To tow or not to tow...

Hi Everyone! I'm new to towing. I towed small trailers but never anything long or heavy. I bought a 2013 Tacoma Limited LB last year traded in my frontier so I have the tow hitch already equipped. I'm reading my vin can do 6300 and that the tongue is usually 10% of that but I'm not sure. My wife and I would like to buy a travel trailer for vacations and fell in love with the 2019 Puma Palomino xle lite 24bhc which is 5308 lbs. Dry and has 1692 of cargo making a gross weight of 7000 which we know is too heavy but...
We don't plan on bringing tons of shtuff we could easily fill the water halfway and its just us and 2 AKK puppies which we love. Driving from RI to ME or NH and back. So is it too heavy? Also I don't know its tongue weight or if 10% is true but before we shell out 20k id like to know everything. Ive read a good amount of the tow bible on here and did find some helpful facts but my question is particular so here's a new thread. Also at what length does it become difficult to drive a large trailer? Ive heard mixed things on this like 28' is easy 34'+ is hard. I also know I'll need some accessories for stabilization or braking any ideas/ recommendations? Thanks!

 

That is to much trailer for the Tacoma. Bigger truck or smaller trailer is your best bet.

 

Welcome to the forum!

Well, honestly I think you know that's a bit heavy and big for the Tacoma. I know you don't plan to haul a lot of gear but life has a way of laughing at our plans.

Are you in, or will you be traveling in a hilly or mountainous area?

That said... I'd tow it if I had too. I've towed above weight a few times. With that weight rating I'm assuming you've got the tow package. Good trailer brakes help a lot. Use good general towing practices and balance your load as much as possible, and a weight distro hitch can help. Stay out of overdrive, stick to the right lane, and give yourself a crap ton of stopping distance.

Would I recommend it? Nope! Would I do it, yeah, and I have. I've done it out of necessity though. If I were considering buying a camper knowing I'd be towing it with the Tacoma, I'd go smaller. A bigger truck or a smaller trailer would make for a much less stressful and more enjoyable journey, imho.

Best of luck!

 

You need a real truck.

Or a smaller trailer.

JMHO.

Hint.......... your post is full of rationalization. Never let that trump reality.

 

Great feedback thank you, how heavy can I go? 4200 dry ok? I'm not doing any real hills I'll stay away from the Kancamagus hwy. I have the tow package but need the distribution hitch and mirrors any max length youd recommend?

 

Can you do it? Yes

I think it’s pushing the limit too much. Plus whatever gear you add and what now your probably over your limit. The truck doesn’t have a ton or torque and isn’t really meant for towing. I would recommend a full sized truck. Might be fine if you were just going a few miles to a local campground and weren’t going through hills. Tacoma almost get the same MPG while towing something that heavy as a tundra. Not worth it in my opinion.

 

Well, I think if you're buying a camper to tow behind the Tacoma you need to think in the other direction. It's not about "how much can I tow" and "how big can I go" but more "how much do I really need to be happy". Personally, I'm pretty happy in a tent.

Anyway, the weight depends a bit on the set up as a whole. Dual axle, dual brakes, good hitch. If you're going to be towing heavy a lot maybe a few considered minor mods on the truck. I might replace the rear springs or add an add a leaf or towing air bags, then a mild brake upgrade with stainless soft lines and grippy premium pads and rotors.

Yes, I'd say no more than about 4k dry max. By the time you add passengers, gas, water in the camper, gear on the camper and in the truck bed, you're at or over limit in no time.

 

P.s. When I say passengers and gear in the truck I'm pointing at gvwr. Remember that the tongue weight of the trailer counts against the maximum safe load (gvwr) of the truck. So if you've got 500# tongue weight on the rear at the hitch that definitely counts toward the total load in the truck.

Gross vehicle weight and gross combination weight aren't the same but can overlap. Hopefully this makes sense.

 

Tacoma’s aren’t for towing imho. I towed a uhaul trailer from Portland to the bay with a 4 banger. Never again.

 

Uhaul
4 banger

That's at least two problems right off the bat. Was it a short bed too? Tacoma's tow fine within their capabilities. I've towed lots of stuff with mine, v6 long bed with tow package like OP. Car haulers, utility trailers, dingy towed vehicles, etc.

I once towed a loaded 4x8 utility trailer with a 4 banger Saturn SL2 and didn't enjoy it much either. At last the Saturn was a mostly plastic sedan so the 4 cylinder didn't have as much vehicle to move too.

 

yeah I still don’t plan on towing anything with the v6. Pretty much bike rack only in the hitch.

 

Based on what you described above, you might want to think about getting a different truck or smaller trailer.

 

Yeah. Bigger truck, or smaller trailer. See if wife would be happy with the Palo Mini 183RDB. That's within the capability of the Taco. GVWR is 4465lb. It still has bunk space for kids or guests and most of the amenities that Biltmore Estate trailer you picked out has.

After all, it's CAMPING. You want complete comfort, keep the Taco, and tow it behind a Class A pusher.

 

Don't do it you won't be happy. Bought a 221UMD Outback TT to pull behind 18 TRD crew etc. 4900 empty and wdh with sway control. Pulled it empty from Phoenix where I bought it to southern Colo where I live and once to Moab Utah. That is a climb from Phoenix to Flagstaff. Will it do it? Yeah but I couldn't see wearing out that little truck just to do it. Traded it in for a 19 Ford 4x4 crew with the twin turbo ecoboost and heavy duty towing package. Don't even know its there and I can load it up instead of watching every pound. Tacomas are great little trucks and I loved mine, but just not a big travel trailer puller.

 

Keep the taco, get a hotel room, save $20k.

 

No. I'm one of the biggest Tacoma fanbois around here but what you are proposing is too much weight. Can it be done? Yes. But you will really be working the truck hard.

 

I think I've narrowed down my search for my Tacoma upgrade to a 2018 model. I'm trying to determine which model and trim do the best for towing something like that Palomini aforementioned.

I'd like one where all 4 of it's wheels can drive. Does that impact towing capability or is 2WD optimum? I don't find a clear consensus on that

I think I'd like ATX tires in case I try to climb Mt. Ouray. I think the Nitto's and KO2's mentioned fit the bill unless someone has a better idea for ATX tires that tow good?

Any specific "tunes" I should consider?

Or upgrade "cold air intakes" or exhaust systems that do more than make it louder that I should look for or upgrade later?

Has anyone else with similar aspirations found the Holy Grail?
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No rustling allowed round these parts

 

I tow a Passport 175 Bunkhouse (queen bed, 2 bunks, bathroom, small kitchen/dining area) with my 2019. I use a weight distribution hitch with no problem. Way pithing the limit of the truck and honestly pretty comfortable for wife, two boys, german shepherd and me. It makes for some great family memories.

 

I like the looks of your Passport.

What tires are you using?

And which model distribution hitch?

 

Thanks. The model is Passport 175BH and the dry weight is around 3300#, so it keeps you well within the towing capacity, has an A/C and keeps me from sleeping on the ground. Most important, the wife is happy with it. There are several brands that sell the same layout.

I am running the BF Goodrich KO2s (265/75R16). I will have to get back to you on the brand of the hitch. I can say this was the first weight bistro hitch i have used and was impressed how it keeps the rear of the truck from sagging.