Can my Taco pull this trailer?

I was towing a borrowed flatbed trailer with my 3/4 ton Suburban years ago, loaded with an M1009 military Blazer, back from Cali on I8. Somewhere near Pine Valley on a descent over a bridge and deep canyon, the right side trailer brake locked up and set the entire thing into a violent sway. I lost both trucks and trailer that day, and the over engineered guardrails in that section likely saved us from going over the side. All of this was under 50 mph. Never had an issue towing anything before that, and my buddies trailer was relatively new and safety checked. Shit does indeed fail when you least expect...

 

That's true, there's a curve to this, under a certain point a trailer doesn't need brakes and beyond it does, practically and legally. In Colorado a trailer over 3,000 lbs must have auxiliary brakes. Someone posted using a tandem axle U-Haul 6x12 utility, which has surge brakes, and those loaded to me feel significantly safer than a 5x8 cargo box, which do not have brakes. Whenever I rent a U-Haul I try to get the tandem ones just for that reason. Point being that a 2,000 trailer without brakes is probably less safe than a 3,500 lbs one with them.

But even with brakes there's a limit to what's safe weight-wise. You can get away with more with a weight distributing hitch, but those put a lot more strain on the frame to get there. So I try to keep the trailer at or below the weight of my truck.

BTW, someone mentioned total weight. If you read the manual there's a gross combined weight of truck + trailer and a gross vehicle weight of the truck only. You'll notice that to tow 6,500 lbs means the truck has to weigh I think less than max GVW, meaning you may have to be aware of how many people and stuff you put in the truck to pull the max trailer.

 

I think the right suspension setup is key here. The engine can handle it I'm sure though it would be working like a dog. This engine is as far from a diesel as you can get, but it could do it. Thinking of going up a mountain pass with the FKS V6 and 5000lbs hmmmm, just make sure your oil is changed ha

 

You guys are crazy! I use my stock Tacoma for tractor pulls!

To take the family that is!

 

I Have a Jayco Octane toy hauler 21’ ,dry weight I think is a little over 5k# I use the wife’s Raptor. I have a weight distribution hitch and a anti sway bar. When it’s windy out thats a stressful 2 hour drive. No way I’d haul that camper with a Taco. But each there own.
(I’m no stranger to hauling heavy loads, still keep a current class A CDL. )

 

Definitely get something a little smaller

 

The ad says gvw for the trailer is less than 6300. If that is correct fully loaded the trailer will be within spec.

Not having towed with my Tacoma but having towed at Max rating with other rigs I'd have no problem towing this.
Hitch weight (not overloading axles) and combined weight (acceleration and breaking) are the big ones. Just do the math that with the hitch weight and the weight of the truck ready to travel is below the truck's max gvwr.

Properly weight distributed, with trailer brakes and the understanding that you are near maximum and need to drive it as such it should be fine.

It's not going to pull it like a 1 ton would, but it will pull it like a 1 ton pulling 18,000 lbs.

 

And of course there’s also a where do you live, camp and tow factor to consider in all of this... Colorado or Kansas? Elevation is a huge factor some forget to consider.

 

No because I just bought it

 

California, hoping to take it everywhere from the redwoods to the desert.

 

This is our setup. She's not happy on the highway. 4 th gear at about 4500 rpm with my cruise control set at 60mph. I'm not trying to ring it's neck. It'll do it just fine around town and shorter, more local trips. We got 11mpg with the wind from North Idaho to Leavenworth, Wa., and 9.5mpg indicated on the return trip which was against the wind.

To be transparent, we are SUPER happy with both the truck and the trailer! However, I might have expected too much from the truck based on ALL my previous towing experiences being with full sized trucks with mostly diesel engines, and an occasional big gas V8.

Truck: 2018 DCSB OR A/T
Trailer: 2019 Rockwood GeoPro G16BH (2916 lbs dry, about 3200 lbs set for camping, but with all empty tanks... get water at or near destination).

 

Both sound great!! Steep grades, windy turns and low clearance campgrounds in the redwoods. Soft sand and lots of wind in the desert. Definitely get something smaller!

 

Good luck taking that through the mountains.

 

That’s about like mine, sans slideout. 4th gear is typical. Towed it at 65mph in Utah’s 80mph zones... did well, even when the tripled trailer semi’s went by and in heavy crosswinds. I have a combo weight distribution/anti-sway hitch, and our trucks have the vehicle stability mode too, but mine never even came on.

 

I tow something similar in weight but at around 21'. Could you even imagine towing what the OP is looking at?

 

I'm looking into something like this one now, still maybe 500 lbs more than I'd like it to weigh, what do you guys think?

http://www.giantrv.com/DealerFiles/ListingView.asp?listingID=19012

Dry weight - 4,000
GVWR - 5,600

 

Better and just a tad heavy but doable. Make sure you check very carefully for rot. Some of the stick and tins had issues. Check the floor and roof for soft spots and smell for mold. Also have them run everything to make sure it all works and check the date the tires were manufactured. If they are over four years you will want new ones.

The matress looks like it needs replacing.

 

I bought a lightweight fiberglass camper. My 1st gen Tacoma tows it with ease.

 

Probably been said already, but the weight of that trailer is 4,930 pounds.... unloaded. You add in water, food, crap in the tank, etc... you’re rapidly over your weight limitation.

Don’t pull the trailer with your Tacoma. I pull a similar one with a Tundra.

 

I have a similar trailer, but much older. Fibreglass 17'. It tows well but I have to keep it in 4th and rev it.

I couldn't imagine trying to tow something like the OP asked about. Would the truck survive? I think so. But it would be a tiring and stressful experience.

Some of the posters quoting max ratings and arguing that it's totally doable obviously live somewhere very flat with no traffic. Try getting cut off descending a twisting mountain pass 4 hours into a road trip with a stiff cross wind in the rain with your max load pushing you and yanking you sideways. You'll have a max load in your drawers.