2.7 liter towing capacity

Trying to decipher the towing capacity, if it's even on here. I have a big move coming up and had a hitch installed. Is the GAWR including the vehicle weight or is that additional weight capacity?

 

Need a suggestion from you tow professionals... Would both options be safe, or would one be better then the other.
I have 2 ATVS, weight 388lbs each. I also have a trailer that is fairly light 5x8 wire mesh trailer that you could easily lift it and move it around. FYI: I have a 2008 2.7 cylinder 5 speed Tacoma.
Option 1) Would it be safe to load 1 of the ATVs on the bed of the truck and pull the other one on the trailer towing it using the bumper hitch (max tongue weight on the stock bumper is 500lbs according to Toyota)
Option 2) Or would it be better to load both ATVs on the trailer again towing it using the stock bumper.

 

I'm not sure about the bed, but I just pulled a double axle trailer (about 1500lbs) and a Yamaha Rhino AND John Deere mower... it did sag the rear end a bit, but it pulled like a champ up 95 for three hours. I kept it in 4th with an occasional drop in 3rd for inclines... you won't be hitting 70-75 unless you have a good tail wind AND down hill...but the power is there. I would recommend both ATVs on a trailer.

 

Yo. So I never write in forums, but after making a trip to Denver from SF and towing a heavily loaded 5'x 9' uHaul trailer, I felt the need to inform others who may be in the situation I was in before setting off with such large load for a small truck.

I was helping a family member move from Denver to San Francisco with my automatic 2001 2.7L 4cyl. Tacoma 4x4 with 147,000 miles. Just after loading up the 5'x 9' utility trailer (empty weight 1,250 lbs.) with a 3 sectional couch, dining table, coffee table, about 800+ lbs. of reclaimed wood, and a bunch of miscellaneous house stuff, as well as the truck's bed full with a dresser, large bookcase, dining table with chairs, clothes, picture frames, books, toolbox, etc., I became quite nervous about the 1,200 mile drive out west.
The truck bed was weighed down about 5 inches after measuring the hitch ball which was down from 21'' without weight to 16'' loaded. I had never towed a trailer in my life and did not even have a hitch but bought and installed one the day prior to loading up; you can understand the anxiety...
However, after bucking up and taking off from Denver with all the gear, I found that the truck drove great and once up to 55 mph, the truck cruised easy. With O/D off and keeping the RPMs under 4000, the truck chugged over the large passes at around 40-45 mph and myself and the truck made it back to CA in one piece.

So all in all, the 2001 2.7L Tacoma can comfortably tow large loads. That is all.

 

That would be 500 pounds *vertical* load, not the bumper's total trailer weight limit. Most of the total weight of the trailer will be on its own axle, only about 10% will be on the truck. So, 800 pounds of 4-wheelers, another 500 pounds (guess on the way-big side), makes 1300 pounds total, tongue weight 130 pounds. I think you're fine no matter which option you choose

 

No doubt. Only thing I would suggest for others, is that it is usually a good idea to learn to pull a trailer near home without the stress of a long distance trip.

 

Anyone towing don't be afraid to use 3rd gear on highway if you need to, pulled a trailer roughly 5k miles in 3rd gear right at 3k rpm the whole time, I have an auto and I put a trans cooler in my temps were at -170 the whole time. Monitored trans fluid and torque converter temps with scanguage, I did a drain and fill on my trans at 30k and it was still bright red.

 

My previous truck rated for 3500 k with a 2.7 manual. I used it to launch and retrieve my 4500 lb pontoon boat and trailer. The motor had no problem at all but it was like the tail wagging the dog. It also started slipping the clutch on hills so we had to go to plan B. But the motor.....no problem as far as power is concerned. Great motor. Just be in he right gear and the towing I did with lighter sailboats under 2k was a piece of cake.

 

What's this 3500lb business? I've towed 2 yards of gravel and sand with a trailer rated at 3500lb axle many times. I can't kill either truck or trailer. 2001 4x4 165k
Abraham Shadbeh

 

I am a new member and I am glad to be apart of this online forum. This is my first forum I have ever joined online. I bought my Tacoma new in Hawaii back in 2011. I got the 4 cylinder Double Cab because gas prices were around $5.00 a gallon and I have a family of 5. I am now back on the main land and moving from Georgia to Maryland. I am planning on pulling a Homemade trailer that is approximately 18 feet long and 7.5 ft wide. It used to be a Skyline pull behind camper. My children and I went to refurbish it and it just had way to much termite damage and the roof was leaking from everywhere, so the next best thing was to make it a cargo trailer. It has double axles!

I am pulling my trailer 584 miles. It will be loaded with a Honda Recon 250 (816lbs), Petal Boat (110lbs), Hunting Accessories (300lbs) and all the clothes that a man can own (800lbs). Trailer weight is 1000lbs. I need some help in determining my trailer towing capacity?
Rico's Taco '11, 31 minutes ago Edit Report

 

The '13 4 banger is rated for 3500 lbs.

 

Torque is what is needed to tow. I know my 2.7 2004 4X4 is rated to tow 3500 lbs but I can't see me ever doing it. It's so gutless empty that I can't see revving the shit out of it to tow 3500 lbs. Living at 7000 ft though does make a big difference but even at sea level I'm sure I'd be doing some serious revving to get down the road. These engines will last 3 or 400,000 miles and even more but not if you're towing and revving to 4000 rpm on a regular basis. I'd tow 3500 lbs if I had to or wanted to once in a while but not regularly. Hell, I'd like to try it just for shits and giggles at 7000 ft so I could see if it is even driveable where the speed limit is 75-80mph. It's barely able to get up the hills with probably 500 lbs in the box. I have to shift down to 4th just to maintain 55. I bet I couldn't maintain more than 40mph most of the time at this elevation with the mountains and all even revving the bejesus out of it.

 

First post, been reading around this forum for a few years now but I finally pulled the trigger on a Tacoma so I decided to join.

Sorry if this topic has been covered but this thread got off track and I did my best to follow but I might have missed something. Now I'm not interested in towing more than 3500lbs if that, but I just have to ask this out of curiosity. My manual states payload capacity of the vehicle is 1300lbs AND towing capacity is 3500lbs. Should it be 1300lbs OR 3500lbs? Let me explain.

Say my gear and I weigh 300lbs that leaves me 1000lbs of capacity for the bed and 3500lbs towing capacity. So I hook up a 3500lbs trailer and then have an extra 1000lbs of weight to put in the box. What's the difference as far as the truck is concerned if that extra 1000lbs of load is put in the bed or in the trailer? Assuming the hitch and everything is rated correctly. Vice versa, if i'm allow 1300lbs payload and a trailer that is going to have a tongue weight of 350lbs, as far as the truck's concerned, that's a 1650lbs payload?

Does that make sense or am I nuts?

 

If your trailer weighs more than 3500 lbs that means it will weigh as much or more than the truck and you could end up with the "tail wagging the dog" scenario. That's dangerous. Whereas, if you put the extra 1000 lbs in the bed that won't be the case. Then there is the length of the trailer opposed to the length of the truck. You don't want to tow a trailer that is too much longer than the tow vehicle. That's dangerous as well. There is actually a formula for it that can be found on RV sites. Putting that much extra weight in the trailer could also bend your frame.

 

The V6 can't weight much more than the 4cyl so you would think the "dog wagging" and trailer length issues would be the same for it. Same for the frame bending, assuming you used the same hitch hardware the V6 uses, is there any difference in the frame at the back where the hitch attaches that would make it more vulnerable?

Sorry if it sounds like I'm arguing, I'm not. I just commute 2hrs a day in my Tacoma to work so I spend alot of time thinking of this shit but have nobody to debate with haha.

 

I have no idea. Sorry for a very late answer. I do know that towing a trailer that is twice as long as the tow vehicle is not a good idea. As I said. There is actually a formula for it. I have a 2004 RC 4X4 with the 2.7 and don't tow at all. I just commute 15 miles each way to work and a few times a month when the dirt roads around here are dry or just slightly wet I go exploring. I hate cleaning all the mud off the underside so I try to stay out of it. Besides, I have MS/2's and they are great on dirt roads when they are dry but do not agree with mud and deep snow although I have taken them through it. It's just no fun.

 

The frame, brakes, suspension are the same between the V6 and the 4 cylinder trucks. The weight of the trucks are also close. The only advantage to the V6 is the extra HP. While braking there would be no difference.

 

I didn't know that. It must be why the 4 cylinders can take so much abuse. Not that the V6's can't. I "do" like my 2.7 but wish for more horsepower every single day on the way to work. Off road? I have zero complaints and for the most part, zero complaints as a commuter when the roads here are covered in ice and snow where horsepower and torque mean absolutely nothing. A 2.7 4X4 Taco is probably the best commuter anyone can own in the mountain states where just the drive to work can be an "offroad adventure". The 2.7 4X4's with a stick aren't bad off road either. Mine will go FAR more places than I'm willing to take it. I know because I took it there but just don't want to abuse it that way anymore since it is a "daily driver".

 

I don't tow with my 2.7 so I don't have a "concrete" answer. My post simply mirrored what I have read on the subject. I am also a truck driver but comparing what I do isn't the same as hauling trailers with a Tacoma. I will say that a trailer far longer than the truck that is pulling it does add a certain amount of " I need to pay more attention" to the equation. Especially if the trailer and load weigh more than the tow vehicle itself. My Taco weighs around 3500 lbs. If I ever tow with it I would never even "think" of pulling a trailer longer than my RC or a trailer that weighed more. Even though I probably could.

 

ive pulled cars, boats and tractors and snowmobiles and quads with my 2.7. and I'm also running 34" tires. I do have helpers in the rear and spring spacers up front. may not be the fastest, but it does pull if you know how to shift right!! ITS NOT ABOUT PULLING SOMETHING ITS ABOUT STOPING WHAT YOURE PULLING!!