How heavy a travel trailer can i tow with a '12 4x4 off road, v6, tow package

Thinking of buying a bigger travel trailer, the pop up is too small. My question is, and i realize i have to keep the total under 6500, but, I also don't want to get run off the road doing 50mph on I-95 snowbirding in Florida from Mass. every year...........

How heavy of a travel trailer can i comfortably tow. I am looking at a couple Coleman 2014's, a 15footer weighing in at 2700 dry, and a 19footer, which i really like the most, weighing in at 4100 dry?

also, is a weight distributing hitch necessary ?

 

I originally was looking at a Jayco that weighed around 4200 pounds and decided that might be a little heavy when towing around the hills of northern ca. I ended up purchasing a smaller Jayco that weighs around 3500 pounds fully loaded with all my gear. Although the Tacoma does tow it without issue it's a slow process. I did purchase and install a set of firestone airbags because the truck sagged so bad in the rear it looked ridiculous and was kind of squirelly on the road not having enough weight on the front wheels. Overall I'm much happier I decided to go with a lighter trailer.

 

Weight distribution would help, make sure the trailer has brakes. Being able to stop is as desirable as being able to go.

 

I frequently tow my 30' glider trailer with single axle and weighs somewhere between 2300 and 2500 hundred pounds (with the glider inside). My 2012 Tacoma (with towing package) pulls it like a dream .... like it wasn't even behind me. Of course, the profile of this trailer is probably a bit lower than what you're towing. Most important is the tongue weight .... too light and you'll have a serious problem if the trailer starts weaving on you. Don't want to explain how I know this. Too heavy and it takes a toll on your tires/suspension.

Tex

 

Its rated for 6500. You can read it in the owners manual. Best of luck

 

thanks for the input guys, duely noted, i need all input I can get for this one. The salesman is a typical salesman in that he's like "your truck will have NO problem towing this trailer" uh huhhhhh, lol

 

Thanks for the worthless input.


One thing to look at is your rear suspension. Do you have the 3 or 4 leaf? I had the 3 leaf was pulling a trailer with 2 ATVs (estimate about 2400 lbs) total and felt like I was doing a wheelie down the road. The truck was hitting the bump stops a lot as well. Felt a bit unsafe. I ended up changed out my rear suspension to help it.

 

hmmm, actually, I am not sure..........3 or 4 leafs.......i would hope 4, since its the TRD off road with tow package. I should get under and look. Currently I am towing a 2000 lb popup pretty easily with no modifications........

 

Worthless for the exact number the OP is looking for? Although I wouldn't tow more than 1500 lbs with the stock leaf pack anyway.

 

Not trying to be an @$$ here, but search and you will find many threads on what folks are towing and the good, the bad and the ugly of their experiences. You are in the right section, just check out some of the other threads.

Good Luck.

 

I towed 4500lbs cross country in my 09 DC 4x4. Did fine, transmission kept hunting though

 

The tongue weight is what is really going to affect the amount of sag the truck has. My trailer has a tongue weight around 375 and prior to the air bags the sag was terrible and I have the four leaf pack. I never planned on lifting my truck and only do light offroading sometimes so the airbags were a good fit for me. I did consider the weight distribution hitch but my trailer being a hybrid / ultralight with an aluminum frame it wasn't recommended.

 

You read me wrong.

I wasn't being worthless. Or imputting worthlessness. I was answering his question. No one said the actual rating number....so i said it. I also meant, it'd be good to take a couple long shits...and reed the owner's manual. You sir, can have nice day.


And when it comes to towing something really heavy and having the ass end sag, read the Technical Service Bulletins about Add A Leafs and buying stronger leaf packs. They are only midsize trucks....not tractors....glad they can be rated for 6500lbs even if most of them don't seem to like it.

 

Actually, that was a pretty worth while answer.

And to the op...search...or read your owners manual.....Even if you have never towed something Google and YouTube can pretty much give you all the answers you need for getting started or figuring out what you can, and how too, tow.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/4031-tacoma-towing-bible.html

 

I've been hauling a Kodiak 166E for 1800 miles now from Colorado to Nevada, back and forth between Vegas and Mesquite, NV. Quite a bit of mild offroading. 3160 lbs dry, maybe 3900 with 52 gallons of fresh water, two 20lb propane tanks, two batteries, food, clothing, etc.


I can hold 50 mph on 6% grades in 3rd gear (about 3500 RPM). I can accelerate slightly on 6% grades from 45-55 mph in 2nd gear (about 5000 RPM).


7% grades, I have to put it into 2nd gear and run the motor at ~5000 RPM to hold 50 mph. The torque/HP curve on this V6 starts to hit max at about 3500 RPM so the best power you get is between 3500-5500 RPM.


The WDH? Get it if you have stock springs and stock suspension. Even with the WDH my rear end sags with the stock 4-leaf pack. The only reason I think I don't bottom out on dips is because I have the Bilstein 5160 shocks that come with the Baja suspension kit. I have two extra propane tanks and about 150 lbs of tools/gear in the bed of the truck.


I put the 4-way emergency blinkers on climbing hills because I'm at least 15 mph below the speed limit. On I-15 in Utah the speed limit is 80 mph, and I was 30 mph below that climbing grades.


If you like, get the supercharger kit for $4800 installed. You'll get a little less MPG, but a 30% boost in HP and torque is a big deal. Makes a big difference, IMO. I chose to not spend the $4800, but I sure wouldn't mind having that 30% boost. The truck goes from a meh tower to a hey this is pretty nice tower. You'll be able to keep it in at least one higher gear at all times. Even on flats I keep the truck in 5th gear, don't even bother to try overdrive.

 

I'll just leave this here:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/27460-show-us-what-you-tow.html

 

Yeah a popup is easy, little tongue weight, no wind resistance, no sway. The upgrade you want to get into, that's a whole different animal as you know.


I'm pretty happy with the capability of the truck/trailer combo, especially since I like to go offroad and having a trailer with all the comforts of home is nice. The WDH has taken a beating by going offroad, which is why I bought a straight hitch and ball for $36. I swap them out as soon as I leave the highway. I'll have to upgrade those rear springs though, no doubt about it . . . . .

 

I'd keep your popup and grab a trailer in the 3-4k pound range. We bought a Skyline Koala 17bht hybrid this past summer. It's well made, light and tows fairly well. Only downside...mileage sucks BIG TIME!!! My Prerunner V6 DCLB would get 16 mpg towing our recently sold,loaded popup (1800 lbs.). Loaded our Koala is just south of 4000. Avg on our 1800 mile trek last summer was 9.5 mpg. That converts into lots of $$$'s at 3.80 a gallon. I should have kept the popup for interstate trips and used the big camper for jaunts up and down the coast. We're actually camping this week. Shot up to the folks in Santa Barbara today to pickup my camper. It seemed to tow easier than I remembered last summer. Gas gauge didn't dip so fast as well. Did keep it under 60 mph though

 

OP mentioned 6500 in the first post, that's not what was asked.

 

Please get off my case damn it. Why does there always have to be someone to point out someone else's mistake? Do you need to tell me i messed up to feel better about yourself? I fixed my opinion with my second post.