Towing capabilities with Gen 1 V6

I have a 2004 gen 1 V6 double cab and I am looking at hauling or trailering a horse trailer, up to 5000 lbs. Does anyone have experience with towing capacity and stopping ability in this model? If I need to routinely haul a payload like this would a gem 2 or different model truck be better if I want to stay in light-duty/compact truck models?

 

Yes 5000 pounds is a shit ton for a first Gen to handle

 

Look for the GVWR sticker weight. Go by that.

 

i tow a 5000 pound enclosed trailer all summer long for my business, i have 305 70 16's and a lift. tranny cooler is mandatory, brake controller obviously. shouldnt be a problem.

 

you're also an XtraCab with a S/C, less weight and more power.

 

There isn't much of a weight difference, the DC is built on the XC chassis so both are the exact same wheelbase and what not. Maybe the doors on the DC make it a tad heavier, but not by much. Same goes for second gens, the DCSB is built on the access cab chassis. Toyota's way of saving lots of extra $$ on production costs.

 

OP, I can't say much about towing abilities of these trucks, I have a full size diesel I use for all that, but good luck! I have some experience towing with a second gen, but it was a 4 cylinder I had before and the weight rating was 3500# which I never exceeded, but on the V6 models it's 6500# I know for certain. If I was you, I'd probably go that route for towing 5000#, be way more comfortable and stable. The second gens have bigger brakes and frames, are longer/wider and weigh quite a bit more, all those things make a huge difference. I highly recommend investing in a brake controller regardless of which way you decide to go.

 

One last thing OP, if you do decide to tow with it, make sure that you turn the overdrive button to off! Never ever tow with O/D on, it will cost you thousands in repairs down the road if you make it a habit. These trucks can cruise fine down the highway with O/D off, the RPM's run at about 3000 at around 70mph, but it will only drink more gas doing this. I turn it off all the time for climbing steep grades and it makes a big difference in acceleration.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/4031-tacoma-towing-bible.html

This will help

 

Buy a ford, GM or dodge, towing anything more than a light utility trailer is likely to end up with the tail wagging the dog and gas mileage will be dismal. There may be many on here that have done it but that doesn't make it safe or economical.

 

OP says he doesn't want a larger truck to tow with. And depending on what you tow, it can get okay mileage. When I had my 2011 4 cylinder 5 speed access cab, I towed 3200# with it and the best mileage I got that whole trip was 17, keep in mind the ground was pretty level and there was a lot of downhill driving. The worst I got towing with it was 12 and that was up lots of hills and fighting headwinds.

Pretty sure for his needs, a second gen Tacoma with a V6 and tow package with a brake controller would do just fine. I hate to encourage people away from first gens, but the second gens are way better for towing larger cargo by far.

 

Yeah I know of the frames/under-pinnings.

I concede the weight issue, it's just shy of 200 lbs difference (3,515 XC vs 3,705 DC). Thought the bench/metal weight would turn up more but apparently it's moot

I would NOT leave O/D off all the time if you're doing 70 mph. Sure the engine can handle it but you'll start to cook the A/T fluid. Get an aftermarket cooler for one if you plan to tow more (there is no such thing as a factory "tow package" on 1st Gen, just dealer installed hitch/wiring). I drove from Orlando to Baltimore on I95 with cruise set to 70 and it only shifted a couple of times. If you have lots of hills then hell ya turn it off until you get on flatter ground

 

Yeah, I was referring to towing or climbing grades. But a bigger tranny cooler is a must for towing anyway. Gearcruncher can weigh in on the negatives of towing with O/D on better than I can. I don't ever use my Tacoma for towing, I have a 7.3 diesel with a 5 speed handshaker for that noise.

 

I wouldn't feel comfortable towing living things around at max tow capacity. I *might* be ok if it were short distances (across town) or very flat terrain.

I suppose the good thing is you won't be startling your animals with sudden acceleration or sudden braking.