2018 Taco towing a 4k pound RV

Call me ambitious but I plan on using my taco to tow a 20ft car hauler (with a light car or motorcycles inside). Finding a light all aluminum car hauler. I simply couldn’t live with a full size for a daily driver. Plan includes 4.88 gears, stock tires, brake controller, load distributing hitch, magnuson SC when we can buy them here. As of next week, I’ll be halfway there..

 

GREAT LOOKING little trailer!!!!

 

My taco is 6mt, trailer is about 4200dry, just did 7600 miles from Chicago all around the west coast, 17 states 2 months straight driving. I was concern with the taco but I gotta tell you she did great!
Fuel mileage is just like yours between 9 to 12.5 but I'm lifted and bigger tires and was hauling a small motorcycle on my bed as well and 4 bicycles.
Rpms where 4th gear at 70mph 3k almost the whole trip like this.
Reverse sucks on hills, that's where I could smell my clutch.
If I keep rving I will def regear.

 

You need the 2lo mod. That’ll save your clutch for sure.

 

Yeah I read about it and will consider it, thanks.

 

It was an easy peasy install. I think he’s doing another group buy round so now’s the time. Not always available.

 

Also consider the semi trailer is likely running caps, so the possibility of a blow out and resulting gator may be something you would not want to contend with.

 

Thanks so much, I appreciate the response. I think I'll try to stay under 1500 lbs either way, just me and the Mrs

 

I know what the owner's manual says, but I pulled out pop up camper in 5th at 75 mph without an issue. (I think it was about 1,900 lbs. unloaded.)

The 4k travel trailer is a 4th gear max pull kind of thing. Lol. It runs 2,800-3,000 rpms and I just get used to it for the time I'm driving it. The engine seems to like the revs and does ok with the 10-12 mpg. I just know what to expect and get there when I get there.

 

75mph too fast.

 

Nearly 4000 lbs here loaded. Also carrying 100 lbs generator and extra fuel.

Pulls like a champ WITH ECT at S5 on level grade. Here in CA the speed limit for towing a trailer is 55, which is a bit below the S5 sweet spot of 60.

Mileage is 11 or 12. Does a great job though! I'm happy.

 

Here our setup. Around 3800 lbs fully loaded. S4 ect on tows great. I’m in Oregon and go up and over the mountain range a lot. During summer towing I do pin the thermostat open on the transmission. Keeps the temp between 175-205 when going up and over the mountains. Also camper is a 2020 forest river wolfpup limited.

 

Awesome set up.. what size tires do you have? I have a 2021 sport with stock 265/65/17. Thinking of moving up to the 265/70/17s. I know its not much difference in size just wondering what effect if any I would notice pulling a 21ft bay boat that weighs around 3000lbs?

 

can i know your payload on your tacoma? also you say the dry weight on the trialer is 4000lbs? what is the hitch weight? and fully loaded what weight did it came out to?

 

We just picked this up last Friday in Virginia Beach; it's the Salem FSX 181RT(tiny toy hauler). Spent the weekend at a campground immediately following to get a feel for the thing; we like it alot! Thing towed amazingly well; I agree with everyone on here who says that S4 about 60-65 mph is the sweet spot. Dry weight reads at 3400lbs; trailer is about 4000 lbs fully loaded with the bikes and generator, etc, for a moto weekend. Couldn't possibly be more pleased with how the Taco performed; didn't seem to have any trouble whatsoever.

Oh, and definitely agree with those recommending a WDH/sway bar; truck sat perfectly level when adjusted and sway was non-existant.