Towing with the 6speed..?

I haven't hauled much with my 05 4.0 4x4 dbl cab manual. I'm looking at getting a camper to live in alone for a year.

Maybe a 16-20 ft camper.

How does this setup do on long hauls?

What speeds do you all do cross country?

Any input is welcome. Thanks.

 

Most of these trucks are rated for about 6500 lbs towing. But realistically 4500-5000 is a more sensible limit. Especially if towing in mountains and at elevation. Your truck loses about 3% power for every 1000' above sea level. At 10,000' you're only getting 70% of the power you'd get at sea level.

The other problem is limited payload. My 07 is rated at 1200 lbs. That includes tongue weight, passengers, and cargo inside the cab. A 5000 lb trailer will have about 650 lbs tongue weight. That only leaves about 550 lbs for passengers and cargo inside my truck. I'm 220, my wife 140. With us in the truck and a 5000 lb trailer I'm limited to under 200 lbs for cargo in my truck. A 6500 lb trailer will have a tongue weight of about 850 lbs. Plus you need a weight distribution hitch at another 100 lbs. That would leave me with only 30 lbs of cargo capacity and I'd have to leave my wife at home.

 

Thanks marshall

Tongue weight is no issue for me. I've got general springs 4 leafs. It's extremely stiff and rides better with my 700lb + motorcycle in the back.

Im more concerned about take off and the clutch burning with 4,000+ lbs being pulled.

 

I tow a 19 foot Boston Whaler Outrage with my 2006 TRD O/R (auto). The boat is heavily built for it's size and the tow weight can easily be in the 4000 pound range. We have towed long distances numerous times, in fact everywhere we go is hundreds if not several thousand miles. This summer we are towing to Florida for fishing and diving. We have never had a single issue. In hills I take it out of OD, and rarely use the cruise control.

Hill and mountains will slow you down, the brakes are great by the way. On flat land I try to stay under 65 as of concern to blow the tires off the trailer. Your MPG will take a big hit, lol. My Tundra towed a bit better but for everything else I like the Tacoma better and the Tacoma tows just fine. I agree, 4500 to 5000 pounds is probably getting to maximum and keeping a little reserve and not rag the vehicle out.

J

 

Was disappointed my first time towing with my '14 MT....

7x14 tandem trailer & 1200# Yamaha Rhino...about 2500# total

I live at 6000' and only go up from here....didn't buy it to tow...

use my 2500HD Chev for tow needs....

 

I have used my 6 speed V6 for hauling up some fairly long hill stretches (55mph) with loads in bed only. I would estimate about 3-400 pounds in bed. Two adults at 300 pounds total and various stuff in the cab. I'd say about 800 lbs total payload. On this trip I could smell the clutch in sixth gear. The engine had the power though. it wasn't lugging much which would signal a downshift was needed. It was just that the clutch slipped. It only had about 40 k on it. I had to shift down to fifth and thought about going to fourth. I have been driving a stick for almost 40 years. From what you say, on flat ground, 6th should be ok. Any hills though and I'd be prepared to use fifth and maybe fourth gear. Any hope of gas mileage will be gone in these cases I have burned the clutch in reverse too by the way. A first for me in any vehicle.

 

Can you put her in the trailer?

 

I wish my 6 speed had a granny gear!

 

I used my truck to pull a VW transporter around it was right at max payload and capacity. I live in B.C. Canada and we have a lot of hills. When pulling you shouldn't be using 6th gear like the owners manual says, it puts to much stress on the driveline. I do think its fine if your on a flat highway though. I also had 285s and a 3inch on my truck which doesn't help.

 

Any single axle bumper tow trailer should be fine for extended use behind a Tacoma. If you stick with a single axle, you'll stay well below the maximum allowable, but also below a reasonable weight limit. You can get single axles with slides and everything else now, and they still don't tip over 4000lbs. They do rock more than a tandem axle, but the weight concern is legitimate with a Taco and the rocking chair effect can be dampened by the proper weight distribution trailer hitch with sway control.

This is totally doable with a 4000lb or less GVWR. Have fun!

 

I'll let ya know soon. Just pulled the trigger a 2018 RPod 190 that comes in at 3200lbs dry. Living in BC there are plenty of hills to test things out.

 

I just checked it out on their website. That's a neat little trailer. They look super cool! You'll be fine with the ~3800 GVWR. It looks like it's actually only 2800lbs empty, about 3200 with a full tank of fresh water. Congrats on the new piece. Enjoy!

 

I think the toughest part of towing with a manual is getting it moving from a stop (especially on a hill). I don’t have a V6, but towing with my 2.7 (around 3k lbs), even the slightest grade causes me a bit of anxiety when pulling away. Definitely takes some getting used to, and a more deliberate approach to planning where you’re going down to the last (or first) intersection.

 

First gear and reverse are geared painfully high. Get the 2wd low mod from @Up2NoGood you'll thank me.

I tow a lot in the mountains with 33s and a heavy truck. Before the heavy mods, only the longest and steepest hills were an issue. Now, they're all an issue.

Keep your stock size tires.

 

To add to my comment yesterday, starting on a hill (within reason) was not an area of concern for me. I have hauled 12-1300 lb loads of blue stone crush six or seven times. There is a hill with traffic light leaving the mason supply yard. By using the clutch/handbrake/ gas maneuver in first gear the load was pretty easily started, no clutch smell. I have the V6 so that may help too. I have not attempted a large hill loaded though.I avoid them on my route home Braking was not a problem from 35-40 mph. Interestingly, We had a '98 Jeep Cherokee Sport that we ordered with the 6 cylinder and 5 speed manual. We sold it to a guy who was specifically looking for a manual to tow a trailer.

 

Also note that I have 245/75/R16 Firestone Destination A/t's. Brand doesn't matter but the size does. As noted by Pigpen, the tall tires kill the power.

 

I've blown clutch smoke way too many times backing my trailer in and pulling out of tight spots. 2 wheel drive low For The Win!!!

No clutch problems on road,but back up is a whole other story. And using 4 low to back up can break things on high traction surfaces.

 

Back when we were pretty much stock



Truck lifted on 33s, trailer lifted too

 

Picked up the new RPod, ringing in around 3200lbs dry. The drive home wasn't any real issues, just need to adjust to taking more time to get up to speed. I notice in 2nd and 3rd gear up some grades at low speed that it almost felt like the clutch may have been slipping a bit until I eased up on the gas. Probably just need to modify my driving style with the trailer.

Once home, reversing into a tight spot, up hill, in slush and compact snow on soft gravel underneath proved more a challenge. The clutch smelled pretty bad, so I figure I need to work on technique again. I find our trucks are pretty good under normal conditions that when you lift up on the clutch pedal they tend to go in reverse pretty easily on their own without immediate gas required. But with the 3000lbs of the trailer, I don't get away with that. Maybe best to raise the RPMS to 3000 or so and release the clutch so it kicks in right away.

I'll consider my inexperience and the conditions as major factors and aiming to improve of next time :|