Travel Trailer Question

Hi there, I'm looking for some input on towing a 28ft travel trailer. Can be found here:
https://slo.craigslist.org/rvs/6150880014.html
Now, he says it's 4800# dry and based off the specs of my truck he claims I can tow it no problem. He very well might be trying to just get it sold. What are your opinions? Where I'd be traveling would be mostly flat, moderate short climbs.

 

hey . i actually towed my evo travel trailer which is a 4600 dry weight but after all the stuff we had it was 5400 loaded, it towed no problem. just make sure you have a good hitch. and sway systeam like a newer equilizer brand. ive towed it for about 2 years and it does fine. just make sure you stay the speed limit. get a nice brake controller oh and i would suggest getting mirrors. mine is a 2014 trd sport long bed.

 

What model trailer is that?

 

Have you read any of the posts by other people asking about towing 28 foot trailers. You need more truck or less trailer

 

I second airsavage. This is one of the reasons I sold my dream Tacoma and got a tundra. There's no confidence in braking at that weight.

 

You're not alone dude. Sadly, I got rid of my '14 Taco after I had it built just how I wanted it, all because I needed to be able to SAFELY tow the new travel trailer we were planning to get. I cannot imaging towing my 32' TT with the Taco, even with electric brakes and sway control. I too had to go to a bigger truck.

 

As others have stated you need to do some thread searching. I will try to give you a general idea of what you can do with your taco "safely". Step one... Make sure you have a tow package with the oil cooler and trans cooler. Step 2... Order a tekonsha brake controller and a Toyota harness, as well as a scan gauge or ultra gauge to monitor trans temps. Step 3... The trailer. I have towed a 19' jayco (3500 lbs single axle) for a few years. Please bear in mind that in Ohio we are flat lands and I go slow, less than 65mph. I just switched to a 21' Camplite that weighs 3300lbs, but it has tandem axles and four brakes. It does a much better job. There are multiple campers that are favorites around TW. Casita, Scamp, R pod, camp lite, most pop ups... NONE of these are 28'. I don't care who built it, you load the tanks and gear in a 28 and roll over the scales and you are pushing 7500 - 8000#. My campsite loaded is 4500. I also use a weight distribution hitch.

 

I just traded my 2017 Tacoma Off-road for a 2017 Tundra Off-road after only four months. I had gotten rid of a 4Runner for the Tacoma because I wanted a little more towing ability. We took a trip to Colorado in July. I was pulling a popup with gear for a family of four. The truck struggled and the highest mpg was around 13-14. While taking a trail in Ouray I had it to the floor and wasn't sure the truck was going to make it. According to the truck computer the highest mpg I ever got in my truck was 17.5 mpg. Something is wrong with the transmission/engine combo. The dealership was even surprised at how low the mpg is, but the never found a solution. I live in Louisiana with basically no hills.
That being said, I would not even consider a trailer the size you are talking about and that's why I went with a Tundra.

 

What was the weight of the trailer, gear and family? I don't understand why you would have problems pulling a popup trailer. Gas mileage will usually be half of what you would normally get without towing so 13-14 isn't terrible. A Tundra will be around 9-10 while towing.

 

Total weight was close to 5000# including water tank filled. The towing mileage wasn't that bad but, my everyday mpg was not good at all. I ever got in the 20+ range for mpg. My service advisor said their truck got close to the 20+ mpg average but, also said that other Tacoma owners have had the same issues I was having. The transmission had problems with 2nd gear. I had a clunking sound going from 1st-2nd-3rd.
While in Colorado I had an issue on one of the forest roads and like to have not made it to the top using 4x4 and no trailer. I know the Tundra gets less mpg but, you get twice the space and way more horsepower.
My 4Runner seemed to have more power than the Taco.

 

Wow, that's one heavy popup. Your right that the 4Runner had more power in terms of torque which is what you want in a truck engine pulling a trailer. I have to replace my '12 Tacoma in the next year and will have to decide on the Tacoma or Tundra. I pull a 21' trailer that weights around 3800 and the 12 does fine. The trailer is going to be replaced with a Lance next year that will weigh around 5000lbs. I'll either go with the Tacoma with the manual or a Tundra with a 4.6. Just hate the thought of getting 16-18 mpg.

 

Yes, it is heavy. My dry weight with shower/toilet/air unit is right at 3500#. I hate the thought of mpg on the Tundra but, I wasn't getting good mpg from the Tacoma. Even though the Tundra has lower mpg than the other full size trucks I stuck with Toyota for durability and resale value. I used to have a Chevy and it got 18-20 in mpg.

 

You weren't getring good mpg while towing with the Tacoma? You will only tow for a very small percentage of the time and have to live with the size and low mpg of the Tundra daily. Your Tacoma is rated @ around 23mpg highway and the Tundra @ 16-18. Where it hurts is the real world numbers for the Tundra in stop and go traffic is around 12mpg. I live in a cold climate and in the winter Tundras in our area can see 9mpg in the winter. Add to the fact that it costs $125-$150 to fill it compared to $70 for the Tacoma (Canada).

 

My real world numbers on the Tacoma were never close to 23mpg highway. I was just giving my opinion that a 28' travel travel was to big for the Tacoma. You have to factor in the possibility of crosswinds and the wind shear from larger trucks. I have seen the wind flip trailers in Colorado and a 28' trailer will catch a lot of wind.

 

I pull a 21' trailer and agree with BayouTacoma, its the winds that will get you white-knuckling the steering wheel! Even with the length of a double cab long box it still doesn't have the weight and can get pushed around a lot.

Can it do it, most likely.
Can it do it safely, debatable.
Will you enjoy it, not likely. I hate pulling in wind or up long/slow incline hills.

But also don't forget, our cargo capacity is around 1000-1200 I think. Tongue weight on that will (should! ) be at least 480lb (10%, minimum), plus weight of passengers(~300 for two?) gear that you want in the truck and the hitch itself(40?) and you're also maxing out your cargo capacity too. Fuel might even count towards capacity too, can't recall. .. add-ons like running boads count as cargo weight though. ..

I myself fret about weight every time I pack (~4000 dry, ~4400 loaded) and carry very little in my truck because of it. Sucks a bit but I love my taco too much...

 

It is very easy to get outside the envelope towing with a Tacoma. Most guys have no idea how to actually calculate it correctly. A safe and easy way is to not let the trailer exceed 75% of the rating. In a v6 DCSB this is 4600ish lbs. BUT this doesn't look at tongue weight or truck load. Do you get away with it? Yes, right up until you don't! Quit trying to make a taco into a 1/2 or 3/4 ton... it's a great truck that is very capable for its size, but if it all turns to shit there is no substitute for a big strong 3/4 ton tow vehicle.