Family wanting a trailer

I'd say up to 5k in a utility trailer is within reason, occasionally. I've moved some logs and heavy boats around, and while it takes quite a bit more focus than normal driving, the truck seems within it's limits.

But at some frequency you're going to really beat on the truck and cause a lot more maintenance. So it comes down to how often "once in a while" is.

I'd probably do about a 3k camper as well (up to 4k gvwr), but no more than that.

 

Personally I wouldn’t wanna tow anything over 4500#. I do live in a hilly region so that is why.

On flat roads it’s a different story though.

 

Yep

 

This, only 3000#s is where I draw the line, considering a Tacoma weighs 4000#s thats pretty reasonable.
Flat roads are one thing, driving up and down hills is another. I have a full size 3/4 ton for heavy towing.

 

Yep. I’ve got a single axle 6x12 with brakes and it’s perfect for my truck at 1400#dry and 2100 payload.

My trailer is extra tall, can really feel the wind resistance when experiencing headwinds.

 

He was driving his POV and personal trailer, insurance did some simple math and discovered a way to not cover him due to GVWR exceedance. Definitely a learning experience, his negligence lead to “breach of contract” w/ insurance, thus they dropped his coverage due to contract non-compliance.
California has some weird laws though, so I’m aware that this experience may not be the same as the 49 free states….

 

Yes you're right, you are running out of payload very quickly. Could you take a second vehicle?

It's not ideal but it's going to be the only way you and your family can go camping whilst using the Tacoma.

 

Get rid of the kids and the dogs and pick up a small teeny camper like this.
Oh it helps if you're under 5'9" tall too LOL...

 

I've got a buddy looking for a small trailer like that. Any details or a brand/model I can go search?

 

Interesting. Usually it comes down to not meaning to be in an accident. People break the law all the time and are covered. Texting and driving, drinking and driving, running a stop sign, all of these things are illegal, but still covered. Thanks for sharing

 

The truck and bed camper together cost a lot of money.

Obviously they would do their due diligence not to pay up if they could.

My question, aren’t all the weights and capacities literally printed ON the truck?

 

Payload and I think GCVWR, not sure what else?

 

Unless he installed that camper himself in his back yard, any camper store would have to plug his VIN into some type of bullshit calculator that looks up your specific truck model and sees if it is advisable to put a specific topper/shell/accessory on it.

When I bought my fiberglass snugtop, they actually looked up my VIN to make sure it was okay, even though it doesn’t weigh that much.

 

The weights and capacities are listed, some are foolish enough to heed them as mere “engineer opinions”. Sticker is on the drivers door jamb, info in the owners manual too.

 

And exactly why they sell 1500, 2500, and 3500 variants of trucks. They look the same, but the one with more payload capacity costs more.

 

I don't know any trailer/RV dealer that gives a crap. They'll sell you whatever you'll give them money for. Once it's off the lot it's not their problem anymore.

 

BINGO. That's how it usually work everywhere I've ever been.

 

Dealers SHOULD do this, but they will always make a sale too. Check out the towing forum, many such cases of people having issues due to trailer size and weight. There’s also forums covering the “slide in campers”, most of which have a weight of 650-900lbs dry(will exceed payload once driver/pass is in truck), yet those dealers still sell to 1/4ton truck owners. These trucks can be “built” to handle more weight, but the GVWR remains the same legally.

 

Maybe it’s a California thing or maybe it’s because they do a lot of commercial sales and upfitting that could get you into actual legal trouble.

 

That’s the main issue out here, people with no experience/knowledge of what they are modifying, “but i was told its legal/safe, my truck can handle it bc Joe Doe at the upfitter said so”. They just wave their Credit cards and the “upfitter” adds on the widdle wadder and RTT to commute on the freeway to the office with, don’t forget the “always on” yellow fog lights too.its almost maddening to see it daily, they make the rest of us look goofy.