Towing

Hey Guys,

I have a 2013 Tacoma TRD and have never towed anything with it before. This is my first Tacoma and first Truck. I am looking at buying at travel trailer and was wondering if my Tacoma could pull this? (See picture)
Any and all help would be much appreciated.

Thank you

 

Roughly 3800 pounds dry add in the gear, water, people lets say 1200 which comes out to 5k. Tacoma with towing package can tow 6500, it will pull it done with plenty of fuel.

 

I'm also worried how my Transmission would hold up towing it?

 

Leave it in 4th, DO NOT leave it in D

 

Okay May I ask why?

 

Truck doesn't have a tow button which takes the overdrive off, which tows a lot better, doesn't have the transmission hunting, and keeps it cooler. So leaving it in 4 prevents it from going into overdrive

 

Ah okay great! Thank you very much for the info!

 

Was wondering how the Tacomas mirrors would work with this kind of trailer? Would I need ones that extend out more?

 

Do yourself a big favor and get some extended mirrors so you can see how many drivers just love to hang out in your blind spot.

 

You are correct to worry about your transmission. Do you have a transmission cooler? Always good to monitor the temp as you tow. You can damage your transmission fluid without knowing it.

 

I have a a 4.0L Tacoma TRD. Just bought a 21 foot Minni Winnie Winnebago, 3800ilbs dryweight. It is only 7 feet wide so we were able to see pretty well with the stock mirrors. I was stuck this week driving back from Stanley, Idaho to Provo, Utah with high winds on the flat. Could only go about 55. Would like to add more oomph to the Tacoma. Considering a Tundra, but have on order the Supercharger for the Tacoma. Would that suffice for torque, weight of truck etc.? The Supercharger comes with a new intercooler. Or, should I just sell the Tacoma and get a Tundra? We'll only be going on about three trips a year.

 

The question is how much are you going to pull it. Once a year? a short distance? That trailer is 3800 lbs dry as a bone. Loaded with all the stuff you will want camping you will easily add 1000 lbs to it. Your truck will certainly tow it, but it will be a bear. I tow sleds in the winter and boats in the summer and if I was to purchase anything that would exceed 4500 lbs I would be getting a different truck. Like I said, the Tacoma will pull it, but it's a chore. And it will curl your toes in any kind of weather like rain, wind or snow. The heaviest thing I tow is a 3 place inline snowmobile trailer, it's about 2200lbs empty and with 3 sleds and some gear it pushes 4000lbs. The Tacoma will absolutely pull it, but it sucks! Hills, you will definitely be wanting more power. In any kind of headwind or even crosswind you feel the drag so much it's not even funny. I have been towing for decades so I am quite experienced and I can say that no matter what the truck is rated to pull, 4500lbs should be the realistic, regular tow rating on the Tacoma. Don't get me wrong, I pulled 8000 lbs across town last year without thinking about it, but I would never do that for any distance or regularity.

kdp44, I have no experience with the supercharger, but there is more to it than just the pulling power. Stopping is an issue, and even with trailer brakes a heavier truck just makes it more manageable. Crosswinds- again a heavier truck is a benefit. As much as I am a huge Tacoma fan, there is a big advantage to towing a lot of weight with a full size. So the real question is how much will you be towing? You say 3 times a year- is that 100 miles 3 times a year, or a thousand? 100 miles 3 times a year I would probably make the Tacoma work, but not much more than that.

 

Thanks for the great answer Jethro. With the supercharger, the torque and hp about equal the 4.3 liter Tundra. But I hear what you are saying about the weight of the truck etc. As to how far we are going a year, maybe 600 miles or so a year. I guess you would say the same thing on weight of the truck etc. if I went with a RAM 1500 6 cyl eco diesel.

Ken