Towing Suggestions

Looking into RV purchases, and seeking to buy as big as I can reasonably tow with my '17 TRD OR equipped with tow package, as I intend to live in the unit for the next few years. Currently looking at the Lance 2375 and the Jayco Jay Feather 24RL.

The Lance has a dry weight of 5030lbs and a dry hitch weight of 600lbs. The hitch weight especially seems to be getting pretty close to max, even dry. The GVWR is 7000lbs so I'm highly concerned about the feasibility of this setup when the trailer is loaded.

The Jay Feather is a bit steeper in dry weight at 5340lbs and has a listed dry hitch weight of 630lbs. But the GVWR is a bit less at 6500. Even more, this trailer is 28.5 feet, which I figure would be a bit like towing a train behind the taco.

Because I will be living in the unit, it will remain stationary for most of its life, I will only be towing when I move, hopefully no more than once every couple of years. But, my move could very easily involve towing the unit a couple thousand miles cross country. Additionally, these units have been selected due to their 4 season prowess since i live in a cold climate.

Any suggestions, info, experiences, etc. are appreciated.

 

Thank you, I will definitely look into the towing section. Not entirely stuck, no. Have been looking into a smaller jay feather, the 23RBM, which seems to be more like the upper limit for my tacoma. Realistically the only thing I'm hung on is the 4 season aspect. Aside from that very open to suggestions.

 

you are better off upgrading the truck to match your trailer. the tacoma may be able to pull it, but, can it control and stop it, when needed? just like most 1500 (half ton) pick ups, they can do it but, is it good for the longevity of the trans, motor and brake systems? whatever you do... DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR TRAILER/RV SALESPERSON. they will tell you anything to make a sale.

as some posts above mention, the trailer weight is only the starting point on your weight. you need to think of your packing of the trailer, water weight, generator, etc... also, DO NOT SKIMP ON AN ANTI-SWAY HITCH. BUY THE BEST YOU CAN FIND, NOT WHAT YOU DEEM AFFORDABLE. dont be "that guy" on the road flipped over waiting for the tow truck, and emergency crews.

in reality these are just "baby trucks" they are not meant to tow a travel trailer. your results may vary. Ski

 

I think you're correct.
The additional weight of actually living in this versus camping, is going to put weight way above capacity/safety/reliability.
It sounds like an exciting adventure, but will come at a cost.

 

If you were towing across town, say 20 miles or so you might get away towing with the Tacoma properly configured, but I would not, under any circumstances, attempt a 2000 mile trip. Maybe trade your Tacoma for a Tundra or a F150 or even a Ram. Gas mileage while towing with a Taco vs the full sized trucks would be a wash with the F150 probably netting better MPG.

 

Rent a house or apartment...It will be 1000x more comfortable. Those itty-bitty cheap trailers aren't designed to live in full time. Better yet, buy a cheap house, fix it up during the years you live in it, and sell it for a nice profit.

 

Frontal area is another major consideration- small truck with a huge flat front camper, is going to compound, above and beyond your already unrealistic weight range.

I just got home from dropping off a huge industrial work bench. I borrowed my buddy's tandem axle trailer, since this work bench is 12' long. The trailer is about 1,600 lbs, add the probably 800 lbs work bench, and I knew it was back there. I couldn't even imagine towing more than 2 times the weight, and way more drag (flat trailer and work bench have virtually none).

 

I second the frontal area. Mine tows my 4K boat okay, but my buddy had the same truck as me and towed his 4K lb enclosed trailer and he said the frontal area pushing the wind made his truck tow much much worse than me towing my boat.

 

If you’re going to be hauling the trailer around often while living in it, I don’t think the Tacoma is a good idea. You probably don’t want to go any smaller trailer wise to accommodate the Tacoma’s towing capacity, specially considering you’re going to be living in it for several years.

You also have to factor in the wear and tear on the Tacoma towing a trailer significant often. The trans, engine and vehicle are going to be working overtime to tow these trailers and may lead to failure as the Tacoma wasn’t designed to be a everyday rv hauler.

you may want to look into a tundra if you’re trying to stay in the Toyota brand. If not, Ford has great deals and financing on F-150’s which would be able to tow easily without the fear of going over weight and significant wear and tear on the vehicle.

 

Also keep in mind that at altitude you're losing some power so towing anything near max capacity is going to suck. For occasional camping use, it tend to target no more than 2/3 of max capacity if you live at altitude.

 

your Tacoma cant handle that. For that matter neither can the Tundra.

 

Realistically around 4500 lbs is as much as you need to be pulling with a Tacoma, and less is better. It's not that the truck won't PULL the weight, but the suspension is simply going to be overloaded. And even at that you'll have to pack carefully in order to stay within your payload.

Your truck has a payload listed on the drivers door jamb as well as the GVWR. Most Tacomas are going to have a payload of around 1200 lbs. Some may be as much as 1300, but others closer to 1000. A 4500 lb trailer is going to put right at 600 lbs on your tongue. That only leaves 400-600 lbs for passengers and cargo in the truck. I weigh 220, my wife 140, that is 360 lbs combined. With us in the cab pulling a 4500 lb trailer I'd have very little room for anything else in the truck.

The most accurate way to determine your true payload is to actually weigh the truck and subtract that from GVWR. Any modifications you've made to the truck, any tools or gear that stay in the truck eat up available payload. If you actually weigh it you'll probably find that you have a lot less available payload than the sticker says you have.

A lot of 1/2 ton trucks tow ratings are only 1000 lbs or so more than Tacoma. But they will realistically pull a lot more because their payload will be closer to 2000 lbs than Tacoma at closer to 1000 lbs. But don't assume all 1/2 tons will pull more than a Tacoma. You still have to check payload. I've seen some 1/2 tons with 1100-1200 lbs payload. Same as a Tacoma.

 

This is my 17' Sonoma. Sleeps 5-6 with bunks in the back. It's 3200# dry and 3800# loaded max. I took it to the scales with full black and empty fresh fully loaded from one of our longer trips. Can our truck tow more.. yes.. but I wouldn't want to go over 4500#. That's just my opinion. I looked at dozens of trailers when I was buying and landed here because it's loaded on the inside and came insulated for 4 seasons. It's a mountain edition sonoma. There were a couple other trailers that were 2-4' bigger in the 3800# dry range but the extra couple feet didn't justify the weight in my opinion. This trailer also has larger fresh and black tanks than several other in this size range.

Get a good weight distribution hitch, it should have you sitting level like mine is here when your loaded.

Don't forget about all of the other stuff you'll put in the truck (GVWR)... I have a family of 4 that weighs in around 650 plus two labs that are 70 each. Add my gear and generator when there's not power and it gets heavy quick.

I agree with you on the tongue weight, I think that's too much for a Tacoma.

When I say the trailer is loaded that just means that in this size range 16-22' it was one of the few that had a full size fridge, 3 burner stove and an oven, AC, big deep sink with a flexible wand faucet, toilet and shower not a wetbath, outdoor shower, full size sotrage, solar ready, electric jack, nealry full length awning, higher sit height for getting over or into tricky places etc.

 

First of all, huge thanks to everyone for all of your insight. I've learned a lot from reading all of your posts and am definitely doing a lot of thinking trying to figure out my best option moving forward.

Fightnfire, I'm really interested in looking into the Sonoma products. I found the 1900MB which has a near perfect floorplan to meet my needs. It is the mountain edition, just as you said yours is. But, both the 1900MB and their smallest option, the 1800FQ, list nearly identical dry weights over 5000lbs, tongue weights around 500lbs, and GVWR around 8000lbs. Wondering how you found one in the 3k range. The forest river site doesn't seem to show any mountain editions available in that weight range.

 

I tow a 20ft Rpod 182g Dry weight is approx 3100lbs and about 3800lb fully loaded. I use a WD hitch and Airbags. Tongue weight is about 450lbs. At this weight the Tacoma tows it fairly nicely but definitely can feel it. I’m not sure I would want to tow too much larger. I’d try hard to keep it under 5000 fully loaded if at all possible if I were to ever upgrade my trailer.

havn’t towed it yet since the 5.29 re gear but think it will be a huge improvement.

 

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/travel-trailers-and-fifth-wheels/sonoma/1670BH/3016

That's the coastal edition, let me see if I can find it in the mountain edition.

It looks like they don't offer them in the Mountain Edition anymore, there are still lots of 2019's available though.

https://www.premierrvbrokers.com/ve...tain-edition-94f9c5045228b345ab1eaf1c7b122b66

Slides are really heavy, that's where the addes weight comes from on the two you mentioned.

 

Awesome, thank you! The Murphy Bed was what had me on the 1900MB. Looks like they make a 1671MB which is essentially the Murphy bed option of what you linked. Seems they only made it in coastal, not in mountain though.

As a stretch is something like the 1900MB an absolute no go? Obviously you cannot load it to full GVWR. But if you drained tanks before towing, and didnt exceed more than 1klbs in stored cargo before towing, as well. Obviously dont want to create a situation where, like one poster mentioned, I'm the dipstick whose flipped my taco, closed the road, and needs emergency services to come fix my stupid mess.

In the meantime I'll keep looking for the 1671mb in mountain