Towing with 3rd Gen

I haven't had a chance to tow anything with my new TRD OF 4x2...
Have y'all towed yet? How does it do with the new engine? I have the towing package, but I have concerns since people complain about the 3rd gen lack of power. I got 2 ATVs and a trailer...3500lb.

 

Did fine towing a skiff a few miles and launching it. Maybe 1.5k lbs total?

 

I wonder how it will do with a 20' travel trailer.

 

Not sure if this would help you or not, but I thought it was interesting. The engine really screamed during this test.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCkBmiZV09w

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/anyone-towed-with-3rd-gen-yet.391334/

 

Yea, but that was going up the Gaunlet. I drove that with my 2.7L 2nd gen Tacoma with 225k miles on it and it was a complete dog. I think everybody passed me. That hill is a killer.

 

http://www.tfltruck.com/2015/12/2016-toyota-tacoma-real-world-mpg-towing-test-video/

That 3.5 screams! No thanks, I'll keep my 4.0.

 

I dont plan to pull my 20' travel trailer very often but nice to know that I can when needed, thanks for this vid... very much appreciated.

PS I dont have my 2016 yet but I'm saving up all my pennies so I can get one within a couple years. I'm doing all the research I can while I wait.

 

@dapetik The gen 2 had very similar results when towing the same amount. That payload of over 10,000 pounds is a stiff number to try to haul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVC-JZ-5i2Y

We saw these videos and thats what brought up the question if anyone had used their gen 3 for towing in the real world so far.

 

What are you saying is similar? MPG, RPM? I believe when I watched these I noticed the 4.0 did a little more shifting initially then settled to the lower gear, also running a high RPM. However, I think the 'high RPM' was still hundreds lower than the 3.5. I don't care about the time/speed they pulled it or the MPG. I do care how 'easily' the engine handles it, meaning it doesn't have to scream to pull it. I just wouldn't feel comfortable with that 3.5. It may have more overall torque but I do believe it comes at a much higher number.

 

I have 2 atvs and an open 6x12 trailer that I use to haul them around. Total weight is about 2200-2300lbs, so nothing too heavy. I thought it did pretty well running with ECT on. It got up to speed as easily as my 08 taco with the 4.0 and mpg was comparable as well, with the 2016 getting maybe 1mpg better.

The TFL Truck tests are all using a 5600lb trailer, if I'm not mistaken. Most of the trucks in their tests are screaming, but that's the purpose of the tests, to push the truck. I used to tow a race car to a track almost 3hrs away a couple of times a month and the total weight was around 5000lbs. The 4.0 screamed as well. To me, the benefit of the 3.5 is that, even though it may be turning higher rpms, it's still smoother. Though, if I was still towing 5000+lbs on a regular basis, I would have probably stepped up to a Tundra.

 

@dapetik Thats what I was saying is they seemed similar in the numbers over all. But I guess only time will tell how well these do in the lifespan. I do agree it is a smaller displacement engine, and as such has a power band in a higher RPM bracket. Thank you for stoppin by, we will post up how it does when we have our first haul in a few weeks.

 

@Taco1701 Thank you sir, those are the numbers we were wanting to see. That sounds pretty good to me. How far were you hauling the 2200-2300 pound trailer and what did you find to be your average MPG while hauling?

 

I am not a fan of the test pull up the gauntlet. There are so many factors that go into trying to make the test even. http://www.tfltruck.com/2015/03/2015-toyota-tacoma-v6-4x4-extreme-towing-test-ike-gauntlet-midsize/

The test only concludes that they can pull at full throttle all the way up without any major problems.

 

Round trip was about 260 miles and it averaged 15 mpg on the way there and 15.8 on the way back, if I recall correctly. The trip was up to Durhamtown Plantation in Union Point, GA, so there was some hills and rolling terrain, but we weren't climbing mountains or anything.

 

Neat video...someone forgot to tell Mr. Truck that the is composite, not a drop in a liner over steel.

 

@Taco1701 Those are what we were looking for. That's great numbers to me. You say Durhamtown, did you go to the mudpark up there, and if so is it worth the trip up to go 4 wheelin?

 

Hey guys,
If anyone has towed with your 3d gen please add to this thread. Please include all specs (weight, elevation, grade, RPM's etc) and overall impressions. Only one tow review so far but trying to make a good go-to thread for towing reviews. Thanks!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gen-3-towing-thread.413026/

 

@TacoJonn Thanks for dropping by, I was curious if you had done any towing so far and what numbers you have seen. The thread you mentioned didnt have any information on that so far?

 

My brother-in-law and I had a blast! We didn't do much mudding, but we did pull a couple of kids in a RZR out of the big mud hole by the drag strip. There are trails with some serious mud, but we didn't venture into those. We spent the entire day there and didn't see the whole park. There's all sorts of things to do and there were races going on that day on the MX tracks so we would ride trails and come back and watch the races when we needed a break. I enjoyed it and will probably be going back when it warms up.