Can I pull this trailer with my Taco?

First and foremost...I love my 2009 Taco! Had it for over 5 years now and haven't had a thing go wrong!

I'm thinking of purchasing a travel trailer to tow behind my Taco but am a little concerned the one we are looking at is just too much trailer. I have never pulled anything of significance behind it before. Looking for opinions...here are the specs:

2009 Taco Double Cab 4x4 TRD Sport w/ towing package

Trailer:
2014 Evergreen I-Go G256BH
Dry weight: 5108 lb
Hitch weight: 593 lb
Gvwr: 6495 lb
Overall length: 28'10"
Width: 7'7"

Can I pull this trailer with my Taco? If so, what addons do I need? Most likely doing fairly short hauls of less than 200 miles on mostly flat terrain probably 8-10 times a year.

Thx

 

Completely empty thats a lot of weight on a little truck. Loaded for camping, thats a lot of weight and a long trailer.

 

Could probably get away with it, but you will find its going to be a little much for your little truck. Your better off with a smaller camper or bigger truck.

I have completely roasted my tranny fluid towing less than that, and it was a boat that cuts the air much better

 

Way too big it would be a hand full unless the only place you go with would be Kansas farm land. Don't forget dry weight is just that it does not even include batteries and propane tanks much less your gear water etc. Mine goes about 3000# and I know it's behind me especially in the hills and at the gas pump.

 

Too much. Find a smaller camper.

 

Don't trust the "dry weight"! Before you buy it, take it to the scales and get a weight on it. I think you will be surprised how much it really weighs...

 

I have talked to the RV dealer (who used to work at a Toyota dealership) and he claims the Tacoma will pull it without problems. Will be using a Husky WD Hitch with sway control, Tekonsha brake controller and extended side mirrors.

Most trips are going to be no longer than 200 miles and on generally pretty flat ground. I expect the mpg to be terrible but that's ok. I plan on keeping it around 60-65 mph as people suggested. We will probably travel pretty light with gear since we won't be traveling too far from amenities.

I've looked at a ton of posts on here and see that there are some people pulling this kind of trailer with no issues as long as you have the setup done correctly. I plan on giving it a shot and see how my Taco does! I really don't want to upgrade to a Tundra when I can only pull a trailer 5 months out of year and for only 8 trips a year.

Thanks for your opinions. I may post a picture once I get the trailer.

 

How much does it "really" weigh? Don't take the word of a sales guy. Find out for your self.

I have no doubt that your truck will tow it, but you need to be an informed purchaser...

 

Like others above I say that's a bit much. You also have to count the gear in your truck as well as people in the truck when considering weight. That's also a really long trailer and the wind will really push it around a lot. Especially when meeting an 18 wheeler or similar.

 

The RV dealer is a moron plain and simple and he just wants a sale. Like a few people have said, it weighs more than the dry weight with nothing even loaded. Figure a couple hundred over dry weight just like that.

A Tacoma wont tow it "without a problem", remember you're towing a giant, top heavy non-aerodynamic 28 foot box.

28 feet is above the recommended tow length for a 2nd gen (conveniently a former Toyota dealer left that out, again he's an idiot)

A few weekends ago I went to Vegas through Boise and SLC and back to Seattle and this past weekend I went for a camping trip to the WA coast. We're talking nearly 3000 miles. The "least" capable truck I saw towing a travel trailer this size or near this size was a 5.7L Tundra. I wonder why? The Tacoma isn't a tow rig.

 

Never take the word of a guy trying to sell you something. Youll end up owning too many bridges to maintain them all.

 

So test pulled this trailer tonight...and the verdict is...it's gonna be a bit much for my Taco.

What I was surprised about was how easily the Tacoma did pull it. 2500 rpm at 60 mph and it wasn't hunting for gears or felt like it was labouring at all. Used a weight distribution hitch and a brake controller. Had a little sway to it at 60 mph but not too bad. Braking seemed good...and at no point in time did I feel unsafe. That being said...it was dry...add another 1000 lb minimum for gear and it wouldn't be much of a fun pull. I didn't weigh it but I bet I was over 10,000 lb GCWR and that's dry. I would be fine doing myself but I won't put my family in that situation...just too risky. Need to find something in the 4000 lb dry weight range to be more comfortable with the pull.

Thanks to everyone who commented...the search continues for the right trailer...no way I'm giving up my beloved Tacoma!

 

Anyone know if I am correct about this: I think the 2014 are rated at 6500lbs with the factory package in A DC.

 

Short answer is No. this would be a bad idea. But most people will ignore this advice and do it anyway.

Long answer, trailer is too heavy and too long. It'll toss your truck around like a ragdoll in an emergency and maybe even not in an emergency when you get a little sway and you think"oh better brake" and it throws you into a ditch.

My rule of thumb with these threads is if you have to justify it somehow saying "mostly flat ground, less than 200miles" then you already know its too much.

I'm glad you test pulled it first, I wrote that out there for anyone looking at this thread in the future.

You'll rarely have a problem PULLING a trailer, hell my 4 banger ranger can pull that easily, and stupidly I have pulled 7000lbs with my ranger. But stopping, controlling, etc is always the problem as you saw. Good on you for making the right choice.

Yeah thats extremely generous from what I've seen. 6500lbs you should be using atleast an F150. not a 1/4 ton truck.

 

So found another trailer that we really love.

2015 Keystone Passport Grand Touring Ultra Lite 2400BH
Dry Weight: 4710 lb
Hitch Weight: 515 lb
GVWR: 6800 lb
Overall Length: 27'10"
Width: 8'

Gonna get set up with a Equilizer WD hitch and already have a Tekonsha Primus IQ brake controller.

This model of trailer has the wider axle spread that should help with the sway and I've heard that the Equilizer hitch is one of the best on the market.

Gonna test pull it in a few days? Comments on this match with my Tacoma? I really hope it feels good because this trailer has all the features we are looking for...plus a pretty good price on it too.

 

Do you think 400 lbs and about a foot difference will change that much?

I still advise getting a "real" weight on it before you commit to purchase.

 

My honest humble opinion is you're looking at too much trailer for a mid-size truck to safely handle under all conditions. My opinion lines up with Cypher's post:

Good luck to you though.

 

No you shouldn't put your family in the truck and risk their lives pulling that kind of weight. Consider the safety of others before you put a load like that behind your truck. Buy a smaller trailer or a bigger truck. Sorry man, i don't joke around with 60mph and pullin an unsafe load our trucks cant handle. Hell If i towed anything more than 3000ish pounds i would buy a bigger truck.

Tacomas are pop up pullers

 

For the good of your family and everyone on the road LISTEN to the replies. We know and love these trucks and everyone thinks your way too heavy.
Try a panic stop, you know theirs always one in your future, it won't be pretty. Better to know now than when it counts!

 

The wider track width, ELECTRIC brakes and less weight will make it easier but not something I'd want to personally tow with these trucks. Especially if you need 4x4 along your route, that front diff is a joke.