lack of power while towing?

I just picked up a new camper today and was wondering if anyone notices a lack of power while towing? I noticed today when pulling the camper home that my truck only seemed to want to top out around 65-70. Is this normal? or is there anything I should do to help my truck out? the trailer weighs 3000 pounds and I'm rated to pull 5000 pounds. the truck has a 3 inch lift and I have 265/75/16 ko2 tires. ALL help is appreciated.
Thanks

 

Well, you've added 3000 lbs to what the drive train is pulling down the road. Considering the truck is about 4500 lbs, maybe less depending on which truck you have, you've almost doubled the amount of weight the engine has to pull. The larger tires also change the gear ratio so that it has less power, and you have the added wind resistance with the lift. You don't notice those as much unloaded and at slower speeds.

You shouldn't be towing in OD, run the truck in 4th gear when towing, that will help a LOT. If you're trying to pull that much weight in OD in addition to the tires and lift you're really making the engine work harder than it should.

Most trailer tires are only rated for 65 mph anyway. Shouldn't be trying to drive any faster with a trailer back there.

 

Needs more...

 

That about covers it, unless you want to mention you will ruin the transmission
towing in overdrive.

 

To help the truck out you could regear the FD or supercharge it. Changing the lift and tires to something smaller isn't going to help too much.

 

You’ve added weight to the truck. Try walking while carrying a refrigerator, I bet you would be slower too. Even diesels or 18 wheelers feel a difference between towing and not towing.

 

Wait what!?!

You pull a trailer weighing more than the vehicle and it's not as agile as without a trailer!?!?

What!?!?

Take the truck back. What a piece of shit.

In all seriousness. Obviously ANY truck is going to have less responsiveness (not power, power is unaffected) when towing.

It is not only stupid to try to haul a 5,000lb trailer down the road at 70mph, it's irresponsible. And I'm being blunt because towing can be dangerous when you don't know what you are doing. You risk your life and the lives of others around you when your hauling a trailer improperly. If you have an improperly loaded trailer hauling 70mph down the highway... it can whip you out of control. Again it's as heavy as the truck.

Make sure you know what the empty weight of the camper is, AND how much weight you are realistically going to put into it between filling up water tanks (which are way heavier than you think) and gear.
Also understand tongue weight vs. tow weight. Also understand you total payload capacity for the truck. This not only included tongue weight, but gear in the bed, AND passengers.

Find out if you need a weight distribution hitch.

A trailer of the size you have is going to need it's own brakes. You will want a brake controller.

You cannot tow in OD. You will shred your transmission.

If you plan on towing this thing a lot and over long distances, you may want to get yourself a scan gauge to monitor oil and transmission temps.

Also plan on changing your transmission fluid every 60,000 miles when you tow frequently.

 

Okay thanks for the rude comments I know what I’m doing while towing, my previous truck was a 3500 ram with 6.7 Cummins completely built. It had no issues pulling my 35 foot Inclosed race car hauler, I have never owned a mid sized truck before and I had no clue how they are while towing. I know it’s not going to be like my other trucks but I wanted ideas for more power.

 

I also have a Reese pro series weight distribution hitch and a brake controller the trailer has it’s own brakes and I’m going to put my tuner on the truck to monitor temps

 

Yes. The truck is noticeably slower when towing but I can pass 3/4 tons pulling 5th wheels in the mountains all day with my 5k lb trailer...just can't be afraid to make the truck work.

If you want more power your only real option is a supercharger.

 

Any travel trailer that size is going to come with brakes.

 

In my years of owning a Tacoma I’ve learned the following:

If you want more power while towing buy a Tundra
If you want better gas mileage buy a Corolla

The end

 

How will the transmission get ruined if towing in 5th gear? I have a teardrop around 2000 lbs and it will maintain speed in 5th gear. Am I somehow ruining it?

 

Hey, fellow James here, we’re fam.

Your previous truck was a truck, that’s why it didn’t suck.

Tacoma is not a tow pig, never was, never will be, was never meant to be. It’s meant for trips to Home Depot and responsibly sized parking spaces. That nimble size and smaller footprint makes it a good offroad vehicle as a byproduct of being a bitch truck.

A midsize truck is as efficient as a wheelbarrow. Beats shoveling shit with a shovel, but will never be a tractor.

 

Your just not flogging it as hard, but , I believe you are shortening the life of the drive train, just at a slower rate.
I think the reason is the torque converter won't stay locked , and overheat the trans. fluid

 

You could be.

When you tow in OD (not 5th) your truck will end up cycling back and fourth between gears under load, which will cause excessive heat built up and can shred your gears.

When I tow at all on the highway (or put 2,000lbs in the bed of the truck *shh*) I always knock it over to 4. I'll leave it in D if I'm driving around town, but not on the highway.

 

Maybe that big thing you are pulling behind you?...

 

Lol

 

Superchargers are expensive and don’t offer a whole lot.

Tacoma’s weren’t really designed to tow though they are completely capable.

Keep the truck in 4 while towing and if you really need more power, Regear the difs.

Check those out.

 

The truck will tow that weight without any real issues. It will take a bit more pedal to get moving, maintain speed and get up hills at a constant speed. The biggest problem at speed is the air resistance of the trailer, not the weight. I regularly tow between 2000-3000lbs with my lifted truck on 33s and a hybrid front bumper. There’s no aerodynamics left and other than terrible gas mileage it’s not bad.