So, I bought my first travel trailer and...... questions...

I joined TW forum this past Saturday and if you happened to have read my newbie post, you know I’m on my 2nd Taco, which I have owned for about 2 and 1/4 years. Since acquiring the new truck, the wife and I have been talking about someday getting a TT and get back into camping. We did a lot of camping in our younger days, sleeping in a tent but those days are behind us. Recently we decided to get serious, thus I joined this forum, mostly for information. Boy, you guys (and gals?) didn’t disappoint. There is a wealth of information on towing. The towing bible is incredibly informative. Thank you.

Living in Southern New Mexico, it’s hot outside and with the COVID-19 pandemic, not able to get out and about, I’ve spent countless hours on my iPad, researching trailers and studying capacities, etc, so much that my head was spinning. But Sunday, we found the right trailer for us (fingers crossed) and purchased it yesterday, all from the comfort of my Lazy Boy. So we will be driving to northern Colorado next Monday to pick up our TT.

So, after all of my research and reading of your experiences, I think I’m prepared enough for this journey but I’m left a little confused on calculating my loads, etc. Possibly some of you can confirm my finding?

Truck — 2017 TRD OR 4x4 GCWR = 11,280. GVWR = 5600. TWR = 6400.
Had it weighed today. As set up and loaded with everyday stuff (tools, CD’s, tie downs, etc, etc) came in at 4670, without me.

Trailer — 2021 Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S. Dry 4234, tongue 412, CCC 1521

I understand I add the tongue weight and the actual truck weight along with the weight of occupants and personal gear and this total can not exceed the GVWR. I also understand I add trailer dry weight, plus any items in trailer (I’ll weigh everything that goes in), plus about 40 lbs for 2 full LP tanks, another 50 or so lbs for the batteries and 8.3 lbs for each gallon of fresh water to determine the actual weight of trailer, not to exceed 6400 lbs. I also understand all of these totals can not exceed the GCWR. As far as balancing the weight on axles, I’m going to count on the dealer to set up the WD and balance everything.

Now here’s where I need your help. What about the WD hitch? I can’t find a weight for the one I’m getting but I can imagine that with sway bars, hitch, shaft and ball, this item must come in at least 100-120 lbs, right? So where does this weight get added? In with the tongue, thus subtracted from GVWR? Meaning we couldn’t carry much more than just ourselves and the dogs in the truck. Everything else would have to go in the trailer. Or does the WD spread the weight so that it doesn’t subtract from the GVWR?

Thanks to any of you that can clear this up for me.

forgot to mention, I went economical when I ordered a brake controller and I think it will be fine but for the WD, I convinced the dealer to throw one in with the deal. He said it will be an Equal-i-lizer 4 point sway system. I looked it up and it appears to be good and a bit more expensive than some so I’m good with that.

thanks for your time,
Ron

 

That is a big trailer for a Midsize Truck IMO. I know they say the Taco can haul 6800 lbs, but doing it is one thing, doing it comfortably for long distance is another.
You may never get out of 4th gear.

I am sure you have done your homework, it maybe a bit late now but I see these trailers being pulled by F150's Chevy 1500's and the like. I mean the tacoma can haul it but is it going to be economical and comfortable?

I am also in the process of buying a TT but I am going the PoP up route. I want to tow as light as possible so I am going for no more than 3500 pounds fully loaded and that is on the high end.

 

I'd try to go lighter on the trailer weight if it were me. All the stuff you take with you camping adds up pretty quick. 3500 for a dry weight on the trailer is about where I'd like to end up as well.

No idea on the WD hitch part. I'd bet google can tell you though.

 

Yeah this is a good number to shoot for. Weight adds up with all the stuff you put into your TT. I have been looking at PoP ups and they have come a long way since the 80's. They even have ones with slide outs.

I have watched a few Youtube videos where towing near the 6800 pound limit really makes driving long distances impractical.

One reviewer said to take the 6800 pound max capacity and realistically cut it in half. This is the sweet spot for the V6.

 

Too heavy man, you wont be happy. Smaller trailer or bigger truck

 

We are sorry to be party poopers, but this advise above is correct....

 

He already bought the trailer.

You’ll be fine. Just remember all the times you’ve passed a semi-truck going uphills, and be prepared to hang out in the slow lane too. Nothing wrong with it

 

Maybe short trips under a few hours would be practical. But going on long trips, as it's been said you will not be happy.
I have yet to see anyone happy with towing long distance at the upper limits of weight.

If you have the money and want a new hard sided TT, TrailManor makes a collapsible hard sided TT that has a empty weight of around 2,960 lbs for the 2720 model. These are really the best option IMO.

 

I hope you're right.

It was just my opinion. =)

 

To throw in the classic response, i could have enjoyed it more because /i/ have a manual transmission

+ Ovtune premium SuperFOB really gives the manual some much needed low-end punch

And OP don’t forget to lock out the upper gears when going uphill to relieve gear hunting & to give engine braking going down

 

Truck does not like over 5K. Got a Tundra to fix that.

 

This is what everyone has said. Over 5K it's a strain, sweet spot is around 3500 to 3600 loaded. At this weight you don't "feel" the trailer being pulled.

 

Depends on the trailer
I’ve towed a small u-haul trailer that absolutely dragged me down compared to others

 

First of all, it's ultimately your decision.

Here's my 2 cents: Your Tacoma will indeed tow the mini lite. Even fully loaded. BUT it will not do it well at all. Your drives to and from your camping spots will be very, very laborious, you will get very, very poor gas mileage (even for towing). Any hills and you'll be struggling to keep 60mph without a screaming transmission/engine. You hit any sort of headwind and that labroriousness and poor fuel economy are both majorly amplified.

This sounds discouraging, but it's the truth. If you're a very patient person and an enjoy the journey, steady as she goes, no rush, don't care that you're holding up 10 people behind you on the road kind of dude, then your temperament and your truck can handle it.

I loved my 2019 Geopro 19FBS. LOVED IT.

It was 4500 (EDIT - I totally forgot - it was 3800, NOT 4500) fully loaded and I couldn't stand going even 125 miles on mostly flats and low grade hills, even with 4.88 gears and OVTune gearlock tune. After two years I sold it for a pop up (Rockwood 1640 ESP) which I wish I would have got to begin with. I simply use my outdoor hot water shower system and toilet system that I already had. (I camp a lot).

If you must have full functionality of an RV (shower/TV/shitter/etc), consider one around or less than 16'. The Geopro 14' model would be much better behind a Taco, and even that, due to the simple (or not so simple) physics of wind resistance, will not be an effortless driving experience.

Anyway, best of luck to you and if you do decide to get the mini lite, get yourself at least 4 gallons of external fuel like a Rotopax or the like because you will almost (ALMOST) be able to watch your fuel gauge drop as you drive.

 

Anyone who says this has not towed 3500-3600 lbs of RV. If it's a flat bed trailer or something that sits below the truck, that's true, but even with the most streamlined RV it's the wind resistance, not so much the weight, that kills the drive.

 

Welcome Ron, sorry for the bad news, but I agree with the above, you're probably not going to like this combo. Add to the weight, there's a good chance that trailer is much taller than your truck, adding a ton of resistance. If you didn't already sign the paperwork, tell them you want to test drive. My buddy is going through this as we speak, him and his wife just picked out what they like, called a few days later and put a $500 deposit. THEN he goes home and starts adding things up.

 

Hi Ron! See my post on towing in my build thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...idiocy-journal-bs.527020/page-6#post-17893122

Can it do it? Absolutely. Is it slow? Absolutely.

 

Where at in Southern New Mexico, if I may ask?

 

Sorry I should have clarified. I meant a low profile 3500 pounds. Like a Trailmanor 2720 or a Larger PoP up TT.

 

Gotcha - 3500 lbs of pop up/low-pro is definitely proper for a taco.