Planning on doing heavy towing with my 06 Tacoma.... camping trailer weight 5500 pounds plus cargo

Hi guys lm new to Tacoma world introducing myself as Toyota Lexie Guy. I own an 06 TRD sport 4 x 4 Tacoma which i’ve owned since 2007 I also own 2015 RX 450 H Lexus.... this is how I got my user name(my wife calls our Lexus Lexie). I am needing some info or input on trans cooler improvements and maybe rad up date. Any input from anyone?

 

Welcome to TW.

Most people here will say that by the time you add even just a minimum amount of cargo you'll be dangerously over capacity. Myself included.

I hate to negatively opine on someone's first post, but that's too much trailer for that truck, no matter what mods you do to it.

 

Upgrade to Tundra.

 

Agreed. You should have at least a Full Size pickup, 1/2 ton with a V-8 and equipped for towing.

By the time you get cargo and passengers, hitch, water, propane.......whatever, you will be dragging 3+ tons. 500 lbs goes by real quick.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld

 

Get a bigger truck. The Tacoma won't like doing it and you won't like driving it.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Congratulations on your very near future decision to buy a bigger truck!

 

Ya you are likely right. IT may be asking a little much for a Tacoma. I know I’m running to the limit of the truck. We have been out of the camping thing for over 20 years. Because of the Covid thing and not comfortable with travel at this point we ....For this coming summer are planning just very local camping to see if we still enjoy camping. If all goes well and we still enjoy the camping thing then we will upgrade to a larger truck (tundra)
The reason we bought a camper of this size is I knew if I bought one too small and we were too cramped it wouldn’t be a good experience I don’t think ( large enough to feel comfortable).
So my thinking was to possibly upgrade at least the transmission cooler as a safety net so I don’t do damage to my transmission. I thought a couple hundred dollars is pretty cheap insurance.

 

Consider......
Trailer sway begins, you can't get it under control, trailer takes over....crash with flip over likely.

Emergency happens in front of you. You swerve to avoid........trailer takes control.

Need to stop short and quickly in traffic.......trailer wants more distance.......multi-vehicle pile up. YOU are responsible.

Think with a bigger scope, not just "can we make it"

 

I tow a little pop up camper with mine. It probably weighs 3.5k loaded. Its not bad towing but I wouldn't tow anything heavier for long distances.

 

Do to the current prices of Tacoma's and if it is in your budget this may just be the best time to move up.

 

Loaded trailer and loaded truck you are way over weight. Towing that with your truck you are endangering yourself and your family and you are endangering other people on the road. Screw getting a tranny cooler which won’t do shit, you need a new full size truck.

 

Set your truck up for towing. Brake controller, springs, etc. Then rent. Check out Outdoorsey or RvShare.com. Try different models. You’ll find what you like and don’t and what your truck like without falling into the poor financial decision of rv ownership.

 

All the above mentioned posts are excellent . You will be far overweight .

Have a look at the towing bible . Members that have posted in that thread can provide some real time towing experience with large campers .
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/


If you are crazy enough to do it , I highly suggest a scan gauge as well as an oversized transmission aftercooler

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...l-toyotas-write-up-with-many-pictures.526283/

 

Thanks everyone for all your advice! I guess i should take the advice of you all and seriously start looking for a bigger truck! Thanks for the input!

 

Don't run out and get a Tundra. I looked at a Tundra as a tow vehicle as I like Toyota's. I couldn't believe the payload was only 135 lbs more than my Taco. 1135 lb that's what the payload was. Toyota has given up on the Tundra I guess.

 

I have a 178 R Pod 3200 lbs. ready to camp and live in Bakersfield, my Tacoma pulls it great over the grapevine and up to Huntington Lake at 45 mph. I did add a bigger trans cooler. The Tacoma's don't like wind, pulling my 3200 lbs. R Pod it feels good at 55 to 60 mph @ 10 mpg, pulling my 3300 lbs. car trailer it feels good up to 65 to 70 mph @ 14 mpg. I would not pull anything bigger with my Tacoma and I have been towing trailers for over 42 years.

 

Biggest impact between the RPod and the car carrier is the frontal area.

The car hauler is essentially "hidden" in the slipstream of the Tacoma.

RPod......not so much.....

 

Definitely. I picked up about 2.5 mpg when towing my T@b trailer after I added my ARE Mx topper.