Towing a 5,000lb Airstream with a stock 2017 TRD Off Road 6sp Manual

All,
I need some help. I love my tacoma - I've got a leer canopy, thule aero bars, and a James Baroud rooftop tent + a James Baroud awning. I was almost ready to lift/upgrade suspension/ new wheels and tires and then Covid struck. Now I have a different plan. The plan is to hitch up a trailer, and hit the road from Seattle for some cross country adventures whileI continue to work a 9-5. With new priorities, my question is pretty simple, the trailer I want to buy is a 19' Airstream (either Bambi or Caravel) both of which come in at approx 5,000 GVWR, and a hitch weight with LP tanks and batteries of 550 (more if loaded with my gear).

Am I crazy to think the tacoma can pull this thing around the country? Ideally I'd love to keep my truck - this way I can unhitch when we're in one place for a few weeks and use it to continue to overland and explore different areas, but I dont want to be unsafe or constantly be unhappy with the performance.

SO - is it unsafe? Am I likely to max out the total payload of the truck with a 550-600lb tongue weight, my leer canopy, 150lbs of rooftop tent, 300lbs of human, 25lbs of dog, and some misc gear in the bed of the truck (likely a small generator, and a few folding bikes)?

Thanks so much for your help - and if this is better posted on the tow specific forums please let me know - I'm new to this site for posting (always just been a reader)

 

Welcome to TW
https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/towing.34/

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome! "hit the road from Seattle"

 

Remove the RTT while towing the trailer. Reduces drag a little and takes weight off. Plus, with a trailer you don't need to sleep in the tent.

 

Welcome to TW!

You'll be right around the max payload with either camper. Is it unsafe? Depends on your comfort level towing. I personally wouldn't cross the country with a maxed payload but it's up to you. I have a 2020 Starcraft 212 that's about 4,900 lbs dry. I would only tow it about 30 minutes from the house because of the weight. We ended up buying a new truck because the Tacoma struggled so much and we were going places that had full hookup so not carrying much cargo (less than 500 lbs). Even at say 5,500 lbs, starting on hills or backing up hills wasn't fun. The camper pushed me around while stopping even with the Tekonsha P3 brake controller. We quickly realized we had more camper than truck

 

Might be time for a Tundra

 

That’s pushing it. I tow 4500lbs (including most gear) and it’s the max I would want to do comfortably with the upgrades I’ve done from stock,...such as regearing and tuning. I have a 2016 AT

You will be going through brakes a lot unless you have a good brake control setup and sway control.

 

Damn... this is quickly becoming a sad issue. I love my Tacoma, and the rooftop tent. I would hate to get rid of it, but I understand what you are all saying. It's not ideal. I'll have to see if I can come up with another plan - and I'll have to decide what's more important to me.
For the meantime, I do plan on getting a nice brake controller and sway/weight distribution blue ox attachment. I'll be under the GVWR of 6,400 (at below 5,000lbs) and my tongue weight will be stressed, but more than that it seems like the hardest issue will be stopping to refuel every 150-200 miles.

Please keep sending thoughts and ideas - this is really helpful. The "Time for a tundra" comment actually got me looking at local dealerships, then I just started feeling crummy - tundras are nice, but they aren't tacomas.
Thanks again all!!

 

Welcome to TW!