Is a 15 ft travel trailer too big?

more good points.
I am not sure, OP might need to invest in these just take a test drive at a dealer. Of course if he/she were to buy, they're needed either way.

 

I have towed the trailer thousands of miles with several old full size trucks and it never impacted the mileage -- my old F-150 got 12 under just about all conditions.

With the Tacoma it was really noticable, the return trip had a 1200 pound mower on the trailer.

Sure, it did the job, it wasn't an enjoyable trip however.
Personally I wouldn't bother towing a travel coach with this truck.

 

In most any pickup...... take the manufacturers tow rating for any particular vehicle & cut it in half then your going to be a lot safer & happier towing the load. The manufacturers are IMO very "optimistic" in tow ratings. You may or may not have enough power to tow something. But.... do you have the suspension & brake capacity to handle emergency manuevering & stopping????????????

 

Does using the ECT make any difference?

 

Towing with my V6 sucks, I can't imagine trying to do it with less. These trucks are capable, but that doesn't mean they are good at it. Also, know where every gas station is on your route.

 

These aren’t designed to tow travel trailers cross country…plain and simple.

I tow a ski boat with mine, and get about 17mpg….it’s all in about 2500lbs….but little to no added wind resistance, which is huge. I would argue that it is a better tool to tow my boat and jet skis than my 3/4 ton Chevy is.

my travel trailer or anything over about 3000lbs goes behind the Chevy.

get the right tool for the job.

 

I've never tried to tow a travel trailer, I tow a bass boat. In my opinion, the Tacoma is not the right tool for the job. I tow it 160 miles across I-70 and it is a struggle at 70mph.

 

well said!!
I would rather bring a gun to a knife fight.
Towing a 15FT TT with a 4 cylinder Tacoma is like showing up to that knife fight with a dull nail clipper and old nasty toe nail clippings still left jammed in it.

 

Yes it helps, but all it does is change the shift points so that the RPMs stay a bit higher. Try it out some time.

 

If you want to pull a TT cancel the order on the 4 cyl truck and find one with the V6. Even then you'll be better off if you keep the loaded trailer weight close to 4000 lbs, less is better. If you really want to tow more than 4000 you need a 1/2 ton. And even then, you'll have to choose very carefully if you go over 6000.

 

OP, maybe this is your solution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9l1J96aNbo

 

I can definitely feel our 17' behind the 07 V6, with a I4 I think you would hate it driving on anything but flat.

 

Well I have actual experience towing several trailers with my 2015 5 speed manual. One is a 6x10 cargo trailer and the other is a Tab 320S Boondock. I haves towed the Tab from the Smokies to Ohio to Cape Breton Nova Scotia. I tow the Cargo trailer from central Virginia to Spruce Knob WV on a regular basis. I have never had a problem even on the steep hills in WV.
I honestly believe most comment with no experience towing with the 2.7.
My truck came from the dealer with an OEM hitch and 4 pin wiring. I spent an afternoon installing a 7 pin and Redarc brake controller.
Keep to 2800 to 2900 pounds and you’ll be fine.

 

And one more thing. The brakes, frame and suspension are different on the V6? I always thought they were the same.

 

Never had a problem other than the absolute inability to accelerate faster than a 6 year old on a bicycle.

The 2.7 will tow what it’s rated for and be safe enough but it will never be good at it. It’s simply not what the truck or engine was designed for.

 

Do you have a manual or auto transmission?

 

Auto with ECT power

 

Reverse auto braking is annoying on any vehicle. Maybe it could save your ass in some situations, parallel parking and backing into drive ways it's annoying.

I'm wondering if those 37s are heating up the transmission, or if that was also occurring with stock size tires?

 

All the EcT button does is change the shift points…it doesn’t add an extra 100 lb.ft of torque.

you can tow a small utility trailer with your truck…not a travel trailer. Accept it.

 

And yet I have done it for years.