Traded my '16 DBL Super White TRD Off Road for a........

The problem I had with a WDH like that, on a AC Tacoma like that was it was fine onroad, not so good offroad. Look at that pic, go through a deep desert wash, the truck is going uphill, the trailer is going downhill, the WDH digs into the dirt and rocks and gets torn up. Been there done that, I ended up going with a straight hitch and Hellwig helper springs. The Tacoma did great with the straight hitch on the highway. I'm not saying WDH is garbage, but going offroad with one was a problem for me.

 

He actually explained later on how he researched his choice and why he initially decided on the Tacoma. Read through the thread, so you can see he didn't just blindly run to the dealer waving his briefcase full of cash and throw it at a Tacoma ignorantly. Dude made a mistake. Now he's happy and lesson learned. It's just so awesome how everyone here loves to kick a guy when he's down. Must be a Tacoma thing to do.

 

No. It's just that one quick hop on TW will tell you everything you need to know about towing with one. In short, unless you have to have a small truck for other purposes, there is no point in getting a Tacoma if towing is one of your needs. Plenty of complaints throughout the 2nd generation Tacoma forums about towing more than 3500 pounds with a Tacoma at sea level. The complaints just get worse once you add anything that takes away power like altitude. The 3rd generation Tacoma has even less torque off the line which makes the problem even more pronounced.

I too get frustrated with people who expected a lot out of a Tacoma for towing and come on here to talk about it. It's literally a

 

It's a shame we all can't be as enlightened and informed as you. Hopefully one day I will be, if I'm lucky...

 

If being able to type "towing" into the search bar makes me enlightened then things in the world are worse than I thought lol. Seriously though I'm not riding OP for his mistake. Sounds like he has what he wants and needs now. To say though that the information he needed to make the right decision in the first place wasn't easily available to him is untrue though.

 

I agree I wouldn't have traded the 3.5 in because it had some struggles hauling probably 4600lbs in the Colorado Rockies. I can see some concern since the 3.5 isn't a proven truck engine like the 4.0, but the 4.0 would drop into 2nd gear in the same area the OP was at, been there done that. It's not so big a deal that I'd go to the massive Tundra with the 48 foot turning circle. You won't be unhooking the trailer and having a good time on the narrow trails with a 48 foot turning circle Tundra.

 

otoh, my gen.2 Taco AC 4x4 has a 40.7 turning radius, thats pretty bad, especially because i'm coming from a old Volvo wagon that had a 32' circle

 

Couple of things. First the 5.0 isn't an engineering marvel, too many issues to make it a competent power house on the levels of an LS motor or terminator cobras (from cost to complexity to strength).

Blowing the tires off in third has nothing to do with the potency of the motor. Many motors can make huge power to diminish tires, if that is what you were doing you went about it wrong. Suspension and tires needed to be addressed as you shouldn't be spinning nearing 100 (spinning ain't winning). Also why was the limiter at 6k? Stock it is 7k right? What tires were you running?

Finally, what did you do to get more low end from yours? Those motors are far from being known as strong at the bottom end, seems many people try to find more mid and lower range since they are quite good at the top of the rev range being a four valve.

Would love to hear more specs on your car. Forced induction I take it?

Tyler

 

I agree completely! I went from a 12' TRD Tundra to the 16' SR5 Tacoma. The Tundra was a GREAT truck but was more than what I needed for my "truck" usage. My Tacoma is about 85% used as basic transportation, 10% for hauling things, and 5% towing (5 x 10 enclosed m/c trailer w/Harley). So far I am getting about 5 mpg better than my Tundra in both categories (city/hwy). I really don't see how anyone could be "on the fence" between the two models as, IMO, they were designed for 2 different markets. I totally enjoyed my Tundra but can honestly say I haven't looked back after buying the Tacoma. And yes, equipped similarly, the price is just not that far different between the two models. I had a similar experience many moons ago. I bought my first Harley (a Sportster) and realized it was not the bike I really needed as I enjoyed long road trips. Shortly after I sold it for a Dyna model but fortunately in those days you could get your money back on a used Harley. Note to SOCO Taco: You will find great information and members on Tundra Solutions.com just as I have on Tacoma World.

 

Dual F150 5.0L owner here. With 3.55 or better gearing the 5.0 L is a great truck engine. No lack of power down low IMHO and a great exhaust tone. More power than the 5.3 L GM as well. I'd take the Ford 5.0 L over the Tundra 5.7 L for what I do every day. If I wanted a race truck I'd build an engine from scratch... instead of trying to blow shit out of a stock engine with more boost. That being said there are plenty of Roush versus TRD showdowns on Youtube. Either engine can be put over 600 HP by an idiot with some cash lying around without any issues.

I wasn't looking for the torque monster that the 3.5 L Ecoboost is and the 2.7 L Ecoboost is still too untested for me. That's why I went 5.0 L. I do understand that Toyota can't offer the engine range of the big 3 because they don't have the truck sales to cover that much R&D but, common, Toyota could of done better rather than keep the same 3UZ in the Tundra with a 4.10 rear end and the 13 mpg fuelly average.

 

I think we all know what is good for towing and that is a turbo diesel if we are going that route. Did you see the pic of the Taco and the 17.5 foot mini camper weighing it a whopping 3300 lbs? With the Taco rated for 6500 ish, being at 50%, when RV dealers tell you all day that 70% is fine, should have been adequate. As previously stated, 9000-11000 feet takes it toll. I will still be towing the same mini camper with the Tundra. Just wont be hitting any jeep trails with it.

 

A man with reason. Thanks.

 

So doing that every month or so, from May to Sept is going to be easy on the Taco? I guess I could have kept the Tacoma and dogged it? So you know the first grade heading south out of Vista then, the one with the passing lane? The 3.5 was struggling to keep it at 40 mph. By the time I reached the top, I was pulling 30. You are from Colorado, so you should know about being safe, and being stupid with a trailer. How many times have you seen some flat lander with a 1/4 ton and a triple axel fifth wheel burning brakes, and transmissions? Not going to be unsafe, or kill a the Taco because I like pulling 5k rpm every time I hit a grade.

 

I, uh, um.

I think the Tundra feels like a truck, and the Tacoma feels like an SUV more.

I had a Tacoma, my buddy had a tundra. Loved the ride of the tundra. Hate admitting it tho.

 

The Tacoma has a very light hitch weight, 600 lbs. So depending on your trailer and gear you could easily hit that weight and then some. The WDH takes that weight off, and sends it back into your vehicle. Trailer weight, does not equate to tongue weight. A light trailer, can place much more tongue weight on the back of the vehicle and can bad things to happen. If you are planning on towing, you need to hit the towing threads.

 

I think what you're talking about since you're from Pueblo is the grade where US 285 climbs up from the Arkansas River by Buena Vista in order to get to US 24 to get to Colorado Springs and back to Pueblo.

That's a steep climb but I wouldn't worry about revving the 3.5 to 5000rpm for 5-6 miles.

 

I've enjoyed reading this post, especially your opinion and experiences on towing. I too would expect my Tacoma to at least tow 50% of its rated capacity. I have yet to test mine (just crossed 700 miles), but I can say I am NOT impressed with my first loaded road trip from Helena to Wisdom MT.

We went to a bird dog training weekend and I loaded my DCLB with my camping gear, water and some supplies for the weekend. About #350-400 lbs MAX in the bed and just my wife and I in the cab. I had to go over two passes- Boulder MT and then the divide at Butte. No towing- just cargo. My taco pegged 5k several times sustained just to get over the passes and keep it at 70mph (speed limit is 80).

That's pretty high for what I consider to be a moderate load.

I do tow an 18' SeaArc alum fishing boat with a 50hp merc and hunting gear so we'll see how it does. I'm going to keep on driving this truck right up to red line if I have to, but as it stands I am NOT impressed with this engine at all. My 1998 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0 hauls a load better than this truck...

 

As far as the towing threads go you need to sift thru them with a fine toothed comb.There are people that way over claim in my opinion on weight/mass pulled,mpg and how easily their vehicle handles it.

 

Hitch light or needing "more weight on the tongue" was the 1st thing that came to mind
when you said your camper porpoised.
WDH is awesome
Thanks for the pics !

 

According to Edmunds, Tundra Crew Max has a turning radius of 44 feet, Tacoma double cab long bed is 44.1 feet. The short bed is 40.6 feet. Tundra has the best turning radius of any full size truck.