Towing with 2wd

I've looked around and can't really find exactly what I'm looking for. I'm planning on purchasing a small, tear drop camper. Easily towable, light weight, convenient. Will the 2013 tacoma 2wd handle this decently? I have the 4 door extended bed too, for a little more info.

 

It should be fine if you have the V6. Just look at the camper weight vs. the towing capacity.

 

Just look up the tongue weight and capacity in your owners manual. Don't exceed them. Enjoy the ride!

 

Duh. Thanks. I dunno why I didn't think of that. Blah

 

You should only pull in 2wd, 4wd is for wet/snow only.

 

Just curious, did it come with the tow package? The 4.0 and tranny will pull the trailer all over the place, but improving your braking should be considered.

 

Not valid. There is no difference in brakes between towing package/no tow package on 4.0 Tacomas. Most states have laws regarding what trailers MUST have brakes.

Trailer brakes should be adequate to stop the weight of the trailer, the tow vehicle to have brakes to stop the truck.

Tacoma's do not need modification to the factory braking system to safely tow within the manufacturer's design limits.

 

"There is no difference in brakes between towing package/no tow package on 4.0 Tacomas"- No shit. I was wondering what hitch the OP had (tongue rating on OEM hitch vs aftermarket).

Odds are very good his camper will not come with any brakes. Most drivers aren't versed on towing. Adding greenstuff pads and a dimpled/slotted rotor will add a little margin of safety, as well as reduce the likelihood of glazing the pads or warping the rotors.

While "Tacoma's do not need modification to the factory braking system to safely tow within the manufacturer's design limits" is absolutely correct, a driver can easily purchase an unloaded camper that is within spec, and then load it up for a fun weekend and unknowingly violate spec, creating a situation that can result badly.

That said, I defer to the OPs best judgement. Myself, I'm a fan of proportional brake controllers and a simple upgrade to the front rotors.

 

As usual, there is no need to guess at it. You can't figure out if you have a safe towing combination without real numbers. OP hasn't given any useful info yet for either the truck or trailer. New rotors???

Mike

 

I've run LCE rotors on my last Taco. Great price because they machine them in house. Amazing performance.

 

First, LCE either has a crappy website or they have no brake components at all for 2nd generation Tacomas. Plenty of 99-04 stuff, though.

Rotors??? was intended to question how in the world you can recommend buying new brake rotors without even knowing what model Tacoma we are talking about or any details about the trailer? I fail to see the logic.

Mike

 

I towed small trailers with my 2009 Tacoma 4 cyl. never had any troubles...slowed a bit going up hills!!

 

Ran them on a 95. EBC makes them for Gen 2. Upgraded stopping power is always a plus, trailer or not... Shitty drivers are everywhere. Why not be prepared?

 

"manufacturers spec" doesn't mean anything. they came up with these ratings in conditions that very rarely model what the typical driver subjects his vehicle to. the brakes are rated to stop x amount of weight in y amount of feet at z amount of speed in fair climate.not to mention differnce in road materials, temp variance and tire inflation. when have any of us been towing "within spec"? I think to not make a mention of increased braking power would be foolish not the other way around regardless of model. to the op your truck can handle that weight fine but if you load up the bed and trailer with gear you probably should hit the scales to make sure. if your getting close to max weight id think about an upgrade, maybe just the pads would be ok youll have to see. also alot of this depends on how often you tow as well.

 

That's what I was thinking

 

Sorry, not drinking that Kool-Aid. The stock brakes are plenty powerful enough to activate the ABS, which establishes the maximum usable braking limit. Why not mount a drag parachute on the trailer, just in case? It would actually increase the braking capacity, which your aftermarket rotors do not.

Mike

 

Shhh.... Don't tell the hundreds of thousands of people pulling purpose-built off-road trailers that they should only be using 2WD to tow. If they all laughed at once, your ears could be seriously damaged.

Mike

 

Your right, a century of racing R&D is all worthless, and has yielded no tangible science or mechanical improvements in this area. SMH

Your usable maximum braking limit is based on "laboratory" coefficients of friction, and doesn't take into account actual road conditions, worn components, modifications, individual operators, etc. Hell, I'm running 275s at a diameter of 32.07" which in effect takes the mathematics behind the maximum braking limit and flushes it right down the toilet.

Your ABS comment is based on a coefficient of friction between rubber and the road. That's all well and good (and the ABS systems are effective especially for inexperienced drivers), but you can still glaze oem pads with abs and warp the rotors. Why not upgrade and remove that factor? Why not ensure every component of the system is strong enough to take a beating? Hell, it doesn't even cost much.

 

Abs allows 18% slip. That's industry standard.

 

You can destroy anything by abusing it, regardless of the cost or quality. I believe strongly that the stock system IS strong enough to take a beating. Hell, it's included with the cost of the truck - nothing extra.

Everything you are saying is based on the idea that the factory brakes are inadequate for the uses outlined in the owner's manual. And I'm saying back that it just isn't true. What you are doing with your truck is NOT outlined in the owner's manual. Putting big tires on any vehicle is going to hurt brake performance and longevity. Lots of heavy towing will do the same, hence the increased service requirements. Accelerated wear is NOT the same as brake failure

If, in the course of normal use, I experienced brake fade or insufficient braking power to either lock-up the tires or activate the ABS, I would be looking for a more powerful brake setup. Anything short of that, there is nothing to be gained by switching to an aftermarket brake system. It's not the lab, and it's not a mysterious statistical model of a truck, it's an actual truck on an actual road. If you can lock the brakes and cause a skid, or activate the ABS, you have reached the adhesion limit of the tires. You simply can't use any more braking power than that. If this happens when you're towing (that is what the OP is asking about) then you should hope that the ABS is working well and skidding tires don't cause the truck and trailer to leave the pavement.

Mike