Tacoma Off Road, Trailer towing

Anyone with experience towing a trailer, Toy Hauler. My manual said up to 6,000 pounds. Seems like a lot. Anyone routinely towing a camper or toy hauler? How much does it way and how does the truck perform?

 

No toy hauler here but I been towing a TT for 10 yrs with my Tacoma, Casita 17 ft dry 2200, wet maybe 3200 packed. Personally I wouldn't tow anything over 4,000 lbs with any Tacoma, check payload of your truck and add up your payload you will have while towing, payload rules out most larger trailers legally. Payload is dismal for Tacoma, payload includes tongue weight of TT, passengers, bed load, etc. If your over payload while towing insurance will not cover a wreck if your over payload in the truck. Most tacos only have around 1200 payload, I can barely squeak under that when loaded for camping with trailer connected. I think Tundra is 1650 or so. Gives more payload leeway for packing truck.

 

I towed 4500lbs for like 40K miles on my old 3rd gen taco.....it will do it properly set up, swapped it for a tundra back in april to stop wondering if it was too much on the taco. I am a worry wart, the taco did great for a midsize truck with a car engine.

 

I tow a +/-4000lb boat a couple times a week in the summer, for less then 5 miles per trip. seems to handle it fine. I have the off road dcsb, so I do get some squat. Doesn't seem to complain one bit about gaining or descending 800' of elevation in a short distance.

Comparing the taco to a 2004 BMW X5 with the 4.4l engine, the taco seems to handle the weight a bit better, I think its cause the wheelbase is ever so longer. The X5 blows the taco out of the water when it comes to power, but I don't find myself "needing" more power (wanting is a different story).

I'm not sure id be comfortable pushing the truck to its towing limits, but some people do. I have found many threads on here to be helpful when looking into towing with the tacoma.

 

30% of my 11000 miles are pulling a TT 3400 dry weight. Pack pretty light and minimal weight in the bed. Keep it in 4th and rolling at 65 - 70 mph. Puts me right at 3000 rpm.

WDH keeps me from squatting

but there is lots of info in the towing portion of the forum

 

Loving my new Trail Ridge mirrors. Just used them, in the extended mode, today. The Bullet is 3300lbs dry and I can't say that I've trailered anything heavier but, the Tacoma handles it well. I run 60mph on state roads and 65 on I-10. S4 and ECT is a great combination. These trucks are more than capable but you have to keep things in perspective. It is a V6 and you're not going to get the performance of a V8. Don't expect something that this truck isn't meant to do. I stay in 4th gear and the truck is happy, I am happy and it does exactly what I expect of it! Enjoy your Tacoma's guys!

 

couldn’t say it any better. All about expectations, this ain’t no V8

 

My buddy's been towing a 4800lb boat all over with his 2nd Gen for the last few years. The only challenge reported is the mountains, could use a little more power.

The hardest part to your question is generalization and our assumptions. Everyone has shared some great experience with camper trailers and a little basic information. Just know the size of the trailer you have or are looking to get to ensure the Taco can succeed.