Tacoma Useless for Towing... According to Manual!

Just browsing through my owner's manual and noticed the following warning in the towing section:

"To avoid an accident

Do not exceed 45mph (72km/h) or posted towing speed limit, whichever is lower. As instability (swaying) of the towing vehicle-trailer combination increases as speed increases, exceeding 45mph may cause loss of control."

Is Toyota serious? Has a single Tacoma owner ever heeded this warning?

 

I'm aware you can safely tow faster (done it many times). What I am questioning is why Toyota is suggesting 45mph is the maximum speed for towing when this is an absurdly restrictive, and in many cases dangerous speed.

 

This. When some jackass manages to roll a 6000lb. trailer over a group of orphans picknicking at a rest stop, Toyota wants to be able to point at that manual and have the lawsuit dismissed.

 

Well then why don't they set the limit at 5mph. It's just as arbitrary and would cover their ass even more.

 

Because in most states that would be illegal.

Listen, I'm not agreeing with them. I think it's stupid too. I'm just saying I understand, in the abstract, why they do it.

 

I'm not disagreeing with you guys.

My argument is this is the Owner's Manual; it is supposed to be the definitive guide on how to safely operate the vehicle. Ridiculous limits that any reasonable person will dismiss cast doubt on every legitimate limitation in the book.

 

I've noticed Toyota is conservative on alot of things. Their EPA mileage numbers are pretty easy to hit, the speedometer shows 2 MPH faster on the needles than you're really moving (when doing 72 on the speedometer I'm really moving 70), and their cargo load capacity is very conservative as well.

Basically, just like the other guys said, they error on the safe side for CYA purposes. I think they pick 45 because the speed limit Minimum on most interstates and therefore they just want you to drive as slowly as you possibly can while not driving slower than the law allows.

 

not that i agree with toyota but "it is supposed to be the definitive guide on how to safely operate the vehicle" thats about what the manual is doing, it doesnt care about your opinions, 45mph is safewhether you think its a snails pace of not. It relates directly with what the others are saying, its a easy way for toyota to end useless lawsuits from idiots being stupid on the road

 

once i towed 5000 lbs @ 60 mph and survived

 

i pulled 2 tacomas across state lines going 65ish. Im proud to say that the 2 tacos i was pulling did not flip and kill picnic-ing orphans ;D

 

Go rent a U-haul and notice it says all over it not to exceed 55mph. I've taken em' juz a lil faster.

 

Haulmark Trailers cite 60mph. UHaul and other rental companies cite 35-45. I would certainly take the most conservative stance that "industry experts" take if I was them.

It's apparent that you are move than capable of towing without worrying about what the manual says- Why get so wrapped around the axle about it?? (And lets not forget that not everyone who buys a Tacoma has the background that lots of us do...Do you want someone who just bought a truck and a trailer to try and hit the highway like they always do??)

Edit: If someone was dumb enuf to try high speed towing without knowing what they are doing- They probably won't read the manual anyways...but at least then the cost of their idiocy doesn't get passed on to us.

 

psshhh you think you know how fast you can tow a trailer, but toyota knows better!!!!!!!!!!! If you excede that 45 a man from toyota corp will swoop in and remove all of your towing privlages