So many conflicting posts everywhere!

Hey yall! I'm still researching this whole travel trailer thing...I've searched posts EVERYWHERE! including here in taco world! There are so many conflicting posts! Some I've read state oh god don't tow over 4k! Other's say it's slow goin and eats gas like candy but you can tow over 5500 with proper tow gear....
So...I have a 2015 double cab 4x4 with a tow package. Manual states 6500 max.(I'm not anticipating towing that much by any means!) If I'm using sway bar, weight distribution set up, trailer brakes, keep close eye on tranny temp and take my time....what can I really tow with my taco?! Thanks guys for helping me with this!

 

First Welcome aboard. There are a lot of different opinions as what to tow with a Taco. Mine will be at or under 2 tons loaded and ready to go. To me the only problem towing with the taco is the 21 gallon gas tank because the MPG is cut in half when towing. Read the towing bible, set your truck up right, use common sense and you should be fine.

 

Just my experience, which is limited, but I have towed a car trailer (Uhaul) with my wife's car. Together, it was like 6600 lbs. My taco did fine. I kept it in 4th gear and I barely knew it was behind me (both braking and taking off). I got about 13 mpg.

 

I am also very curious as I have a 3500 lb trailer I pull with my silverado

 

I have a Jayco X213 that weighs about 4,500lbs dry.

I've towed it with the Tacoma for 3 years now (3 to 8 camping trips per year...about half of those were 100-500 miles away). Most of these trips take me over passes between 6,000 and 8,000 ft in the Sierra Nevada mountains. I've never had an issue maintaining 55+ mph on the highway, even in the mountains but I do spend some time wound out in 2nd gear (automatic) to maintain my speed going up grades.

I never tow in D and I monitor my transmission temps with an ultragauge. I see temps at the torque converter of 240 for short stretches in the mountains but I installed a larger transmission cooler this past fall which should help (I haven't towed with it installed yet).

My mileage when towing is usually between 10 and 11mpg.

 

Here’s the deal , you can tow up to the rated max tow capacity for your truck. It’s not a problem. Just dont exceed that max weight. The heavier and larger the trailer the more stress and strain on the truck, the more power it takes and thus the decreased gas mileage. Think of it as driving continuously up hill or up a steep grade with just the truck, no trailer. The steeper the grade the more power it takes, the more gas it takes the lower the gas mileage. The more the incline (like a heavier trailer) the harder it is for the truck. Most people with a Tacoma pulling a moderate load experience about an 8 mpg or so decrease in gas mileage. It’s just the nature of towing.
You can expect to experience some change in driving characteristics the heavier the load. You may experience things like sway at highway speeds, longer braking distances, especially when braking downhill, lack of power when driving in the mountains, changes in steering dynamics and so on. You can lessen some of these with modifications like heavy duty springs, air bags , weight distributing hitches, different shocks, trailer brakes etc. Wind can also greatly affect you when towing and the size and wind resistance of the trailer.
So the bottom line just stay within the manufacturers max weight specifications, drive slower and more cautiously when towing. More distance between the vehicle in front of you. If moderate to heavy loads consider modifications such as air bags, WDH, etc. etc. And expect lousy gas mileage just as if you were continuously driving up hill.

 

You can tow 6500.

Towing with little experience, maxing out your tow rig is a bad idea. Maxing any tow rig even with experience makes for a more stressful tow.

 

I've towed many thousands of miles with Toyota trucks, from small utility trailers, to travel trailers, to an 8000 lb skid steer (with my old Tundra). In addition to the good advice you've gotten above, consider where and how often you plan to tow. What's safe, comfortable, and minimizes wear-and-tear on the truck also depends on where you're going. Personally I wouldn't hesitate to tow a 5500 lb trailer across town or down a flat road. If I were getting a trailer to use for road trips, I'd get one with an empty weight of no more than 1/2 the max tow capacity. That's just what I'm comfortable with.

A lot of people get a 5500 lb trailer thinking they're within their Taco's 6500 tow limit. After gear and passengers go in, the combination is at, or over the truck's combined GVW. Well, that's probably fine if one is driving a short distance to a local campground or vacation property across the county. But if you're talking about a road trip involving 100's of miles, that's another ball game.

I'd also suggest that you rent or borrow trailers of various weights and shapes to see how you like towing them.

 

I tow a 5,400lb enclosed trailer all over the US several times a year for the last 8 years with my Taco, zero issues at 141,000 miles. I do use a sway control bar, but I don't feel it needs a W/D hitch setup and I towed for many years previously with a W/D setup.

 

Most of you are all in warm weather states. The only reason I traded my Tacoma for a full size is because towing the snowmobile trailer in a snow storm was an absolute nightmare. I wouldn't have any trouble towing it in nice weather with a Tacoma. More wheelbase and weight in snow is a huge advantage. Not to mention my mileage is much better with the full size V8. I would get 9mpg pulling with my Taco, the GMC gets 13. Even unhooked my mileage is better. Don't know why they can't make this little truck get better fuel economy.

 

I've also done quite a bit of towing in the winter and I have to agree. All factors being equal, a full size (ie heavier) truck is simply better for towing. The hazards of towing are amplified in the winter. The weight of the truck contributes to traction because the weight is over the drive wheels. With bumper-tow trailers, the trailer is dead weight behind the truck. Therefor a heavier truck and relatively light trailer is a better combination than a lighter truck and relatively heavier trailer. That doesn't mean a Taco can't tow, it's just another factor to consider.

 

I think the subject has been briefly touched on but most of your differing opinions stem with where do you live. The more hills/ altitude the more likely the review is going to sour vs those that are more flat/ low altitude drivers. Then there is the expectation that each of drivers have on how quickly our set up should accelerate and stop. Our F150 will easily out pull(easier drive) then my Tacoma on our twin axle camp trailer(similar to sticky Tacos) but my Tacoma will absolutely tow it anywhere the Ford can- just a little slower and with more fuel stops(smaller gas tank). Hope that helps

 

I thank everyone so much for their information! The reason I was asking is because I'm planning on becoming a traveling nurse....I'm hoping to move to Central Idaho then travel around with varying assignments. I'm just trying to get some good research in before I make the final leap!!! Thank you again! Tons more research is required....but at least I now have a better starting point!

 

BS. " didn't even feel it back there", " no issues". I've towed all sorts of trailers the last 40 years. From ski boats with a 79 SR5 Toyota to multi ton loads with Kenworths. You always know it's back there. If your truck has the basic equipement to do it, rent a trailer for a day or two. Drive around town and highway with it before you commit to the "big one".

 

Meh. No issues here.