Tacoma Towing Question?

I am about to get a boat but i was wondering if i would even be able to tow it a good distance without a lot of drag. The boat im looking at is a 21ft ski boat and i would be towing it with the beauty pictured below. is this going to be easy, hard, or not possible to tow? Whats the most weight you have towed with your taco?

 

I think there are a few who tow pretty regularly boats with their tacoma.
Also maybe a mod can move this for you to the towing section than where it is listed now in the buy/sell marketplace area. It may get more views.

Wish you the best with your boat and getting the answers you need.
ps great pic of your truck!

 

In my experience, boats tow easier than travel trailers because of the aerodynamics. What's the weight of the boat? If you have an automatic, tow in "4" and you should be good. Depending on the tongue weight, you may want to consider air bags. I put Firestone airbags on mine with the wireless remote. Does the boat trailer have brakes? Also a consideration before purchase. Good luck.

 

oops didnt mean to post this in marketplace can a mod move me???

 

The tacoma is rated to tow 6500 LBS. So, just see how much your boat+trailer weighs and there you go, i'm going to assume its around 3000-4000 pounds. But as others have said above, you wont have trouble pulling it, you'll have trouble stopping it. (warped rotors, reduced stopping distance, etc) I would get a trailer with brakes.

 

thanks for your help !

 

Yes. Wind resistance is your enemy here. Most boats tow much better.

This only true for factory-installed tow packages, not dealer or aftermarket installed tow packages. If you have a TRD-anything, then you probably have the 6500# limit. Otherwise, it's 3500#.

There's a bunch of discussion regarding this on the tow section of the forums.

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Also, if it's a larger boat, and it seems to be so, it's likely got surge brakes or electric brakes.

Surge brakes do not require a brake controller in the cab, electric brakes do.

Boats typically only run 5% - 7% tongue weight of the total weight so it most likely won't squat the truck too much either.

Only a scale of 1 - 10, not knowing the weight of your boat, but judging how the 22' deck-boats I've towed with Surge brakes have been, your tow experience should be around a 6, give or take. One factor most people don't realize until they hook the boat up is that the boat's trailer is likely 7'6" or 8' wide, and therefore wider than the truck. Be careful when on narrow roads and remember just because your truck squeezes through that the trailer might not.

 

Airbags aren't needed.

You should be fine. I tow an old Ranger 18' bass boat (no trailer brakes). No issues towing other than sucky gas mileage. Give yourself plenty of room to stop. I tow in D & shift to 4 going up hills or passing. I towed the boat with my 2003 Tacoma (very difficult stopping, truck was too small for the job. Slid through an intersection because I couldn't stop). Towed with my 2005 Tacoma (Brakes were much better than the 03 & the truck felt heavy enough I wasn't getting pushed by the boat. And I didn't have the towing package on this truck). And now by my 2011(same as 2005, except I have the towing package). I have towed as far as 325 miles on a trip. No problems.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/27460-show-us-what-you-tow.html

 

I tow a 21' malibu wake setter and haven't had any problems. It does have the surge brakes on Tue trailer witch helps out. Don't get me wrong you feel the weight but I have town up the grape vine here in cali no prob. Oh and I would never tow in D... pretty sure the manual says tow in 4

 

Agreed. Always tow in 4 unless its a light trailer. Saves your transmission.

Also - let's see some pictures of this boat.

 

Stand by

 

I want to see yours and the OP's

 

tsb springs only, factory tow package

 

same pic zoomed in

 

I tow a 20.5 ft Four Winns Cuddy Cabin. The boat is about 4k, plus 1k for a trailer. The factory leaf pack couldn't handle the weight, so I did an AAL. That still couldn't handle the weight. Lastly did a Dakar leak pack and couldn't be happier. I just keep the shifter in 4 instead of 5 and she pulls great. Very stable at speed and has plenty of power. Your mpg will take a huge hit. I usually average about 10-12mpg depending on how fast i'm running. I towed it from Cincinnati to Lake Norman NC w/o any problems. Even in the mountains, it had plenty of power w/ 4 people, gear, and luggage.

 

God dammit I want a lake/wakeboard boat. My wood jet sled just doesn't cut it for the summer hangout activities

 

173,500 miles on my 05 towing in D & shifting to 4 up hills or during hard braking. Zero transmission issues.

 

Just because your engine could last 30,000 miles without an oil change doesn't mean you shouldn't change your oil.

There is no doubt it's bad for your transmission to have to hunt in and out of 5th gear. Congrats for surviving.

 

It never switches in and out of 5th gear. I shift to 4 going uphill.