Towing with 4 cylinder

I’ve got a 2013 4 banger I’ve towed some light things around town (not exceeding 1500 pounds) and have some scrap metal I’m gonna tow about 30 mins away thinking the trailer would probably weigh about 2500 pounds loaded would I need trailer brakes or anything for that and would the little 4 cylinder do fine with that?

 

You'll be fine, just plan your stops well ahead, don't tailgate anything, and take your time.

 

You can double check the manual for towing capacities but 2500 lbs without brakes for a midsize pickup should be not that bad. Obviously I'd take it easy, don't out run your brakes. Maybe do a test drive around the neighborhood and check how good your brakes can stop it. The engine isn't really the limiting factor for safe towing, other than pulling into traffic, it's suspension and brakes that matters the most. Don't put too much weight on the tongue as to take away weight from the steering axle.

Take it easy and I think you'll be just fine, maybe stay off main roads if you can stand it.

 

Awesome I’m comfortable with trailer just don’t know the capabilities of the Tacoma yet

 

In MOST states they don't require trailer brakes under 3500 lbs. There are exceptions, but I've towed that much or more without trailer brakes in the past with no issues.

 

Not sure if you have a five or six lug, but if it's the later, you have the same frame, axles, and brakes as the V6 trucks that are rated to tow 6500lbs. So the 3500lb rating the four cylinder trucks get is super conservative. 2500lbs will be no sweat.

 

I’ve got a 5 lug so therefore my suspension is not rated for as much then?

 

Mainly the brakes, But yes, it's not rated for as much, but 2500lbs is not a lot for a midsize truck, even a 5 lugger, to handle.

 

You should be fine. Take it easy, and allow extra time to stop. I recently towed a dual axle trailer with a cord of wood in it about 150 miles. It was prairie, no hills. I just kept it in fourth instead of fifth, ran comfortably about 60-65 MPH, engine about 2500 rpm.

 

You should be ok towing, I have a 2016 4 cyl and I towed a V6 Acura packed full and the bed of the truck packed full across country from Coastal Virginia to Idaho and it did just fine. Didnt like mountains that well but I have a 5 speed MT so I just put it in a low gear and slowly climbed my way to the top.

 

Ive towed a utility trailer weighing around 1200 lbs and a half yard of sand which is another 1200 or so with my 2009 5 speed 2.7L. Like others have said, the braking is going to be your limiting factor. Keep the revs up and the truck will pull it just fine. It's stopping that you need to make sure you leave yourself adequate distance.

 

Any idea what the weight all in was? I have thought about buying a car hauler and a shell of a project car and i wondered if my 2.7L would be up to the task to haul it home. I have a tekonsha p3 brake controller installed.

 

I would say maybe 7k lbs all together and I dont have a brake controller, I was using a car dolly from uhal. a brake controller would have been nice for coming down all them mountains.

 

My 2000 four cylinder five speed towed my roughly 5,000 lb boat and trailer without any problems whatsoever. Many of the trips were up and down hilly back roads enroute the ramp. In 2008 Toyota bought that truck back, ($16,500 for a truck I paid $20,400 for brand new) so I bought an '08 for about $6500.

 

Do you have a weight distribution hitch? And also do you have a 5 or 6 lug?

 

Just a noteworthy peice of info..the 3rd gen 2.7L 2TR-FE shares the same frame, suspension, transmission of the V6 model..but for some unknown reasons, not exactly clear such as US regulations, Toyota up selling , sue happy customers etc the same 2TR-FE engine that tows 2,500 kg = 5,500 lbs outside the USA is only rated for 3,500 lbs in the US market even though its only 80 lbs of torque less then the V6 model that is rated for 6,500 lbs, both sharing the same frame, suspension, transmission, brakes etc as stated before..