Frequent Towing an Issue?

Hi All,

I'm currently thinking of selling my 99' F250 w/ 7.3 Diesel to buy a 2nd Gen Tacoma Double Cab Long Bed. I bought the F250 on a whim as a tow rig and have loved it - but I recently lost my company car and need to condense daily driver duties and towing duties into one vehicle. Last year, I put 20k miles on the truck, with about 15k of those towing my racecar on an open trailer.

The car weighs 2600ish lbs, the trailer 1600lbs - figure 4200 lbs there. I know the V6 trucks with factory towing package can town 6500 lbs, but with what frequency?

Most towing trips are withing 400 miles one way, but the occasional trip is over 1000 miles one way - through some mountains, etc.

I want to be sure that the Tacoma can withstand being used to tow for 1/2 of its lifetime. Say I drive 30k miles a year but 15k of that is towing 4200 lbs.

Anyone done it? Anyone against it? Should I look at a Tundra instead? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

aCab

 

do not sell that 7.3! find a way to keep and buy a new truck. there will never be an engine built like that beast.

 

Buy a Tundra instead. More room in the cab for those long trips, seats are more comfortable, and you don't ever have to worry about the towing being too much on the drivetrain.

I know Tacos tow very well, but I can see 15k a year of towing something that weighs 4200lbs plus driver/passenger weight and cargo weight causing premature wear on the transmission.

 

Keep the Diesel, buy a Prius.

 

I really with that was a possibility. I'm limited for space and my commute it short. I won't even get heat in the cab of the 7.3 by the time I get to work.

 

If I had the space and the means I would - but having two trucks doesn't make sense.

 

I tow with my 2nd gen and in the last 2 years I've put on over 15k miles towing the max weight everytime. 2nd gen is nearing 140k miles now. I am confident I will get 200k out of it... (knock on wood)

I'd buy a tundra, but they get shit for mileage for DD.

 

Chicago Transit Authority?

 

that almost brings tears to my eyes!

 

Good to know! The tundra would be great, but 15k miles of shitty mileage combined with 15k of shitty towing mileage would be painful.

 

The Taco will handle the towing, however, since many miles will be going long distances, I assume they will be highway miles. You will want the Tundy on the highway so you can cruise highway speeds. The Taco will most likely need to stay in 4th gear, and maybe 60mph at the most to prevent from gear hunting.

 

What are you getting with the F250 while towing for a reference.

 

You may wanna consider the Ford F150 with the ecoboost, not sure if they do as good on gas as they claim, but you would have the towing power of a full size still.

 

The Taco towing in 4th gear cruising at 55 will get probably the same mpg a Tundra will get driving around without towing. I'd still go for the Tundra...Taco mpg isn't really anything to rave about either.

 

Our ford trucks at work average 14 in town and 19-21 on hwy doing 70 MPH, NO CRUISE. I cannot believe their mileage. Outstanding IMO.

The tundra will cruise at any speed towing the weight. As for the taco, it holds it's own at 60-65. When there is no wind it does better, but 4th gear 100% of the time. Gotta adjust for hills EVERYTIME too.

Who tows at 55? haha. Towing today on a head wind I got 8 mpg @ 60 mph. I literally watched my needle dropping.

On a normal day of towing I get 11 MPG.

 

I usually average around 16.5mpg at @63mph.

 

Prices for a crew cab 4x4 with ecoboost are still in the upper 20s to low 30s.

 

What about if I dropped 400 lbs off of that weight? My other racecar weights 2200lbs, add 1600 lb trailer, you're down to 3800lbs...

 

Going to be the same IMO. I've done it, (though I tow more weight) it just sucks unless you flatland tow. Than it's decent.

 

With towing, the transfer case and diffs all need fluid changes every 20k, or on average every 8 months with your usage. ATF change would be every 60k. Does the F250 have similar requirements?

With my V6 4x4, I get 16 mpg in mostly rush-hour stop and go highway driving. This is with just me in the truck and no payload. I suggest you simply keep driving the F250.

Is any of your driving at higher elevations (say, Colorado)? A naturally aspirated engine loses more power than a turbo diesel when the air gets thinner.