can a 1st gen V6 tow a 5000 pound trailer through the grape vine?

So my friend has a tracked Prelude and he's looking for a DD to tow it to track days. Naturally, I recommended a Tacoma, but his main concern is if it will be able to tow his Prelude, trailer, tools, etc (he estimated it all to be around 5000 pounds) I know the 4.0 in the 2nd gens should be able to do it no problem, but he's looking for something relatively cheap, so I figured a double cab 1st gen V6 would be perfect. Does anyone know if a 1st gen V6 would be able to tow the 5000 pounds up and down the hills in the grapevine?

 

Yes it will be able to but i wouldnt get a 1st gen tacoma for towing. They are rated max 7000 towing and thats with the tow package. Tacomas were never designed for towing. If he wants to tow his car up and down hills without any problems, tell him to get a 2nd gen Tacoma or half ton Chevy/Dodge/Ford

 

But the 2nd gen taco is only rated for 6,500. Is that not less than the 7,000 you stated for the 1st gen?

 

Smaller truck and smaller engine, the 1st gen is 5000lbs max.
Usually trucks get better over time not worse, hence 2nd gen 6500lbs.

 

i towed ~3.5-4k pounds up and over the siskiyous and grants pass on the way home from northern california with my 2000 V6. as a one-time deal it was fine, but if i was planning on doing this more than once or on a regular basis, i would definitely look into something with more power (i.e. 5.7L tundra or a diesel)

 

You're right. I was thinking of the 2nd gen.

1st gen is 5,000 max

 

I agree ^. Little much for a first gen on a regular basis. 1st gen tundra maybe?

 

you probably will ruin a transmission trying to pull something that large over that grade. You would be getting passed by semis too, haha