Towing daily for work

I sold my second gen years ago and my first gen burnt 2 years back and really miss them. I'm about to launch a new business and really would prefer another taco over a F150 or Ram 1500, however I'm curious what others think

I live in the flat lands of Ontario Canada, very little elevation changes where I will be operating. The equipment I will be towing is a towable boom lift, weight is 4440lbs and 200lbs tongue weight. The towable boom lift isn't tall, shouldn't offer much wind resistance, and is only 5'6" wide. When the business is at the point I want it to be I will be towing it daily, likely upwards of a few hundred km a day. The truck might be a daily driver for me, however I will likely dry one of my cars more often in the summer. Winter driving/towing will likely very common and we deal with a fair amount of crappy wet snow/freezing rain in our region.

I like the idea of the taco for a number of reasons, size being a big part of it along with the other reasons most like them, resale value, reliability, cool factor, mod options etc.

Do you think a new taco will work? or should I just get a 1/2 ton? Does anyone else tow daily for work?

TAI

 

What else will you carry? The weight adds up (tools, materials, passengers).

 

If used is an option, perhaps one of the early gen tundras? Then again, Canada is pretty harsh on older vehicles so they might not be in reasonable shape. What's your expected tow speed?

 

I know the tundra single cabs offer the most payload, idk about towing, personally 4500lbs daily for a taco is overkill, probbly needs a cooler for the tranny, if you dont get a toyota get a f250 , what do you see the competition use?

 

Smart man.

 

I’m going to say you’d be better off with a larger truck.
I wouldn’t want to tow 4400 lbs daily.

I would look at a Ford w/5.0
Or maybe a Ram 1500 5.7 with the newer 8 speed Trans.

 

I rather jump over a cliff than buy a Chrysler product

 

I understand, I have experience with the Ram 1500.
The reason I mentioned it was that

My Father and Brother both have them. So far they have done well with a 4200 lbs dry weight camper.
Add all the gear and supplies. It’s probably pushing 5k.

Father has aftermarket Airbags, his has the 3.21 gears.
Brother has the Factory Air System, w/ 3.92 gears.

 

You’d be fine. Add in a brake controller.

if you buy the automatic, I’d definitely regear to 4.88s. The manual is fine with stock gears but you’d probably want the 2lo mod in the event you ever need to back up

 

That’s a lot of weight for a Taco on a daily basis. You will stress the drive train and suspension, and the whole truck. You would be Way better off with a bigger, stronger, sturdier more powerful truck. It would be a lot more pleasurable than pulling it daily with a Taco. Oh yeh and your gas mileage is going to suck big time. No way in hell I’d pull that load daily for that many miles with a Taco. Your truck will tow that weight ok, but daily no thanks.

 

Ok, this is what I was thinking unfortunately. I really wished the taco would do it and I was hoping I wasn't going to go full sized but it appears its in my best interested

Thanks for everyones opinion!

 

I tried backing up a empty trailer up a hill. It sucked so much. The gearing on reverse is crazy high. I have seen this mod and wondered why you would want it. Now I get it, thank you.

 

This mod is such a 'value add' mod. Functional, fun weekend project, not crazy expensive, and if you need it... your truck will love you for it.

 

I have seen the thread, but despite searching and looking around for the past 15 mins, I cannot seem to find it again. Happen to have a link handy by any chance?

 

Keep it maintained and be patient with it and you'll be a-ok. Thats like 2/3 of the rated capacity if I remember right.

Do keep an eye on the weight of all your extra tools and stuff though, that does add up.

 

Here you go: Group Buy - 2LM PnP - Plug and play 2WD low range for the 3rd gen. Tacoma

<edit> PS, look at the first post too. I think there's a link there for a daisy chain option to provide stock lighting to various add-on switches; eg on with dash lights rather than always on.

 

i agree about tools & ancillary devices

u will in reality be maxed out. .............weight wise ( my SR access cab weighs 4k with me in it)

brakes will take a beating daily towing

u might consider Firestone air bags ( yes i saw the 200lb tongue weight)

otherwise realistic expectations might expand Ur scope & decision

good luck

 

That’s why I got it. I didn’t know how much I would use it, but I find myself using it more than I expected. It’s so fast to engage which is a huge plus and definitely encourages using it.

 

Thanks guys.

Sorry for thread jacking OP!

 

Get something bigger. The Tacoma can barely handle its own weight going down the highway