possible new tacoma owner with questions

I plan on replacing my 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 this winter. I was towing a 19 foot Champion bassboat around east Texas and east Tennessee. The bass boat is gone (two kids in college) and the Dodge is starting to show her age. I'm interested in better gas mileage with a little bit of towing power. I plan to get an aluminum boat in the not too distant future and maybe a pontoon boat for the wife and I to use around our local east Tennessee lakes when the kids graduate. From what I have read, the 2.7 will pull these types of rigs without any problem. I understand I will not have the power of my 5.9, but I should also get better than 15/mpgs on the highway (empty). Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

Thanks, XFed

 

You should be in the v6 if you plan on any towing. Pontoon boats aren't that small. Even the v6 struggles above 5k, despite the 6.4k towing rating.

 

I agree on the v6.

 

I would stick to the V6, I have pulled an aluminum boat and 20 foot pontoon with my truck with no problems. I live in NC but am close to Douglas in TN and have pulled both there several times. I have pulled the pontoon up to Bear Lake here in NC which is a pretty good uphill pull with no issues on my 17’ dblcb lwb. I also would suggest getting the tow package even for those short lake pulls.

 

get the 6 or tundra if your pulling a heavy trailer

 

I have an 18 Sport and pull a 19' tracker V18 Targa aluminum boat here in Idaho (about 3900' elevation). Vary in elevation about 800' depending on where we go. the V6 seems to pull it well. I usually get around 23 mpg and when I tow it drops to about 16 mpg depending on how far we go.