Show us what you tow.

OHHHH.... I was like, he got a Teryx for FREE!? Good for you man! Congrats! And yeah, in this economy, every business is taking a hit. IT SUCKS!

 

IS there a car actually in there at time of picture i am just wondering, i bought a 25ft starcraft camper and wondering if it will pull it no problem

 

There is absolutely no way in the world I would even start to think about trying to tow a load like a 25' travel trailer behind a v6 tacoma. Even if the truck will actually do it, it is not safe and it will eventually tear up the truck. I can only imagine what kind of gas mileage the truck gets pulling a trailer like that. Those kinds of loads are best pulled with at least a 3/4 ton truck preferably a diesel. At least if safety is a concern.

 

I dont know about a 3/4 ton or diesel but I am with you, there is now way in hell im towing something like that with a v6 tacoma or anything. I learned that about 12 years ago when I had a new 4x4 v6 s10 and bought a 25 coachman lite, towed it 90 miles and needed to fuel up, plus it was like fighting in a prize fight, and I am a flatlander. The tacoma LB maybe a little better but if you have a trailer that size you need a bigger truck cuz it will beat that tacoma down from motor to trans and everything else.

 

I think its awsome that you tow something that big with your Tacoma. If you feel safe doing it and your truck can do it, then go ahead. With my Tacoma I really dont feel like there is any boundaries (yes i know there is but being realistic) and would probably do the same thing. These trucks are tough and that is the reason why I bought a Tacoma.

 

Whatever. Tacos don't have the brakes to be towing heavy like that let alone the drivetrain to live up to towing beyond sensible limits. To each his own. Not with my truck.

 

A trailer like that I am sure has trailer brakes so braking isn't really the issue it getting moving and handling the trailer. Once your are on flat ground i'm sure there really isn't any problems. If you have airbags in the rear it will handle the trailer, I guess there must be a big difference between the access cabs and the double cab long beds. BC I feel very safe and confident using my truck to tow just about anything. Maybe I just have more experience or that I'm slightly crazy!

 

I had a 2007 DC long bed with automatic trans and my access cab tows better than that truck did because the gearing is lower which is also the reason it gets worse gas mileage. I will not tow a travel trailer bigger than 16' / 2500 lbs. or my flats boat which weighs around 1800 with boat, motor, trailer, all gassed up. That is all I think my truck can safely tow without tearing it up. Everyone else go do whatever you want...it's your truck to tear up as you please. It is not your right to endanger everyone else on the road by exceeding what the truck will safely tow.

I once tried towing 22000 lbs tractor on a flatbed with one of my dodge diesel trucks (Cummins turbodiesel) and the truck did it. But I did not think that it was real safe towing well over what the truck was rated for. And that truck had the brakes, the wheelbase, and definitely the drivetrain to be towing heavy. A 25' travel trailer would be nothing behind a truck made to do that...and safely.

A little common sense can go a long way. Unfortunately common sense seems to be in short supply around here alot of times.

 

I guess I dont have any common sense, I'm not really sure how I made it this far!

 

I don't get all of the fuss?? Maybe I'm missing something, but the 25' trailer has a dry weight of 5k. I thought tacomas had a trailer rating of 6500, giving him 1500lbs of load available???


And then he uses a weight-distributing hitch... along with electronic brakes.


Seems to me he's doing everything by the books???

 

My point exactly. My 2006 Tacoma has the exact same towing capacity of my dads 04 Tundra.

 

08TRDOFFROAD, how big of trailer is that? I have a 5'x10', but don't think I could fit two ATV's on it.

 

my guess is 14'. I've found that side loading a 6x12 trailer with 3 quads works quite well. Or a 6x10 with 2 and a little space left over.

 

Either way, I think a 5' wide is too narrow. If the did fit side loading, you'll probably overload the axle (most 5' utilize a 1000') unless it's a 2500' axle.

 

I have the same set-up 2007 DC 4X4 & 2005 Outback 25 RSS as you do and I tow at well over 6,000' all the time, not long trips, but 100-125miles one way. I have yet to have any issues. By the time I'm full (Wife, kids, dogs, water and gear) I'm @ about 11,000# total. According to the Manual #11,300 is the max GVCWR! Most the time we go to the lake and the dogs or kids ride with wife as she has to tow the boat. My next truck will tow both. Nice set-up, BTW!

For those of you who think it is "unsafe" to tow something inside of the tow rating and GVCWR, then may I make a suggestion? Don't!

I have towed with various vehicles all different types of trailers and have had zero issues as long as I am and was within the limits of the vehicle ratings. That being said, yes I know I'll wear things out sooner (isn't that an inevitability?) I have upgraded brakes, run nothing but synthetic fluids (where applicable) and service my vehicle religiously along with a very conservative driving style.
I could care less If I have this truck when it hits 150K, I will simply purchase a new vehicle that meets my needs when I think the Tacoma is done with it's service...I mean these are tools/machines right? We use them and replace them when they wear-out!

The way I see it, the engineers at Toyota know more about their vehicles than 99% of the people that drive/own them! I know, I know the what a debatable topic this can be given the current situation with the throttles & brakes issues.

OK, I'm off the soap-box!

 

Which brake control is best? I just ordered a Prodigy (below) to replace my Tekonsha Voyager (red/ green light). What do you think? And for the record, Wanago has the set-up!! Sweet!

 

You'll like the Prodigy. I kind of have remorse from getting the same setup as Maverick. I highly recommend the inertia style (Prodigy and Voyager) over the timed units. If you happen to do a lot of in town towing, the Prodigy you got is the best. I previously had the Voyager in my old 97 Tacoma but didn't want to drill or find a suitable location for it in the new Tacoma. In hindsight, I would have mounted the Voyager in the cubby in front of the shifter. All the higher end controllers are really good in my opinion.