Major Towing trouble

Hi. We have a 2017 Tacoma 4x4 Off Road. We assume it came with the tow package. Other posting in these forumns say it has a 650lb tongue weight. The owners manual seems to say 1,000 if the tow package was factory installed... The manual says a WDH is required for towing over 5,000lbs and not required for less. It also recommends anything over 2,000lbs have at least 2 axles.

We bought our 1st camper with it and tried it out at a local camp ground down the road. The camper is a 2021 Wolf Pup 16He 22' 3,300lbs dry, 3920 GVWR and 420lbs hitch weight. We added 1 75lb batter to the A frame.

2021 Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 16HE
2021 Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 16HE specs and literature guide (rvusa.com)

With the camper and truck bed empty the tongue goes down to about 6" above the ground (rough estimate). The chains hit the ground and have to be draped over the hitch.

We had to be careful not to hit the jack bottom and front stabilizer bottoms with parking at the camp ground with tree roots.

A fellow camper said the truck couldn't handle the camper and suggested spring wedges. He said a WDH would help very little.

Towing the trailer is REALLY BAD. We are lucky this camp ground is only 5 miles away. We are having someone tow it back home in 2 weeks.

We bought a WDH from Harbor Freight and plan to put it on in 3 weeks.

However, the back of the truck being pushed down to just above the back wheels doesn't seem right... Another guy said the truck is sitting on top of the "blocks" (or whatever he called it) so we don't have to worry about the wheels hitting the fenders because it can't go any lower. He suggested we have the dealer add another block so that the truck cannot be pushed as low no matter how much weight is on it.

We have a camping trip planned in mid-June and it is an hour away, 55mph country roads.

Please advise...

 

Get a bigger truck would be my advice. Too many folks fudge it when towing and leave themselves open to all kinds of liability.

 

Welcome to the forum Is this your first towing experience?

No, you do not have a 1000 pound tongue weight capacity.
Yes, you need the weight distributing hitch and hopefully you added a brake controller and have the electric brakes working correctly.

Personally I would not purchase a WDH from Harbor Freight, there are some things that it doesn't pay to scrimp on.

The WDH has to be setup correctly to work properly, this isn't difficult, it just requires complete following of the directions.

EDIT: Camper dealers always assure you that the truck will be just fine...

 

Something seems off here. Can you please include pictures? Are you using a drop hitch? You may have to flip the drop hitch so the trailer sits level with your taco. My XOC has 26 inches of clearance... much more than my Taco has so I had to buy an 8 inch drop hitch and turn it upside down just to get the XOC to sit on a level plane. I have a feeling your Wolf Pup is pitched down and is putting more weight on the taco than it should.

Please include pictures of how your trailer is sitting on the taco and also get a pic of your rear wheel wells so I can look at the springs.




Also: find a local truck stop or service center with certified scales. Back in Omaha my local QT had a diesel island for the big rigs and the scales were next to the truck island. You should be able to find a TA, Loves, or Pilot/Flying J in your area. When you pull up to the scale position your truck and the trailer so each axle is on its own load cell so you can get the front axle, rear axle, and trailer axle weights. You'll see the cracks between the plates on the scale - those are what separate the load cells. If you're not tall you may have to stretch to push the button for service since they are positioned for big rig drivers. Push the button, tell the person on the intercom you are there for a new weight (rather than a re-weigh), it is your personal vehicle so just number it #1, and you'll be paying out of pocket. Some weigh stations will ask if you are military and if this is part of a PCS move - just say no. Attach pics of the weight slips to this thread. We need pics and data.

Edit:

• Also - I had to shorten my tow chains. I believe most manufacturers purposefully leave them long so owners can trim to their needs.

This is what I tow: '22 Vorsheer XOC on 285s and 3000# as pictured.

 

OP is well within the towing capability of the Tacoma so long as it is equipped properly (brake controller, etc.). At the trailer's weight with an empty Tacoma this is a configuration issue or a mechanical issue (bum springs).

 

I have a '19 sport(M/T). I towed a crossroads 215bh sunset trail with it on a 5hr trip. Not ideal but was just fine. 70-75mph average. I had 500lb helper springs and a WDH. Rides level (that is the purpose of the wdh). Keep in the appropriate rpm range and there is no issue. Camper loaded was about 475lb tongue weight. Camper weights 4600ish I think. Close to the vehicle gvwr with the truck and camper loaded but the breaks are the first fail point so just be aware of appropriate stopping distance. Can't speak directly to an auto but I did just fine.

 

First off... don't "assume" a tow package. Tow packages are important for a reason. You are going to be towing so MAKE SURE it has a tow package.

That includes a transmission cooler if your truck is an automatic...

 

A properly installed name brand WDH will definitely help, but might not get you where you want to be.

The TRD stock springs are very soft and might need some additional support to get closer.

I personally would not tow that long or heavy of a TT with my 17 Offroad, even with my upgraded suspension. I feel that anything longer than 18 foot is moving into half ton territory.

 

Get a proper WDH.

Also, shorten up the chains. I use hammerlock shackles to take the slack out of mine. I'm surprised it's dragging that low.

 

All 3rd gen 3.5L, SR5 trims and above come standard with the tow package.

 

^^^ Correct^^^

A factory tow package truck will have this plug on the rear bumper to the left of the licence plate and will be pre-wired for the brake controller making it plug and play.
Many folks here are satisfied with the Redarc brand.


Enter your VIN number and this decoder will show your build from the factory.
https://parts.olathetoyota.com/vin-decoder

 

Did you weigh the camper with all your shit in it? It adds up fast and a real world weight might help you decide between upgrading tow capacity and upgrading truck.

 

After 2017 -- 16 & 17 it was an option.

 

Again... First off... don't "assume" a tow package. Tow packages are important for a reason. You are going to be towing so MAKE SURE it has a tow package.

That includes a transmission cooler if your truck is an automatic...

It's always a good idea to check everything claimed when you buy a vehicle, especially a truck. Assume nothing. I've seen vehicles rebadged to get higher prices that didn't include options they would have had if they were the model the badges were appropriate for.

 

Let me flip that on you. Don't "assume" the tow package includes a trans cooler. Because after 2020 models, it doesn't.

 

...also.. the 1000lb you are referring to is the taco weight carrying capacity.. this includes passengers, oil, fuel washer fluid etc. So after you have 2 adult passengers you've got about 500lb left.. minus an assumed 420lb tongue weight that you state leaves you 80-100lb of cargo on the truck. The vwr (truck + cargo) is roughly 5600lbs as I recall. The gvwr (truck + cargo + trailer/cargo) is 11000-12000. Towing capacity I think was also around 5600lb. So if you are at the max towing cap (Assume 560lb or 10% trailer weight (min) for tongue weight.) With the truck loaded you can breech gvwr.. there is a balancing act when maxing capacities.

 

@RustyGreen I don't mean to derail the thread, but you posting that pic of the trailer plug reminded me of an issue I've yet to solve. I recently switched rear bumpers, and my trailer wire plug isn't long enough to reach where it plugs in to the bumper-mounted plug. Do you know of any extensions?

 

Then don't. Start a new thread.

 

Didn't think it warranted one tbh, and this problem seemed figured out.

 

Welcome to the forum I'll PM you.

A bit brusque towards a member with 1 post...