My opinion is 4,500 is about what I consider “the most” I’d constantly pull.
The Auto should be left in 4th gear. Don’t run 5th unless you have really flat land. (Just don’t do OD)
The Manual Transmission is fine, but Reverse is pretty “High” and backing can be a difficult with out “riding” the clutch. A lot of guys that to with the Manual Trans. run the 2WD Lo mod.


FWIW, my towing opinion doesn’t matter.
You’ll get any where from “Tacoma’s suck at towing” to “6k+ all day, every day”.

My experience has me feeling comfortable somewhere in the 4K range.

 

I got rid of the 2000. I was curious the comparison between the 4.0 v6 and my current f150 pulling a boat.

 

Total weight about 5k lbs

 

I tow boats often. There is no way a 185ish horsepower NA V6 can compete with a 325hp twin turbo V6. The Tacoma will tow 5K lbs but it isn't going to be fast doing it. The stock brakes are going to be scary with that amount of weight. The heaviest boat I've towed so far was 6800-7000 lbs.

 

You won't like it.

Flat ground at 55mph is about as close as you'll be to 'equal'. Every other condition the Ford wins.

 

I thought the 4.0 v6 were 240ish hp

 

It's 236 HP. And I don't tow with my truck. I did however two with a 92 Explorer Sport back in the day. I had a 21' Proline Cuddy Cabin and it did the job fine. Not as good as our bronco before that but it towed. With that said, if our 92 Explorer did it, I'd say the Tacoma will be more than adequate.

 

Tundra time sir... The Taco is a great truck for what it is, but too many people expect 1/2 ton performance out of a small truck. I have a 20' Lund aluminum walleye boat and have used the 4.0 taco many times. The trailer has brakes and I fish 20-30 miles around my house. All that said, I also have a 2018 tundra with the 5.7 and it is a beast. It doesn't even know the boat is there. The gas mileage between the taco and tundra isn't as big a difference as you would think. I am not a Ford guy, GM screwed me for the last time in 2003. I almost bought a RAM 2500 when I bought the Tundra, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I love the Tundra, and the money isn't all that different.

 

It'll do it but you won't win any races. Our travel trailer is 5,500lbs loaded and I drag all over the Sierra Nevada mountains. If you have an automatic you are going to want to keep an eye on your transmission temp.

 

Sounds like I made a good call on my f150. If fords reliability issues have somewhat corrected then I’ll be sitting nice. My truck only has 31k on it now. I was just wanting another Toyota because I know how tough they are

 

Horsepower hauls ass. Torque tows. You'll find that the F-150 has a ton more torque - especially down low where it counts. I love my Tacoma far more than I loved and of my (seven) F-150s. But towing in one place where the Fords won hands down. If you want a Toyota that tows like an F-150, but a Tundra.

 

You're correct, I must not have been awake yet lol.

 

It'll never be as reliable as a Toyota.

 

GM screwed all of us taxpayers between 2008 and 2013.

 

the brakes. the tacoma brakes aren't going to sufficiently stop the boat trailer. or they will need replacing frequently. i think it's not just about the engine power. also the trans will likely burn out

 

Most states require brakes on trailers over a certain weight. If those are in good shape and you have a brake controller, you're not stopping an extra 5,000 lbs.

You can certainly cook the transmission fluid if you have an automatic and don't watch temps but keeping it out of D so the torque converter isn't constantly locking/unlocking reduces the chance of that happening.