New member with a question

I currently have a 2006 Toyota Tacoma and have been happy with it. We are approaching 200k miles and I would like to buy a new one, which I assume is what you call 3rd generation. I am looking to buy a travel trailer as well. I want to know what is the maximum weight I can pull as well as tongue weight, so I can determine if I should go to a bigger truck.

I plan to get a 4WD 2017 Tacoma Truck with a towing package.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

I think towing capacity is 6k and tongue weight is around 1500

 

You planning on buying a V-6 or a 4 cyl.

Personally, anything larger than a small travel trailer I'd buy a 1/2 ton.

 

I think Max Towing for the V6 is about 6600 Pounds, but I would never use it to tow near the Maximum on a regular basis as it would make for a miserable drive, other much better tow rigs out there.

 

Personally, I'd go bigger if towing a TT is in the plan for a new truck. With a bigger truck, you wont be as limited on trailer size and will probably be more comfortable while towing.

 

I'm probably running about 4000 lbs with my travel trailer and miscellaneous gear in the truck bed. Tongue weight is about 400 lbs. I've got a weight distribution hitch with sway bar and trailer brakes. The truck handles pretty well with the weight behind it. It will gear hunt some depending on the topography. If you're going much heavier than 4K then I'd seriously think about a full size P/U.

 

My truck came with the tow package, I think it's rated at 6800 lbs but you have to subtract for passengers, gear, fuel, etc.

 

I don't know the tounge weight limit but I'm pretty sure it's not 1500....propobally more like 300

 

https://www.toyota.com/content/ebrochure/2016/tacoma_ebrochure.pdf

V6 w/ tow package has a tongue weight of 640-670

 

Did not know that thanks for the clarity. I don't tow with my Tacoma only a full size truck

 

Rule of thumb tongue weight is around 10% of rated tow weight. If you are going to pull a trailer over 5K wet on a regular basis go get a Tundra or F150 Or something. I've pulled around 5K and it did OK but if it was every other weekend towing or if you go up to 6K then you would just get frustrated.

 

The truck capasity limits you on how heavy a tow you can responcibily do. With a 1100 truck capasity you tow a 6000 lb trailer you have 600 lbs added to the truck. Now you have 500 lbs left to share as passengers and cargo. 400lbs as people and now you have a 100 lbs left. Maybe a couple of bikes?

 

Thanks everyone. This is a great forum. I did notice that there is an excellent, encyclopedic post in this forum https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/ but it is limited to 2nd generation. Perhaps the author or someone else can tell me if there is any difference between 2nd and 3rd generation with respect to towing a trailer. Again, thank you all. This is great for folks like me who have hitherto taken no interest in vehicles.

 

I 've taken our 3100lb travel trailer thousands of miles and across many state lines with this little truck and have to say it does pretty well. With that said having a good WDH, air bags, large trans cooler and 4.88 diffs make things easier and there is absolutely no way I'd regularly tow anything close to 6k with it.

I love having a little extremely capable 4x4 on our trips but there's definatley some trade offs of towing with a small displacement engine but its worth it to me. If we were full time RV folk I'd definatley be pulling with a diesel and my trailer would have a deck for an RZR.

 

If you plan to tow more than 3500lbs regularly I would go full size. Max towing specifications are aligned closely with marketing and advertisement so reality can be very deceiving.

 

I got the tow package merely for the overbuilt components. I doubt I'll do much towing except for a future move.

 

Agreed.

 

Towing capacity differs depending on model / configuration. I believe my Off Road AC V6 with tow pkg is 6500lbs. They are all between 6000-6600 with the V6 and tow pkg IIRC.