Can someone explain how towing capacity works?

73 < 159

ok, got it.

read my post again, it’s #17, you quoted it.

 

Because a trailer will increase drag to a point you will have zero power left.
Could you pull a 6500 lb trailer with 2.7? Sure but real slowly and the transmission is not built to handle the torque required. You could measure your 0-60 times in minutes if it ever got there. You could not pull out into oncoming traffic. It simply does not have the power to pull a heavier trailer.

 

obviously there are limits and that’s what the tow rating is. i understand what horsepower is, i understand physics generally.

i don’t even tow; i was inquiring about how the line is drawn. simply this: if horsepower is the only limitation, then theoretically it can do the same amount of work (same capacity), just more slowly. on the roads, too slowly becomes a problem. my original post stated that, as well as it being my own assumption to why the limit is what it is...

but that’s an assumption. i was hoping someone who knows a bit more than me could confirm that or provide a piece of information i might be missing. thanks.

 

You could tow most things with a Corolla. Is it safe? No. Are both Tacoma’s relatively the same? Sure. The main issue is if you get in an accident while pulling more than your truck’s rated capacity. Insurance might not cover you regardless of fault and there may be legal ramifications.

edit: more on topic, the differences in capacity most likely exist so Toyota can get more sales for the V6 (since this is the only way to get the tow package and higher ratings). By reducing the legal capacity, many would opt for the more expensive V6.

 

When I had my 2.7L, before selling it and buying the 3.5L, I towed cross country a few times and faired alright. You should be fine.

Took this through the West Virginia Turnpike without any issues at all.




On hills just stay in the slow lane. Even if there is a semi going slow in front of you don’t even think about it. Leave early enough to give yourself time to get where you need to be.

 

You are absolutely correct... if the truck were set up that way... meaning gearing and driveline.
Say I have a truck that has 300 hp and it will tow 7K lbs from the factory. That means it will accelerate and drive at normal speeds.
Now I get a truck that has 150 hp. In order to pull that same 7K, the gearing would need to be set up to provide the same torque as the 300 hp truck. I can do that, but if you understand physics, then you cannot get something for nothing. In order to get that torque, you have to give up speed. So now I have a truck with 300 hp that can tow 7K lbs at 70 mph, or a truck with 150 hp that can tow 7K lbs at 35 mph!

 

i understand the purpose of gearing, our transmissions do have some gears in them, at least last time i checked! gearing gives engines a mechanical advantage and cars an ability to move at a broader range of speeds. horsepower is not fixed, but fluid and dependent on engine speed and throttle position. as far as the hypothetical, we’re not talking about tugging a freighter, we’re talking about moving a few thousand pounds which doesn’t exactly need a locomotive equivalent gearing advantage.

saying “drive normal speeds” though and equating that to 70mph, you’re assuming that’s a minimum requirement whereas i’m not. some states even limit tows to 55 or 65 mph (california is one, i think). look at it like this, i could hike up a mountain and i could hike up a mountain carrying 80lbs. i’m gonna do one a lot faster, but i can still do the other well enough. less encumbered folks might pass me... and somebody stronger than i am could probably do it quicker and easier too. to me this seems to be about defining what’s acceptable performance and when it becomes too degraded.

international tow ratings are calculated differently than here in the states, because an aussie hilux with the very same engine and transmission i have is rated for 2500kg/5500lbs. so if my chassis is good for 6800lb (here), and my drivetrain is rated for 5500lb (in Oz), than our tow ratings seem likely conservative, not necessarily inappropriate, but framed (again — i assume) around consumer expectation for highway speeds.

so with your 2GR, you might pull 5000lbs comfortably at 70mph in 4th gear. well in australia, i can theoretically* pull the same load with my paltry 2TR, just maybe limited to somewhere around 55mph, in my 4th or even 3rd gear... my drivetrain would be stressed, i’d likely get awful fuel economy, but it’d still move the stuff effectively and “be able to get out of its own way” depending on how you define that. 0-60, like i said, may not even get there. who knows.

obviously maxed at 55-60 on the two lane i80 crossing nevada, with an 80mph speed limit and some steep climbs, is not a recipe for success. but moving an immobile car on a trailer across town is hardly comparable, and could theoretically be harmless if not a bit sluggish (if the chassis is rated for it).

*i am obviously not doing this and have no plans to do so. this also assumes no other capacity limitations i may be unaware of with the tacoma, which was part of my initial post/inquiry.

let me be extra clear for the TL;DR crowd. i don’t advocate exceeding tow ratings in the usa or elsewhere. i don’t tow. if you’re going to tow, it’s best to stay *well* within your spec limitations. my interest in the thread and topic was where and how the rating line gets drawn (here) based on all of the above, knowing the international spec, and exacerbated by the seeming misinformation about certain powertrain capabilities.

 

Interestingly enough, this is exactly why tow ratings often differ based on the country the car was sold in. Our (US) tow ratings are not lower because they are being conservative, it's because of our speed limits. In Europe (for example), cars are usually rated higher since they are not reaching the same speeds as they would in the US. The US jeep wrangler is rated for 2,000 to 3,500lbs, but the EU wrangler is rated for 5,500lbs.

Also, in the EU, light trailers (0-1,600lbs) are limited to 60mph and heavy trailers (1,600 and above) are limited to 40-50 mph. On urban roads, this is further limited to 30 mph.

 

I think the statement below plays a much bigger part in it than most people would imagine.

Also seeing how people complain about the V6 empty, can you imagine how those people would howl if they hooked up a 4500lb trailer to their 4banger and it would only do 45mph on the interstate up a big hill?

The 2TR can certainly tow more than it's rated for, (I've done it), but it's all about reasonable expectations.

 

Newton’s First Law. Put another way, I give you the image below.

 

If that's the 4-banger, I would like to request an illustration of the 2GR

 

My 3.5 pulling a 3000 pound pop-up can be a challenge on occasion.

A 2.7 pulling 6500 is beyond nuts.

Good luck on those short on-ramps, and trying to figure out how to merge when you're still 40 mph slower than the flow of traffic.

Don't be daft, rent or buy the proper tool for the job.

 

There’s too many words in this thread.

 

I just wanna know who weighs 150 lbs...?

 

That’s the ideal weight (?)for the average height. If you are overweight, Toyota voids your warranty

 

The Tail Wags the Dog!

 

This makes so much sense, my Tacoma sr5 2021 says 900lbs, and our apex nano light weights is 3,500lbs, so I believe I need a bigger truck now

 

I know this post is old but was recently quoted.

The above are great points but the other considerations are braking ability and transmission cooling ability.

 

So with my calculations, 900 cargo minus gvwr equals 4700lbs, and my nano trailor is 3600 lbs dry weight that's not loaded, with water or generator and belongings, so what I understand my truck is towing to.much