5000 lb Boat up the Ramp?

I am lookingfor a tow vehicle to pull a 5000 lb boat – total load including trailer, fuel,gear, etc. Until two days ago I used a 1996 F150 with a 4.9 liter in-line-6. It pulled the boat great. But it was killed by another vehicle and has gone to truck heaven. I love Toyotas (have had several – still have a Camry – and like the Tacoma over the Tundra. I’m sure with a 6500 lb tow rating the Tacoma can pull my boat on the road, but my concern is pulling up the incline of the ramp.The F150 claimed 145 hp @ 3400 rpm and 265 ft-lbs @ 2000 rpm. The Tacoma 4.0 liter V6 claims 236 hp @ 5,200 rpm and 266 ft-lb @ 4,000 rpm. At first look the torques are close, but theF150 has it on the low end where you need it when slowly coming up a ramp. The ramp I usually use is about three miles away and has excellent traction – deep grooved surface for traction– and I’ve never lost traction even with the light back end of a truck and a very wet ramp. Has anyone out there had experiences good or bad pulling a similar load up a ramp with a Tacoma? And if it will do the job, do I want to put that kind of strain on it? I don’t want to go to a Tundra, but I will if I must. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

I pull a pontoon boat all the time up some steep grades it still accelerates going up hill

 

Sounds good. My boat is a fiberglass 22 ft Mako - pretty heavy rig. Do you know how much your total weight is?

 

just use 4 low.

 

itll pull it no problem at all.. ive had 7k pound equipment trailers behind my taco...i just upgraded my rear springs

 

i would deff get an automatic over the 6spd though the autos are a great tranny our 6spds not so great...

 

I pulled a 7000 lb wooden boat up a steep ramp with my 4cyl stick. I just put it in 4lo and let out the clutch. It idled up the ramp. No problem. No wheelspin either.

 

The Tacoma has 4 low, I bet it would tow the boat up the ramp no problem even in high range 2WD.
Make sure to put a breather hose on your rear differential routed to somewhere high like your gas filler neck.

 

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is 4lo? Is that only on the 4x4 Tacos, or do all the manual trannys have a 'granny' gear including the 2x4?

 

yeah 4lo is only for 4x4

 

I guess I should point out that I am considering a 2 wheel drive automatic transmission Tacoma to pull with. Do you guys still think it will pull a 5000 lb boat out of a good ramp?

 

Yes, I have a 2wd PreRunner and my boats tow fine, it can get slippery on some ramps but overall you will be fine. I assume it is the 6 cylinder and not the 4?

 

Buy a 2wd PreRunner (obviously with the 4.0L) and you'll be fine.