anybody tow with a 2.7 4cyl 2wd?

Curious how the 2.7 4cyl 2wd does with towing. I have 2014 2wd 2.7 automatic that I was looking to tow around 3,500 to 4,000 pounds. Anybody have experience with this? Any issues?

Thanks!

 

Welcome aboard. I tow 4200 with a tow package V6 and the truck knows it is there. Sounds like an awful lot for a 4 popper

 

The TWR on the 4-cyl is 3500# max. That's probably what the transmission will stand, and its life expectancy probably decreases rapidly as you approach the GCWR of 7400#. I'd want to be at least 10% below that number.

Then there's the loading from wind, which can't be calculated so easily. So it's not only the weight, but the shape of the weight and the speeds you tow the weight.

You might want to...
• Read your owner's manual about towing
• Start changing your ATF very frequently
• Monitor your real-time ATF temps while driving
• Take the transmission out of "D" and put it in manual 3rd
• Only drive in Kansas !

 

Over the rating.

 

Thanks for the input. Much appreciated! Looking at my manual it is rated for 3,500 pnds so I better keep it a little below that. I'm looking to tow a flatbed trailer with atv/motorcycle . I calculated the combined weight with trailer to about 2,500 pnds. So I think it should all good. But was curious what should be expected.Any other people out there with 4 bangers do something similar?

 

Whats the benefit of towing in 3rd?

 

If your Taco is already down-shifting at 60mph when you drive in D on cruise control without the trailer, then even without cruise control your transmission is going to wear itself out with constant shifting when you add that trailer. Placing the gear selector in 3rd manual ends all that.

Working in your favor, a flat tow trailer with an ATV or mower is not going to present nearly the frontal wind load that (say) a travel trailer or box trailer would. And sway is not going to be an issue becasue you have no vertical side surfaces.

 

If you're just towing an atv get a hf 4x8 trailer. In only weighs a couple hundred pounds.

 

I’ve towed a couple of times with my ‘13 2.7/auto helping my son move to Colorado and then back to Texas. I was about 2,000 lbs. each time, so I wasn’t anywhere near the limit. The truck did all right, but don’t get in a hurry. The advice about towing in 3rd is sound. Our trucks don’t have a lot of torque, so the revs need to stay a little higher than normal. The type of terrain and elevation will effect your truck a lot.

 

That makes sense keeping it in 3rd. My truck is also 2wd so I was unsure if that makes any difference? I don't know what my rear-end ratio is.

 

The trailer is 7x14. Its a Aluminum flat bed and weighs 660 pounds. Seems pretty light to me?

 

My 2.7L pulled a Casita egg-shaped fiberglass trailer (~2300#) today with ease. The Casita owner drove my truck with my hitch and his 17ft Casita (insurance reasons). We never got over 50mph, but we drove about 4 miles on undulating black tops, common to N Georgia. The Taco did just great ! We pulled all the hills in 3rd and were able to accelerate even at mid-hill. He commented on the Taco's long wheel base making it easier. He pulls with a big Dodge 2500, and even he was liking it.



But I didn't buy his Casita. He didn't like that !

 

I used to tow my race car with a 2.7 4x4 5-speed 2nd gen Tacoma. Total trailer weight was right under 3,500lbs and there would usually be a couple hundred pounds of camping gear and tools in the truck. While there was allot of shifting in the mountains, the truck never dropped below highway speed. The 2,500lbs or so that you're looking to tow shouldn't be a problem.

 

2008 2.7L 4x4 MT and pulled my 2004 neon with a car dolly almost a 100 miles no problem.

 

I tow my Miata every month or so for autocrosses. 5 speed and 3.73 gears helps I'm sure since I have no problem cruising @ 70 if i need to or going up even the most challenging grades (in 3rd pushing 4500rpm, but it handles it like a champ).

 

Mine

 

4500rpm is incredibly high for long distances. 4th gear should suffice for towing on flats.

 

Oh sorry I meant that for only the steep 6-7% grades into 3500-4500ft elevation. Cruising on flat ground I’m in 5th around 2500rpm. When I had the 3.31 gears I did tow in 4th at around 2700-2800.

 

4500 is fine.