Tacoma towing

I would watch out for your payload - you’re talking 775lbs plus hitch weight on the truck. Sticker on the door jam will tell you what your payload is but I’m guessing it isn't much above 1000lbs.

When we pack everything goes in the trailer, the truck needs the payload to carry the hitch weight. Trailer has more than enough room on its GVWR.

 

Right thanks. The Subaru Forester handles it no problem - figured the Tacoma would whip that easy.

 

It will, you just don’t want to pile everything into the truck.

while towing it’s only miserable for me if I forget to turn on ECT.. I start wondering why all the traffic is catching up on every little hill.. once it’s on it cruises comfortably again. S4 for me of course..

 

Gonna do a weigh-up of 'stuff' and see where it's at.

 

Towing is better at slower speeds. 55mph is prob best speed for towing in S4. You are making good power, not lugging the engine and not over revving either. MPGs improve and cooling system is working more efficiently.

 

@specter208
That is reasonable advice and I agree but that is tough to do in Florida. The interstate speed limit is 70 and even in the slow lane people are running 75-85 and sometimes higher. People don’t care what you are hauling or towing which makes it unsafe for everyone. I’ve seen some crazy things going down I95

 

I've gone in the opposite direction.

 

Personally I find 65 to be the happy medium. It isn't nearly as bad at that speed as you imagine it to be.

I even did the math in my head last time I was towing. If a road trip takes 4 hours at 75, it would take roughly 4 hours 30 minutes at 65. Thats really not a bad loss for 300 miles.

Also, interstates are boring as hell. That's the very nature of their design- to avoid the interesting terrain and funnel traffic from hub to hub as quickly as possible. Start taking the secondary roads whenever you can. You tend to catch more cool things to see and do on the way.

 

https://youtu.be/RvV3nn_de2k

 

One thing I forgot to mention in my original post is my TT does not have breaks and it’s a single axle. I would be using a wdh. Will any of this affect the opinions given?

 

Yes, a WDH will solve the box payload issues. That weight and mostly level. Geeze! I wouldn't hesitate to tow that with my 10 year old 2wd 2.7 5speed. Towed a 3000lb boat about 600 miles up and down many hills. No problem. Only issue I had was new boat cover shredded about halfway along.

 

My Lance is 4,200 lbs dry, probably add 1,000 lbs or so especially once the beer and wine are loaded. We do trips to New York Adirondacks and to Cape Cod which both involve hilly terrain. We also did a long trip trip out west traveling to Rocky Mountain, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Black Hills. Over 4,000 miles and no problems with the Tacoma. When towing I always drive in 4. RPMs 3500-4500 going up hills, otherwise about 2500, maintaining speed of 65 mph, but slow down if there is a stiff wind. 10-11 mpg. Getting a 2021 later than month and planning on doing another trip this summer going back to Black Hills, Yellowstone and then to Glacier. Will post how the new Tacoma performed when I return.

 

@KnobleOne
What is your setup? Wdh? Break controller? Suspension mods?

 

I tow with the 4.0 L in my FJC, same as your 2nd gen in pic. Great towing motor

my 21 with the 3.5L doesn’t tow as nice

 

ymmv I guess, our 17 tows better than our 05 did. Sure the 3.5 doesn’t have the low down grunt that the 4.0 did, but once it’s rolling temps are lower and mpg is better. Also find that when you hit the hills the 3.5 revs up and goes where the 4.0 would get wheezy and slow..

 

Follow state regs on trailer brakes is one answer.

Personally, anything I tow approaching 1500 or over gets brakes.

 

Andersen WDH, Prodigy break controller, Firestone air bags (inflated to 50 psi)

 

Damn pick me up ... have camera will travel - !!!
Load up a good camera - a good F2.8 wide angle lens, a tripod, and shoot the Milky Way...

 

Andersen wdh, Redarc brake controller and some Milenco clip on mirror extensions. I’d def recommend trailer brakes.

 

wow, I'm surprised the trailer doesnt have brakes. I would definitely recommend those for sure.