Some towing questions

I have a 2007 DCSB 4X4 Tacoma with 97K miles. It's been a great truck and still runs like it did when new. I've never had a reason to tow anything with it before. I have a 3400 lb car I need to tow 700 miles from Maryland to Illinois. The Tacoma specs say the V6 with an automatic transmission has a towing capacity of 6500 pounds. I estimate the net weight of my car and a rented UHaul car trailer to be no less than 5400 lbs and most likely closer to 6000 lbs.

- To those of you with experience towing trailers of any type with your Tacoma, was the truck up for the task?
- What was more difficult, pulling the load up steep hills, handling the truck at speed, or braking down hills?
- Would you be concerned pulling this type of weight for 700 miles and if so, what extra precautions would you take?

Thanks in Advance.

 

I haven't towed with my tacoma yet but I recently helped a relative tow a 87 325i on a U-haul. I'll never do it again. They have surge breaks and the trailer bangs hard into the truck when slowing down. It would start to push the rear of the tow vehicle which was the Saab version of the Chevy trailblazer. In my last truck (3/4 ton Cummins), I towed a heavy car trailer but had a brake controller which gives a lot better control of the trailer and that thing drove like nothing was behind me. Keep in mind, that the U-haul weighs in a 2000lbs empty.

 

I would get a brake controller and a trailer with trailer brakes not surge brakes.

 

If it's possible in your case, a towing dolly hauls a lot nicer than a trailer, especially if total weight is a concern.

 

No concerns, if:

- the trailer has good brakes on at least one axle, and
- you use a weight distributing hitch with sway control, and
- the tongue weight is within spec, and
- you use a good proportional brake controller, and
- your taco has the tow package, and
- the car is properly secured to the trailer.

Enjoy the fun!

 

I wouldn't be surprised if U Haul denied you a rental, I have a friend that was denied because the people at U Haul deemed his truck (2009 (?)1/2 ton GMC ) wasn't up to the task of towing their very heavy car trailer plus it's max load rating.

If you can, a tow dolly would be better or maybe try to find a lighter trailer?