Towing advice

Hi there, I'm new on here, I live fulltime in a 20' 1975 camper trailer and I need a better tow vehicle.
I don't want a huge truck and I really like the size and off road capability of the Tacoma. I also plan on doing a small build in the bed for weekend trips, nothing fancy, just a bed and some storage.
I'm looking at some older trucks, 2007-2013 with a tow package.
My worry is that it wont be enough truck.
My trailer is approximately 4500 lb and I'm worried that even with a tow package, the truck will struggle. I've been towing with a vehicle that is on the verge of unsafe and only drive 55mph and never in windy or wet/ice conditions. I would really hate to get a different vehicle that is way older then what i have now only to find out it can't handle the weight.

Can anyone with experience towing similar weight offer advice?
Thanks!

 

It'll tow it, but depending on the frequency of your towing you might want to consider a larger truck. My 17" hybrid is 3100lbs dry, well over 4k loaded. Truck pulls it, but mileage sucks and you definitely know you're towing. My days of long tow trips are over. If i had to do it over again I'd probably get a Tundra, but I love my Tacoma. Good luck.

 

Thank you! I typically relocate every 2 to 6 months, but sometimes those moves are 2000mi. So I won't be towing often and when I do I don't mind having to take it a bit slow.
Do you feel that when you were towing it was hard on the truck? Or did you have any mechanical issues because of towing?

Right now my tow vehicle gets about 9mpg when I'm towing so anything better then that would be welcome.

 

Take a look here :
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/

 

First what are you towing your trailer with now? Why do you consider it unsafe? Also is the 4500 lbs dry weight? It sounds like you may be guessing on the weight. Before you decide on a truck you need to have your trailer weighed and get an accurate weight. Finally if you get a Taco or what ever truck you probably won’t get much over 9mpg.
If the 4500 lbs is accurate and dry weight then when loaded up you are probably around 5500 lbs. A Taco can do that but it will be a struggle especially in mountains or long grades. If the 4500lbs is loaded then you are ok with a Taco,

 

That's loaded weight, the camper was 3500 dry. I took out a bunch of stuff when I remodeled, (table, bed, black tank, ect) and remodeled with lighter materials, then of course packed it with my personal stuff. The 45000 estimate was high and probably closer to 4000 as I packed very light because of my current tow vehicle, i would like to be able to pack I bit more stuff and not have to worry. I will find out for sure next time I move and will weigh it then, but because of where I'm parked that won't be till after I purchase a different vehicle.

I currently have a 2016 jeep Cherokee trailhawk with a tow package, rated at 4500lb, trailer breaks and stabilizing hitch.
It actually pulls it amazingly well but I talke it suuuper slow and last trip I had a few scary moments and ended up camping out for two days because of snow.

I'm going tomorrow to look at a 2007 Tacoma TRD Sport, with tow package, 120000mi. Makes me nervous getting something that old but I've heard Toyota's are very long lived.
Any thoughts on pulling with that old of a vehicle?

 

At around 4000 to 4500 lbs loaded you’ll be fine with a Taco, even a 2007. Be sure you get the 6 cylinder with a tow package. Max tow weight with that is around 6500lbs.
120,000 on a 2007 is pretty low mileage. But you are looking at a 13 year old truck. Even through Tacos are super dependable and are expected to go several hundred thousand miles, stuff and parts do fail on the older vehicles. If you can possibly afford a little newer Taco with low mileage , do so. But I like the low mileage on that 2007 truck. If they have the maintenance/repair records on that truck and it looks good and the price is good, go for it.
Bottom line a 2007 with to tow package should tow your trailer just fine.

 

Thank you!