question about towing a camper?

I have a 2008 V6 crew cab 4X4 tacoma with jba headers, afe cold air intake and flowmaster muffler.I am about to purchase a camper that is 5500lbs with electric brakes and a sway bar. will my truck haul this?

 

a.) Do you have the FACTORY tow package? Then you're rated at 6500 pounds. Any other towing equipment and you're rated at 3500 (possibly 5000, depending on who I ask about the legalities...).

b.) Is the 5500 lb weight the full, under-tow weight? Or is that before you load it up?

c.) There is a towing section where your question will probably be better addressed.

 

I have the trd sports package and the factory towing hitch. That is the trailor empty.

 

Typically, I would not recommend buying Tacoma for towing heavy stuff, especially on a daily basis. Smaller Boats, utility trailers, etc, no problem, but if I wanted to haul a 5500 lb trailer around, I would get a bigger truck. I know properly equipped, its rated for 6500 lbs. Maybe doing it every now and then might be one thing, but the truck works hard with this amount of weight behind it. I have seen the V-6 tow less weight and burn alot of fuel, say in the 10-11 gal range. So why work the truck so hard you get shitty gas mileage, and put it thru alot of strain? A bigger truck will handle and control the trailer weight better and safer, with alot less strain and much better fuel economy. I towed a 6500 lb trailer with a Diesel Excursion rated at 10,000 lbs, (basically a 3/4 ton truck) and although it was not problem with this truck, I felt I was getting close to max with this set up, meaning any more weight and I would begin to challange the limits or put strain on the Truck. But I would rather be safe then sorry...

 

Hey Shannon, I'm on the same boat as you are looking to buying a trailer but have questions, thanks for posting this. So did you get the trailer after all?

 

I suppose to go pick it up wednseday and sign the papers. that is why i am trying to find this out as soon as possible. here any info let me know.

 

When I got my 2010, there was two options for towing. The first was the hitch, the second was the towing package. With the first, you get the hitch but not the larger battery, alternator or transmission cooler. With the second you get all. With the first option, the towing limit is 3500# and 6500 with the full towing package. The hitch alone does not mean that you can tow 6500# so you need to be sure what your truck has.

 

The dealer should be able to tell you what you have from your VIN. callthem or stop by to find out.

THere is an old rule of thumb that says to figure out your max weight by calculating everything you will have in the trailer to 80% of the max towing capacity of teh truck. Don't forget the max cargo weight of these trucks is only 1200# or so. Here is a post I made a while back. with a 5500# trialer you only have 1000# of lee-way, not much.. below is mainly about tongue weight but you will get teh point about how fast weight adds up. Most important is the actual weight of the rig from the yellow sticker on the trailer. That sticker states the weight of the rig w/accessories as it rolled off the factory floor.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/141047-realistic-towing-capability-2009-v6-dbl-cab.html

When you add the extra weight at the tongue, like batterie(s) (70lbs each) Lp tanks (50lbs each) and if you use a WDH add another 100 lbs to the tongue weight (TW). That's up to a TW of 595lbs, If you carry H2O that tank is up front as well to add to the TW. It adds up fast up front. with that kind of weight on the tongue you should use a WDH to distribute the weight throughout the rig. If you put that on a single ball mount with out distribution it is going to be putting all that weight on the rear of your TV and not throughout all axels. I have pulled my rig with and with out the WDH. The stability offered by the WDH is with out a doubt worth the extra 100lbs and stiffness from the hitch. With out the WDH it is like driving a truck with a hinge in the middle of the chassis. Bouncy sway, bouncy sway, bouncy sway......... try a high speed swerve w/o a WDH No thanks. I've done it and it is a high pucker factor moment. with WDH smooth and controlled.

The rating in the brochure is way off. What you really need is the actual rating from the yellow sticker on the side of the trailer you intending to buy. That is the actual dry weight of that trailer as delivered. Remember H20 is 8.2 lbs p/gl as well. the 300# for accessories is about right for the popular packages.

My rig is 3220 ( as per yellow sticker) dry and loaded it is around 4000# w/10gls of water. My taco pulls this just fine with my wife and dog in the cab as well as wood, bicycles and other miscellany in the bed.

Do your homework about weigh, it adds up fast . Do you homework about hauling and hitch set up and decide which will be best for you and the safety level you are willing to settle with .

Edit: My WDH is also anti sway .