Taco 2008 4wd double cab SR5- towing a 3200 (dry) trailer...

Aloha! Yes, I will spend hours and read through the HUNDREDS of posts on this forum about Taco's pulling a trailer... I love my 2008 SO much - BEST vehicle I have ever had in my life. I am looking at the new KZ Escape E17 hatch (really cool new layout in my opinion). I have towed a few pop ups and a Uhaul with no problem, but never a travel trailer. I WILL review everything I can here - but I would love a few experienced Taco trailer folks here (who DO pull a 3-4000 trailer already) to give me their essential 'list' of what I would need to add to my truck (I want it all - anything that will make it safer). And any essential books or reading materials. I live in Denver - so yes - many mountain passes to get places (like Moab, Grand Canyon, etc). Not totally sure we are going to do it - but want to do all my homework and price out what modifications I need for my beloved Taco. I will only do this if I am extremely well read and comprehend every aspect of towing and how the trailer itself operates. Thanks!

 

Your truck will do fine with the addition of a brake controller. You might want to get a Scanguage to monitor tranny temps. You might also want to think about a weight distribution hitch. I had one for my 3000lb Casita but I’m not using one with my 3700lb Lance.

 

Welcome to TW! Before doing anything look at the top of the Towing page and you’ll see the sticky The Tacoma Towing Bible. You’ll find tons of information. Just look at the first page, you don’t have to read all the zillion other pages.
You should look at trailers closer to 3000 lbs rather than 4000 lbs. . Remember when you load a trailer up with water, propane, and various equipment you will be adding 1000lbs or so. Towing in Colorado through the mountains you want as little weight as possible. The more weight the more hassle and problematic towing becomes, it is a less than pleasant experience.so in general keep the weight as low as possible with the requirements you want in a trailer.
Your mpg will go down to 10 mpg or less especially towing at altitude and in the mountains. Since you have the tow package you already have most of what you need for towing.
Some of the additions you may want to consider (but may not absolutely need) include scan gauge, WD hitch, air bags, upgraded rear leaf springs. You will absolutely want trailer brakes.
In the past I have towed 3500 to 4000lb trailers through the Sierras, Rockys and parts of Colorado with a Taco. Climbing mountains was a strain. Sometimes 40 mph was my max speed while climbing. Your truck should do just fine, just keep the weight down as much as possible.
So read the first page or so of the above Towing Bible and it’ll educate you and answer most of your questions. If you have more specific questions just ask.

 

thanks so much - yes - the E17 trailer is 3200 dry - that is as high as I want to go. I printed the bible yesterday and am about to go through it with my highlighter! I know the less weight the better (esp water) - so would it be helpful to still put some of our 'stuff' like clothes, paddle board, gear etc. in the bed of the truck (or inside my truck) instead of inside the trailer? Also - I have only taken my Taco to my dealer for maintenance - so - where is the place place to get all these additions - still at the dealer I assume? I didn't know if there were any specialty places that would be better than the dealer itself.....and by the way- your lab is adorable

 

You also might want to think about a tonneau cover or cap to keep things in the bed secure. Of course, this will reduce your payload.

 

Thanks, Sprig is a wonderful dog.
Regarding putting stuff in your truck rather than the trailer, you also have to pay careful attention to GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating). GVWR is the maximum safe weight rating of your vehicle. That includes the curb weight of your truck when empty, passengers, fuel, tongue weight of the trailer, any accessories added to the vehicle and cargo/equipment/stuff in the truck or bed. I don’t know what the GVWR for your truck is but generally for a truck like yours around 1100lbs of passengers, tongue weight and other cargo takes you to the max. It doesn’t take that much to get you to exceed GVWR. A couple of adult passengers, full tank of gas and tongue weight may get you close or over limit. So just pay attention to GVWR when loading up the truck.
I generally wouldn’t go to a dealer to have accessories added to your truck because the costs charged by dealers for the parts and service is excessive. Look around on the net to find places that can install what ever it is you want. RV places may be a place to check with first

 

ok great - thanks those are all good tips....

 

Checked out that KZ E17 Hatch just now, looks like a nice setup. I'm a trailer junkie so thanks for posting that. 4.0l can handle yanking 4000lbs over the Colorado passes. You'll be faster than the slowest 18-wheelers on Ike and Vail, holding about 50mph in 3rd and dropping into 2nd sometimes, been there done that with the 2012 4.0l.

I'd give it a try if I were you, that looks like a nice trailer with the fore and aft windows (very nice feature, IMO), and the hatch. Maybe $21k new at the lot, not bad. 7.5' wide, 20g fresh tank is a bit small, single LP tank is a pain IMO for offgridding. The big 2-dr fridge/freezer is a plus, bathroom/shower looks big not cramped.

Leafspring suspension and I see they have a lift kit for it. 14" tires are ok, stout enough for offroading and with the lift you can yank it to some nice offroad places in 4lo. Wouldn't mind owning one myself and I figure I could yank it loaded up to some pretty nice spots in CO, UT, NM, NV, AZ.

Fuel mileage will be bad but that's how it is for the convenience of a travel trailer and a nimble offroad truck when you unhook.

The Taco rear suspension may need stiffer springs but having the rear hatch to lessen the tongue weight, balance the trailer seems good.

 

yeah I really like this E17 layout quite a bit - first trailer I have been excited about (other than Lances' which are TOO expensive). I LOVE WINDOWS - need lots of light and the hatch idea is actually amazingly awesome I think! The only bummer is no sink in the bathroom... but... can't have it all I guess... I will need to learn about when to drop into 3rd and 2nd (obviously I would do that downhill - but do you do that uphill also?)

 

I didn't notice there is no sink in the bathroom, but I guess the tradeoff is a bigger shower area which is a good thing. Yep, you can't have it all with short trailers, it's all about tradeoffs. That looks like a nice versatile unit with the lift and a good price.

Windows, I'm with you there, so nice to have fore and aft windows, the more windows the better, and the light-colored cabinets brightens the interior.

Downshifting uphill in the Rockies manually shift the autotrans to 3rd or 2nd to maintain speed on the steep passes. 2nd gear will be near redline at 50mph but you'll be passing 18-wheelers keeping your place in the passing lane and won't be in 2nd much.

 

ah ok great - thanks again! we will see in a few months when our local dealer gets the E17 in stock - and go see if we are gonna bring her home with us or not...