Towing To The Max

Hey all. I've seen threads before about towing but they all seem to be just full of opinion and not many using actual experience or using facts/figures. If I missed the aforementioned thread, I apologize but here's my scenario that I'd like some feedback on. Please, just folks who have done this before because straight up opinions aren't terribly useful.

I have a 2018 Double Cab TRD Off-Road 4X4 that I want to tow a Surveyor Legend 252RBLE travel trailer with. Here are the specs just so we're all talking about the same numbers:

Basic Stats:
GVWR = 5,600lbs
CurbWeight = 4,445lbs
Payload = (GVWR - CurbWeight) = 1,155lbs

Real World Payload Stats:
Occupants = 360lbs
Cargo = 0lbs (stored in back of RV)
Hitch = 200lbs (ProPride 3P-800 WD+Sway)
Trailer Tongue Weight = 555lbs

TOTAL Tongue weight = (Trailer Tongue Weight) + (Hitch) = 755lbs (115lbs over capacity)
TOTAL Payload = Payload + CurbWeight = 5,560lbs (40lbs under max or 96% capacity)

The Trailer has a dry weight of 5,168lbs + 100lbs random cargo which is well under the tow capacity of 6,400 or ~82% capacity. Also, with the ProPride 3P hitch, I'm assuming about 20% of that tongue weight will come off and go back to the double axle on the trailer which could bring tongue weight down to ~604lbs. Assuming all of this is accurate, I'm hauling within Toyota limitations.

• I am not boondocking with this trailer so I am not hauling 50 gallons of fresh water, etc. The trailer will be very close to its dry weight while hauling and only being hooked up to campgrounds with hookups.
  
• I am installing a Redarc Tow-Pro brake controller.
• I am upgrading my front brakes to stoptech slotted cryo disks with Hawk HP SuperDuty pads.

This is a tricky game and I don't want to purchase an expensive trailer only to find out that I was bad at math or plain forgot something. Thanks for looking!

 

from my experience, towing something with the profile of the travel trailer, I did not feel safe near the limit, towing something low profile (boat, utility trailer, pop-up) is much more manageable. I sold the taco for a full size truck specifically for this reason.

 

What kinds of issues did you face? Also, were you using any weight distribution or anti-sway hitches?

 

I should add, where and how far you tow makes a huge difference, if we were keeping trips to within a couple hours of home, and I could avoid major freeways, I probably would have kept the taco. Once we started planning trips to further out west where wind speed and direction make a lot more impact on how the travel trailer behaves in comparison to what we would deal with staying in Minnesota, that was the deciding factor for me in upgrading the truck.

 

Good question and point to make. We live in Parker, Colorado and plan to take it to campsites along the front range (normally within a 50-100 mile radius). Ideally, I'd like to be able to cross over the divide and into some of the national parks but I don't yet know how the Taco will perform under such loads at 5%-8% grade.

 

I did minimal testing, essentially hooked up my friends TT before we bought our own (which was probably similar in weight to what you are looking at, but slightly longer) and drove it around the freeways for an hour. He did have a WDH on it. The lack of power with the taco to move that trailer if needed, and the way a semi can blow you all over the road when it was passing just did not make it feel safely planted to me. If it was just me, I probably would have managed, add in wife and 2 kids and it just wasnt worth the risk.

 

Good feedback. That's where I believe the ProPride hitch will make the difference since it effectively makes the trailer+truck one unit. I'm also curious, in your test run, did that trailer have a double axle?

 

Yeah, it was a double axle. I should also add that my truck was a 2017DCLB SR5 4x4 with a heavy roof rack, 4 people and a dog in it. We were definitely going to be over payload capacity with that setup including tongue weight, despite a WDH, so that was a factor for me also.

 

Toyota isn't going to put the max capacity directly on the edge of what it is generally safe, there will be a safety margin built into the calculations. That said, you are placing under loads that are probably more prudent for a full-size truck. I doubt you will damage anything during the warranty period, but you are undeniably putting it under strains that will result in premature component wear. If I was planning to tow a lot or near the max stated value, I think I'd bump to full size personally. Your driving experience, and even fuel economy will likely be better, at least while towing. I towed toward the upper range with my 4runner and it wasn't pleasant, the trailer pushes and jostled the truck around a lot more than it would have a longer wheel base heavier duty vehicle.

 

I pulled 6K+ many times over many miles of flat land and mountains. My Tacoma did not like it one bit. I'm not new to towing as I am 57 years old and been towing something most of my life.
My cargo usually consists of a 6X12 hauling test equipment or a flatbed hauling equipment. When I say the truck did not like it I mean every facet of towing was more difficult.
So I fixed it and got a Tundra.
Normally good rule of thumb is 60% of max capacity should be the limit.
Sounds like you are doing it right but I wouldn't do it.

 

I'll consider that sage advice. I've thought about upgrading to a Tundra but it may take me a few times out with this setup to convince myself. I do like your 60% rule. I've read that elsewhere and think it's probably a good spot to be in for overall comfort.

 

The problem is not whether the truck can do it. It can. The problems are
1. Emergency moves, like if someone comes over on you on the interstate.
2. Wind. Of any kind. 18 wheelers blow you. Crosswinds blow you. I drove into a strong headwind and my top speed was 45 mph.
3. Acceleration. Sure, it slows you down when pulling a trailer but you always want to keep up with traffic.

I guess my point is, when towing with the Tundra, all the things I had to worry about with the Tacoma go away, letting me concentrate on actually towing, not all the things I mentioned above. The Tundra just grunts once and goes. It's like using a King Air 200 instead of a Cessna 172 lol.

 

Why not the tekonsha p3 over red arc

I hear nothing but good from p3

Ive heard a few people mention they wish they didn't go arc

 

Clean install, no bulky controller and ease of use were the deciding factors. I guess I'll use it a while and figure out what I don't like about it and decide if it matters that much.

 

Any kind of headwind will be problematic at that weight.

 

Define problematic. Does that mean I can't do 80mph but instead have to do 70mph? Does that mean I'll be doing 40mph on the turnpike? I'm fully aware that aerodynamics and weight factor into my overall top speed but saying that it will be problematic without quantifying it really isn't helpful to anyone. What experience have you had in this scenario exactly?

 

For example I had a GMC 2500 HD capable of towing 12,000 +/-. The adage it can pass anything but a gas station really applied to this vehicle. 6 l, 4:10 rear, 4x4 Eaton locker...
I pulled a 6,000 camper. Coming back from NY one time I hit a stout head wind that dropped the truck into 3rd gear, 4,000 rpm and the best mph I could hit was 50. Now if that camper was 82% of my trucks capacity - it would have been pushing me backwards. That’s what I mean by problematic, and this was on the flat Ohio freeway system. Add the Colorado mountains and it could get uncomfortable driving.

 

Aerodynamic drag. You have to have the torque necessary to overpower it. On average, with completely plain Tacoma with no load, it takes around around 57 HP to maintain 70 mph. Throw in a headwind, and now you can easily double that. Throw in a 6K load and 3X the frontal area, well now you start running out of hp and t's.

 

Good example. I am prepared for being passed but my camping trips will be short (50-100 miles) range from where I live and I'm not going to be in a race to get there. I-70 and I-285 have plenty of slow semi traffic on the right that I can join in on.

 

Why do you want such a large trailer? Seems to be the easiest thing to change about this whole scenario since you don't have it.