Taco Towing

Hey all...

I'm new to this site and it was suggested by another member that I repost this thread to the towing forum as I was told "They really know their stuff"

Thanks.

 

i am towing a 26 ft wildwood extra lite and have had no problems. my loaded trailer weight is 5800 lbs. i have and equalizer hitch and brake controller. no issues with sway what so ever. fuel milage was cut in half but other than that no complaints

 

Awesome... Thank you... I'm getting an E2 Stabilizer installed on the trailer.

I checked out some of the stuff other people have towed with their Tacos and I'm gaining confidence about towing such a large trailer.

I appreciate your input kar1025... Maybe I'll even post a picture for you once we take delivery on the new Forest River Patriot Edition 26BH.

Quite an upgrade from the pop-up we've been using for the last 4 years.

Thanks again for the confidence.

Pete

 

Glad you got your answer here. We defiantly want to see pictures and hear about the experience.

I just saw your other post about beefing up the rear suspension, and I think that's a good idea. Make sure you have a brake controller first. That is absolutely necessary if you're pulling that kind of weight. Look into air bags for the rear. It will allow you to beef up the rear when towing the trailer, but keep a good ride when not towing the trailer.

That's my 0.02, but I think you'll be fine with that...

 

I've towed a couple of cars and loaded dump trailers and here is my advice;

The truck is rated to tow 6500lb, BUT it will lag in power, you will get about 8MPG and it doesn't handle it well. It's a good truck for the occasional large towing job, but if you are planning on anything regular i would get a larger truck. A honda s2000 on a light uhaul trailer (the flatbed type) isn't a big feat but it is for a tacoma sadly and that's about 5000lb max

 

Yeah, but you have to admit, the usual U-Haul trailers are excessively heavy and poorly maintained...it would at least be a little better with a well maintained trailer...

 

my fuel milage when towing is 10 to10.8 mpg. i too read alot on here and started to get paranoid reading everything. i finally said if the engineers at toyta say it can pull 6500 lbs why do people say it can only pull maybe 5000. you will be fine, get your brake controller,sway controll and don't drive like an idiot and you will be fine.

 

You'll be limited by your payload, and maybe tongue weight. You have two kids, so I am assuming 4 people in the truck. It is almost a sure thing that you'll be over the rating when you are ready for camping.
Besides that, the short wheel base of the Tacoma is not made for very long travel trailer towing. A wind gust from the side and that trailer will take control.
I personally think that you will not be happy with that setup, and that it is not safe.

 

Thanks for the input folks... and sorry sechsgang... too late. We already bought the trailer... I've done all I can do to make it the safest towing situation possible... and now, all that's left is to tow that big sucker off the lot and see what happens.

I'll spend a year or so making shorter trips to see how the Taco handles everything... If it's all good; it's all good... If it's not; Tundra.

Thanks again everyone... I'll post some pics when I can... Did I mention I'm throwing in a canoe on top too?.. If you see me, may want to keep your distance

Pete

 

Post pics guy. I want to upgrade my small trailer 14"9 ft to 22 ft.

 

The Tundra would probably be over the limit as well, it buys you not even 150 lbs in extra payload over the Taco I think.
Yeah, show us some pics.
I've been there, done that, and ended up with a half ton after three camping trips. Thought I can help you avoid that.
But people also have a different tolerance level when it comes to adventure white knuckle towing. I just didn't want to do that with my family in the vehicle.

If that trailer really comes in at 6K lbs (most of the time it's more than what people guess), you have a canoe on top of the truck and 4 people inside, you'll be over pretty much any and all ratings (axle, GVWR, GCWR). Be careful to not get into a crash that way.

 

Today I saw (in calif is illegal) this guy pulling a large 5th wheel travel trailer and a large boat behind it.

 

This is what I tow. 19ft Star Stream 4100lbs and a 750lbs four wheeler. I have a equalizer hitch with firestone ride rite airbags.

 

Nice toys you have. Is that a short or long bed?

 

Long

 

Interesting looking trailer!
By how much do you think you are over your rear axle weight rating, and the GVWR of the truck? Is it a prerunner?
I would take this rig to the scales before you go camping next time, just to know.

 

Long Bed and Its a 4x4. Not too worried about it, I usually only pull one or the other when i go. I definitely know when they are both back there. Still does pretty well for a V6.

 

I love the confidence and apprehensiveness out there.

It means the Taco can do it... It'll just do it like a Taco.

Here's a pic of the current "Tow Package".

Picking up the 26 footer tomorrow.

I'll let you all know how it goes and post a pic or two.

Thanks again for the input.

Awesome online community.

Long live the Taco.

Pete

 

Good luck, all good advice here. I am considering going to a hybrid soon that is heavier than my popup, but a bigger concern is the wind drag. Please keep us posted.

 

Well, Where are the pics???