Towing with an 05 4cyl

Hello this is my first post so please be kind. I am not great at navigating these things.
I have a 2005 4cyl Tacoma 5 speed manual access cab. I love it. It is the best car I have ever ever had (and I'm old). I so want to.make this beat up buddy work fory needs...

I just bought an older travel trailer. It weights about 1600 pounds.

Because I have periodically lived out of my Tacoma while traveling over the last 10 years, I have definitely noticed a severe lag when climbing hills. I'm consequently confused by its 3500# tow rating since having the bed alone, pretty loaded (shell and camping gear) has had me dropping gears regularly when crossing over the Appalachian mountains.
Can someone please help me. PLEaSE do so in layman's terms. I'm not the brightest and I am also very easily overwhelmed.lol

 

Tow ratings are primarily dictated by the brakes and suspension. No vehicle on the market tows their rated capacity well. While the 4cyl in your truck is a great, reliable, and reasonably powerful engine it will struggle with any load, as you found out.

One major consideration when towing a travel trailer, cargo trailer or other large boxy thing is wind resistance. I have a 3/4 ton truck with an 8.1L gas motor. It gets 8mpg... all the time. It struggles with a 7x18' trailer towing up the mountains in Colorado. Previously I have towed a flat bed trailer with a vehicle on it and it had no issue at all. That big boxy shape will make a world of difference.

 

91 octane and nitrogen-filled tires?

hood scoop swap?

 

All things that do absolutely nothing.

The octane thing is a pet peeve of mine. So many people think it actually makes your vehicle run better, or is "better" or more "premium" for the engine. All garbage. Unless the engine is built and tuned for high octane fuel it's just a waste of money.

 

is your truck 2WD or 4WD?

 

Long and short, you own the truck, if you are under 3500lbs and it tows what you own acceptably for you, then that’s great
If it doesn’t you really have two choice-
Get a different truck
Regear your axle(s)

 

Easy as I can make it

Truck = Les than 4, 500 lbs. That includes you and everything in it. (Plus the stuff in the bed.)
Trailer = Less than 3,500 Lbs.
Truck + Trailer = No more than 7,500 lbs

 

Sarcasm escapes you.

 

OP is asking for clarity, and it's their first post. Figured I would clarify.

 

I have a 2013 5-lug with the 5spd. I tow a 5x10 utility trailer rated at 3500lbs. Empty weight is around 800-900lbs. Most cargo weight I have towed any distance is 1500lbs. That's pushing 2500lbs total. Add to that about 200lbs in the bed. Forget 5th gear. The truck does the job without struggling, even on some decent hills, with occasional down shifting into 4th.

One factor to keep in mind is if you are running over sized tires. They will greatly affect gearing, and not in a good way with the 5-luggers. I'm running 245-70-16, and would not want to go any larger and tow any long distance.

 

I have a 2015 2.7 5 speed 4WD. I tow a Tab 320S Boondock teardrop that is about 2800 pounds fully loaded. I also tow a 6x10 cargo trailer loaded with my telescope and camping gear that is around 1800 pounds fully loaded.
I’ve towed both over to the highest point in West Virginia regularly. Going over route 33 from Virginia into WV I am in second or third gear and going as fast is as safe on a twisty steep road. I’ve also towed the teardrop down the Blue Ridge Parkway and to Nova Scotia and back.
I added Sumo springs and a brake controller and 7 pin wiring.
The truck does a good job pulling both. I never exceed 65 on the interstate.
Take your time and you’ll be fine.

 

The 4WD has 4.10 gears. I you have a 5 lug it may be different (3.7s?).

 

Being technically able to tow and should you tow are two different things. Your truck (and mine) are nineteen years old. Tow ratings are for new trucks.
The speed limit in 2005 was 55 mph. Today it's about 85. You'll always be driving near the maximum capability of the truck.
Tacomas are great trucks, not that great for towing.

 

Welcome. I have an'09 2.7 5spd access cab 4WD and also tow a T@B trailer. Mine is around 2000 lbs. I looked at re-gearing and decided to go with a set of smaller tires for towing. It's a bit of a pain switching, but my trips are usually a couple weeks long. That way I can run 235-85-16 lug truck tires for bombing around, and 235-70-16 'car' tires for towing. Haven't calculated, but it drops the overall ratio a lot. Rims and tires were $800 CAN and re-gear was gonna be around $3000 plus a lot of work. Good luck

 

Someone please remind me.....what gears are in my 5-lug with a 5spd.....3.55 maybe?

 

Here is something posted on another Tacoma forum.
According to the brochure, my 2013 (PreRunner V6) has 3.73 gears. The 2.7l Regular and Access cabs (4x2) have 3.31 (manual) and 3.58 (auto), 2.7l auto Double Cabs (4x2) have 3.58, the 2.7l 4x4 Regular and Access cabs (manual or auto) have 4.10, and the V6 4x4 Access and Double cabs have 3.73. The X-Runner (which is V6 auto only) is 3.15.