Oh the decisions we must make

"Weight 2k lbs, add 500lb bike, plus let’s say 600 lbs of gear" is 3,100# but you are right people and potato chips get added to that too.
Often it seems folks are solely focused on weight, but length and height are a huge factors too. You could have a 20 foot tall 200# beer can, and the Tacoma will struggle to hit highway speeds with that much drag.
Still think you are scratching for an itch, but hey you are the driving it and paying for it.

GL

 

I tow kind of regularly in my 18’ Taco, from small campers/enclosed trailers, to my flat bed trailer with a sxs and enduro bike. 3k lbs is nothing for the Taco, just understand the truck is okay using the higher rpms, the little 3.5l produces the majority of its hp/tq in the top half. That’s how the engine was designed. And use a good WD hitch/properly setup brake controller. Now, I’ve also towed all the way up to the max rating for the Taco, 6kish lbs, and I’ll say while on flat highways it did it okay, I wasn’t loving it and drove much more cautiously to be safe. Prior to the current taco I also had 1/2 and 3/4 trucks, never once did I feel the need for it again when only towing 3k lbs. I’m getting another 3/4 or 1 ton truck next summer, but that’s for a huge trailer 10k+ lb trailer, but I’ll still use my Taco for 3k lbs and under trailers, cause I love the size of the truck and rolling through the gears. It’s good that your being cautious though, can’t tell you how often I go on trips and see countless trailers being pulled by small cross overs and SUV’s that are rated for a lot less then our Tacos.

Towing sometimes has this old school mentality, where full size trucks should only do it. Small trailers weigh only a percentage of the truck, I find it much more comfortable pulling a trailer that weighs thousands of pounds less then my Taco, then when I’m pulling a big trailer that weighs several thousands of pounds more then the HD truck I’m in.

Drive safe and Good luck in your decision
.

 

Just seeing what others think, would love to stick with the taco. Only issue is me experience towing 3k cross country, wasn’t fun, truck was struggling on inclines. Going to be putting a lot of miles pulling that trailer for 3 months straight.
Probably will get a tundra, and sell when I’m done

 

Lol, let’s not forget propane tank, solar set up, 30 gallons of water, and a cat

 

The Tacoma will do it safely but not swiftly. A 3500lb trailer will be noticeable but not the end of the world. Going through high elevation mountains will be slow but doable safely. The supercharger was nice but the Tacoma was still underpowered feeling at high altitude when towing.

 

Maybe look at renting a truck instead of buying one. It might be a wash at the end of your trip cost wise. But shouldn't be such a hassle to return it, instead of going through buying and selling a truck.

 

Get yourself a "good" trans cooler, monitor your trans temps and take your time. If you take your time your tacoma should handle it fine.

 

Whatever you decide, make sure you don't yee when you should haw, if you catch my drift.

 

Seems to be hard to find double cab tundra, they’re all crewmax.

 

After a short discussion with yota tech, Tacoma access cab 3.5 has a 6800lb towing capacity
Makes this thread a moot point, lol
Keepin da taco

 

Get rid of the cat and get a dog.

 

But dogs weigh more

 

Did find a sweet one