Boat towing

I am looking to tow a 22ft mako with my 2005 tacoma. I know my manual says that with a receiver hitch i can safely tow up to 5500 lbs. I am just looking for some feedback because there are a number of folks that keep saying i need a bigger truck. I however belive and am almost certain i can tow the boat no problem.

 

Do you have the tow package and how much does the boat weigh?

 

I pulled my 21ft Malibu ski boat all over the place this weekend and it was fine. The boats about 3700lbs with gear and gas.

My taco actually pulled better than my dodge 1500 with the 4.7. Only time I noticed a difference was braking, gotta take it a little easier with the Tacoma.

 

No i dont have the towing package. It weighs about 3800 to 4200

 

I have a 20ft Sea Ray, also around 3800 full of gas. I pulled it quite a bit last summer without no problems! I have the tow package though.

 

if you know you can tow up to 5500, and the boat weighs 4500, do i need to do the math for you?

 

Whippersnapper, the manual says i can tow 5500 with an installed receiver hitch. So im a bit confused as far as why i couldnt tow it without the towing package.

 

part of the towing package from toyota is a reciever hitch. that is was the higher rating is for. if you are talking about having a hitch ball on the bumper, you are then limited to what he stated.

 

So i should be good to tow up to the max as long as i have that correct?

 

the factory tow package comes with some other stuff that's nice to have but not required. so yes, with the actual hitch, you're not going to rip off the rear of your truck like with a bumper mount.

 

Cool thanks.. I appreciate it... What are some Mods i can do to make towing that load easier. Bigger battery? bigger alternator?

 

At 3700lbs you should be using trailer brakes. If you get into a panic situation you will be like the tail wagging the dog.

If you had an F250 you could haul with out the trailer brakes. The Toco does not have heavy duty brakes like a 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton, it has slightly beefed up passenger car brakes

 

its not very much but i tow 2 jetskies weighing in around 2500 for everything and you can hardly tell there on there

 

I'd start with brakes, get a high quality set of brake pads and possible vented rotors (s/s lines if you can afford them), then go with an aftermarket oil cooler.

 

The tow package comes with a class IV hitch, bigger alternator, bigger battery, tranny cooler, and a 7 pin to 4 pin connector.

I towed a 1400 lb buggy and it handled it fine. The only issue was braking. Tacoma's brakes are spongy and have a weak pedel feel. Keep the tranny in 4, not D, when you tow and reference this thread:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/4031-tacoma-towing-bible.html

 

Even with updated pads and lines you are not going to increase the surface area of the rotors/drum or the power applied to them from an automotive mastercylinder. there may be a harsher feel to the brakes with harder pads that will in turn wear your rotors faster The SS lines may give a stronger feel and have a slight increase of initial force to the pads but the mastercylinder is only going to give what it has to give and nothing more. With a trailer attached that is over 2000# its only wise to ere on the safe side and not become a statistic.

 

You are correct. My point is while the ability to tow the boat may be feasible with the correct hitch, braking should not be disregarded.
Obviously a trailer with it's own brakes is best.
How would you modify a stock truck to increase braking power?
I'm curious as well. I tow my boat close to home with performance pads and vented rotors with out any issues. However, I may be doing a cross country highway trip in the spring and would like to be prepared braking wise.

 

Brakes are always the weakest link in the towing/cargo capacity equation. That is why the cargo rating for a Taco is only 1200#. I am not an engineer so I will not even speculate on how to increase braking power. What I would do is buy a heavier truck or the less expensive route is to outfit the trailer with brakes. Much less then a new truck!

 

A bit late, but possibly this threat can come to life?
I have a 22ft Mako and am considering a Tacoma for towing. How did your Tacoma tow the Mako?

 

Florida guy! I pulled my 211 mako about 9 hours on the interstate and the taco towed it AWESOME! you cant stomp the gas going up hills or anything but it will do just fine my friend.