Manual or Auto for Towing/ Long Bed or Short for Towing

What's the point of getting a another 3rd gen Tacoma? If you are buying the same car you already have you might as well get the manual to switch things up.

 

I understand your sentiments about 1/2 tons and respect it. Just remember the Tacoma is rated at 6500lbs (or so). Routinely towing 5000lbs 50 to 100 miles is going to wear everything out much more quickly.

I tow a 2000lb 6x12 enclosed trailer at 70mph for 320 miles once every couple of months. The wind kicks my ass. It's enough to make me consider a 1/2 ton sometimes.

 

All i have are some firestone air bags. What you don't see is the extra 1000+lbs i have in the bed in my toolboxes lol.

The kubota is a 38 HP for comparison. In that pic i'm towing approx 7k including the trailer. It honestly pulls fine once you get moving and stops fine with a good trailer brake controller. I have a tekonsha p3.

 

I kinda agree unless the auto is the better tool for the job I need it for. Just contemplating getting a newer one, mine has a few miles on it and the newer interest rates are better than I have now, kinda a less money for newer equipment kinda thing. I haven’t made my mind up yet that I am going to trade.

 

I get that for sure, honestly if towing was the biggest concern for me I would get another 3/4 ton..I loved towing heavy in that truck

 

Thanks that helps a lot. I probably should do the bags as well..even some of my trips loaded down would benefit from them as well.

 

Well best of luck to you then. If you already have the automatic keep it and see how it does.

 

Yeah the airbags IMO are a must. They're pricey but well worth it. I've got 113k on mine no issues.

IMO a large empty box trailer pulls worse than a heavy lower resistance object.

I have a 7x16 box trailer and empty (2900lbs) it pulls worse at 70mph than my excavator (5800lbs with trailer) did on the 400+ mile return trip when I purchased it.

 

Amen! The wind resistance kills these trucks.

 

Been semi looking at hybrids & hardsides. How long & what is the weight of yours? I also have a DCLB and curious how they do.

 

I wouldn’t recommend the manual for towing. 3k 6x12 enclosed trailer is ok over mtns but I’m with the guy above if I tow the boat (5k+) I try to avoid hills as best as I can. No low end torque. Sure you can start in 4low on the ramp but starting from a stop on an uphill intersection not so much

 

If you're towing a heavy load and/or long distances, I'd look into a higher load rated tire than the stock P rated tires.

 

Not much to add other than no issues towing with the manual. I've had 2 manual Tacomas and one AT. Towed with them all.

 

I've got about 15k miles towing with my AT Taco and it does fine. S mode and ETC do everything you need. I'd imagine the MT does fine as well, except for backing up an incline. I will say on big inclines the AT will fall out of 4th, then overpower third, then shift back to 4th....rinse and repeat. Advantage MT for sure there.

In the olden days we towed slower going up hills and liked it, but now shifting and mileage be damned, we are maintaining flat land speed at all costs.

At the limit most people tow at with a Taco, either is fine. Neither is perfect though.

 

Mine will be almost identical to bigoldbeefs set up on his orange tractor, 20 ft dual axle trailer 7000 lb axles and tractor and implements, I’m estimating 4500-5500 lbs I think my tractor is smaller.

 

I have towed a good bit with the Tacoma I have now, (auto). I didn’t have any experience with the manual and wanted to make sure if I got another one that the manual wasn’t a better tool for the job, it sounds like the Auto is the way to go most of the time. This will be the first time I need to tow over 4000 lbs.

 

You'd notice a bigger jump going to a full size truck Than you would between towing with an AT VS MT

 

Have a controller yet? If not, I’m super happy with my Redarc and its stealth install.

 

The only advantage the MT gives you is towing at highway speeds, IMHO.

Whereas the automatic turning 3100rpm in S4 gives you 70mph, in a manual you can put it in 5th and, at 3100rpm, run 75mph. You can stay in the powerband at a higher speed without the motor screaming at you.

 

For sure...not really on the agenda at the moment though. I’ve owned a bunch of them it to 1 tons and never thought I would say I like this little truck a little better.