Advice on Tacoma Hauling 3500 pd trailer

Hey guys,
I’ve been driving my Tacoma for a bit now and do off-road with the family to camp sites with a RTT.

All that out of the way my parents bought a airstream base camp at what I believe is 3500 pounds, 16 ft trailer. I have hauled a few trailers for moving furniture or motorcycles but never a camper so looking for some advice.

The plan is to buy a SR5 access cab 6ft bed with the v6 tow package 2020 AT. I told them before they buy they can use mine but with the MT and lift they don’t seem to interested. They are retiring and plan to haul the airstream, their bikes, and general supplies and gear through the US.

Any advice for them? What MPG do you think they would get? ( from the stuff I’ve seen the weight and height around 15)

anything else to consider?

They want to keep the out the door below 30k which I have found a deal for them already on. I love my Tacoma but i didn’t buy it for hauling and never have so if there is something else to consider let me know.

 

3500 shouldn’t be a big deal. To make it better though, E rated tires, distribution hitch, overload springs or airbags, and a brake controller. The biggest issue isn’t the weight, it’s going to be the physical size of the trailer (height and length). 16’ isn’t too long, but it’s still a full-size trailer. I would expect mpg to be 10-12 if they drive like old people. It’ll go down pretty quick from there if they get in to it too much too quick or if they have to deal with wind.

 

3500 lbs is well within that truck's approved weight but as many of the towing threads discuss, it's just not what the Tacoma is made for & depending on the geography they travel, it could be slow going. Have they considered going used full size? I bet you could find like a 2012-2015 Tundra in great shape for under 30K. Don't get me wrong, I tow with my Tacoma but it's not why I bought my truck.

 

Agreed. I tow a fair amount on a single axle usually with a Ranger 500 and a big cooler of beer. I can tell it is there. I get about 11mpg according to the computer, which will be off due to my tire size at least. I wouldn't buy a Tacoma to tow a 16ft camper frequently. Hills would suck and a decent wind cross would make that miserable. I'd go longer wheelbase and more power.

 

So the heaviest Tacoma will have a curb weight of about 4,500 lbs. There a a couple of rules of thumb with towing. 1) Only tow about 80% of the rated capacity. 2) Use a weight redistributing hitch when the trailer weight is greater than 50% of the vehicle weight. That means if you want to tow comfortably and safely you should pull a max of 5,200 lbs (3rd gen = 6,500 x .80) or 4,800 lbs (2nd gen = 6,000 x .80) and any trailer over 2,250 lbs (1/2 vehicle weight) should have a weight distributing hitch. Now many don't do this especially for short hauls but if you want to be as safe and comfortable as possible you should.

 

If they are retiring and planning to travel the US over the next months or years I would defiantly go 1/2 ton. Easier/better towing experience and the big thing for me would be fuel. I think you will get around 10-12 mpg whether your using a Tacoma, Colorado, tundra or F150, but the 1/2 tons will give you 30+ gallons of fuel. The Tacoma you will be filling up every 2 hours.

 

If i was towing a lot with the AT, I would highly recommend gears (4.88 w/ stock tires, 5.29 with larger). It'll make for a much more pleasant experience

I usually only saw 3/4 gear when towing with my stock truck. With the MT, i can use 5th pretty much all day.

 

most seniors tow to a favorable spot
dwell for a while .................... then move on

i like the 'FireStone Air Bags'
they arent complicated and are easily adjustable

they allow consistent level towing hitched or not
either way the Tacoma doesnt ride Harsh loaded/ empty

good luck

 

Those are cool trailers, and the Tacoma can tow it with no issue, but personally, I think they will be happier with a Tundra. I have a 3500 lb 20-foot Jayco, and we enjoy taking it on the road with my Taco, but Like said above, full-time towing requires a lot of attention and monitoring the truck. The trailer doesn’t weigh that much, but with all their gear and supplies added on for full time living it could easily exceed 5000 lbs. Mileage will be 10mpg on interstates and mountain grades, and a bit better on slower highways. If traveling back roads, they will also want to carry extra fuel or plan to make more frequent fuel stops.

 

That's a little baby trailer, it's only 16ft long and is streamlined. It'd be fine behind a Honda Ridgeline, and would be DUMB to buy a full-size for that small of a camper.

They're doing the right thing getting the DCLB, the long bed will always be more stable towing. More cargo room for their toys too.

They don't need a WDH with a 16' 3k lb trailer. It may be worthwhile to get them airbags like ROAD DOG said.

MPG with a trailer that small and a curved front will be 12-16mpg. They will get closer to 16 if they stay off the highway. The main MPG killer with a trailer is the air profile. I get 10-12 towing this, depending on how fast I go, and it's 7' wide (1/2 foot wider) and probably 10' tall with the AC since it's lifted.

 

I tow the same camper (16BHS ~3500lbs dry) with my TRD OR and all the above posters are correct: Generally 10-12mpg with stops every 2-3hrs for fuel, I use a WD hitch which helps things out considerably, and looking to install airbags this summer to help out the rear end a bit. Since mine is a MT the gearing seems appropriate for the load, and I sit in 4th on the highway with some shifting to 3rd and 5th for inclines and declines respectively.

YMMV.

 

almost every photo of a taco+ trailer = nose up !
some WITH load equalizing hitches

im Not familiar with Sumo Springs
cant say yea or nay about them

the FireStone airbags................ or Air Lift airbags will level out a regular suspended Tacoma
no less they Dont ride Harsh loaded or not

they are easily adjustable in that after most get to the campgrounds
one can adjust until next run..................... in some cases several weeks

had a coworker install a set on a full size chevy that hauls HEAVY!! (trailer weighs more than pickup)
we work at a certified scale location
indicates no less the airbags actually save his rear suspension.......... shocks especially
from being harsh or bottoming out

rare when folks go camping does the bed Not get loaded
so the guesses on Weight are usually missed if Not light !!!

its good many have concerns & most probably err on the conservative

good luck

 

if they are going full time pulling a loaded trailer id consider a tundra.
your gas milage will probably be similar as the tacoma pulling all that weight, about 10mpg +/-

 

I definitely like sumo springs vs air bags. I've had my sumo springs for 4 years and have never worried about them and they've helped a ton towing our 3500 lb rpod (even still work with my lift). Air bags you've got to fiddle with, they leak down over time, etc etc.

 

OP your parents were ahead of the curve.....COVID has forced our hand & I'm now currently shopping for a lightly used Airstream (Bambi or Basecamp X probably). I've done a shit ton of research over the last week & I feel pretty good about towing with my '17 OR but part of that is because I recently put on BFG 10 ply tires. I'll probably do the OV Tune & give it a year of towing for a big enough sample size & if I hate it, I'll have to think about moving on from the Tacoma.

I do stand by my advice to your parents though because they are buying something specifically to tow. Mine will be for periodic vacations & hot spring hunting.

 

For occasional towing I think the taco would be ok. If they are towing all the time, get a full size. I’d get an F150 with a 2.7L EB, but that’s just my suggestion.