Towed my boat this week

I decided to pull the boat for some maintenance, I was curious to see how the Tacoma handled the weight rather than using my 2000 Expedition. The boat weighs around 6,000 pounds, measured the tongue weight is 580 pounds. The Tacoma did great on my short (5 mile) tow, and no issues on the steep ramp. I did use ECT. I don’t know that I would feel great about towing this load on the highway, but typically my towing is 4-6 times a year within 10 miles of home. I’m not surprised the truck was able to tow a load within it’s specified capacity, but you don’t really know until you test it.

 

I take it there wasn't any algae on the launch ramp to pull you back down then.

 

Definitely will need rear sumo springs and weight distribution hitch when you use it as primary vehicle for towing that boat.

 

Those weight distribution hitch's are the shit. I know a girl that pulled a loaded 16 foot dual axel trailer from California to Florida in a little Mercedes SUV with zero problems.

 

Anything with wheels is able to move. I wouldn’t feel comfortable towing that on the freeway either

 

Impressive no problems on the steep ramp, do you use 4 wheel drive?

 

Slow and steady. Definitely need trailer brakes with something like that. I had surge brakes on a previous trailer/boat combo and they worked very well for me.

 

It was mid tide, so not too much algae and slime on the upper half of the ramp. I back it in until the tires in the water but the rims aren’t yet submerged.

I was actually impressed with how not squished the truck was when loaded. Weight distribution doesn’t work well with surge brakes to my knowledge. The tacoma may become the primary tow vehicle, but it’s only from the house to the marina a few times per year on roads with a posted limit no more than 45 mph.

I used to tow that same boat much farther and on the highway with my 2011 VW Touareg TDI, but the Touareg was significantly heavier than a Tacoma. The boat is within the weight limits for the Tacoma, I think a lot of people would just send it.

This time I kept it in 2wd to test it. Generally I do shift whatever truck I’m driving into 4wd for ramp traction, or even 4 low for the extra torque just to ease the load on the transmission. For some reason my Tacoma takes a while to shift in and out of 4 low.

 

Trailer brakes are required over 3000 pounds here. Someone recently reminded me that brakes have to be installed, but nothing in the law says they have to work. I much prefer electric brakes, or electric activated hydraulic for boats, on newer trucks with an integrated brake controller, but surge brakes work just fine and continue to work if the wiring gets disconnected.

 

I've towed my 2k lb boat 60 mile round trips...it tows fine, but i feel if i had to make an emergency stopped i'd be sol. I have another 5x10 aluminum utility that i tow every couple weeks to the local landfill with garbage that sometime's you don't even know its there. Truck brakes work fine with that.

 

I would bet a court case would see that a little differently.

 

OP!

Is that a 22’ it looks big! I might be on your shoes in some years.. why? I am keeping my Tacoma until it falls apart and I am hoping to be able to buy a boat in some years, so, I wanted to know how long is your boat and what engine you have? 150? 200?

Very nice boat!

 

I have no doubt that I could pull 10,000# or more that's not the point. Tail wagging the dog.

 

You need some Timbren's to reduce the rear sag!

 

I haul a 24 foot pontoon boat with mine with little trouble. I have a manual transmission, so 4-lo is practically required to pull it out of the water. If it's really windy, I can sometimes feel the boat trying to induce a sway at highest speeds, but it's not bad and those aren't good days to take a pontoon boat out, anyway. All told, the boat and trailer with a full tank of gas is under 5k and the Tacoma handles it well.

 

I pull my ‘90 Glastron 20ft. I’d guess the boat and trailer weigh in at +or - 4K. The truck definitely has the power to pull it, but not having brakes on the trailer makes for quite a long stopping distance.

 

My other boat is just under 3K and the Tacoma tows it like a champ.

Thanks! That is a 2003 Welcraft 24 walk around with a Yamaha 225.

Here is my other boat I bought it last spring.

 

I put Firestone air bags on the rear axle of my '07 Ram 1500 to "level up" when towing our camper years ago. Worked great!

Now, I'm not knocking the load distribution hitch but, the air bags were great for ANYTHING I put in the bed to level out the ride and of course, for pulling any variety of trailer tongue weight. Just an easy, cheap and versatile option. Cost was (then) about $200 or so. I used them for more than 10 years with no issue.

 

Boat weights 6000. how much does the trailer way? lol.

Don't worry, no weight police from me. but still curious!

 

Boat and trailer combo is 6000 pounds combined, I wouldn’t try it if it were past the listed capacity. That boat isn’t that heavy for it’s size. I looked at a 25’ Hydra Sport Vector last spring, that’s a tank of a boat at 5200 pounds dry, over 8000 pounds for trailer and boat (wet).