Input from Taco owners who tow

Hi all, this is my very first post here on this forum. I am a prospective Tacoma buyer and wanted some input and opinions on towing with a 2nd gen Tacoma. I am interested in finding a 2010-2012 4x4 with a manual transmission which will be strictly a weekend vehicle. I am an experienced overlander and I am interested in building an overland rig out of a 2010-2012 Tacoma. I am also an avid fisherman and go fishing roughly once a week, towing a small 16' fishing boat that weighs roughly 3000 lbs (boat+trailer+fuel+gear) an average of 60 miles per trip.

I was hoping to get some input from members on this forum on their experiences towing with this year/type of Tacoma. I had read that the max tow capacity of a 2nd gen Tacoma is about 3,500 lbs. This would make my boat/trailer push the upper limits of towing capacity. What are your thoughts on this? I currently own a few other rigs including a mid size truck that I use to pull my boat, but it's rating is about 5,500 lbs, and does well until I am hitting a steep climb at freeway speeds which is expected. Would I be pushing it by towing my boat around with a 2nd gen Tacoma? Any input, info or opinion would be really appreciated from anyone who has towed a similar type boat around in a 2nd gen 4x4 manual transmission Taco. Thanks in advance everyone.

 

I don't tow (at some point will) but mine has the tow package with the 6500lbs tow capacity, just an FYI

 

Find a v6 with the factory towing option. It comes with a 7 pin round connector, a tranny cooler in front of the radiator on the driver's side, larger alternator, and has a class IV receiver.

 

The v6 with tow package is 6500 lbs. you’ll be fine.

the 4cyl trucks are 3500 lbs

 

V6 w/towing package is 6,500 lbs.
You will be fine @ 3500 lbs.
If you get a manual, you might want to look into the 2Lo mod.
It allows you to have Lo Range in 2WD. This will help backing up, and on steep boat ramps.

 

Plus an engine oil cooler, not sure the manual trucks will have a Trans Cooler?

 

They will not. If I understand correctly, the trans cooler is for automatics because they shift back and forth a lot when towing. I might be wrong though, but my truck is a manual with the towing package and I do not have a trans cooler. I have the larger alternator, class 4 hitch, and the oil filter cooler

 

You shouldn't have an issue towing a boat that size of you go with the V6 with a tow package. I drag a 5,500lb travel trailer and a boat/trailer that weigh approximately 2,500lbs wet. I don't even notice when the boat is back there.

 

Manual transmissions sit in a gear oil bath. No tranny cooler unless you weld heat sinks on.

 

I tow a 5200lb travel trailer with my 2014 4 door Off Road with the tow package. It's lifted a bit an on 285/75-16 BFG ATs and has a shell. Plus it's augmented with the TRD supercharger. In this configuration it tows the trailer just fine, over mountain passes, or humming along I80 at 75mph.
I can't imagine you would have any problems with a stock truck towing 3500lbs.

 

I have an 05 TRD Prerunner with 49k miles and tow a 24' travel trailer that weighs 4300 lbs unloaded. I did add firestone ride rites to eliminate the rear sag on the truck. Gas mileage drops to about 8 mpg when towing. Keep it out of OD and it pulls it fine.

 

Wow, thanks everyone for all the replies and information. The one variable keeping me from pulling the trigger on getting my first Tacoma was towing capacity. when I find one, I will definitely be posting my build on this forum as it comes along. Thanks again everyone for all the responses and personal anecdotes about your towing experiences. This is exactly what I needed to help me figure out what I need to look for.

 

MOST V6's are rated at 6400-6500 lbs towing, but a more realistic limit is closer to 4500 lbs. It's a lot more complicated than just tow ratings. That tells you how much weight the truck will PULL. You also have to consider payload and what the hitch is rated for. You'll max out payload and hitch weight with a trailer much over 4500 lbs.

Some of these guys claiming they are towing 5000-5500 lbs are over their trucks rated payload unless there is only a skinny driver in the truck. No other passengers, modifications, or cargo in the truck is the only way to make that happen.

For towing I'd avoid a manual transmission like the plague. The way modern engines are designed and with the way modern trucks are geared a manual is a serious handicap for towing.

 

Here’s the easiest way to tell if a Taco has the factory tow package. Pop the hood and look for the engine oil cooler.

 

Correct that payload is a concern when you're close to the max tow rating. When towing our trailer (4,300lb dry/5,500lb max) the only thing in the truck are passengers and snacks.

 

Hey! I am new here but wanted to give some input. I have a 2015 sport and tow a trailer that is ~4500lbs loaded into the Rockies on long road trips (19 hours each way last year for a 2 week road trip and multiple trips this year). I wouldn't go much heavier than this, but I have had no problems at this weight. Will you power up hills? No. Will you be fuel efficient? No. Can you do it? Easily.

 

I'm getting a 3rd gen and will be towing my pop up camper with it eventually. Well maybe with in days of getting it depends on when it comes in.. I think it should be fine. Just need to hook up a trailer brake controller.
I pull it with my Liberty CRD now and the 4cyl diesel engine had Always done well. Hope I'm not disappointed with the V6.

 

Hard to imagine nobody has mentioned stopping. Towing shouldn't be a problem, as long as you don't have a 2.7, auto., with orig gears, mine has trouble pulling itself. I haven't even tried pulling my 18', 3400#, bass boat with my 2013 Taco. I did pull it with my little 1998 Taco 2.7, 5 spd, (manual trans. is geared quite a bit lower than auto.) & it pulled it fine, but stopping it was a whole different adventure as mine has no trailer brakes. Many 16' boat trailers won't have brakes. Just my opinion, if you pull 3000" boat without brakes with a Taco, PLEASE BE CAREFUL, I may be the guy in front of you.

 

I been on some steep hills with pop ups I've had not in the Tacoma but brakes are important. My first trailer didn't have brakes.
the one place I camp is at the top of a hill. The road is curvy too. It feel more under control with trailer brakes going down it. I think it's required on trailers over 3000#

 

2011 4x4 v6 MT here, and I tow a 3000lb aluminum boat and trailer. Tows excellent. 2lo mod is incredibly valuable. Get it while it lasts.