Improve Taco towing.

Hey Everyone. We've been thinking about buying a camper. I'm guessing around 3000lbs. I know the tongue weight needs to be under 350lbs. My question is aside from trans cooler and brake controller, is there anything else to consider? I have a 2011 taco, 2.7, automatic with a 5 lug rear end and a 1.5 inch, American leaf spring pack. I've been thinking about adding a larger exhaust and intake, as well a an add a leaf. I would even consider changing the gear pack in the rear end if that would help. Looking forward to your responses. Thanks in advance.

 

The 2.7 is only rated for 3500 lbs. would be better to buy a new truck than try to make it a good tow vehicle

Exhaust and intake isn’t gonna do anything other than make more noise

the 2.7 only has a 4pin, so you’d need to add a 7 pin and all the wiring to add a brake controller

gears will make the most difference in performance

Leaf pack, sumo springs or a weight distribution hitch will help

 

Pop up tent trailer is as big as I'd go. Stick to 2000lbs.

5 lugs simply are not good towing vehicles.

 

Same thing we tell guys over on Tundras.com when they want to haul a 40 foot 3 bedroom condo trailer; you need a bigger truck or a smaller trailer. I know it's not the answer you want, but it is the reality of the situation.

 

Forget about it. Moving up to a 6 cyl Tacoma would allow you to pull around 4500 lbs. Your current truck might be OK with a small utility trailer with a light load on it. When you start looking at pulling even a small camper you often forget about the added weight of food, firewood, and other camping gear you have to take too. The weight inside the truck has to be considered too.

 

Exhaust and intake will do nothing.

Gears and suspension are your only chance. Even then, the 2.7 will struggle

 

I have a 2015 2.7L 5 speed manual 4WD. It came with an OEM hitch and 4 pin wiring as a port installed package (whatever that means). I tow a Tab320S Boondock that has a dry weight of 2082 pounds and a GAWR of 2900 pounds. I installed 7 pin wiring, Redarc brake controller and Sumo Springs. I have towed it down the Blue Ridge Parkway, through WV, Ohio several times and to Cape Breton Nova Scotia and back to central Virginia. It has done a good job.
I also have towed a 6x10 cargo trailer (~2400 lbs loaded) over to the highest point in WV about 4 times a year since I bought the truck.
That’s my real world report on towing with a 2.7. They are more capable than most give them credit for.