Newbie and new Tacoma

Hello everyone

I’m new on this, even though I’ve read through several threads before signing up. I bought a 2020 Tacoma off road with tow package Labor Day weekend and I’m obsessed with her. Love driving it, done some mods and so happy with my decision.
I’ve always wanted a truck but working and traffic and 1 hour commute, it made no sense. Covid allowed me to work from home permanently which means, I got my truck!!
I am also getting a trailer on Tuesday. 2019 eprofd
And stoked for this as well, as this is one big reason we jumped on a truck. Any recommendations for those who tow a travel trailer? I got my scan gauge for watching the temperature of things, got my wireless brake controller and my hitch with sway control and weight distribution. I’ve been driving in s mode to get use to it, since it says to tow in S mode, now I freaking move S mode for everyday driving. I’m curious though, do you stay in S 4 up to how many MPH? If I’m going 50 or 55 shouldn’t I change to s5 and ect? What do you all do.

also happy to be on this forum and thanks for any time you took for reading this.

 

Hello Melody
Welcome to TacomaWorld

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW. I tow a trailer for work everyday, as well as on the weekends pulling our Offroad camper or dirt bikes.

Sounds like you bought all the right stuff to get you going. Now you should take your trailer out to an open parking lot and get used to it. Put up some cones or a cardboard box and start practicing your turns and/or backing up.
Would be good to get some practice in before you hit the main road, so that you have some skills backing the trailer up.

A trailer only needs small inputs to start making it turn when backing up. Most people move the steering wheel way to much at first.
If you get in a tight spot or have people around you and you begin to panic about maneuvering a tight space, just take your time and be patient. Allow others to move around you if need be.

Triple Check your chains and Tongue Locks. Practice jacking the trailer up in order to change tires. Remember losses the LugNuts before jacking the trailer up.
Carry a wheel chock with you and chock the trailer anytime your having to do any work on it.

As far as speed, these trucks can really spin up in the RPMs, the trans can take running at a higher RPM, what it doesn’t like is to bounce back and forth between gears constantly.

When you haul a trailer it’s all about finding that happy spot between speed, rpm and keeping the trans happy (least shifting you can do up slight grades).
Keeping it in 4th will help with that.

 

Welcome aboard! Nice truck

 

@Built2Ride

thank you for going through so much detail! I sincerely appreciate it.
I was gonna take it out a few times in spring to the giant church parking lot by us and do practice maneuvering this just makes it official that I need to do that. we got it winterized and ready for storage next to our house for the winter, since I hate camping in such cold weather.

Thank you again so much and I’ll keep her in S4

 

Your very welcome. Practice is key and keeping a cool head is even more important.
While towing, get a sense for where your truck is happiest, you will find a spot in which the truck is working...but not screaming all the time. That’s where you wanna be. Sounds of the truck will tell you a lot.
If you tow a lot, you/your tech needs to check the rear diff fluid on occasion. Ensuring that it’s full/in good condition. Towing puts more stress on the diff than anything.
Lastly, they make extended mirrors for the Taco, these help big time if you got a longer/wider camper.

 

Oh yes! thanks for reminder, I need extended mirrors.

I’m happy my camper did come with a camera on back

 

Welcome to TW!

 

@Built2Ride
I took my travel trailer home today and I’m told this is normal, yet I’m not use to it. So thought I’d ask you a fellow taco owner that tows. Does your truck feel like it’s tugging as you tow? I’m trying to figure out best explanation of it but it’s obviously more bouncy even with Wd/ sway control hitch but it almost is like a pulling or tugging feeling. I only went 9 miles home and never above 40 but now I’m like, is this gonna feel worse when I take on freeway?!

 

Welcome!

 

Hmmm. Tugging’ feeling. I am gonna send you a PM with my cell. Call me and we can talk. Hard to get a since as to what your exactly experiencing.
The truck most definitely will feel like you are pulling dead weight for sure.