Show us what you tow.

You're a braver man than I. I'm about 1.5 hours closer to Yosemite than you are (actually used to live in Newark). I'm not brave enough to take the Taco up Priest Grade (120 entrance) with my big trailer. I would be slow up that grade and probably tick off the 50 cars that were lined up behind me because there's no place to pass. Defintely would want a filled tank before I tried that. I've done the Grapevine and going South to North I filled up on both sides. Really sucked the gas big time. The "big boy" trucks suck gas as well but at least they've got more than 21 gallons to start with.

 

I just cringe when I look at that trailer behind the taco. And on the sand on top of that! I personally don't feel comfortable even thinking about towing over 3000 lbs. with a truck like a taco which is in reality a light-duty truck. Yes a taco may actually move a load like that but at what cost? Tow heavy like that for very long and it will trash the drivetrain. That trailer would be a fair load for a 3/4 or 1-ton diesel truck with the drivetrain, brakes, and wheelbase to properly tow a trailer like that. To each his own I guess. I like to keep a big margin of safety in how I use my truck and I will not tow over 3000 lbs. with mine. I tow my boat which has a light weight hull, aluminum trailer, and a 115 hp Yamaha outboard for a total of around 2000+ lbs. full of gas and I can definitely tell it is back there. I can only imagine what a taco loaded with over 5000 and the aerodynamics of a brick would do to the truck.

 

I regeared to 4.56 gears and have headers so it helps a little plus i have airbags to help level it out. Not really it tows it better than my buddy's 06 tundra

 

Yeah I have antisway bar set up

 

I don't believe it.. I think I need some video of you towing that rig up a hill.

Pretty Impressive!

 

In Lake Havasu, AZ:

 

Nice Rig!

 

Sweet boat you got there, AP.

 

X2.
And what size tires are ya runnin there?

 

Thanks! I'm running 315/70/R17 BFG A/Ts. That was the first time I used my truck to launch our boat and it did great.

 

Great to hear the Tacoma exceeded your expectations. I've known for a while just how well these new Tacomas can work/tow and its great seein other ones bein used as a truck as well.

Hey, would you mind PMing me some info/pics of what it took to fit the 315/70/17s without rub. I've been looking into fitting either some 295 Cooper STTs or some 315 GY DuraTracs on my truck but I wasnt sure just how much it would take to fit a tire nearly 35" on my 3" lift. I know the front cab mount chop mod will be necessary and I have no problem with doing that.

 

how much does that 25' rig weight? i thought my 21' CC with gas and gear was nearing the capacity of our trucks

 

I'm guessing it weighs around 5,000+ lbs. I only used it to tow from the storage about a mile to the launch ramp and back. I was more worried about pulling the boat out of the water than actually towing, but the tires didn't even slip once, even left it in 2WD, although I do have a Detroit locker in the rear end.

I've also towed a relatively light weight 21' toy hauler trailer with my '05 a few times and it did fine with the help of sway bars and trailer brakes. Boats have a lot less tongue weight, so that makes a big difference as well.

 

First time towing my boat and I was pretty impressed. I used to tow with a F350 and I was worried this little truck wouldn't be able to handle it, but I was wrong.
a little slow off the line, but it got the job done...

 

Sorry for taking so long to reply! 7900 is not a typo, I have the empty and loaded weight tickets to prove it (government move, had to get reimbursed). I had my two tool boxes, fourwheeler, dirtbike, bed, boxes of clothes, lots of garage chemicals and car washing stuff, two tv's, washer & dryer, etc. I don't have pictues of it fully loaded, but here are some during the loading process. I build those two shelves to help stack boxes a little nicer. I ended up having to stuff stuff under them anyway, but at least the weight wasn't on my fourwheeler/dirtbike. It really did turn out way better than I expected, my clutch suffered I'm sure but hey, it's still running!







But hey, it could've been worse!



Oh yeah, the 7900 INCLUDES the weight of the trailer, which is around 2000, so the trailer was under it's rating of 7000 pounds. Still, the little 3.4L pulled 7900 from southern IL to northern AL, which isn't exactly flat.

 

looks very awkward and unsafe. how was gas mileage?

 

I'm pretty sure that is not a pic of his set up, since that is a Dodge pulling it.

 

towed my 05 Jetta 1.8t to the local VW dealer for warranty work (700km / 440mi)

 

Doh! sorry i was a little intoxicated last ngiht when reading that