Maybe a dumb question…

The travel trailer I’m looking at buying is 3900# dry and has a GVWR of 7000#.

My truck has a tow capacity of 6400#. If I only load the TT up to say 5000# am I officially/legally allowed to pull it?

If I got pulled over by police would they go by GVWR?

TIA

 

I would be more worried about your transmission, than the cops pulling up and checking the weight against your tow capacity.

 

Lol that didn’t take long.

Maybe I’ll delete this thread and just phone the insurance company in the morning…

 

Legally < safely

 

Not sure. I would really go with a full-size truck if I were going to tow that much on a regular basis. You'll struggle with any hills or inclines and if you have to stop quickly.

 

If you have to ask, you already know the answer.

 

There’s more to towing legally than one would think.
It possible that you could get pulled over and the officer checks ALL ratings.
I’m sure it’s happened, but the majority of the time they check lights, brakes, and chains.
Unless you are towing for commercial purposes, then it’s a world of it’s own.

The questions you are asking come down to the Truck CGWR.
1. Don’t go over the trailers GVWR
2. Don’t go over the trucks tongue rating
3. Have trailer brakes that work.
4. Don’t go over the Trucks CGWR
5. Make sure all the lights work.
6. Have safety chains in good condition and attached properly
7. You may need a load distributing hitch and an anti-sway device. (Read you owners manual. I think it tells you in there?)
8. Drive slow, and slower in wet or slick conditions

That should pretty much help you stay out of contact with the law.

Red more about towing here
https://www.curtmfg.com/towing-capacity

FWIW, I dislike pulling loads of 4,000lbs or more with a Tacoma.
It works the truck and me pretty hard. Sure the truck can and will do it.
But it’s not fun at all for me.

 

@TnShooter Thanks for the hints….

I have checked all my numbers and none are over, my truck payload is close but it’s under (yes that includes fuel, people, tongue weight, wdh, cargo etc). The towing capacity (if I go up to 5k lb) I’m under by 1,300 lb (more than 20%).

Why is it people get their knickers in a twist about someone towing well under their vehicles tow capacity but say “wow nice truck” to the guy that has bumpers, winch, 35’s, armour, cap, rooftop tent and is 1000# over the trucks payload?

 

I don’t think you read my question quite right…

 

Balanced weight distributed over your vehicle is way different than towing weight. That's why you still need to distribute your tow weight properly as well. Think of it like this, your body would use less energy carrying evenly distributed weight, than if you put all weight on the end of a rope and drug it on the ground.

 

I have no idea. All I can offer is my experience. My experience is that the Tacoma pulls better with loads of 3,500 lbs or less.

Use lower gears, and let the engine work. Maybe it’s me? But it seem like the the 4.0 pulls best close to 3,000rpm.
Forget OD, unless you are on a very long straight road with no change in uphill elevation.

TBH, I find myself towing a lot more now, than when I bought my Tacoma. If the same holds true when I buy a new(er) truck. I’ll likely look into a truck better suited for towing

 

That's good information right there!

Ed

****