looking at buying a travel trailer

Ok, I am towing something similar, HTT with a dry weight of 3,625lbs.

Here are my 2 cents:
(1) I would not tow this trailer without the factory tow package, because of the legal concerns that were raised above. You can not increase the factory GCWR of 8,100 lbs (as dumb as it seems), no matter what equipment you install. That 8,100lbs will be your limitation. The empty weight of the tryck is around 4,100 lbs, so that leaves you with 4,000lbs (= 8,100 - 4,100). you now even need to subtract anything else in the truck: people, gas, any gear, etc. You will be at or below 3,500lbs.
(2) If you would load that trailer to the 6,200lbs mark (with water, gear, etc.), even a Tacoma with the factory installed tow package won't realistically be legal in most cases. The GCVWR is 11,100lbs, minus 4,100lbs dry weight = 7,000 lbs. Minus 6,200lbs for the trailer leaves you with 800lbs for gear, gas and people. Not much. I would not tow a 6,200lbs TT with my factory equipped tow package going camping (drain the water!)
(3) there is a third and fourth spec that you'd most likely be over at 6,200lbs: the tongue weight of 650lbs and the GVWR (1,300 lbs payload or so). Take off a 600+ lbs tongue weight, the weight of the WDH (mine is like 70lbs by itself), gas, people, ...

Sorry, I know it does not make too much sense that only the factory hitch allows you 6,500 lbs, but that's how Toyota specs it.
A good rule of thumb is that your towing capacity should be at least 1,000lbs higher than what you are actually towing because the tow rating is established by most manufacturers with the assumption of an empty tow vehicle and a 150lbs driver, nothing else. Then there is the "happy" towing guideline, that one says you should tow a ton less than rated (2,000lbs). That rule will avoid most "white knuckle" moments.
I checked my trailer on our last trip, the trailer axles were at 3,560lbs total. Add 500lbs of tongue weight, and I am at 4,100lbs or so. I could take on a little more I think, but not much. That's the margin I like to maintain.

 

thanks for the info man. Yea the dry weight of the trailer is only 3800lbs. i wouldnt be twoing it with water in the tanks. every place i go has water hook up and sewage. so the loaded weight of the trailer is 6240-3800(dry weight)=2440lbs. so thats 2440lbs of gear i would need to stuff in there to get to the 6240lb mark. As said it would never be towed with water.

 

the legal stuff i know i cant get around. the ratings from the factory are the ratings. As stupid as it is because they are identical trucks. Im just trying to think realistically how much would that trailer weigh the way i would use it. im thinking at the most it would come in around 5500lbs. Thats still 1700lbs of gear. because again it wont be full of water. But who know, im a total noob to this towing stuff and im trying to read and gain as much knowledge as i can before i run out and get a trailer. My thinking could be way the hell off but that why im here. To get thoughts from people much more knowledgeable than me. Thank you again for your time and info.

 

NP.
One more thing: if your truck looks anything like the one in your avatar, then in addition to everything above, you'll have a wheel base problem when towing.

 

LOL

 

Haha good stuff!

 

Here is what i tow with the tow package in the mtns of colorado.

 

What is the dry weight of that trailer?

 

Dry weight is right around 2973lbs and GVW is 5400.

Its a Coachmen Freedom Express 170RB. And we absolutely love it

 

Right on! My wife and I just picked up a 2010 Starcraft 176 RB...it's dry weight is 3024 lbs.

 

Yeah we have no trouble pulling it. The Taco works a little harder when going up I-70 to the Eisenhower Tunnel but other than that its no problem.

 

Nice looking trailer, Avman!

 

Thank you

 

The tow package also includes a Class IV hitch which changes the game significantly when towing a larger trailer. Aftermarket hitches are Class III and have a 500# max tongue rating. The tow package has the larger alternator as well which is recomended so that you have enough juice to power the trailer brakes and lighting on the trailer without causing overall drain on the truck electrical. Tranny cooler on the tow package is also a must.

If you can get all those aftermarket (especially the Class IV hitch) then you would be good to go with that trailer. It's pretty close to the trailer I tow although I'm a bit heavier. Towed 2200 miles from California to Texas with a side trip to Colorado and the truck did ok. Would have been more comfortable with a Tundra but the truck handled it just fine.

 

Just picked up our new TT today. It's 3400 Lbs dry weight and the Tacoma towed it beautifully in our hilly, New England area. I'm super pleased with the Tacoma's towing ability.

 

Frano, what trailer is that? Looks nice, and large for a 3,500lbs weight!

 

Very nice trailer

 

I agree, that us a great looking trailer. That trailer was not on the lot I got mine at, or I would be towing it home instead.

 

It's a 2012 Edge (Model M21) made by Heartland. This Heartland product claims to be the lightest in it's class. Much more info can be found on the Heartland website about the Edge travel trailer. It works well with the Tacoma.