RPM’s while towing

I towed my 7x12 V nose cargo trailer with my 3rd generation Stock 2020 OR today. I was heading into a 20 mph headwind in hilly terrain. My truck really struggled. I was running from 3500-4000 rpm’s. I had to shift into 3rd gear. Seems like if you were going several hundred miles it wouldn’t be good for the motor. Is this the norm??

 

What speed were you going?

 

Sounds like you were asking too much from the truck. If it needs to be in a lower gear but then the constant rpms are too high then you just need to ease up on the gas pedal a bit. not sure what rpm the 3rd gen hits peek torque but that’s About where you want to be.

 

In my 2016 TRD-Offroad I recently towed my Old 1970 C10 on an auto transport from u-haul (around 5000 LBS total) in hilly terrain and it sat about 3k RPM or so until I hit some of the steeper hills then I had to get up to around 5k RPM. Does yours have the tow package? You can enter your VIN into the link below and find out.

https://www.toyota.com/owners/my-vehicle/vehicle-specification

 

I was going between 55-60 mph. Yes, I have the towing package. Is it ok to maintain that high a RPM for hundreds of miles?

 

let me refer you to this right here

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/enough-already-your-trucks-t-hp-and-rpm-explained.574429/

TLDR, it is ok. if your truck has the towing package, the truck was made to tow up to 6400 lbs? maybe 6800? i forget off hand but you're ok. it was designed for it. if you really want piece of mind, get a transmission temp gauge. shouldn't cost more than 200 bucks.

if you tow a lot, i would change your tranny fluid using the "severe" maintenance schedule (every 30k? maybe 60k? check your guide). also, i maxed out the towing before, the only thing that really worried me was the braking capabilities. but when you're towing a lot of weight, you're not supposed to drive like speed racer anyway lol.

 

mileage on engine ????

size of engine ???????

approximate weight o trailer ?????

constant steady engine speed will cause the engine to ' Lean Out '
more UNdesirable than harmful

example .......... the I4 engine makes its best robust torque
at approx 3200-3500 rpms
that with foot on the floor is best scenario

at that range pulling strong at approx 55 or 60 mph
U shouldnt experience adverse issues

not knowing engine size / trailer weight etc
simply maxing out HP is not the best


good luck

 

How much weight were you towing?
Was it a constant headwind?
Hilly like rolling hills or mountains?

These trucks aren't really that great for towing. For a more comfortable tow keep the weight, if possible, around 3500-4000lbs & have a WDH & trailer brakes.
Windy conditions especially headwinds will always make towing a chore regardless of trailer shape. Same with larger, longer hills & mountainous terrain .
If you tow alot of weight regularly you'll probably want to look for a more capable tow vehicle.

 

It's a small displacement v6. It makes its power pretty high in the RPM band. It's ok to let the thing turn to make torque and horsepower. Turning 3500-4000 RPM is just a little over halfway to redline NBD.

 

Welp...Tacoma motor (2GR-FKS) is the same as what is used in more recent various V6 Camry and Lexus models....and is a motor with peak HP and Tq tuned closer to the last 1/3 of the RPM limits, e.g. =^4000rpm...
Our Tacos ECU is quite good in calculating the needed gear and RPM to best move the vehicle under load or dry in the AT platform...
3rd Gen Tacos were built with those mid-hi RPM in mind for towing.

You're truck is fine

 

To answer the questions asked: My truck has the 3.5L motor. It has 7000 miles on it. Has towing package. The trailer only weighed 2700 lbs. I have trailer brakes. It was rolling hills no mountains. I had pretty constant 20 mph headwind. Just seemed like the truck was struggling at 3700 RPM going 55 MPH in 3rd gear. Was getting ready to tow that trailer 2000 miles round trip where I would be going across the Rockies. Now I am not so sure that would be good for the truck.

 

Higher revs are also where the cooling and oiling systems are working at their optimum. The heat gauge (transmission temps too if you have a guage) will tell you everything you need to know about how much real stress the task is putting on the drivetrain. I had a 4.6L f150 that I towed a 5000lb 5th wheel with. It had a towing capacity not much higher than the Tacoma. That was NOT a powerful motor at all. Man did that thing wind up. I thought I was going to trash the truck but I took a 3500 mile trip with it through all kinds of topography and while it definitely was nothing like normal driving, the longer I spent behind the wheel the more at ease I was with it. Its just different.

 

It’s harder on the driver than the truck

It’s a Toyota! The truck is made to work hard. Rpms are just a little higher than ‘truck guys’ are used to.

 

It’s totally fine. This truck makes power up high, you gotta let it eat

if you are an AT, gears would help. The MT tows significantly better than the AT due to the gearing differences.

 

It's possible your doubts about the capability of your specific Taco is valid...perhaps all our trucks are golden apples and your's is a lemon. Just save your truck for driving under 2000RPM not towing anything, and rent something else to tow that trailer with.

Haha damn it...I think I fell for Friday troll post...

 

while a 20mph headwind is stout

the 3.5 V6 should NOT have had an issue towing 2700 libs

of course wife kids dog coolers sleeping bags all add up to more than 2700lbs

maybe next time it will be a tail wind ............

good luck