What the Tacoma can actually tow.

Hi All,
I'm brand new to this forum. I have questions about what the Tacoma can safely tow. I'm looking at a used 2023 Toyota Tacoma 4WD TRD Off-Road Automatic Crew Cab. It has the V-6 3.5 L/211engine. According to my research, the vehicle has a GVWR of 5,600 lbs. I'd like to tow a 2023 Forest River Rockwood GEO Pro G19FDS. This campers GVWR is 4,500 lbs. If I add those together (which would represent the maximum combined weight the vehicle could safely tow, right?), I get 10,100 lbs. Again, according to the Interweb, the GCVWR of the Tacoma 1s 11,360 lbs. Subtracting those, I calculate I'm 1,260 lbs under the Tacoma's GCVWR. Am I figuring this correctly? If so, and I keep the GCVW under the rating by that amount (or, likely more), will the Tacoma handle reasonably well and be comfortable driving in the mountains on occasion? Thanks in advance for your expert advise!

 

Tow capacity is 6500(depends on trim), but i wouldn’t recommend towing anything over 4k with these trucks, reasons being: soft rear suspension, not-the-best transmission and shift points, and brake upgrades needed. Buy a Tundra for that trailer, your whole towing experience will be night and day difference. Tacomas “Can” tow that trailer, just expect a crappy experience with a few “pucker factor” experiences. Tacoma towing that trailer will likely see single digit MPG(on flat ground, worse in any inclines), go for a Tundra(my $0.02).

I tow a camp trailer(1K), a waverunner(1.2k) and a boat(2.5k) quite often, I upgraded brakes/gearing/suspension/airbags/tune to compensate for the lack of power/shiftpoints from the factory. Towing is improved if you spend the $ to upgrade the tow vehicle, but id save $ and grab a Tundra to start with. I live in SoCal though, so I’m biased due to the constant altitude gain/loss when traveling.

 

I would go full size to tow that camper.

 

Generally speaking, for any kind of travel, I want to be 50% or less of advertised capacity. Your threshold may be different. Another couple large factors:
- wind resistance. This is just as much of factor as weight
- terrain. Mountains, high altitude, etc
- time? A retiree’s expectations are much different from a parent that wants to leave Friday, and burn back home Sunday for the work/school week.

 

You aren't going to have a great time. You have a cargo capacity of around 900-1000lbs. That is your people, whatever gear you put in your truck plus... the tongue weight of the trailer. Assuming 10-15% of your trailer weight on your tongue you have less than 500lbs between you and your gear in your truck.

Your tow capacity should be 6400lbs. That trailer looks to be around 3500lb dry with a 485lb hitch weight. Loaded properly it tops out at 4500lbs. If you keep it light, don't go over the cargo capacity of the truck, and have your safety equipment like a brake controller in place... you'll live. Check out the towing section

 

It will tow it.
It will handle it “reasonably” well for what it is, a mid-size truck.

It WILL NOT be comfortable to tow.

 

As long as you stay within the ratings (including the weight of you, passengers, and all gear), I'd still recommend a full-size truck for towing.. I'm an internet stranger so my opinion is meaningless, but I wouldn't tow anything over 3k lbs regularly with a Tacoma. It'll do it, usually without complaint too, but it still sucks at it. Kinda like the last kid to get picked on the basketball team; he'll play his heart out and won't give up, complain, or talk back. But he's way better at Chess, and thrives in that environment much more.

 

Spoiler: What the Tacoma can actually tow.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/ESjy...h1dqk2&ep=v1_internal_gif_by_id&rid=giphy.gif

 

4500 GTWR
3500 Dry weight
Fresh tank - 31 gal
Heater+plumbing - there's usually 6-10 gallons hiding in there full time.
Gray tank - 27 gal
Black tank - 27 gal

=
Realistic water weight: 340-ish pounds.
Typical cylinder of propane: 38 pounds
Typical battery: between 40 and 100 pounds depending on lithium or lead.

Best case - that's 400-500 pounds, which would leave 500-ish pounds for linens, kitchen wares, toys, and any added option/accessory (it seems like a lot, it really isnt.) That means you are going to be riding at GTWR more often than not.


At 4500, yeah, the truck'll do it, It's just going to hate life. And also, you are going to have to be highly conscious about weight management lest you risk a leaf spring. Leave the blackstone griddle at home.

 

3500lb trailer, should be fine as long as they aren’t lying

Read your manual and the towing guide here

Find a used one at a dealer that they will let you do a test tow

 

Adding what little I know about this (which is VERY little) ... use S4 and ECT instead of D. You need the revs high to get torque and hunting in the S5-S6 range does not help.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIbNCARLLZA


Here, towing starts at 6:05

There are more IN DEPTH videos but I just like this average Joe real world video.

It can tow fine. Just don't expect it to feel like F150 or Tundra, its a midsize.

Its a small family truck, will do fine for trips etc once a month.

 

Like others, I would recommend a full size.

Hands down the Taco is not a good tow vehicle.

 

why tow the max it will tow? thats not the idea..... it wont be fun......clogging up the freeway slowing other drivers down

 

If you're going to the KOA 100 miles down a mostly flat road you'll be fine.

If you're actually traveling, a full size truck or a smaller trailer are in order

 

Tacoma's can absolutely tow that. But the truth is Tacoma's suck for towing. They are not meant to do it. They don't like doing it. They are not good at it. I have had 1 of every gen made except for the new 4th gen, they all are great trucks. None of them tow worth a shit.

 

Page 25 of this PDF has towing number for the 2023 Tacoma by trim.

https://www.toyota.com/content/dam/toyota/brochures/pdf/2023/tacoma_ebrochure.pdf

 

next to no payload is the biggest issue with a tacoma. trailer tongue weight, even with a WDH will take most of the payload capacity.

 

Yeah thats a lot for the Taco. Id get a used V8 Tundra or F150. I like the 3.5L Ecoboost in my F150 as it has oodles of torque.

 

The weight is not the only factor. Remember your towing a big old square box. Wind resistance and cross winds play a huge factor. I towed a 6x14 enclosed Aluma weight loaded at 3500k to 4000k wouldn't want to tow anything more with a Tacoma 18 DCLB Sport with OTT tune.