Towing? S/C, Turbo’s or New Truck?

The truck is tuned. Running 5.29’s w/ a tune on 285’s with light weight canopy, sliders, and a few other items but not heavy. Pulling our new 22’ Travel Trailer over the Mountain Passes sucks.

So? Any thoughts on S/C, Turbos from Ovtune, or New Truck?

This is my daily driver that I wheel. Love the mid-size Tacoma (even though it’s getting tight for 2 adults, 2 small kids, and my dog.

Reason for the post is, S/C or Turbos will be around 7-8K. New truck (probably a raptor) 15-20K.

Just thought I’d see if any of you guys found yourself in the same predicament and…did what?

Thanks

 

How heavy is the trailer fully loaded?

 

Option 4, smaller trailer, IF you like the truck that much. OV tune and a 19’ fibreglass trailer, or trade it in for an F-150 or Tundra. In that case you lose the wheeling ability of the Taco. No free lunch.

 

Limp it along and get the new tundra when it comes out. That's what imma do.

 

Was in a similar situation.... ended up with 2 trucks my manual offroad and a 2013 Ram 1500 4x4 sport with air suspension, 3.92 rear, extended fuel range tank, rear LSD and a max towing of 10,000 pounds. I was able to get a good deal on the Ram with only 60,000 miles on it. Paid $20,000 (after taxes). Each one has its place for me and both combined still puts me well under a Raptor.

 

Thanks for the quick replies your relentless TW people! Trailer weighs in around 3950# dry. Once the wife loads everything up it’s around 4500 +.
We looked a long time for the right trailer with 2 bunks for the kids and everything else we wanted so even though this thing is a nightmare to back into a camping spot in the dark, it’s not going anywhere.

Guess I could hold out for the new Tundra but… As much as I hate to say it, I’m about 5’5”- 5’6” (on a good day) and I just feel kinda small in a Tundra. For some reason I do feel pretty damn good in a Ford Raptor but… It’s a Ford and…trading in my truck I’d still need to come up with a bunch of cash for a used one. Bumping up the Power for the uphill pulls makes the most sense but…Does it?

 

I’m kinda in the same boat. Wife wants a Suburban. If she buys one well…That’ll be the Tow vehicle. However, her Accountant/ Financial adviser told her yesterday “Right now is a BAD time to buy a new vehicle.” Ahhh.

 

Here are some pictures, so far added wheels and tires, slotted and drilled rotors and tonneau cover.

 

Raptors are not built to tow either.
Towing and offroading are opposites man. Set it up for off road and tow sucks. Set it up to tow and off road sucks, which is why the cool kids trailer in their buggy and use the daily to tow.
If you want to compromise, you will... um... have to settle on an okay trail runner and a dog tow vehicle. Get a full size and be done with it.

 

Yes and no. If you configure a vehicle to be built in most cases you can get whatever incentive manufacturers are offering and pay no more than msrp. Ex I was in the process to buy the new Bronco (the real one not the baby one on the streets now lol) and it would be msrp no markup and I build it exactly what I want nothing more nothing less (wish Toyota did this).

 

Raptor can tow but it will squat ( have several colleagues that own it) on the other hand my truck does not squat as the air suspension levels out the truck and can tow about 2,000 pounds more with much better pay load.

 

With this many quick responses I’m a bit surprised no one has responded with, I super charged/ turbo’d mine and it tows like a bat outta hell! Maybe they did and it still doesn’t have the power they expected? Or not.

 

The supercharger is an option but it still doesn't mean it will magically make it a towing beast. Stability comes into play. Full size is more confidence inspiring. Feels more planted etc. Regardless of power in the Tacoma it can't change that factor... in my opinion.

 

I have air bags and the whole load leveling tow setup. My Taco doesn’t squat either. In fact, it’s not all that bad towing over Mountain Passes but…I don’t like towing a trailer with my family with my little 3.5 screaming along at 5500+RPM’s. It’s kinda like…If nothing blows this time around, I’m atleast shaving time off of the life expectancy.

 

To be honest I don't think it will harm at those rpms as this engine can rev more than Toyota tuned it at for our trucks. But yeah I wouldn't want to be that high in the rev range for an extended trip.

 

It's not the power... hell a stock Tacoma has enough power. It's the size, brakes, mass, frame, etc that sucks which is why we are ALL telling you to move to full size that is built to tow and can be modded to be okay on trails. Lol a lowly old Chevy 2wd will tow better than a Tacoma.

 

Exactly. Coming home last weekend on the flat hwy with a headwind fighting to keep the speed up, I was thinking about how I needed more power (even though I just bumped up to 5.29’s) but…The overall wiggle factor of the Tacoma (with a big trailer) versus the pull factor weight of a full size rig, really does make the comfort/safety factor a thought. Full size rigs are just more planted. Sounds like I’m getting the answers I was looking for. Wife needs to buy a grocery getter Tow vehicle and I keep my Toy. No pun intended.(actually, pun should be intended!)

 

I feel the same way. I have an aftermarket cooler, and pulling hills with camping gear, the trans temp climbed to 220-230*.

 

And it's not shaving life. It is built to run at those rpms. The difference is the rest of the truck. Ever wonder why big rigs go slow up hills? Even if you super turbo charge twin times you will go slow up hills!
I've towed all my life and I traded a Tacoma for a Tundra because towing 6K in a Tacoma, while possible, is a two hands on the steering wheel affair. Just not enough ass. But... same thing happens to Tundra when approaching 10K. Not enough ass. Rule of thumb... buy vehicle that has 2X towing capacity. You will never go wrong.

 

Stock gearing, 285’s and a Magnuson and it does just fine. The trailer is 3400 dry and 4K loaded with no water/waste water on board (scale verified). Trailer is a 16BHS, we are a family of 4 and it’s right but within the capabilities of the tacoma. Have taken it over 5400ft from sea level with no issues. Just did a trip to Oregon that was 950 miles round trip and we averaged 10.8 mpg. Carried an additional 500lbs of gear and had no issues. It tows much better with the supercharger than it did prior and will now hold S5 on the flats.