We just bought a new camper and my truck will be pulling it, questions and tips

It's GVWR weight is 5000 lbs dry weight is 3760 lbs., 20' long. My husband says we will get a weight distributing hitch. I believe my 2021 TRD OR has a tow package. I have upgraded suspension. How does the Tacoma handle a camper like this one? We like to go out west (from Michigan) how is the Tacoma going to handle driving the mountain passes? This won't be my first time pulling a trailer and I've driven a 40' RV with a tow vehicle but I am just wondering what to expect with the Tacoma and the micro minnie. TIA

https://www.winnebago.com/models/product/towables/travel-trailer/micro-minnie/1808fbs

 

It will tow it I suppose but in the long run you need a f150 or a tundra .

 

I have this junky little boat and I can tell it's back there.

 

You might want to put in a few hundred miles of local practice runs before you head out West.
You definitely want a weight distributing hitch and sway control.

 

fixed it for you.

 

Planning a weekend in Michigan already!

 

Make sure to read all on this site about driving with a trailer, ECT button, S-mode etc. My boat is 3500 lbs. and I learned a lot about proper driving here...

 

Junky?!?!?

I know you're being humble, but c'mon man... that's a sweet fish killer!

 

I tow an 18' 4,000lb gvwr travel trailer with no issues whatsoever. I have a lot of experience towing utility trailers, toy haulers, travel trailers, car haulers, 5th wheels and the taco tows just fine. It is in the higher rpm range on hills but so was my ford v10 and my Ram 6.5.

Just make Sure you have a WDH with some sort of anti-sway device and a trailer brake controller. Keep a close eye on axle weight and your trucks Gvwr. Not a lot of payload room on these midsized trucks.

 

The issue you may have with a 5000 lb gvwr trailer is if you max it out you will have between 500 and 750 lbs of tongue weight (1-15% of total trailer weight) leaving the truck with very little remaining payload. Two people and some gear or accessories will weigh maybe 400 lbs leaving around 600 lbs of payload for a 3rd gen TRDOR. That means at 12.5% tongue weight the trailer should not exceed 4800 lbs. the truck can only tow the rated 6400 with 10% tongue weight 640 lbs and 360 lbs of people and gear. I tow a small trailer with a gvwr of 3500 lbs and it is usually loaded to about 3200 lbs but it has a heavy tongue weight of 430 lbs. I have some armor but towing up a mountain pass I wouldn’t want to be pulling any more weight than the trailer’s max. I am considering upgrading the transmission cooler. Sadly I believe Toyota eliminated the trans cooler mid year in 2020 so your truck doesn’t have one. This thread is very informative:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/towing-with-3rd-gen-tacoma.537103/

 

The Tacoma has a tongue weight rating of approximately 350 pounds on 4-cylinder models and 640 pounds on V-6 versions, depending on the type. Tacoma’s minimum and maximum towing capacities are around 10 percent and 20 percent of their respective minimum and maximum tongue weights, respectively.

 

I tow a pop-up camper that is Around 2000 pounds. You need a brake controller and I'd recommend the redarc ones. Like have to tow pro Liberty.

It will tow fine yours is getting in to the heavier side. You will need to take your time climbing up mountain grades. My pop-up tows pretty easily once up to 65. Barely feel it is there except when it bounces around on our crap roads or in hard cross winds. A full height trailer will catch more wind you will want a weight distribution hitch and some sway control should come with that. If might not be as comfortable to tow that as like an f150 or tundra but it should do it.

 

I definitely know my pop-up is there. It goes on long distance trips twice a year... It's been over more than a few mountains.

I haul camper plus payload: after I factor in the cooler, luggage, and extra (either wood, kayak, generator, weeks supply of booze, choose one) I know I'm at max gross.

Itll tow, it just tows slowly. 65 mph max is your friend. Slower than 65 if there's a headwind. It sucks, but your milage sucks more if you try to get remotely close to the speed limit.

I use the opportunity to eliminate interstate highways as much as possible from my trip. Stay on the back roads. You'll have more fun. That is after all the entire point of a camper. You are off the clock, so explore the journey a little instead of just worrying about the destination.


That's my primary advice. Budget more time than Google maps says, keep a sharp eye out for those small town coffee shops, points of interest, and roadside farm stands. It's possible to have more fun pulling a trailer if you learn to embrace the slow life.


And also, a brake controller and WDH with sway, S4, ETC on... as everyone else said already.

 

love the spare tire cover!

 

That's a nice camper. Looks a lot newer and more equipment than mime. But totally happy with my 2009 coachman pop-up. $3000 paid in cash back in 2017 and it's in nice condition still.

Definitely go slower like you said. Sometimes the highway isn't the best. I did a trip out to western PA last summer. The trip back I worked in a stop to the flight 93 memorial. That put me on lots of surface roads with no names and US30 with google maps from ohioplye to the site in Shanksville vs the turnpike. It was way more enjoyable with no traffic, no people trying to speed around you. Lots of farms and little towns to see too. I decided to take US30 all the way home too.
Not faster but a better ride indeed

 

we pull a 4000 dry weight trailer and the Tacoma does pretty well... With ect on and s mode set to 4th. You'll feel it working and your mpg wil suck but steady and 65 or less is best. A wd hitch is key, however your truck has sway control (check your manual about that cool feature) and I install Timbren bumps for towing which help control squat and bounce. Maybe wait til you're close to your destination to fill your water tank to save a few hundred pounds, and pack to avoid too much payload/tongue weight. Give it a go and see how it does... Enjoy the camping!

 

http://towcalculator.com/

This is a very good tool to use. It will help you understand where you and your trailer is at weight wise.
Check the sticker on your trailer for your actual dry weight then add 75-100 lbs for batteries and propane. 75 lbs for 1 battery and 100 lbs for 2 battery set ups.

It's going to be very close to vehicle Gvwr depending on your payload.

 

That's a nice trailer! Question - I looked it up on Forest River's website but got no clear answer: WHERE IS THE SHITTER?

To the OP: That also is a nice trailer! Your dry weight is 3750lbs (That's my GVWR for my TT!) and I can pull that easily. The rub is what you add to it - how much gear over and above the water/propane/batteries will you be transporting? I'd think with good WDH, brake controller, and watching your speed/keeping in S4 you'd be fine as long as you are prudent with what you take with you.

 

It's hidden under the dinette/ J bench. Bon appetit!