I'm freaking out about a trailer I bought!!! Thoughts/comfort on towing please lol

I agree it's all about the setup for what your towing. I've been towing a lot, it's all in the weight. Can't expect great gas mileage when towing.

 

check out @Shmellmopwho trailer build

 

Supercharge that mofo, @TucsonAZ !

https://www.urdusa.com/urd-mk3-supercharger-kit-2009-2011-tacoma-v6-stage-1/

The URD SC is by far the superior supercharger for an automatic 4.0

 

Definitely read the Towing Bible link above. In addition to the 6,500 towing limit, you have to consider the gross combined weight (11,500 I believe) . You’ve added to yours w the bumper, also need to account for everything in the vehicle- you probably know so apologies if this is basic info.. Good Luck! Happy Travels.

 

You think my 3rd gen 2.7 could pull that on the highway? How much does that weigh? Looks around 3000.

 

It literally says its 3k lbs..

 

OP, it sounds like you're a capable driver who knows his limits and has more experience than most of the nay sayers who are posting. You used to drive a semi, and you also drove that touron (tourist-moron) monstrosity through the Rockies and beyond. I think you'll be fine. I don't think I would personally be comfortable with it and I've got some experience, but that's me.

That said, for what you're doing with it, I think you'll be dissatisfied with how the Tacoma performs while towing in a lot of areas. It's okay to wind her up in fourth gear over the passes. She might not want to hold the speed limit over some of them. You're going to want to keep it in 4, if not 3, on the way down the other side. This isn't news to you though. Also, if things get slick at all, that trailer will have no trouble pushing the truck around. I'm sure you fully understand how jack knifing works though.

With what you plan to do to it, I wouldn't expect to be part of the high mileage club. You'll be working it at the upper end of what it's made to do for extended periods. I would suggest shaving some miles off of the suggested service intervals to help mitigate wear of vital parts.

 

OP you will be fine. Change your rear diff fluid before you start towing if its been any length of time and just keep it around 60mph. Level the trailer and get proper stuff (weight distribution hitch etc) and all will be good in the world.

 

Yep, 3000# dry and 300# tongue before the WDH. Not bad to pull. I wouldn't do it without the factory towing package and electric brakes!
That 2.7 is not going to be happy at all!

 

OP, your trailer hitch stinger is upside down. You're going to be a lot closer to level if you flip the ball around and turn over the stinger.

 

I have a 6x12 version all aluminum single axle 990lbs. I use it for my business and it tows great around VT and the Adirondacks. I did beef up my rear springs and got my drop squared away! Love the trailer fwiw.

I had a 2 place Proline snowmobile deck over 7.5x12 aluminum trailer that I towed with my Tundra. I hated it behind my Tacoma. It was a huge sail & drag. Sold it now have an inline.
Have fun with your build OP would love to see the progress.

 

I have an identical trailer. Like has been mentioned before, the Tacoma will pull it just fine (but is best suited around town or for short trips). I have had mine empty and fully loaded a few times and have never felt out of control even in some windy conditions. I wouldn't enjoy towing it long distances though on the highway though.

A supercharger, heavy duty leaf springs, and a big brake kit up front help significantly.

 

Not a towing expert by any means, but I have towed a '77 Celica on a U-Haul car carrier for a couple of long-distance moves. I loaded some stuff in the car, so total weight was probably 4800 or so, with probably a little too much on the tongue (really small car with most of the weight in the front). Both trips went through the Ozarks, so there were some climbs, but not as extensive as CO. Both Tacoma's (an '09 and a '12) did just fine. The '12 had air bags and the tow package, which did make it a bit better (there were some crappy roads I took with the '09, and sometimes got in a resonant frequency bounce). Transmission temps in the '12 topped out at 205 (I also recommend a ScanGauge to monitor), no additional cooler, but stayed mainly in the 180 range when not actively climbing. This was in August, so it was pretty warm out. Fuel economy sucked unless I kept it at 65 or under, but got 14mpg when sticking to about 60mph.

Anyway, I think you are fine with what you are talking about. Sure, it's a bit harder on the truck, but if you are good about maintenance it should be fine. Slow down in heavy weather.

 

Drop the tongue. It's not safe to tow with the tongue high like that.

Pick up a WD hitch and some better leaf springs or airbags to help out when loaded.

I'd also recommend something to monitor your transmission temps.

FWIW, I tow a trailer that's 5,500lbs loaded fairly often and the truck does fine as long as you are not afraid to make it work (like winding it out in 2nd gear at 55mph going over passes).

 

TW's feelings on towing summed up in one post. Gotta have a 3/4 diesel to pull anything over 3k lbs.

You'll be fine, tandem axle trailer won't sway much and you're way under the rated limit. It won't pull like it's not back there but you're not going to kill a bus full of nuns like some would like you to think.

 

Please don’t tow that trailer at 75mph anymore.

You need to look up the tow capacity for your specific model but the Taco maxes out at around 6500lbs.

Towing at max is not an enjoyable experience with these trucks. I would go full size. Especially if you want to tow often and long. You will wear the crap out of a Tacoma quickly. Its an expensive vehicle to wear down. Plus the cost of all the tow mods when a beater Ford just needs to be hooked up and you are on your way.

By the time you look at trailer brakes, weight dist. Hitch, a new tow tank, new rear suspension, added maintinence... shit get a new truck lol

 

He can't legally tow it above 65mph. That's what most trailer tires are rated at.

 

Towing at max capacity often and over long distances wears the hell out of a Tacoma and the driver.

He said he likes to be out months. So if I were the OP heck I’d get me a deizuhl!

Towing blows. No need to make life harder.

 

He's towing 2k lbs under max capacity...not even close to maxed out.

 

He's going to need trailer brakes regardless of the tow vehicle. Same goes for a WD hitch. Not sure what you mean by a 'tow tank' so I'll just ignore that. Rear suspension can be addressed for about $400.

Maintenance is going to be more if he adds a second vehicle, along with insurance, and registration.