3rd gen towing recent trip experience

We just finished up a run down south, about 400 miles round trip consisting of Highway and coastal mountain two lane roads.

The Tacoma is a 23' OffRoad double cab long bed with slightly oversized Cooper off road tires. The truck has Road Active rear suspension set on the low seating and a Anderson weight distribution hitch is used along with a brake controller, plus a hitch quieter.

The trailer is our 10yr old Casita and it weights in just north of 3,000lbs when towing.

The truck sits dead level and pulls the trailer beautifully. It was plenty of power for accelerating and passing. I have to be careful cornering in the mountains because it handles so well with no body lean and perfect tracking that I find I'm going faster than I should considering breaking distances.

As for gear selection, being a 50yr motorcycle rider, having owned 30 of them, I enjoy the sound and feel of the Tacoma in the upper RPM range when going up hills.

We averaged 14mpg down and about 13mpg returning.

We have pulled this trailer with three different trucks, Ford F150, Nissan Fronter crewcab 4L 4x4 and the Tacoma. Of the three the Tacoma is by far the most enjoyable to pull our trailer with.
The comfort level and handling is far superior to our other two.

 

Great story - what model Casita do you have? Just picked up a '22 Tacoma SR5 DCLB and looking at light weight trailers with a wet bath and a queen bed. After towing trailers over the years with several full size trucks, including a 48' race trailer with a '18 Ram 3500 dually, I want to keep this one light and comfortable for the Tacoma so its just a much fun to get to the camp site as it is when we arrive.

 

We have the 17' sprit deluxe and we travel with the water tank full when we don't have hook ups like on this trip. There are trucks that will pull our Casita easier up steep hills but our Taco does just fine for me, I'm in no hurry and the taco engine pulls great in the upper RPM range.

I keep the camp gear strapped down in the bed so we can explore off road when in camp. I keep some of my off road gear in the truck full time.

You need to check out the Road Active suspension system for the rear. Watch some videos, it is really amazing. I have no affiliation with the product other as a user.

 

Loved this. I am looking to get a Casita in the near future and am doing all of my due diligence and research. I rented a geopro conventional trailer recently. 18 feet and around 3000lbs and pulled it with my Taco without any WDH or sway. It was fine on the back roads, but miserable on the freeway. In my research and communications with others it seems a WDH is a complete game changer towing with the Taco. Your experience seems to validate that opinon.

Now that a little time has passed since your post, do you still love the experience of the Casita? And the Casita behind the Taco?

Thanks.

 

My old Resse WDH with built in sway control and my current Anderson's, where I don't need weight control because the Taco has it own, towed the Casita well. Without a WDH I found the porpoising of the trailer really annoying.

I should point out there are plenty of trucks out there with more hp and torque than the Taco but I found I have all the power I need with the Taco's V6. I utilize the ECT and move into S mode and basically shift the truck my self and have almost none of the typical Taco owners complaints about gear hunting.

Join the Casita forum, I've been there for ten years. It's the friendliest and most helpful forum I have ever been a part of. You have to join, no charge, that helps make for folks serious about looking for a Casita or they already have one like most members.

You won't regret getting a Casita. They cost more than stick built trailers but last for decades and have awesome support from the forum I mentioned.

 

Radd. Thanks for that. I just joined Casita forums.

I've dreamed of a Casita for years. Even bought my Taco with the idea of towing one some day. My wife is on board now and very excited. The Taco is paid for in a bit, and we are buying the Casita right after!