Towing slightly over sticker limit - anyone been denied insurance claim?

i follow eu standards. 6500 is no problem

 

The short answer is that GVWR and tow capacity are independent for the most part. GVWR is the max recommended weight of the truck itself including the tongue weight of the trailer. Tow capacity is the weight of the trailer alone, but can be affected by things like the presence of trailer brakes and a load distributing hitch.

 

GVWR doesn’t include the weight of the trailer, just the tongue weight of the trailer.

Truck + Everything in it + Tongue Weight must be under GVWR, and you must also be under the GAWR.

At the same time, you must be under the towing weight limit.

At the same time, you must be under the GCWR limit.

At the same time you must be under the TWR limit.

If you can satisfy all that, nobody’s going to have a problem.

Either way though, I don’t think insurance would deny your claim unless you intentionally overloaded it with the intent to cause damages. They may find you at fault, but people are at fault all the time, insurance still pays. They’re just going to charge you more afterwards, due to a higher risk profile.

Jeff

 

Then buy a smaller trailer.

You could be denied an insurance claim and/or charged with a crime if the excess weight is determined to have been a contributing factor. I've only heard of it happening a couple of times, but yes it can happen. Being just 200-300 lbs over the TOW rating isn't a problem by itself and shouldn't be a problem.

But when towing there are multiple limits you have to consider, not just the trailer weight. Your Tacoma will PULL 6800 lbs on level ground and at sea level quite easily. But you have to also consider the hitch weight rating. The total hitch weight of a 6800 lb trailer PLUS the required Weight Distribution Hitch is going to be right at 1000 lbs.

Is the hitch rated for 1000 lbs?

Are you pulling at altitude? Tow ratings should be reduced by about 3% for every 1000' above sea level. Your 6500 lb tow rating is only 5500 lbs at 5000'. Only 4500 at 10,000'.

Payload is Tacoma's Achilles heel. Most Tacoma's only have 1000-1200 lbs payload. My old Honda Fit had 800 lbs, our Ford Explorer is rated at 1500. Most 1/2 tons, 1700-2000. That payload has to also include the weight of the driver, passengers and any cargo. Two skinny adults will be 300 lbs. Four grown men could easily be 800-1000 lbs.

How much weight do you need to carry in the truck in addition to pulling the trailer?

In a nutshell 4500-5000 lbs is a realistic limit for a Tacoma. And even then, you need to pack carefully.

It is POSSIBLE for you to pull a 6800 lb trailer under the right conditions. But only if you as the driver is the only thing in the truck and if done at low altitude. I dont' see 200-300 lbs of extra trailer weight as a problem. But you could be WAAAAY over your payload rating.

And for perspective, around 7000 lbs is the practical limit for a 1/2-ton truck for the same reasons. At 6800 lbs you're approaching 3/4 ton territory. With 1/2 ton and mid-size trucks you can either haul the rated payload, or you can tow up to the max tow rating. But you can't do both. You have to move up to a 3/4 ton to pull heavy loads AND carry passengers and gear in the truck

 

6400 would be correct for your truck, the 6800 only applies to Access Cab V6 with Rear Wheel Drive.

 

My 2006 Tacoma with a V6 and standard 5 speed automatic transmission gave me a big hug when I sold my TT (Dry weight 2,600lbs) after just 3 trips. If someone is hell bent on towing a trailer that comes in 5,600lbs dry (Add Water at 6lbs. a gallon and Propane at 8lbs a gallon-or thereabouts) then they are going to do just that! Throw in gasoline for the truck, gear, food, a large dog, a skinny wife and a large butt for the driver...it adds up.

 

I have access cab V6 MT but 4-wheel drive. Still only 6400lbs? Also, where did you find that info, my goog-fu is sorely lacking...

 

Right 4x4 is what lowers the number, the 2 wheel drive has the highest rating.

Breaking Down the 2023 Toyota Tacoma’s Towing Capacities | Cars.com