My tow experience with a NoBo 19.6

I upgraded my rims to the 4Runner Pros and went with the Cooper AT3's, mostly for looks since I have 2WD also. The combination did lower my MPGs by a gallon, but when towing it doesn't matter....MPGs go out the window anyway. Sticking with a good all season is probably best for mostly highway hauling and make sure the load rating is adequate.

 

Check weight capacities of the tires you are looking at. 111t vs. 112t or better.

 

@Nordichawk I'm looking at a similar Micro Minnie - what has been your experience towing one with a Taco?

 

Towing Capacity is different than "Towing Competency" (I just made that up!) One rule of thumb I heard and tried to adhere to, is to consider a Travel Trailer that is close to 70% max of your Tacoma rated Towing Capacity. I can't begin to tell you how difficult it was to get that true rating. I can recommend you look at a Weight Distribution Hitch. I chose the EZ Hitch. Some Weight Distribution Hitch units require/recommend you detach the unit before you back up, others not. Consider how many passengers you will be carrying in your Tacoma and what that weight is. Also gear (Food & Beer!). I always researched if the campground I was considering had fresh water hookups, if you load your TT water tank at home before heading out know that water weighs 8lbs. a gallon.

 

Great write up, OP!

I have a '21 Micro Minnie 2108DS and love it. I've only towed a few times but its fine. You're not breaking any speed records but if you keep it to 55-60 you'll be ok on MPG - I believe I averaged around 10-11. I do have a topper which may help with aero.

I haven't done any steep grades but I added a larger transmission cooler and have an ultra gauge to monitor temps. I'll be traveling full time with it this year in the western states so I'm sure I'll soon hate towing in the mountains. However, I would rather have a smaller/lighter truck for day to day driving and trail exploring than have a full size just for towing comfort.

 

Out of interest what temps are the TC showing with the bigger cooler and have you pinned the thermostat?

 

I 100% agree with your assessment after towing this weekend in the rockies. 2400 lb Vorsheer XOC and my experience was almost exactly the same as yours only I was at circa 10,000' and it was in the low 20s (F) outside. The Taco seemed to like sitting at 190 underway and I bounced back and forth between S4 and S5 in ECT PWR and only needed to drop down to S3 in the passes. I was towing considerably less weight but it seems the behavior was similar. I left it in S5 a few times on long, uphill grades in Park County just to see how quickly the temps would rise (S5 at ~2200 RPM with the engine fighting to maintain 60 - 65) and it was amazing how quickly it would rise from 195 ish to 225 - 235. Instantly dropped when I dropped down in to S4.

I expected that in the mountains, where I was disappointed was on flat freeway (I-80) crossing Nebraska from Ogalalla to Omaha. Taco doesn't have enough low end torque to maintain 70 Mph on flat freeway in S5 so it constantly hunts for gears and I ended up just dropping in into S4 and only going into OD when there were long downhills. I would be the first in line for the next Tacoma if Toyota offered a small, torqy turbo-diesel.

 

My experience too with my 06 Tacoma towing my 18' Jayco trailer. So much so I sold my trailer and bought a Minnie Winnie 22R. Didn't want to beat up my Tacoma. I intend on keeping "her" for a long time. (Until my Tesla Cybertruck comes in!)

 

Out of curiosity, what is the tongue load on that Micro Minnie? Leaf pack on the Taco?

I have a 2020 OR and we are about to hook up our trailer and am trying to guestimate how much potential sag I will have.

 

With a WDH set up correctly you shouldn’t have sag. My taco is within 1/2 an inch of where it sits (front/back) without the trailer’s 620lb tongue.

 

Thanks. Our 2019 OGT Expedition 2.0 has a supposed tongue weight of 290, but I think it was originally higher. I have since moved the spare tire from over the front hitch of the trailer (Not really a weight dist setup, but the 360 deg Max Coupler does work well) to over/slightly behind the axle on the roof rack, as well as normally having a full water tank of 260-ish lbs (30 some odd gallons) that takes 40 or so lbs off the tongue weight.

 

Look into an EZ Hitch weight distribution set up. That helps with "sag"

 

Same here, I have a minnie winnie 2100bh and with the WDH it sits almost the same as without the tongue weight. Just have to set the hitch up correctly, they make a huge difference.

 

Hey @KissmyTaco How are things going with the Taco and the 19.6? Today is my Parole date from a temporary time out! Been waiting to check in with you on the set up. I have a deposit on an 'in stock' brand new '21 19.6 that's loaded with the Rogue, Overlander, and Discovery pkg plus Solar. I've been planning a tranny cooler long before this surprise and rather spontaneous purchase of the No Bo. Which cooler did you use?

My wife and I were really liking the setup of the 19.5 which fit the towing profile a bit better for the Taco but then I made the mistake of letting her look at the 19.6. The Breakfast nook and Murphy Bed just smoked my idea of the 19.5 and yet it's still in the realm of tow capacities if we mind our P's & Q's. I honestly believe our mileage and performance is going to be equally shit with either and even some smaller stuff.

 

Yes,, EZ Hitch worked very well for me.

 

On that note, after a weeks worth of intense study, I'm going with the Andersen WDH. That alone eliminates 50+ pounds just in hitch weight and performs fantastically on sway control without the bars and uber heavy hitch mount! Also, no porpoising that I've always had with several traditional "bar-type" WDH's.

 

Beautiful set up..

 

Honestly I have not been out with it since the beginning of last summer. Dealt with health issues that kept me at home until the end of July and then I just didn't have the energy for camping. I love the trailer. I haven't put on a secondary cooler yet. I'm planning on some trips come the heat of the summer so I will get the cooler put on before I go.
As far as the 19.5 vs 19.6, I looked at both. I was fine with the 19.5 and would have bought that if the 19.6 was not on the lot. Like you, as soon as I saw it, I knew it was the one. Only thing I wish was different was the couch vs dinette in the slide. The breakfast bar is amazing, but having a table to sit at and eat would be a bit nicer. I still would not trade it for another with the exception of a few of the Gulf Stream models I looked at online. Hope you enjoy it.

 

We actually really wanted the sofa in the slide and that over the available chaise configuration that is an option. It's just my wife and I so a dinette wasn't our thing.

They cut me a substantial discount on the 19.6 on the lot and they have another offsite in storage. On inspection, I found a delamination starting on the main left side panel running 45° from the low left corner of the slide out. I showed it to a good friend that is an RV Tech at our Ford dealership that has a huge RV repair facility. He's a super-pro fiberglass guy. He said "RUN FROM IT!" He's seeing g a lot of it on all brands during Covid but usually very early when new. The dealer will give us the newer unit for the same price so I'm going Thursday to look at it.

 

Take your friends recommendation! Good luck