Towing a 25ft 4400lb trailer

I’m about to purchase a travel trailer that is 25 feet long and weighs 4400 pounds dry. They are throwing in a weight distribution hitch which should make the tongue way more manageable. If it were you, would you feel comfortable towing that size of a trailer? I have a 2016 Tacoma with tow package. Automatic, six cylinder, off-road four-wheel-drive.

 

I wouldn't but thats my opinion. The truck may pull it and stop it but up and down hills and after you load it down who knows how it will handle.

 

Loaded you are going to be right about the edge of where i'd be comfortable, DCSB 4x4 is rated to tow 6400#. S mode and ETC are gonna be your friends.

It'll do it, but it will be slow and miserable.

Obligatory tundra comment here.

 

White knuckle driving there, just about as much as it'll take.

 

The weight is fine (as long as you don't load up the truck too much), but if it has any real frontal area it'll be pretty annoying on the highway.

 

What do you mean frontal area?

 

Its a measure of the aerodynamics of the trailer. If its got a big, tall, square front, air won't flow around it as easily, and it'll be more drag on the vehicle, particularly at highway speeds.

Compare that to something like a pop up camper, where its not really any higher than the bed of your truck.

 

Tundra?

 

I would stay off the freeway, or at least keep it under 60. Use sport mode and keep it out of overdrive. Don't put much weight in the bed of the truck. Take it slow and easy, and you're probably fine.

I wouldn't want to tow that regularly with a Tacoma. But a few times a year should be doable.

 

Which trailer is it?

What else would you take with you when camping?

 

Area: Length x width or in the case of frontal area: Width x height

Stand directly in front of your truck and pretend the trailer is attached directly behind it. Make an imaginary square as small as you can that includes the truck and trailer. If it is 6ft wide and 8ft tall you have a frontal area of 48 sq ft. Aerodynamics aren't considered since nobody knows the Cd of all the iterations that are possible, so they go with a quick and dirty Frontal Area calculation instead.

Most trucks that are designed for towing (which the Tacoma isn't) have published frontal area maximums. For example, a Ford F-250 has a max frontal area of 60 sq ft. That includes the truck AND the trailer you are towing behind it. If pulling a gooseneck or fifth wheel, the frontal area can go to 75 sq ft.

From the Ford towing guide:

Frontal Area is the total area in square feet that a moving vehicle and trailer exposes to air resistance. The chart above shows the maximum trailer frontal area that must be considered for a vehicle/trailer combination

 

I have the same truck and tow this (19ft Jayco) with sway control and airbags at 4,000lbs full not including what I put in the bed. I am re-geared, OVtuned with some armor and winch, adjustable suspension with heavy coils, and an upgraded leaf pack. It drives awesome with this setup.

4500 lbs may be ok in a stock config on the highway (still going to suck), but hills and getting to camp sites will not be something you look forward to.

Also, side note:
You don’t “need” airbags with weight distribution hitches (some, like mine also have sway control), but it helps a ton in carrying weight and keeping the bounce out if there is any. Plus if with cradles they offroad just fine due to the bags not being fastened all the time




I wouldn’t do it if I were you. Too dangerous without proper equipment/upgrades

 

If you are towing much, definitely invest in new gears.

 

I wouldn't do it personally. My 18 ft 2700lb dry camper is about much as I can take comfortably

 

Hey man, hows that thing pull with the axles flipped. Did it come like that or did you do it after? Thinking of flipping mine, I've drug the plumbing boondocking a few times

 

It drives great, but it’s the Baja offroad package so it came that way. It has nice Goodyear tires too.

 

Damn, I was hoping for a before and after comparison. Still good to know. Mine tows pretty well once I dialed in the wdh. I dont want to screw with it too much but ripping out plumbing would suck.

 

The trailer is a Nash 22h 2015 model

Specifications:
Dry Axle Weight (approx. Lbs.): 4486
Dry Hitch Weight (approx. Lbs.): 627
Net Carrying Capacity: 2387
Gross Dry Weight – Lbs.: 5113
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) – Lbs.: 7500
Exterior Length (approx. w / hitch): 24’9″
Interior Height: 6’6″
Exterior Height (approx.): 11’1″ incl. AC
Exterior Width (approx.): 8′
Tire Size: ST205/75R15
Load Range: D
Fresh Water Capacity (w/water heater, approx. gal.): 50
Gray Water Tank (approx. gallons): 42
Black Water Tank (approx. gallons): 35
LPG Capacity (approx. lbs): 60
CSA – Canadian Dealers Only: YES
Auto Ignition Furnace (1,000 BTUs): 25

 

I think it falls in to the category of Yes, you can tow it - but....

- probably won't be very fun
- you won't have much leftover capacity for people and gear

I would look for something smaller.

 

It’s just me and my dog...he weighs 80 lbs