Gen 3 Towing Thread

I was not displeased with 9.5mpg staying around 62mph BUT we can say it sucks when you tow 6k lbs above 65 mph...

 

Good to see how well the trucks are handling the large trailers. My wife and I are narrowing it down to either a RPOD 179 or Jayflight 195RB. Either way should weigh under 2900lbs dry. I've put ride rites on the truck and picked up a brake controller in anticipation.

Can someone school me on the major separation of towing capacity between models? E.G. the max tow rating for tacoma is 6800lbs but my trd OR is at 3500lbs. I assume models that are rated at 6800lbs have stiffer leafs, longer wheel base and 2x4 to increase overall rating?
I know the airbags are a tool and won't increase legal towing capacity. We are keeping it under 3500lbs. Just curious how toyota determines the different specs.
Thanks

 

Models that have the 6800 lb capacity are the models with the less weight already on the truck. For example, when you add a 200 lb 4x4 system, that 200 lbs is taken out of the payload/towing. The model with 6800 lb payload is the access cab 4x2 model. The suspension will be the same across trims (Sport, SR5, OR etc) but when you add more weight to the truck, that is extra weight subtracted from the towing figures.

 

There's a small variation in tow rating between the various models ranging from 6400 up to 6800 lbs, but those numbers are only with the tow package. All trucks w/o the tow package are rated at 3500 lbs. The difference is the tow package. That includes hitch, wiring, trans cooler, ps cooler, hd alternator, and maybe something else that I'm not thinking of at the moment.

 

Thanks for the info! My truck actually came with the towing package, tranny cooler ect. I'll have to break out the manual and double check my rating I still want to keep my trailer under 3klbs

 

If you have a 2016 with the tow pkg, the tow rating is either 6400 or 6800lbs. Check the attached PDF file.

Go big or go home!!! FWIW, I was going to go 1500lbs smaller but I couldn't get what I wanted. The model I wound up with was a left-over 2016 the dealer was willing to deal on. It has stuff I don't need right now but after 1 weekend, I'm glad I went with the size I did. Good luck with your shopping and choice!

 

Thanks man! Haha I pulled out my manual and crossed checked my model code. It's 6400lbs. Kind of embarrassing I didn't know that.....

 

My heaviest so far was trailer and mini-excavator at combined ~6500 lbs. Handled it fine, but I kept highway speed to <60mph to be safer.
Acceleration was above expected, braking a little less so. Overall I think this truck is capable of every bit of it's rating.

 

You had electric brakes on the trailer, right? I see an emergency pull cord but can't tell

 

To be honest I doubt it, sure didn't feel like it. I just drove slow and used tranny to engine brake. Luckily it's flat here in FL.

Correction: just checked the specs and yes it had them, but def didn't feel like it. I've had mechanical brakes do a better job than that.

 

you doubt it? you don't know if the trailer you were pulling was hooked up to brakes, or not?

 

Oh it was hooked up, but like I said, it didn't feel like it was doing much braking. This was a one day rental and I didn't have time to get the set-up all perfect. Just a 40 mile drive round trip.

 

Do you have a brake controller installed? If not, you didn't have trailer brakes, just the lights.

 

LOL then that explains it. Well she did mighty fine given no assistance.

 

Most rental equipment trailers I've used had simple surge brakes to avoid needing a controller at all. Not ideal but it works okay and keeps trailers legal without the need to add a controller to every vehicle that comes in the door. The exception is trailers with pintle or 5th wheel hitches, in that case the rental places verify tow vehicle compatibility.

 

oh wow he doesn't have a controller.....

you could get a g sensing unit that goes inside the trailer with power and brakes the unit.

 

Good to see someone else is also thinking about buying an Rpod. The "Boss" and I are seriously looking at the Rpod 180 because she who must be obeyed hates having a "wet bathroom" and I can't blame her. What ever model trailer you buy your Taco is it should have no problem towing an Rpod which is around 2600 lbs dry weight if I remember right? Even though our trucks are listed to be able to pull a trailer of 6000 lbs. plus because of fuel efficiency an ease of towing I'm trying to find a trailer in the 3000 lbs. or below range that I like. Also remember to that a weight distribution hitch and anti say bars along with trailer brakes will make your towing much easier and fuel efficient. I just wish on the Rpods they had an electric awning instead of that PIA tent awning set up!

 

Im hear ya! I think we are leaning towards the jayco slx 195rb. It has a dry bath, walk around queen and electric awning. It's a little heavier at about 2900 dry. I like the Jayco baja because it sits a little higher than the rpod hood rivers and jayco also has the sway controll. I have no expierences with it but I've heard good things. It's basically a camera on the front of the trailer watching your truck. If it senses sway in either direction it will apply braking to the proper side of the trailer to help with sway.

 

I'm picking up a Lance 2285 next week. Our first real trip will be later this month and I'll post some pics and impressions after I'm back.

http://www.lancecamper.com/travel-trailers/2285/

 

Just make sure trailer has brakes