Question on towing and hauling with a 2TR 4x4

Hey all,

I listed my truck in the classifieds as a feeler, however I'd really like to keep it. The reason being is we were looking at a toy hauler/camper for our atv. This may work with our Honda Pilot but I was thinking on another route.

Has anyone towed a small fiberglass camper, say a 13' Scamp and hauled a 4x4 atv in their bed? The quad weighs 590 wet. Dry weight of the Scamp is 1200. I estimate I could be able to keep the trailer weight around 2000 with options and cargo. I guess 2600 lbs total with everything.

Has anyone done this with a trailer less aerodynamic than a pop up? My truck is a regular cab 4x4 5 speed.

Thanks for any information!

 

Tow a 1400lb (dry) Camplite TT with 200lbs of gear in the camper & about 400lbs of camping gear/Leer Shell/Kayaks in the back of the pickup, with a 2WD Tacoma 2.4L/5 speed. Have found I can only use 5th on level ground & downhill with the camper with best fuel economy of 16 to 17MPG @ 55MPH, so far. Use 4th mostly & stay under 60MPH in 4th.

Can tow a 1900 to 2000lb boat @ 65MPH in 5th getting 20MPG on the interstate and only had to shift to 4th on long mountain grades, so far.

The aerodynamic drag with the TT is much greater than the low profile boat, with total load hauled being about the same.

Thought about buying a new 4.6L Tundra, but decided to continue towing the TT with the Tacoma and slowing down to 55MPH or less for better fuel economy. Have a Scangauge on order to monitor and find the best speed/RPM combination for fuel economy when towing the TT. The Tundra would handle the TT easily, but I would probably get the same or higher fuel burn with the Tundra.

 

Thanks for the information. Do you have electric brakes on the trailer?

 

Have electric brakes on the CampLite TT with controller in cab and no brakes on the boat trailer. The Tacoma handles both easily with good stopping power.

 

Nice setup!

 

You have NOTHING to worry about. I flat towed a 3500 pound SUV a couple of weeks ago. The only "hairy" part of that procedure was that flat towing means zero tongue weight, so it really wanted to push out the ass-end of the truck when coming around corners. Talk about oversteer!!!

Went with flat towing only because the SUV had an integrated hitch for the tow bar that slipped into my 2" receiver. Any further car towing though, I think I'll switch back to the flatbed. Much more relaxing tow, even if it puts more work on the truck.

I would say with trailer weight at or under 2000 pounds, you shouldn't need any kind of brakes. Just leave yourself a little more room to slow down.

 

That's a little scary! If the trailer has brakes, I'll hook them up.