Let’s cut to the chase. Towing.

Looking to buy a travel trailer or hybrid.
Threads are all over the place.

When shopping, what is the MAX DRY WEIGHT I need to consider since that’s how most are advertised. (Yes, I know to add 500-800lbs loaded).

I’ve got a ‘17 4 door 4x2 Sport.

 

Depending on your trucks configuration, for example the max tow weight can be up to 6800 for an Access Cab 2 wheel drive. I personally would not get close to the max weight for towing long distances though.

 

What configuration? Sadly, I don’t know this.
It’s a stock, 4x2 4 door TRD sport loaded.
I know the max weight, but all say don’t do that. So what dry weight should I look at?

 

You are going to get responses from 1,000 to 6,000 pounds. Good luck. I am looking at staying < 4,000 for an RV if I use the Tacoma.

 

Just go off of what Toyota advertises for your truck. Look at the sticker on the driver door jamb. As long as you're within those limitations then you're safe. There's smart engineers that put these limitations on the truck for a reason.

 

Safe and comfortable are different.

Each driver has their own comfort, but most absolutely hate 4000 lbs, let alone more.

There is a huge towing section here worth reading.

 

by configuration he means any tranny coolers, brake controllers, etc. I know you haven't bought yet, but strongly recommend checking out the towing bible thread. While it was created for 2nd gen's, the basics are sitll the same.

The Tacoma Towing Bible

 

What speed do you expect to tow at comfortably? Where and how far will you tow. The max tow rating might be fine on flat ground if you expect to keep it to around 55-60. If you want to tow max at 65-75, expect to be turning 4,000 rpm or more much of the time, and returning 10-11mpg.

 

I’m in east TN with some good hills. Only plan to be a weekend warrior. Maybe max towing 2 hours. I’ll have sway bars and brake controls. Not sure what else.

Towing thread doesn’t really answer question. What dry weight should I look at for basic towing for a family camper?

 

also, the manual has some info which is helpful. in MY experience there is no sustitute for larger loads being pulled by larger trucks.

 

add....efficiently!

 

From the rv users Ive run across at campgrounds with a 3rd gen most are staying around the 4300 lbs dry weight for theirs. Last 3rd gen owner I talked to a few weeks ago towing a 4300 lbs one said the truck did well with it he just hated that the transmission would shift all over the place with it. Said he liked his 2nd gen transmission better for towing but the 3rd gen did fine towing with it it was just kinda irritating.

 

Take the max gross weight of the truck and subtract the curb weight, passenger and cargo weight, and fuel weight. That's what's left for tongue weight of the trailer (as long as you don't exceed the tongue weight rating for the truck, you're okay). For towing with all that weight, stay within the rated tow capacity and you're fine. Yes, you may push your truck to do it but it's still rated for that limit.

 

Towing thread answers a lot of questions, advanced to very beginner and basic, like how to figure out how big of a trailer you can get get before you’re exceeding safety limits.

But hey.. this guy helped.

 

buy a first gen tundra

 

Whatever is within the towing rating. Most 4WD trucks are 6400lbs. Put all your cargo in the trailer and not in the bed.

 

One trip up north Wisconsin, 265 miles,
Around 4000 lbs. Weight distribution hitch, electric brakes. 2018 limited built 1st week of August. Used s4 most of the way. Truck would shift down into 3rd 2 to 3 times on a long uphill. I traded it for a trunda. Can you do it? ya sure. I didn't feel like the truck was liking it.

 

The issue is not the weight as much as the size of the parachute your are pulling. My auto trani seems to only run in 4th and drops to third with any additional inclines or load. Fuel economy takes a shit kicking and basically drops in half. Your range now sucks and last trip I had to fill the truck with a jerry can because the gas station the gps said was just off the hwy hasn’t existed for 25 years according to the locals. The motor / exhaust noise is what drives me nuts. Running 3000rpm+ unloaded up a hill vs 3000rpm+ under load with a trailer are not comparable noise wise.

I run a 14’ enclosed trailer with a 2.5’ v-nose well under the 6500lb rating for my V6 access cab OR LB. At 80kmh on country roads it isn’t that bad but once you hit the hwy there is no speed / driving habit that will allow it to run in 5th for more than a few seconds or minutes. I have run as slow as 95kmh and as high as 120kmh to see if it would perform differently. I have spoken to the GM of my dealer about it and my next appointment they are going to verify my transmission fluid levels are where they should be and not underfilled. Unless it turns out that my transmission was under filled I would consider my experiences a characteristic of the truck.

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So in terms of weight I am not an RV expert but I would always keep bellow your max rated capacity by 10-20% for comfort while towing. Add in loading your RV above dry weight so subtract another 500-1000lbs from max. Now you also have to consider passengers and gear in the truck so be ready to adjust your overall GVWR rating with those included. I prefer to be well under the max capacity because I have towed in adverse conditions and had I been right at the limits weight wise I would have been risking life and property. As it was I was able to either adjust my load or get off the road until conditions improved.

 

2 different people towing the same load, with the same truck will give you two different opinions. So they aren’t worth very much. I’m contemplating trading in my motorhome on a hybrid, and am looking at around the 4000lb range dry. I’m not anticipating any problems, I’ve towed heavier loads than that with a 1997 Plymouth Voyager. Make sure the trailer has WORKING brakes, the truck has a brake controller, weight distributing hitch. That said if you expect to tow at 75, you will be making a huge mistake. Whenever I’m towing I tow at or even below the speed limit.

 

Don’t have room for one.