Can I tow a 6000lb travel trailer with my 2012?

5k lb trailer hanging off the hitch and the driver doesn’t have the sense to at least have trailer brakes or helper bags. Yikes!

 

perhaps nobody can, pal.

 

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Get a smaller trailer and you will have less doubt and more control.

 

He was getting to the point that much of the sag can be controlled with a proper distribution bar. It will also help a bit with trailer sway, what the crosswinds did to you.

 

When younger, during my short life in the race car fabrication world, finished one around 1am. They loaded the trailer, hooked it up & hit the road to make a 3k mile trip. We’re shutting up the shop, here they come 30 minutes later, I’m thinking they forgot something. No, the setup was too unstable to make the trip.

The point being sometimes on paper it’ll work. When the 2 halves are joined and put on the road, that’s when you learn it doesn’t.

 

According to that link, any optioned 2012 can only tow 3500 lbs, which is true if you didn't get the tow package. A tow package ups your rating to 6300-6500ish lbs. That link lacks the ability to accurately know what your tow rating is. While the data in the link isnt wrong, it is misleading since it only gives data for trucks without the tow packages.

 

You can do it but it won't be a pleasurable experience (white knuckles + butt pucker = cold sweats) Im towing this Jayco 174bh semi loaded comes in at 3700lbs with an Andersen WDH, Tekonsha brake controller, and upgraded AllPro Expedition leafs. No issues on the highway doing 65mph sometimes 70mph. Virtually no sag and very stable even when being passed by big rigs doing 75mph. Andersen hitch FTW!

 

Ive towed that and more with the Tacoma, and I would say no. The furthest I would tow that is just to move it, I wouldn’t take it a far distance/on a trip/into the mountains.

 

Its the trailer I really want but I’ve decided against it for now. If I got it, I was going to go on trips under 300 miles and get a proper tow vehicle setup over the next year before I retire. Instead, I’m picking up a 4000lb trailer tomorrow, it should be well below 4800 loaded. I’ve got a Husky weight distribution hitch that’s rated to 1200lb tongue weight, I expect it’ll tow beautifully.

I’ve towed a race car but this is my first RV. If I’m into it, I’ll buy a larger trailer and proper towing set up.

 

By the way www.campingworld.com has a tool where you enter you VIN and it’ll tell you the tow capacity. Mine is 6500.

 

And you just found this link today?

 

You are a danger to others and depending on your state, could be ticketed for towing a trailer over 3000 GVWR without trailer brakes.

Just wow. I cannot imagine having to explain to someone's loved ones who died because I rear-ended them that I crashed because I didn't understand how to safely operate my vehicle within its limits. I would be careful what pictures you post and what you admit to on forums; if opposing counsel finds your profile and all the un-safe things you admit to doing you will be buried in court if anything ever happens. My old man would kick my ass up and down the street if I ever towed like you do.

 

Is your rear end squatting and your front lifting or is that a trick photo?

 

Capacity and Competency are two different things.

 

Is it possible to show two "Likes"?

 

I found it 2 weeks ago and know my rating is 6500. I started the thread to see real world experiences towing 6000lb with a Tacoma and i think I’ve gotten my answer.

 

6500# is just the tip of the iceberg. You've got tongue weight, steerer axle weight, drive axle weight, and then the big GCVWR.

You're nowhere near spec pulling that thing. Not even close. Tow it to the nearest CAT Scales and get the weight on 3 axles and the combined.

 

Not to mention the massive wear on all the trucks components

hell my old f150 was rated for 13600 and my 6k trailer would still cause it to run real hot on long trips. Also averaged 5.5-6.5 mpg. So it was back to a diesel for me

 

I just unexpectedly bought a brand new 24' NoBo travel trailer with dual axles that weighs in at about 4300# and is just a bit underweight of its typical tow weight. I CAT scaled it last week and I'm well within all the numbers I need to be to safely and legally tow. That's with an Andersen WDH w/sway control built in and behind my Taco, you know that sumbitch is there! Gas mileage is shit, of course but I intended for this to be be my last truck so I'm sticking to it.

I couldn't imagine towing 6k with a Taco! That's just plain dangerous!

 

Correct.
I was told before I left to go get that travel trailer it weighed 2800 lbs. The PO was very incorrect. My truck stops on a dime with ir without a 2800 lb tow. I could tell by the way my truck reacted to the tow of that travel trailer it was definitely not 2800 lbs however like I wrote before the tow was easy and drama free, unlike this forum. I tow boats a LOT and I have a lot of experience towing in general.