Heavy towing with TRD Offroad

The weight makes a huge difference when getting out of tricky situations. The spot I was in last week could only be, and only has been conquered by smaller Toyota’s because of their lesser weight. I had a Bronco, a Suburban, and a 1 ton all sank down to their frames in that same spot a couple of years ago.

Sure a F-250 is going to be better to tow a trailer down the road. Or an F-150. Everyone has reasons. That’s a given. It’s just finding the balance of what you are doing with the truck. From what I read, the people who tow using a Tacoma prefer the smaller chassis to make it easier for what their doing.

Like what was just said above, were the only country who drives f-350s to the store. You would be surprised on what you can do with a little engine and some ingenuity.

 

I once had to pull a rental 3,800 pound cherry picker with my stock TRD OR (manual transmission) over hilly rural roads. It required much higher rpms at lower road speeds, a great deal of clutch finesse, and I was quite relieved not having to stop on a sharp incline. Someone with less stick shift experience may have gotten into trouble.

 

Is it a camper? Keep in mind GVWR may be 5000 lbs but unloaded it might be 4000 or less. I think the Taco s handle 4000 well all things considered.

 

You’re obviously a boomer if you’re calling people kids I came to the Tacoma from a full-size pickup and drive real trucks as well. (you know, real ones, with air brakes) I stand by my statement. I also run a tree farm on the side but don't live in a rural area and driving a pickup the size of a tundra again for daily use is dumb. Sorry if that upsets you.

 

Friday was yesterday.

 

Here are your towing FACTS straight from the Manufacturer, and then doing the correct math for a Double Cab Manual Transmission Short Bed:

2018 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 Weight and Towing Capacites

Model GRN305L-PRFSHA


Curb Weight: 4650 LBS

Maximum Payload: 950 LBS

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): 5600 LBS

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): Total is 6190 (Never can be reached without going over)

· Gross Front Axle Weight Rating 2910 LBS

· Gross Rear Axle Weight Rating 3280 LBS

Gross Combined Weight Rating(GCWR):11,240

MAX GVWR with Trailer= 5,640 LBS

Maximum Towing Capacity without max Payload 6400 LBS

Max Trailer GVWR of 6400 with a tongue weight ration of 12% leaves enough weight of a driver weighing 182 lbs.

These are all of your weight specs. This does not account for how you drive, and the comfort you need. I personally would rarely need a large truck, and if this is the case I would rent it. For instance, I might be getting hired to tow a large boat from Florida, and in this case I will rent a 1-ton truck. I might only tow 7,000 lbs once a year, so this doesn't justify me purchasing a large truck in my opinion. Now towing 5600 lbs is more common, and I am able to do this without going over specs per manufacturer and DOT laws.

 

Sir, this is the Interweb...please do not introduce facts, especially from the engineers that designed and built these trucks. Billy Bob Joe tows across the Rockies with his Taco pulling 7,000 all day long with no problems. I know. I read it on a forum.

 

I’m simply saying that if you tow 5600 lbs on a regular basis, that a bigger truck will have more benefits. Just because it can tow more doesn’t mean it’s always the smartest idea. Reference the original post for my logic.

 

The logic here is most of the time I am not towing. If I was I would keep the Cummins longbed I have now. Most of the time is commuting, with sometimes towing my race bikes in a 6x12 vnose. Then occasionally having to load up the big Mac toolbox I have which is where the heavy weight comes in. Basically, thinking for the majority of the time while wanting to make sure it can still handle work when I need to do it.

 

I stand corrected. Not any Z71, but the non lifted duramax’s I’ve owned, my 1994, 98-2500, 04, 05 and 07-1500 and my 3suburbans (starting in 1990 and going through 2002) and 2 Tahoe’s (2003 and I think 06?) and the Yukon my wife drives today all get or got much better mileage towing than what I get with my Tacoma. I should also have been clear they’ve all been either diesel, or gas 350’s and a couple 454’s. Should have also said, towing the load or a similar load you describe. I towed a small tractor on a dual axle heavy trailer with similar gross weight, an enclosed 16’ / 8’wide band trailer loaded with gear and a smaller 14’/17’ enclosed trailer, and a 20’ dual axle camper. My favorite tow vehicle was my 2004 4 door long bed 4X4 (Z71) duramax 2500. I had a custom 120 gallon fuel tank in the bed and did a lot of driving/towing between N and S FL. Having lots of different trailers and configurations coupled with the similar tow vehicles, granted not all z71’s and not all 1500’s, I believe I did experience average and typical 16 mpg towing between 65 and 70.

But you are right, as you point out not all Z71’s would have as good a mileage towing. I shoulda been more specific.
But another reason there’s less difference between these since it sounds like for towing..... your trucks and the Tacoma are similar mpg.

still a lot of things to change from stock if you want your Tacoma to be a great occasional tow rig imho.

 

You can't think to compare a diesel to a gas engine. A diesel will always get better mileage. On my last trip, not even towing, I managed as good of mileage as my dads stock z71 1500 gets with a bigger truck, larger tires, and a added 65 gallons of fuel in my aux tank. When you go to towing the diesel will excel more. Trust me, if we could get the helix with the 3.4 here I wouldn't even be questioning which vehicle.

 

Yeah, I was just lumping them all together in my mind. The gasoline engine mpg is way worse than the diesel. The Hilux is definitely cool but I think my dream truck would be my second gen Tacoma with a 2.8-3.5 liter turbocharged diesel. That would almost solve all the towing issues and we’d have about the best off road vehicle ever!

Let us know what you decide to do.

I was thinking about the $ I’ve spent to make my rig tow really well and while it’s comparable (including the purchase price of the truck) to the cost of a brand new very nice 3/4 ton diesel....my Tacoma is waaay cooler and I can’t wait to get back on the narrow trails, off road for days.
No way I’d do that with a big new 3/4 or 1/2 ton truck.

 

Its for sure a balancing act if you like to offroad, not much can equal a Tacoma offroad, combine that with towing and you need to limit towing weight to 3500 lbs or so for safety, payload is miserable on Tacomas if loading for camping trips, Tongue weight is limited to 600 lb and won't work with large TT Safely. I been towing a 3200 lb travel trailer for 9 yrs, its fine, I tow in 4th 1:1 and don't have to deal with auto trans hunting gears or overheating, I will shift down to 3rd on long steep inclines on freeway, to keep up with traffic or at least not create an obstacle on the road, I used to work in a garage for quite a few yrs, and have seen a few engine teardowns of lighter vehicles that tow TT, lots of bearing wear compared to normal driving only vehicles. I have also noticed even my 3200 lb TT is hard on front brakes, and marginal at best for emergency braking even with tt brakes properly adj. This is one good reason to go a Tundra or other large truck is size of brakes. Lots to consider when towing.

 

Do you still tow in 4th gear with the 4.88 gears like the manual says to do stock? If so, how is that? Trying to decide between 4.88 and 5.29.

 

Front chains! One of the arguments for smaller tires. Also, you can do your own fender liner delete and CMC if you run them loose.

 

Hence the serious spider bands keeping them tight!

I was in a bad situation where I needed them in the front. They were too close to the control arms for comfort...I ended up needing them a week later and was luckier to be able to use the rear, which had lots of space. I’m getting KO2s in tomorrow, and hoping to put the chains to rest for a while.

 

It’s gotta get harry for you to need fronts. How did it drive with front chains? Did you have them on all fours?

 

Lots of mud and a stuck trailer. The rear axle with the locker dug down pretty close to the pumpkin. The front was the only solid ground to grab. So that’s how I chose to recover myself. I should have known with my tires that I would have had trouble. I had trouble last weekend on near flat ground with the locker on on a little slick mud and snow. I’m happy I have time to get the new tires tomorrow because I’m constantly in situations getting wood, doing a job, or recovering someone or something.

 

Awesome action photos.

 

Depends on the incline but usually we lock it into 4th for good climbs and unlock 5-6th for flat ground but I always monitor trans temp. I'm on 33's and I wonder if I would have been happier with the 5.29's but I do love my 4.88's.