6 Cylinder Towing Review

I'd really like to do the same thing -- bags and a little on-board compressor with a remote gauge and on/off switch. I just think that'd give me flexibility to level out no matter (well, just about no matter) what I'm towing or hauling.

 

Why don't you just get the spring TSB done?? The ride is fine with no vibration issues.

 

IF I can sell my airbags I probably will. Would it look funny with my back end up 2" more without raising the front??

 

The TSB spring raised the back of my truck 1". It actually looks just about right.

 

I tow with my 2008 TRD OR with the factory installed tow package and I generally only haul my 2000 SAS taco on a tandem 16' trailer. Certified Cat scales say im at 10,860# total. I get about 12.2-13.4 MPG according to my Ultra Gauge and generally its correct. I usually drive around 70 MPG. I've hauled it on three 5 hour trips and two 8 hour trips. And a couple 90 minute trips. I find that it likes to kick out of gear a lot, but actually it still gets up and goes. I can say I was shocked on how it performed, impressed. I love taco's

 

I tow a bit(6x12 enclosed haulmark). Id like more power so want to supercharge. However my taco has over 150K on it. Is it a bad idea? Will the investment of S/C kill the life left on the truck(my last 1st gen I sold with 250K so i know NA will last).
Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

Should be no problem. About a year ago a local guy put a S/C on his 06 with 220k on it and it's still just fine.

 

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Bumped for kalaniwavo.

 

I recently returned home from a long weekend camping trip. My 2012 Tacoma did a superb job handling my 2750# trailer with her short-bed loaded with camping gear, and two bicycles atop the tonneau. I started in D but within a few miles thought it prudent to keep 'er in 4th.

I was surprised the RPM stayed below 2500 throughout the trip. I tow at 60MPH, though just for the helluva it, I took it up to 70mph to check the feel, which was fine.

With the '04 Highlander I had been using as a tow vehicle, the 3.3L V6 liked to tow in the 2800 RPM range. The motor seemed to like it better.

 

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Good info for me. If I get a Tacoma, I'll be towing two weekends a month, with the occasional long trip. I was interested in a S/C and how it would tow - good to know the mpgs increased. The rpm while towing doesn't surprise me me - especially with the converter locked - no slip, so rpms should be the exact same unless you have some other sort of gearing reduction in line now.

Thanks for the bump of the thread F-125Racer, and for directing me over here from the 2nd gen thread I started.

 

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This thread is getting dangerous. ST tires, which are trailer tires, are not rated to be taken past 65 mph. If you are using automobile tires on your trailer you are really asking for a sidewall failure blowout. (You might be using LT tires, which can be okay.) But setting aside for the moment the danger of how quickly things happen at 75mph compared to, say, 60 mph, towing (or for that matter driving) faster than the tire is rated for is dramatically increasing the risk. And doing it often is dramatically increasing the frequency of risk. Both high risk and high frequency guarantee a potentially catastrophic failure with dire consequences. Knowledge is power.

(For the record, I tow a 2800# travel trailer, a 1955 Airlight 15', completely remanufactured with all new mechanical, including a new Dexter torflex axle. I have 500 lbs tongue weight -- I like between 15-20% tongue weight. I tow with a 2012 dc short bed 4.0L V6 with supplemental air bags to get rid of a little rear end sag. My truck bed is loaded with camping gear, and I carry two bicycles on the tonneau cover... I never tow in overdrive, and I rarely must downshift from 4th. )

 

Well let's do the math:

Figure you can get the supercharger with fit kit installed out the door for $4500 (if you're lucky)

Without a smaller pulley you're looking at a real world gain of 65hp

4500/65 = approx $70 per 1 hp

Lets say your towing mpg rises from 11 to 13 mpg after the supercharger (that's being lucky)

with an average of 13 mpg on a 20 gallon tank that means approx 260 miles before empty with the supercharger (where as stock would travel approx 220 miles before E)

Figure gas at a current rate of $4 per gallon

That 40 miles gained is equivalent to around 3 gallons at 13mpg

You save the cost of 3 gallons of gas every time you fill up. So this means about $12 dollars each tank

In summary: It would take over 330 fill ups (that's around 85,000 miles at 13 mpg) to offset the price of the supercharger. For this reason, it's simply not wise to calculate the s/c as an investment strategy.

If we decide to stay stock:
$4500/4=approx1125 US gallons

1125*11=approx12,375 miles @ 11mpg

Everything said: I would still slap a s/c on at the speed of light if it became available at the right price. My broke a** just can't justify the expense at current MSRP

*If anybody would like to correct my numbers, please feel free

 

Agree with the towing speed, I've towed boats for 15 yrs, sometimes for 11+ hr road trips, always keep it around 65 on interstate.

But, anyway, is there anyone towing with the v6, manual? Any advice? I used to tow the same boat I have now with a 2007 FJ manual. Same engine and gear box, but much shorter wheelbase. It wasn't bad, but hoping it is a little better with the Tacoma, stability-wise. I'd estimate boat/trailer combo is #4000 - 4300 range

 

Towed my Jayco 165 Sport (2800lbs dry) from Flagstaff AZ (7000ft) to West Phoenix (1500ft) and back. About 170 miles each way.

I have an Ultragauge to monitor mileage, among other things. Although I wish I could monitor tranny temps too.

I got 14mpg going down the hill and 11.5mpg on the way back. I was able to keep it in D for most of the way down and 4 on the way up. There are two big hills where 3 and a decrease in speed was necessary. Tried to keep it at about 65mph most of the time.

Planning on doing 850 miles to NoCal in June.

Here is a pic of the load and a pic of the elevation profile from Flagstaff to PHX.

I think I am going to get sway control bars for the trailer because the back end just sagged a little and those will help I think.

 

Its not real heavy, maybe 3500 pounds loaded, but I got 16-17 mpg in my 01 towing a flatbed loaded with motorcycles and atv's and camping gear in the bed with 4 bug guys in the cab. I kept it between 55-65. Its not worth going any faster... plus its against the law in cali.