Anyone tow a dump trailer with their Tacoma?

Wondering how the Taco would handle a 5k dump trailer? Anyone have experience? Ive read the threads in the towing sections but no talk of a dump trailer..

 

It will tow it just fine.....EMPTY

With a good brake controller.... and trailer + payload not exceeding the 5k, youll be good

 

Weight is weight behind the truck, doesn't matter if it's a heavy trailer thats empty or light trailer that's full.

And if you're using a dump trailer, bet on whatever you're filling it with weighing way more than you think. 1400lb isn't much dirt or block or shingles or whatever would require a dump trailer.

When in doubt, hit up a truckstop and get it weighed. You might find a summertime miracle or find out that your estimation is terrible and you're trying to pull 10k with a taco.

It's not about getting it to move, it's getting it to stop in a hurry and keeping it under control. You don't want the tail to wag the dog. Not fun.

Edit: rent a truck to use for the day. Sunbelt rents big boy trucks. Edit2: damn that's cheap!

 

I towed a 14ft dump trailer empty once in my 2nd gen. Not fun. Would not recommend at all cause the sway is just too much. I only had to transport it 10 miles on the highway and even then it was scary

 

The trailers Im considering weigh aprox 1500 - 1800 lbs empty. The total weight if the trailer and cargo should be 5k lbs on a 5k lb rated dump trailer. Thats around a 3500lb payload capacity for the trailer so a little over a ton and a half of material. Im confused because if the truck is rated to tow 6400lbs then a 5k load should be a breeze.

I am aware that a mid sized truck isnt ideal for towing, etc. I was the owner operator of a Landscape Design Build Company for many years so I always had much larger trucks that require CDL so I never even had to consider weight. Just get in, load up and go. Ive recently downsized significantly to the Taco and would only need to grab a few loads here and there for around the house and maybe a few nursery pick ups for plant material.

 

Then you should be good. The one I was towing weighed like 5,500 empty so it’s smaller than that

 

One time sure itll do it, for daily use hell no, you’ll need a ford superduty

 

Likely only use the trailer a few times per month. Guess I could rent one and see how it does. Or better yet rent one as needed.

Thanks for all the replies

 

I tow loads of firewood pretty frequently in my 6x10

 

While TRUE, I can tell you pulling a 5k Cargo trailer is far easier than even pulling a 5k Travel Trailer. Wind Drag and Crosswinds will affect what you can tow.

 

You right, you right ... didn't want to open the door for that argument in this particular case.

The lower the trailer profile and lower the load it carries combined with relative length between the hitch and trailer axle make worlds of difference. A rzr on a 6x10 behind a tj is a terrible idea, so is a 4 horse w/ living quarter sundowner (empty) in front of a short wheelbase f350... oof, that was a rough ride!

 

It's a trailer... just a trailer. There is nothing evil about dump trailers. If i wasn't going more than twenty or thirty miles I'd pull 8000 lbs without flinching. From my experience, the hardest, most awkward trailer to pull is a travel trailer. The TT is the only trailer type I use a WDH.

 

I pulled a tandem axle dump with about a ton of yard waste. Truck pulled it great.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I’m thinking that if I keep two weight at 6k or less and for local once in a while use I’ll be good to go.

I know it’s not an ideal tow set up but neither was keeping my Peterbuilt tandem axle for a couple yards of mulch here and there

 

Just wondering how this has held up over the years and if you are still towing it frequently. I'm looking for a 5x10 or 6x10 dumpy to use semi frequently.

 

@bigoldbeef might help you out on that one.

Hah. Nevermind.

Just realized you quoted him.

 

Oh yeah, she’s been good. 418k miles now.

 

There's hope for the rest of us.