Tow limit - is this too much for a short haul?

This sounds like a poor idea, the trailer can have a lot of leverage on the truck.
Sure, everything is fine until the moment someone else does something dumb on the road and you need to react.

Hauling livestock is much more work for the truck than a load of steel plates on a flat deck trailer for example.
If you try it make sure the trailer brakes are 100% and you need a weight distributing hitch.

 

Your specific truck's info is in the door jamb. We can't answer, as you do not know the weight of the trailer.
As mentioned the load shifting of livestock adds to the equation.
I would pay someone, or if I was going to be in the livestock biz (or any biz really), I would make proper equipment part of the plan.

 

This. Livestock is not static weight, and you need surplus capacity to allow for the movement of the animals, it's not like putting a car on a trailer, where you balance the load perfectly and send it. Add to this, if you are over-limit and get in an accident, or even get stopped by an alert enforcement person, you're likely to be in very deep doo-doo!

 

I've towed a fair amount. Anything over 4000# isnt fun in these trucks. The 6800# limit is fine for moving a boat a couple miles to the launch and such. But long distance with a dynamic load on the highway isnt ideal. I'd make two trips or find a bigger truck to borrow.

 

OP, let us know if you have a V6 or I4. Also, if you have 4WD or 2WD.

On page 16 of this PDF you’ll find some interesting weights and capacities numbers.

http://www.tfltruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2016-toyota-Tacoma-Technical-specs.pdf

 

I betting that trailer you want to haul is in access of well over 3500#'s +, if it's going to haul 4 cows. Plus the 5400 in cows. Your going to be way over what I would pull with that truck. Just my thoughts.

 

Maybe try one of those private car rental sites like Turo for a 1/2 or 3/4 ton of the U-Haul truck is too expensive

 

6800 is for a 2 wheel drive access cab

 

No. Plain and simple. This is a dangerous idea.

 

This is why I asked. Things happened fast after I got this truck.

V6 4WD manual.

Looks like tow is only 6400lbs with the second cab.

Yea, looks like I will hire this one out. when it was 5 cows, I knew there was no chance of pulling them.

 

it can be done but it's going to be sketchy.

 

I’ll pile on and say that it’s a terrible idea because livestock. If it were static weight I’d say go for it all day long!

 

Excellent point that I didn't think of. With only my roof top tent and a leitner rack I was constantly on the rear bump stops on stock springs which is why I upgraded to Heavy OME / Dakars

My girlfriend used to pull horses and her experience going from a 3/4 Ton single rear wheel to a 1 Ton dual rear wheel made all the difference. The wider hips of the 1 Ton DRW gave the truck so much more stability when the horses would shift. @prefersdirt You really need to consider what that much beef moving around in a trailer will do to your Taco. Tail wagging the dog.

I would seriously consider making more than one trip. It is one thing to make a bad decision that impacts your life and the lives of your livestock, but what happens if you lose control and take out someone else who is on their way to daycare to pick up their kids? If I think in terms of the lives I may impact I find I am always much much more careful/conservative.

 

So is that a no for the rib eye ?

 

First of all 170 miles is about a 3 hour drive I would not consider that a short haul. Is this the only processing close to you? What about a custom butcher? Or is this just to sell the beef? The furthest I’ve ever traveled for processing is 45 miles or so and that’s just because it was closer to where the farm was. Have you considered just sending them to auction instead?

 

SEND IT!!! Flat surface.. no problem. I would use a WD hitch to be a ok. I tow a 5200# travel trailer all over the place and I swear if I listened to this place my truck would have exploded. Do it and pocket the profit.

 

Most wisdom has been posted. Any emergency maneuver will end very very poorly.

How much do the cows cost?

Also, they have a very high CG.

 

Processor is closer to me (about 45 minutes away and the only one closer is 35 minutes away). Plus they were able to get me in quick (less than 2 weeks) from when they came available. Everyone else is 2-3 months out for inspected. Custom can get me faster, but no retail option for me. Coming from family who are farther away. Pure grassfed beef will do better sold direct than auction house with only 1 buyer.

 

Yes to the rib eye. I can ship!

 

Not safe. Will it work? Probably. Is it a good idea? Heck naw. Make multiple trips or find a better tow rig.

In response to anyone who told you it's OK, I'd respond with a question: If something goes wrong and this overloaded trailer causes a crash killing your whole family would you still say it was OK? What if it was someone else's family? This is a bit dramatic but hopefully illustrates a point.