Towing Capacity

cool...I would definitely pay for a brake controller...

not worried about the "ride"...I pull an 18' and 28' trailer for work sometimes (with a big ol' Dodge that is not mine) so I am used to weight behind the truck!

 

I am looking at this and will pull the trigger during RV show time where the deals are better.

3800 dry weight
21 feet total length
Won't travel with water in tanks.
Brake controller and WD hitch will be a must at this weight.

Towing won't be too bad. Tons of experience towing from working utility construction.

 

So Toyota’s towing package doesn’t have a transmission cooler?

 

Nice. Tacomas can handle a lot. Most people just think pickup truck can tow. And it can. But those big travel trailers are not like towing a landscape trailer

 

definitely... it seems like it would be actually towing a house...

 

It does... but only the integrated cooler in the radiator. They did away with the auxiliary cooler somewhere around 3/2020 - 5/2020 manufacture dates.

 

Starting mid-2020, it was eliminated, yes.

 

You also need to consider the form factor of the trailer.

Example: a 2000 lb folding (pop-up) will pull much easier than a 2000 lb hardside. This is mostly due to the trailer's profile.

In my experience, the solution to trailer sway is proper weight on the hitch. A short wheelbase tow vehicle with soft tire sidewalls (P) tires will aggravate the situation.

In my experience, when trailer sway is happening, the solution is NOT slowing down. Rather it is more effective to accelerate (gently) and simultaneously manually apply the trailer brake. Once the trailer is tracking behind the tow vehicle, then a gradual slow down is prudent.

 

I’ve been following these trailer threads like a hawk lately. I’ve been thinking about getting a Jayco eventually, something in the 3,500-4,200 total weight category. Then sometimes I wonder if something like a smaller Casita or Rpod would be better. Then on my drive back from Idaho this week I saw a newer Subaru pulling a decent size Coleman through Oregon. They must have come through some decent grades in Nevada, I thought they were morons for pulling such a trailer but I figured if I got a similar trailer then my truck should handle it much better. At the end of the day I do agree with the general sentiment that pulling a heavy landscaping trailer or boat is much different than a huge camper. It’ll be another year or so before I get a camper and until then I’ll rent a few on RV share and see how the truck does. I really like my Taco but I might end up getting an F150 eventually, mainly because kids and a bigger back seat. But better towing is always nice too.

For me, I’d be getting a trailer for camping and visiting family. But only if we leave California, which means towing 650 miles each way from Idaho. The Sierras and high speeds in the windy open desert would pose issues for sure. I’d really like something small and lightweight but options for the Tacoma really limit choices. I was hoping to keep the trailer at half of the towing capacity and under 20 feet long but that’s just about impossible. First world problems...I know...

 

Here's the thing...with the towing package you have extra fluid coolers...this adds 3000 pounds to your towing capacity...meaning the truck can structurally "handle" 6500 no matter what but you'll burn through tranny fluid and oil much faster if you don't have the coolers. You can add these coolers if yours doesn't have them...if it does you can find numerous posts on this forum as to what they look like to see if you have them or a vin search will tell you. I've also heard if you have the two trailer connectors on your bumper you probably have the towing package. But...NEVER TOW NEAR MAX! Sure it CAN handle it...but it's a strain...not smart.

That said, I have the towing package and I towed a 4000 pound car on a car dolly (front wheels only) with moderate ease, I will occasionally...rarely...tow a 4000 pound car on a trailer and will moderately be able to do so, and my mpg's will go to the shitter and I'll drive slower but that is such a rare nonoccurence for me i couldn't justify a bigger truck.

I bought this truck because I RARELY tow a car, I typically haul plywood sheets (4X6 1/2") and some 2x4's so I don't need a larger towing capacity. At most I'll use a small trailer (I have the short bed so a trailer that can handle the plywood with more ease). Sure I COULD tow a 5-6000 pound camper...but if I were to do so regularly, or haul cars on a trailer regularly, I would NOT have bought a tacoma.

I towed a 3000 pound car on a trailer with an f150 and the same exact car and trailer with a 5.7 tundra...the f150 couldn't take off or stop, total POS...it was horrible...I felt safer towing with my tacoma! Now, with the tundra I literally looked in my rear view twice during my 40 min drive because I thought I lost the trailer the damn thing accelerated and stopped so well. My tacoma...heavier car and only front end dolly...it took off and stopped OK but I never doubted I was hauling something but it didn't worry me like that damned f150 did. IF I wanted to tow a trailer, even a 5-6000 pound one (those aren't really that big/comfy btw) I would NOT have a tacoma. CAN you...yes...should you...meh...would I...hell no. i wouldn't do that with ANY v6 though...or even an f150 XD

You HAVE a camper...and it weighs nearly the max of the towing packaged tacomas limit...CAN you? yes (if you can confirm you have the towing package)...should you...i say no...not regularly. If you're going to haul that thing more than once every 5 years...and up hills...get a dodge ram or at LEAST the 5.7 Tundra

 

I much rather pull the ops tandem axel 5200lb trailer over that single axel.

 

@OvrlndBigAl How many kids?

Seriously, consider a larger pop up. They’re easy to tow, easy to store, cheaper, and can have nearly the same amenities. I get 14mpg towing mine with a 2” lift and 33’s.

The main downside is the roughly 30 minutes it takes to properly pop up and take down. We have a water heater and showers inside and outside, it has a cassette toilet and 45 gal fresh water tank, grey water we handle with 5 gal Home Depot buckets. There’s a stove and some counter space inside but we prefer cooking outside.

If the kids are younger, put them side by side on the smaller bunk, that’s what we do. We have a queen and king bed in ours plus a slide out dinette so we can all sit at the table. We bought the trailer as a way to go camping without sleeping on the ground though, not as a mobile cabin. We like having the canvas and the connection to the outside world it brings.

I would not want to tow something much bigger than our heavy and long pop up (roughly 4000 pounds, 7’ wide and 20’ long closed thanks to the toy hauler deck) with a Tacoma however. The length isn’t the issue, but with a heavy tongue weight and a full truck it’s noticeable that I’m pushing GCVW.

The main family sized hard side I’d consider are the various 20-25’ class 7’ wide bunkhouse trailers like the Jayco 184BH look good on paper, but after towing what I have now over a few thousand miles would be pushing my comfort a little too much. I don’t want to have to take down my bed, or the kids bed, every time I want to sit at the table, so smaller trailers really don’t work for us.

 

Just one kid for now plus a German Shepherd, if all goes well we’ll probably add another kid or two in the next few years. I personally prefer tarp camping or sleeping in my tipi but my wife won’t agree one bit. Plus I’ll admit having a mini apartment for certain trips would be really be nice, especially when visiting family for a few days or what ever. I’ve been bitten by the RV bug the last year or so and we actually rented a class C RV for the Idaho trip we just did. I’ve been looking at all kinds of trailers, including pop ups, but I keep getting drawn to fully enclosed ones. I know trailers are basically flimsy crap compared to a house but I feel like they’re a bit of a deterrent when locked up. Plus they’re a more quiet when sleeping in populated areas. I’d for sure use it to go camping (if you can even call it camping) but really I’d like to have it for traveling the country or visiting back home. If we visit family for the holidays or special events having a fully enclosed trailer that’s ready to rock would be ideal. If it were up to me I’d just buy a Four Wheel Camper and call it a day. Then I’ll figure out where to shower or use the restroom, unfortunately my wife doesn’t feel the way. But yeah, the 184bh is exactly what I’m looking at or the 184bs with the slide out. I’ve recently been looking into the Geo Pro trailers too. I’d really really like to keep it under or right around 4k total weight after its loaded but that’s just a lot to ask of any trailer bigger than a decent “couples trailer”. They have smaller trailers where the dinette converts into a murphy bed but they still sleep 5-6 because they have the bunks but I’d really like something I could just walk in and use. No messing around with who can sleep or eat. But I guess I’m just being super picky.

 

I don’t think you’re being picky, it’s just hard to impossible to cram an apartment with beds for 4 in a Tacoma towable sized package. I’d want a hard side if I was “urban camping” cousin Eddie style too.

If you can find one leftover, the Livin Lite company made an aluminum framed bunkhouse with a slide. Forget the model number but it was only like 3500 pounds, double axles too.

 

I haul approximately the same weight as you plan to. On the flats, you will be fine, especially if you have any towing experience. The truck will cruise along in 4S w/ect on. Gas mileage will probably be around 9-11mpg depending on your speed and any wind. You need to do your math, because at that weight, exceeding the GVWR is real easy but the GCVWR probably will be fine.
You will want to get either an Scan gauge or Ultra gauge to monitor your tranny temps. The torque converter can get really hot. Add on an external auxiliary cooler. I need to do this before I plan on my next long trip. Locally, I have no real issues with tranny temp. Lake Pleasant is about 60 mi from my house and there are some small hills. Hottest it got in 115 degree outside temp was ~212 at the torque converter.
Here is a recent write up I did in the towing forum about my experience with my NoBo.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-tow-experience-with-a-nobo-19-6.690623/

 

A FWC would also be my ideal, other than as you said for the wife's opinion. So, I'm also looking for something reasonable that the Tacoma can pull. So far I like the R-Pod 190, as an enclosed would certainly be more ideal vs. a popup.

 

You believed the sales guy ...

 

That the Wolf Pup 18TO? My friend has an 18TO and absolutely loves it. His didn't come with a battery for some reason - make sure your dealer includes that when you buy it. His also has a 2-way 12v / 120v fridge instead of a propane / 120v fridge. If you can get the full size fridge with propane instead of 12v, you'll be able to camp off grid a lot easier since the fridge won't stay on long with 12v.

My Wolf Pup 16BHS is 20' total length stock and about the same weight with all the mods and lift I've done. I don't use a WDH, but I have aftermarket leafs and sumosprings and it's been great. Only thing I'd recommend is replacing the garbage tires as soon as you can. Mine came with some Castle Rock tires and were showing serious wear after about 2k miles. Since it's a single axle, you don't have to run a trailer tire since there's less lateral load, so you can upgrade to a passenger or truck tire that'll last a lot longer.

 

Yep. Its the 18TO. I like the full slide for more interior room. Tires will probably be replaced immediately.

 

Don't use passenger car tires on the trailer. The construction is different on trailer tires.

I was in an unfortunate position with the 2nd flat tire on a single axle tire. Both flats happened on a trip within 200 miles of each other. Long story, but the result was I could only find a passenger tire. The camper towed like crap. The camper was a 10' Coleman folding camper, weight about 2700 lbs. It swayed at any speed above 40 mph, even then my butt was harvesting seat foam at times. I was on I-10 heading to San Antonio. When I finally reached my destination, the replacement tire was so hot that it was smoking. Put the camper on jack stands, pulled all the tires. Next day, replaced all 3 with heavy duty rated trailer tires.

Learned my lesson and was lucky to avoid disaster.