5th Wheel Hitch Installed

I would disagree on your statement about the weight. The weight alone usually isn't the issue, the 4.0L engine and the transmission handle the weight just fine but with a larger travel trailer you get a lot of wind resistance and sway which can be a problem for the lightweight Tacoma. A low, flatbed trailer weighing 6,500 lbs wouldn't be a problem to tow. You're correct about the suspension though, that will need to be addressed if you plan on towing or hauling with the Tacoma. Toyota dropped the ball on that part big time.

As far as people saying they wouldn't tow 3,500 lbs behind it, I think those people need to have a little more faith in their truck.

 

So lets use that math. 3500lbs is 54% of 6500, which the truck is rated for.

If I purchased a nice shiny new Regular Cab F150, lets say I sprung for the big 5.0 V8 with 3.73 Gears. Fords website says this truck is rated to pull 10,000lbs! Wow, That's more than the Reg Cab 5.7 tundra (that is rated to pull 9200lbs).

Now, I should only load this thing 54% of my towing rating by your math. So 10,000x.54 = 5400lbs.
Even with this full size truck I cannot pull my camper that weighs around 6200-6300lbs. This truck would spontaneously com bust and I would die, due to me overloading it.

Keep in mind, this is a camper, not a work trailer. It'll be pulled only once in a while. I'd say about 3-4 times in the summer months at the most. If I was pulling anywhere in the mountains or pulling more than this, I would definitely look at a bigger truck.

The first time I pulled it, it was a quite windy day. The truck handled well, the weight on the rear helped a little bit. Since it is a gooseneck hitch it pulled easier with less sway than a pull behind load.

Air bags will be installed by the next time I pull the camper to help out the suspension. Other additions later on will probably be a larger cooler along with a temp gauge for the tranny.

 

I hear what you're saying and I didn't mean to rain on your parade. I'm looking to upgrade from my pop-up camper to a trailer myself. As a matter of fact, people told me that I was going to crack the frame of my truck because of my 1150 lb camper and that I couldn't carry any people or gear with me because of the weight. I actually took it on a 2500 mile trip with full gear and 5 people in my truck and it handled it easily even though I was probably 600-700 lbs overloaded. Breaking wasn't a problem either. I was able to stop easily. I still averaged 16-17 mpg even with all of the extra weight. I've been thinking about upgrading for a while now and I've talked to a lot of people on this forum and in person who have trailers and that's what some of them have said. I believe that most of them mean well. I frequently stop by other campsites of 2nd generation Tacoma owners with trailers and tent trailers to check out what they've done. It's obvious that you've put a lot of thought and hard work into your setup. I purchased my airbags from eBay and installed them myself. Since you engineered to 5th wheel setup, installing airbags should be no problem for you. Good luck and happy camping.

 

I tow 5,500 lbs behind my 2nd gen, does flawless.

 

Props to you OP ...I like what you done ....with money and skill anything can be possible...I think people tend to forget the tongue weight your dealing with when there raining on your parade...its your truck do what you want...people tell me why supercharge a 4x4 its pointless...1 cause i got the money 2 cause i like the torque and 3 cause its my truck....keep up the good work...keep posting with your improvements

 

Last August 2011 I had a guy pulling a trailer like yours with a Dodge Dakota that couldn't stop and went through a red light. He blew all 4 tires trying to stop and put me in a hospital bed for 7 weeks and now I am still using a cane in February 2012. You need to think about how much weight you can pull "AND" how much weight you can STOP. The people that sell the trailers tell you how much you can pull, but not how much you can stop with even WITH trailer brakes.

gt40

 

This is the ultimate 5 th. wheeler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGeUSjRMlQ4

gt40

 

Finally Finished!

 

One of the guys in the Louisiana section Matt (SN Blueanimal) tows a 5th wheel with his 4.0 and hasn't had any problems with it.

 

What did you change since your other posts?

 

THAT IS AWESOME!

 

I'd like to do the same thing, so I can haul a Scamp 19' fifth wheel. The Scamp is said to be really a gooseneck, and not a true 5th wheel. The whole trailer loaded comes to about 3,000lbs.

 

Excellent Work! Good Job

David

 

Have you looked at TrailManor? Hard sided pop-up trailer. I've never seen one in person but they look interesing.

DAvid

 

Whenever I see stuff like this I'm glad I don't have the itch to modify my truck.

 

Stay on TW long enough and you'll get the itch... It's inevitable.

 

Saw a 1st Gen pulling a small 5th wheel camper today.

 

I did end up buying a Trailmanor a couple of months ago. I had to make a San Francisco to Denver round trip to get it too. Any Trailmanor, new or used, goes for a lot of money around here so the drive was worth it. I also considered a Hi-Lo as well.

 

Use grade eight and yes. Spend the money on bags so you can adjust on the drive, if your worried about breaking get a bigger booster

 

Use grade eight and yes. Spend the money on bags so you can adjust on the drive, if your worried about breaking get a bigger booster