Towing capacity.

im just wondering. What is a REALISTIC towing/payload capacity for our trucks? I know for a fact that companys rate their trucks for less than they can actually handle. Could a 2011 4 banger pull a compact tractor or mini excavator on a trailer with minimal issue? Or 2-3 250 utility quads, 2 on a trailer 1 in the bed?

 

Your truck is rated for 3500lbs but shares the same suspension and chassis with the V6 which is rated for 6500lbs. With a little common sense applied you'll be fine with either load you stated.

 

What he said ^^.
I move big heavy things all the time with mine.

But one thing to consider; if you have an AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, you probably want to be a bit more conservative with your towing, they are geared higher than the manual.

 

You will be fine if you are just going at surface road speeds. I would be shocked if you could maintain highway speeds with anything more than 2500# behind you.

 

Weight does not impact the speed you can get it to, only the TIME it takes to get it to that speed.
And I assume that your 2500# figure was meant to be something considerably bigger, since 2500# is basically nothing. You won't even feel 2500# unless its really badly balanced.

 

No, not really. We had a 6x12 landscaper trailer that weighed probably 1000#, being generous, two quads on it (race bikes, 435# a piece) and another probably 100# in fuel and crap and the truck would NOT maintain 70mph in top gear. If I stayed in 4th, it would be decent. The 4cyl just isn't a tow machine. Weight, drag, whatever we want to call it, it won't do it.

 

That wouldn't, by any chance, be one of those crappy trailers with a huge fold-up loading ramp on the back, would it? Because those loading ramps are like sticking up a huge sail. Nothing to do with weight. Weight does NOT impact speed, only how long it takes to get there. AERODYNAMICS limits speed.

 

Toyota is very misleading with their towing claims. Pulling the weight is one thing. It is payload capacity that will be the limiting factor. My Tacoma has a 1200 lb payload rating and is rated to tow 6500 lbs. I know the towing of the 4 bangers is 3500 lbs, but I don't know if payload is any different. With the weight of any passengers, cargo and fuel I shouldn't exceed 1200 lbs in my truck or I'll overload the suspension. Typical tongue weight of a 6500 lb trailer is about 13% or roughly 850 lbs. Add another 100 lbs for a weight distribution hitch and I've got 950 lbs hanging on the rear of the truck. I weigh 220 lbs. That leaves me 30 lbs for fuel, cargo and other passengers inside the truck.

I also own a F-150 with quite a bit more towing and payload capacity. I wouldn't tow 6500 lbs behind it, let alone my Tacoma. Especially in the mountains where I live.

Can you pull it, maybe, people do it, and if I were only over by 200-300 lbs I might do it on occasion especially if driving in level terrain, much more than a few hundred pounds and I wouldn't touch it. You need to get out a calculator and add up the weights of everything you want to pull and compare them to the trucks specs. Getting your truck on some scales would be a good idea so you know exactly where you stand. Bigger tires, and other accessories eat into payload too.

 

Payload capacity is HIGHER on 4-cyl.

OP's 2011 should be either 1435 (RC) or 1395 (AC).

Also, your +100# for the weight distribution hitch is not correct. You have to keep in mind what the weight distribution hitch actually does, which is LIFT UP on the back suspension, it redistributes weight up to the front suspension and BACK to the trailer axle(s). This actually increases your payload capacity to some degree. You don't have to add in its weight.

10,000# tandem trailer, 9% tongue weight (because its tandem) = 900#
Payload capacity = 1395. 1395-900=495 with weight distribution hitch.
WITHOUT weight distribution hitch 1395-(1.5*900)=45# = you must be very very very small to drive this rig. *** because remember that the trailer coupler is BEHIND the rear axle, so you can't take the weight out of the capacity in a linear fashion, you multiply it by 1.5 instead.

So 495 pounds is remaining there in your payload capacity, even with 10,000# dragging behind you. What you have there is enough remaining capacity for 2 people and some junk, or two adults and two children.

 

We (oil company) routinely pull/transport 100 barrel oil tanks and midsize pumpjacks with our Tacoma 4 cylinders. A good balanced trailer is everything. 50mph+ is no problem. You wont break any speed records. But it is doable. Just use common sense when it comes to stopping distance.

 

Thanks for the input y'all! I'm getting ready to do my eagle project here soon and will be needinfg to rent a compact tractor for it (most likely from Home Depot because they are known to help out kids getting eagle rank) and will need to be pulling it with the mighty yota from New Albany to corydon (about a 25 mile trip for those not in Indiana) I'll update the thread when the time comes and share my experiences.