Pulling Power 07 DCSB 4.0

I just bought an Correct Craft Pro Air Nautique. I picked it up and it did ok on the way home but it was all interstate. The trailer has brakes and they seemed to work ok but man the back roads pushed me all over the place. The boat and trailer combo is right at 4500 pounds dry. Id say loaded up its 5000 plus. My Taco is the Off road sport 4x4 with the 4.0. You guys pull anything like this? I live in the "foothills" of N.C. and theres plenty of them lol. Thanks in advance. I sure dont want to have to move up to a Tundra.

 

ooohh just my experience with exact same setup and 19ft tin boat required constant shifting on the auto to keep the engine at a reasonable RPM, stopping was a planned thing, not for the weak hearted, IOW I'd trust no one but self to drive it loaded, hope you find a solution, mybest is takeit s-l-o-w and you'll get there

 

These trucks can pull pretty well but they do have their limitations. Towing in the upper reaches of our limit exposes two of our major weaknesses for this kind of work- stock springs, and the brakes. I’ve towed 5000#+ plenty and know it can get a bit more than the truck is comfortable with if you don’t keep a few things in mind. After ensuring the trailer is loaded properly for tongue weight, etc, I’d say if you didnt already, make sure everything in the back is solid, tire pressures, decent springs or AAL- the stock leaves are a bit of a joke, a lot of people like Timbrens/ and or Air bags. Anything to solidify the rear, any little movements here and there in a stock setup can exacerbate the bouncing and pushing around more than if you add a few things. Also very important is to make sure your brake system is fully functional, Check your pads and rotors, check your fluid, could be due for a change and new fluid might solidify your braking power.

Edit: if you haven’t read the towing bible here, do so. Get used to towing in lower gearing, not in D

 

Assuming you have the factory tow package?

From the '07 owners manual.

Without towing package
1587 kg (3500 lb.)

With towing package
2948 kg (6500 lb.)

Trailer weight + cargo weight

If you are within the limits, definitely service the trailer brakes, double check tongue weight and adjust as needed, adjust or modify rear suspension as needed.

I'm not sure just what you mean by 'pushing you around' or 'brakes seemed to work'. Make sure they work, and well.

 

drop it in 4th if your auto, go slow idk ive only towed a heavy ass load once but I found my limiting factor was the weight of the truck when the wind hit the boat was towing me haha. power and braking I found fine.

 

I do have the AAL extra leaf spring and new frame as well as New OME 883's. Maybe its just me. I have the tranny cooler as well.

 

Most of my heavier towing has been with an open trailer with more compact loads, which makes things easier. I imagine a big billboard of a travel trailer adds its own considerations and whatnot with drag and wind.

 

Yep. Tow in 4th and go slower on back roads.
Even slower when the roads are wet.


I live in East Tn. So I have an idea about your towing experience.

 

plan waaay ahead for stopping, I pull a 22' offshore boat at about 5.5k loaded, and she will push me through an intersection even with the trailer surge brakes. I have DCLB with tow pkg,,,,

 

+ Gas + gear etc.... id bet you are well north of 5000lbs in the boat and trailer. + Gear in the truck and people.... guaranteed well above the payload (1klbs) for the truck. It will do it, but it will be no where near safe IMO.

 

Regardless of what the owners manual says 4500-5000 lbs is the realistic upper limit of these trucks. Your truck will PULL 6500 lbs. But those calculations are made assuming your truck as it left the factory with nothing but a 150 lb driver in the cab. What is hurting you is payload and GVWR.

These trucks have a GVWR of 5450 lbs. That means that the suspension is designed to work with that much weight. The weight of the truck, passengers, any cargo in the truck, trailer tongue weight, and any modifications you've done shouldn't exceed 5450 lbs. When my truck left the factory it weighed 4250 lbs leaving me 1200 lbs of payload. There is a sticker on the drivers door jamb listing your trucks payload.

A 5000 lb trailer is going to have 650 lbs tongue weight. Anything at or over 5000 lbs really needs a Weight distribution hitch which will add another 50-100 lbs to the tongue weight. I weigh 220, my wife 140 and we have a 180 lb cap on the Tacoma. I'd be 40 lbs over my GVWR with nothing else in my truck. And I probably have around 100 lbs of gear, tools, recovery equipment, jumper cables, etc., that stay in the truck.

And I'm betting you're pulling more than 5000 lbs too.