Bed length

getting ready to buy a new Tacoma and was wondering if I should get the 5’ or 6’ bed length. I don’t tow much but once a year I take a 1500-2000 trip with a 7x12 cargo trailer(3000 lbs) and every couple years tow my tractor(5600 lbs). Does the 1’ difference matter?

 

I don’t know if bed length will have anything to do with towing. The short bed and long bed seem to have be same specs as far as payload and tow...so the question is are you going to use the bed, and do you need the extra space? Or do you want a more compact truck?

 

Anyone thinking about a 5' bed should seriously consider purchasing a minivan instead.

Does it make a difference?
Its 20% more of the **whole point of the vehicle**.

 

Bed length doesn't make much difference for towing with the following exceptions: You lose a bit of tow capacity with a double cab long bed vs. short bed. The longer wheelbase of the DCLB may give more stability for towing on the highway. On the other hand the shorter wheelbase of an Access Cab (long bed) or DCSB would make backing up your trailer slightly easier. But we're talking about negligible differences either way. The trailers you're talking about are well within any Taco's tow capacity.

IMO there are a lot of more important pro and cons between a 5' bed and a 6' bed. What else are you using the truck for? Would you be able to fit what you need in a 5' bed? Do you need rear seating?

 

Towing, no
Backing up, yes
Like the trailer tongue length, wheel position, and number of axles, the distance between the front and rear axles on the tow vehicle can affect how fast the trailer reacts to imput.
I have found longer is easier.

 

Note the payload (weight of passengers and stuff in the truck plus the tongue weight) of your model choice. Only 950 pounds on my double cab long bed 4x4. It is lowest of all models.

 

One of my customers shared this info with me. Use it as you see fit.

The "hypothetical" suggested maximum total trailer length vs. tow vehicle wheelbase per a popular chart is this:

110" 20' ******* 150" 30'
114" 21' ******* 154" 31'
118" 22' ******* 158" 32'
122" 23' ******* 162" 33'
126" 24' ******* 166" 34'
130" 25' ******* 170" 35'
134" 26' ******* 174" 36'
138" 27' ******* 178" 37'
142" 28' ******* 182" 38'
146" 29' ******* 186" 39'

A popular equation used is this: The wheelbase of the tow vehicle in inches divided by 5 equals maximum trailer length in feet.

By the equation a 145" wheelbase vehicle can pull a 29' trailer. By the chart, that tow vehicle can tow a 28'9" trailer.

If your trailer was a couple of feet over, then there might some concern. But what is a couple of inches among members.

There is no "regulation" chart or equation out there. These are "recognized" charts and equations on the net, but no one can say exactly what the limits are for safe towing, and even exactly what is safe towing involves.

There could be a chart somewhere stating that a 30' trailer can be safely towed by a Yugo.......there are no standards. Me thinks that the idea of a long wheelbased vehicle pulling a long trailer is best in the long run for safety, so hence this chart and equation to set some guidelines.

I pull a 28.5' foot trailer with my 145" wheelbased F150, and it does a great job. Would 1 more foot matter....probably not. Would 4 more feet matter.....I don't think I would try that.

Regardless, use an integrated WDH with sway control, and set that puppy up properly.