Hello, first post, some questions for y'all

Hello!

First post on your site!

I'm looking for some opinions for anyone who has a late model crew cab, short bed 4x4 Tacoma.

I'm currently looking for a new Mid-size pickup as a daily driver. I have a 2014 Honda CRV I'm going to trade, it has an issue Honda says there is no fix for, (cold start VTC rattle) which is highly irritating but I won't get into all that here.

I have a 2000 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer as my primary tow vehice and a 1989 Layton Travel trailer, that's 6,000 GVWR, probably between 5-6K loaded weight, it's about 23' ball to bumper. The X handles it OK, but I would not want anymore behind it. It's got the 5.4L Triton V-8 and Heavy Duty tow package. We camp about 5-6 times per year, no more than 100 miles from home, so nothing long distance.

What I'm wondering is in an emergency situation, if the X broke down, could I get the trailer home with the Tacoma without hurting it? I know it would be asking a lot of it, but again, this would only be in an emergency situation if the X broke down and I had to pick up the trailer with the Tacoma. I believe it could do it if I took my time and was careful, but I'd like to hear from you all. (obvisouly I'd install an electric brake control in the Taco)

No doubt the Layton is a pig, there's no other way to describe it than that, as most TT's from the 80's were.

I'm also looking at the competetion, I like the Nissan Frontier and the Chevy Colorado looks nice, but after years of spinning wrenches on all of them , I just don't trust "General Meyham" haha. (LOL). The 2016 Frontier looks nice, as does the 2016 Tacoma, but I know I would not get the same deal as I could on the 15's. The Toyota seems to be about 4-5k more than the Frontier in my area. I do think out of all The Toyota is the highest quality and would hold up best long term. But I've had that opinion of Honda and Toyota for a long time.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Sincerely,
Greg

 

Welcome! I used to tow a 180k Fleetwood Pioneer with my Tacoma. Weighed just under 5k wet and loaded. Flat towing was fine but struggled in the mt. passes and other hills. Wasn't only the weight, the shear size of the trailer would blow me around w side winds. Also the trailer was so wide it was hard to see even w mirror extensions. Thought about trading in for a truck better suited for the trailer but love my Tacoma way to much so sold the trailer. Yes it should be fine short distances and avoid steep hills, others do it. Wasn't for me though. Plan our your gas stops, got 9mpg towing that trailer. As for reliability, 80k miles no probs at all just changed fluids so far and suspension by choice.

 

Thanks for the responses so far, I appreciate them! Remeber this would NOT be my primary tow rig, just an emergency spare if I have a breakdown on the road and need to get the trailer home.

What is the rust issues/areas on the 3rd Gen Tacoma? Have they been resolved with the 2015? If not, should I be concerned? Any other issues I should be aware of?

Thanks.

 

The Taco with tow pkg is rated at 6500 lbs, if I recall correctly. Should be fine.

As far as the Tacoma vs Frontier goes... I have a Tacoma, but I also had a '95 hardbody for 13 years. 181,000 miles and the only parts I ever replaced was an alternator and a distributor. When I sold it... it was still running strong. I don't think you'd go wrong either way.

 

Thanks for the thoughts. I keep hearing about rust issues with the tacoma even the new ones. Is this still a concern? Where do they rust? Any other issues i need to know about?

 

No rust on my 2012 and it's been outside only. 2nd owner and first lived in Buffalo, so it seen some bad weather.