Towing a 25ft 4400lb trailer

The hitch weight seems pretty high.

That's a lot of camper for a guy and a dog. Are you going to tow this far? And, often?

As was mentioned earlier, this might be pretty miserable towing with a Tacoma.

 

That's why they are throwing in a weight distribution hitch which takes a lot of the weight off of the hitch and puts it on the trailer. I plan to live out of this full time. That's why I want a little bigger unit. I'll be working in the southern Utah area so it will most likely sit once there. I may move it from cedar City to St George or somewhere in that area but that's probably it. It's just getting it from Colorado to there that will be an issue. My buddy has an F-150 that he may trade so I can at least tow it to the area and then I can tow it short distances from there. But I plan on living out of this full time

 

Is a weight distributing hitch worth getting? I have heard mixed reviews and for something towing under 4,000 lbs, not worth it with the Tacoma.

Any opinions on this?

 

And all the stuff in the camper...Food, clothes, gear. It's gonna add up quickly.

 

In my limited experience, yes. But that’s gonna be another 80-100lbs unless you get an Anderson or some other chain based unit.

 

If you are going to go big... do it right

 

Gotcha. If you're not towing it regularly, might as well be comfortable. If it's within the Tacoma's specified limits, it should be OK.

 

I'm guessing the Tacoma was pulled under the 5th wheel just for a photo op since that trailer is at least 14,500 lbs dry.

..or where they just moving it around the parking lot?

 

It belongs to a friend. We were just screwing around for a photo op to taunt Tacomaworld
@medicine wolf
I just purchased a No Bo 19.6 that has a dry weight of just over 4300#. Towed it home from the dealer 65 mi. with 20 gal of water.
It pulled fine on some small hills. RPM's ranged from 2500-3000 in 4th with ect on and in S mode. It dropped to 3rd periodically when I hit the hills. Was able to maintain 60-70 mph the whole way. There was an ~12 mph wind at the time.
You know it's back there, but with WDH, antisway bar and dual axles, it was not bad.
I plan on taking it up north, so I will see how it handles some 6% grades. Should be fun.

 

Good to know....that helps my decision

 

^THIS^

Yup...that hitch weight will be sketchy. Please double check, but I think our hitch weight is 650lbs. You're grown, so I won't insult you with basic math man. At 627 dry, that leaves you not-a-lotta room for anything under the trailer's bed (usually where your ext storage slides in, up front), doesn't count the propane tank (a full propane tank is about 35-40 lbs depending on where you fill it, and looks like you'll have dual tanks if they're quoting 60lbs in the specs). Blah blah blah - in short, you're already maxed out on tongue weight. The WDH will definitely help, as it transfers some of that weight to the truck's front axle, through the frame. After you, the dog, and the gear you're putting in your trailer and the truck...AY CARAMBA! Get some Preparation H brother - the pucker factor will be at a 10+. Also keep in mind that the specs Toyota gives us are measured with perfectly balanced loads, in a controlled environment, by engineers. Ummm... the longer I camp, the more my engineering skills deteriorate (damn rum). None of us are on perfectly level tracks, in controlled environments. We'll be driving in the real world, with potholes, uneven streets, grades, and the ever-popular idiot that loves to cut you off, brake check you, then dive into the Mc D's drive-thru at the very last minute. All those things make towing at the max just downright dangerous. But again - you're grown...be safe and live adventurously! This is just food for thought so you have the most amount of info available from us collectively. Most important - enjoy the camper dude - been camping for over 20 years, and being out there is the best.

 

You already know this, but water is heavy, so make sure you don't prefill the tanks. That'll save you ~500lbs alone

You can load all of your stuff in the tail of the trailer to save tongue weight but that'll make it trailer really poorly. I'd bum the F150 for a weekend and return it, then just shuttle the trailer using your Tacoma. That's to much to use a Tacoma as a "tow rig." I towed a 18ft Jayco expandable (tandem axle, 4500lbs) for about 10 miles and it took the weight fine, didn't sway, etc. But the 3.5L was just wheezing. I couldn't break 55mph floored in 4th gear (MT). Not a thrilling experience really. That being said, the earlier comment about frontal area is key. My truck does a LOT better with an open deck car hauler and a load of stuff in the bed, totaling about the same weight as that little camper trailer, just because there's no parachute behind me. Unfortunately, you're talking about a big frontal area on a camper that size, so you're sort of out of luck.

 

Maybe it has some air bags?

 

A weight distributing hitch is required on the Tacoma, it isn't something that is optional. The only exception is if you are towing under 5,000 lbs. Anything over 2,000 lbs requires an anti-sway device. All this information is in the owner's manual.

 

My travel trailer is ~2700 lbs (tongue weight is ~ 290 lbs.) and I run a sway bar with no weight distributing hitch and it tows like a dream.

 

It appears you are referring to a weight distributing hitch as a "sway control". A sway bar can be a simple device that does not help with tongue weight (and weight distribution in general.)

 

I have both on mine, but I appreciate the comment. Post updated.

 

Don’t do it. It isn’t going to be fun or safe. This is in Tundra territory. It is specifically this reason I chose a 3500lb trailer. At this point 1,000lbs minus the extra gear you will bring is a huge difference in weight and truck capability. I use to tow with an F350, so it’s not my first rodeo

 

Yes.

We tow a 2019 Forest River R-Pod which has a dry weight of 2920...with a GVWR of 4,000 lbs. We were sold a WDH/Sway Bar package with our trailer...installed, $500. Well worth it IMHO.

With the stock OR suspension and bone stock drivetrain (engine/gears) this tows well, stops well, and levels out the suspension truck/trailer profile very well. Sway has been non existent save one trip to Tucson on I-10 when it was very windy...25 mph winds with 40 mph gusts. We drove @ 55 mph until we reached calmer winds near Phoenix, but it was a bit white knuckle in sections. I couldn't imagine driving without a sway bar in those conditions.

To the OP: pulling and engine/gearing gusto are a huge factor...however, don't forget braking and stopping distance while pulling all that weight. Getting a quality brake controller installed is a MUST. We have a Prodigy unit that plug n' played with the Tacoma's tow package...it was installed with the sway bar/WDH package at the RV dealer.

Smooth is definitely fast when pulling a trailer with the Tacoma...I rarely travel above 65 mph and enjoy the journey.

I set the transmission selector to S and never travel in 5th or 6th gear.

Getting there in one piece and letting the fast lane freaks have their fun NOT at my expense is my rule of the road.

We carry two large labs, my SO, gear for a usual weekend/week's vacation trip, and the Tacoma with the tow package is just adequate...anything more and we would be talking Tundra...for sure.

 

When Trailer Life tested their Nash 22h and put it on a scale it was closer to 5,500 lbs. That was with no supplies in the trailer but full propane and water tank. My guess is you would be at least that heavy when loaded up for a trip. You will most likely not travel with full water, but your supplies would more than make up for the missing weight of a full water tank. Why do manufacturers publish dry weights of stripped down models with zero options when it is so misleading? It sells more campers since people don't think they have to upgrade their tow vehicle.