Towing Over IKE

I guess you need what you need for seating, your dad's Dodge is only 5 inches longer, however taller. My opinion is, Tacoma's are great for mountain towns, exploring off road, not that roomy in the back seat though. I've already listed the reasons I wouldn't tow with a Tacoma. If I was in the market for a family adventure/tow rig. It would be at least a half ton.

 

So are you saying you wouldn’t tow heavy with a Tacoma (ex. 5,000 lbs) or are you saying the Tacoma can’t even tow 2,000 lbs safely?

 

I'm saying there are better options for both.

 

A Tacoma with a reasonable driver will tow 2000lbs anywhere in this country without trouble. Of course a bigger/more powerful truck will do it easier but there is nothing unsafe about the Tacoma.

 

I’ll agree that 5,000+ lbs with any regularity calls for a bigger truck, but 2,000 lbs worth of snowmobiles or atvs doesn’t require a half ton or 3/4 ton. The Tacoma and any other mid size on the market will tow that just fine. Not everyone wants to deal with driving a land yacht everyday so that they can tow a small trailer a few times a year.

 

It'll tow two sleds fine. MPGs will suck despite the light weight because the trailer is so wide.

 

Until last October I lived in Dillon CO at 9100', over 20 years towing at very high elevations. Pass/ Tunnel elevations are 11,000 plus.
I've had had 3 Tacoma's since I lived here, all towing the same 2 sled Aluminum Triton trailer with salt shield/spray deflector. Probably close to 2000 lbs total trailer weight/sleds, gear, gas. Rode primarily at Vail Pass/Rabbit Ears/Grand Lake/ Cottonwood Pass and Grand Mesa.

98 XC 4wd 2.7 4 cylinder manual, made it everywhere I wanted but definitely in slow lane. Screamed for mercy in second at 50+ on final ascents so I traded it in on the 00 V6.
00 XC 4wd 3.4 V6 manual, more of a 4th gear shift to 3rd ascent to maintain 60.
Both of the sticks I kept in 3rd or 4th on descents, depending on grade.
19 TRD 4wd OR DC V6 auto. Revs more than I'm used to but haven't driven automatic regularly in years. Coming out of tunnel or top of Vail Pass slow to 45, drop it in 3rd and stay in right lane and let transmission slow you down.

Is your 3rd Gen a heavy hauler? No but it get you there. Towing hard I get 10 -12 mpg. Easy towing out to the lake with 2 jet ski's I get 19 mpg.

 

You tow and haul and don’t know what bump stops are? Those extra springs are keeping your truck off the bump stops.

Also your truck is different than a 3rd gen. I would rather tow with a second gen any day over a 3rd gen. It’s apples to oranges.

 

Lol oh those. I don't get close to them now with the extra leaf springs.
I agree on the third Gen. I test drove one in 2016 and right away thought... nope. Not enough bottom end for me.