Tacoma Travel Trailer Towng: Read If You Consider Buying An RV

Yeah I have never understood the thinking or fixation some have over gas mileage. On a jeep forum as well and same thing there. If you are going to use the vehicle (whatever it is) for anything other than going to church and back, mileage is relative to what you are doing. Going to pull a trailer? Haul a load of wood? Using it offroad with camping gear? Gas mileage is relative to the fun factor IMO. If it is a huge issue? Get a Prius.

 

Well change of plans and mind. After towing this thing in Colorado to Moab and local I have decided it’s not worth trashing the taco. Traded it in for a new crew eco boost F159 4wd short bed. I have to say I hated to trade the taco with only 12k miles but it was worth more now than with a cooked tranny or motor. Just towed to Bluff Utah for a weekend and runs cruise control at 70 with no effort. Has the hdpp package which brings 13200 capacity into play.

 

I tow my 3800# (dry weight) camper with 2 - 3 teenage boys, bikes in the bed and it does fine. The towing test in Michigan is going over the Zilwaukee bridge. I usually tow in 4th gear at 70 mph. sometimes it wanders up to 75 MPH and usually I drop 10 going over Zilwaukee. I have WD hitch and my trailer is double axle. I think the double axle does more for towing stability than anything else. I have literally forgotten the trailer was back there and had to glance the rear mirror to make sure it was still there. If you go to any full size truck forums, the also get 8-11 MPG when towing. (Ecoboost can get more). So no complaints here. It I towed a lot, I would get a bigger truck because I don't think the Tacoma is made for that kind of every day towing.

 

Hello, I am new here to the forums and have been reading through all the posts regarding towing TTs. I was pleasantly surprised to come across your post as that is the exact trailer I am considering. Have you had a chance to get it behind your truck much? How does the truck handle it and are you pleases with the trailer itself?

 

Nice rig. What model is that?

 

Hi all, I’m looking to get some advice. I am going on a cross country trip this summer throughout the western states and am currently looking at travel trailers. My goal is to get a trailer under 2800lbs. We will also have kayaks, bikes, and other outdoor gear. I have a 2019 TRD with a 6ft bed and camper top and am concerned I will destroy the transmission on a cross country tow. Does anyone have experience on a long distance Tacoma tow?

 

here's the summary IMO. you're going to get some people who say no problem, some will say i wouldn't. In the end, it will be up to you. Im in the i wouldnt camp, with the truck as is. Ive done light towing in local mountains and the trans gets too hot for my liking. i have a 2nd gen, not sure about 3rd, but if it were a second gen a larger trans cooler would be a mandatory add on in my book. With kayaks, bikes, a cap, outdoor gear, are you going to be over the rated weights of the truck? My wish has always been to do what youre doing. I have been looking at rpods due to the weight. My hesitation going cross country has been what will happen getting to those long and steep mountain passes. You will prob be in the right lane getting passed. Again, not sure about the 3rd gens

 

EJL923 is right - you'll get both sides. Not apples to apples but my experience. We've made several trips from NC to the western US (Four Corners, SD, WY, NV, etc.) with both a 2005 and a 2012 pulling a Scamp 19' which weighed in around 3,500 lbs with all our gear. These were DC TRD Off-Roads with auto and obviously the 4.0L engine. The only time I felt underpowered was crossing Teton Pass outside Jackson, WY where I was in 1st and cranking around 4.5K for better than two miles. Although I had no indication of tranny or engine overheating, I picked another route leaving there. Just a seat of the pants thing but the 3.5L in the 2020's I've test driven did not feel as strong as the 4.0L. Plan your route to avoid any long climbs with grades over five percent. Its an awesome place to visit and we'll be back in May/June.

 

I suggest a larger transmission cooler. Either in series with the factory one, or, like I did, just replace the factory cooler with a larger aftermarket cooler. It is really not hard to do.

While you are at it, I suggest adding a transmission temperature gauge - look at the temperature before it gets cooled. Monitoring the temperature is the best way to know what your transmission is doing. If/when you get to 220*, pull over, stop and the let the trans cool down. Then, continue on your way. Damage occurs in the trans when temps get over 240* or so. I always stop long before that.

And, change your transmission fluid when you get back. (Actually, if you have 15K or more on the truck, change it before your trip as well.) By change, I mean a simple drain and fill. You only replace about 30% of the fluid, but you can get all the impurities out of it.

 

Lots of good information here. So much it kinda makes my go back and forth on my decision to get a used TT (Dutchman Aspen Trail 1900RB). This would be my first TT so not sure what to expect. I would like to get some opinions from experienced folks, so thank you ahead of time. BTW, I have a 07 SR5 Double Cab with tow package with KYB GAS-A-JUST SHOCKS just installed this year.

It is just my wife and I and the time we have gone tent camping (three days) we have used I would say a total of 10 gallons of drinking water (mostly water bottles) if that and 5.3 gallons in our portable toilet. This TT has a max capacity of 52G for fresh, 42G for grey and 42G for black. I don't think we would ever use that much unless we go somewhere for a week or more. I am thinking 10 Gallons for each will likely be plenty for just us two which would come out to a total weight of right around 250lbs. I am thinking food and supplies etc. would come to another at least 300 lbs. So for the sake of getting a decent opinion from you all, I will say in total we would not put more than 1000lbs of total weight into it. that would bring the total wight to roughly 5100 lbs to be towed which is well under the max towing listed for my Taco.

I am not opposed to adding airbags, extra larger trans cooler and plan on getting the trans Gauge and brake controllers. Eventually, will likely get another truck but for now this lady is doing well for me.

Thoughts? Please explain.

 

Shouldn't be an issue if you have realistic expectations. My trailer is 5,500lbs loaded and I drag it around the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It'll maintain the speed limit (55mph) in most of the passes if I'm not afraid to make it work.

Definitely want to watch transmission temps as you plan to but skip the airbags and get a weight distribution hitch instead. Airbags are for payload and do nothing for towing other than leveling the vehicle. A properly set weight distribution hitch will level out the tow vehicle while shifting weight off the rear axle of the truck.

 

Thank you for your response. I am in Utah so knowing you pull that through the mountains at 55 helps me a lot.

 

ATHiker,,,check out the BLUE OX SWAY PRO WDH. That's the set up we recommend. Stay away from anything with the separate friction bar.

 

What's the concern with the friction bar style? Like the Fastway E2?

 

I don't live too far from Corsicana Texas.
Does your o4 have a towing package?
My o8 prerunner doesn't have the towing package.
I normally pull both my full size bumper pulls with my o4 F250.

 

Hello Everyone, I am a new Tacoma owner. My first, I recently purchased a 2020 SR5 RWD 6-Speed Automatic V6 w/ tow package. I am also interested in finding the perfect RV to enjoy some traveling. Most of the feedback on this thread are 4WD owners, has anyone towed an RV using a V6 and if so what has been your experience. I plan on adding all the little bells and whistles to monitor my engine, Trans temp, weight distribution, and so forth, but will a RWD V6 actually haul an RV that is dry weight 3300 lbs? Or am I pushing my luck and my truck to failing?

 

You're well within the limits with that size trailer. Check out the towing sub forum for useful threads.

 

The 3.5L V6 is the same engine whether you are in a SR5/Sport/Off-Road or 2WD/4WD. If anything, the 2WD might be better just because that means the truck should be lighter overall and thus have higher payload capacity. Doubtful you'd ever be in 4x4 anyway while towing, especially if you stick to the main roads and highways. Many of us tow more than 3300# and are fine with it. If depends what you are comfortable with in the end, but with WDH and trailer brakes I think it'll handle it with no issues.

 

Like another user pointed out, with your truck being 2WD, you're actually starting off better than most Tacoma owners as far as towing capability goes. With 2WD you gain a few hundred pounds in payload capacity since the 4x4 system isn't in your vehicle. 3300-4000lbs will be a piece of cake unless it's an old, wide, basic rectangular type trailer that acts like a giant parachute in the wind. But even then, your truck will be fine.