New Trailer

Am buying a new 2013 Heartland 19 ft travel trailer. Have a 2013 Tacoma Double cab with towing option. Trailer weighs approx. 4200 Dry. Is this too much for my new truck? Am also getting a brake controller added. Thanks Bob S.

 

Check your manual for all capacities. I believe your model is somewhere between 5-6000 max, but you need to check. I have a 2001.

 

Here, this is a little dated (only to 2008), but should be close if not the same.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/4031-tacoma-towing-bible.html#post35019

Engine type is a big factor, of course.

 

you should be fine. max on the V6 is 6500, +or- a 100 or depending on 4wd, and DCSB/DCLB.

 

You'll want an equalizer hitch and air bag or something for the rear suspension. This trailer was 3230 dry weight about 3750 loaded and first tow without equalizer and rear suspension upgrade was really bouncy. Felt great after upgrades but 10-11 mpg at highway speeds.

 

I just got back from our first trip with our new trailer and new Taco. The trailer is an Apex (Coachmen) 189fbs. It is supposed to weigh 3298 dry. The dealer filled the propane tanks (10 gal) and the water tanks (30 gal). In all I think the trailer weighed 3720 loaded up hitch and all. Minimal load in truck, 2 pssgrs about 330 lbs. The truck is a new double cab, 5ft bed, 4.0 L V6, auto, 4x4, towing and offroad package. The truck is rated for a total of 6500lbs towing. Most Tacoma owners warn not to exceed 4400lbs. We shopped around for 4 months looking for a lightweight that we liked. We ended up getting this Apex even though is was 600 lbs. over my ideal target weight. I think I should have stuck to the original plan because the Taco could barely make it up into our local back country. We live in San Diego and took the trailer east on I-8 only as far as Pine Valley only 37 miles from our home. It is a 6% grade for about 1/3 of the trip, going from 380 ft. to 4120 ft. altitude. It was sad, with the pedal all the way down and shifted into 2nd we were struggling to maintain 35 mph.

Even without the trailer the truck is an absolute DOG. It strains to pull itself up 7% grades. I'm not sure that this engine is performing as it should. Will be taking it to a dyno for a check. I know the engine is not all that powerful. The Honda Accord I had before buying this truck had approx. 40 more hp with 0.4 liters less displacement. Wish we could get this with a Ford ecoboost v6.

 

That Heartland is a sweet trailer, and our dealer was selling one at a huge discount (14000) but it is much too heavy in my opinion. I think an ideal trailer would be the Lance 1575 (2600 lbs dry), but it is 21000 somolions. So we bought the Apex.