2015 V6 TACOMA pulling enclosed trailer. good or bad?

Hello, complete newb here. Just bought my first truck 3 months ago using it for hauling furntiture i slang on the side. I have the short bed truck. 2015 v6 se. I think its kind of the basic truck. So my question is i have been using a lighter basic utility trailer 5*10 to haul furniture it seems to do fine. This little truck does seem to take some gas when I'm hauling which kind of sucks.
So up here in Wisconsin we decided to get an enclosed trailer as well. We purchased the 6*12 regular trailer for hauling furniture in winter. The lady has a Tahoe with the tow package and that hauls it nicely. I have yet to use my tacoma yet and wonder is this going to put a lot of stress on the smaller motor? I don't know much about trucks and power really, I'm just learning as i go i guess. Does anyone out there haul an enclosed trailer on their 2015 or same model tacoma and do you have any issues long term if you do? Is this a good idea ? I am kind of intimated i guess by the larger trailer and it does obviously have substantially more weight then my regular flat trailer. Will the truck be fine to haul this you think?
Any feedback is appreciated.

-Cristian

 

It should be fine. Depending on how far, how often you are towing, how much weight, you may want to add an auxiliary transmission cooler if you have an automatic transmission.

Read through the towing bible. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/

Your trailer size is on the border of having electronic brakes on it, so if it does not, you may want to upgrade your Tacoma front brakes.

I barely felt a 5x10 enclosed trailer behind my 2015 V6, but I also have a supercharger... +2500 trailer and +500 camper on the back. Stock gearing, automatic transmission, 32" tires. TRD OffRoad package comes with the "towing package", which includes a hitch, 7-pin connector, small auxiliary transmission cooler and higher output alternator.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKFbYZinNvi/

 

These trucks are not good for towing much and when they do the gas mileage way down. Get a full size if it’s routine towing IMO.

 

The size of the trailer isn't important. It's how much weight you put in it. If you have the tow package your truck is rated to PULL 6500 lbs. Without the tow package it is either 3500 or 5000. I'm not sure about that. But even with the tow package somewhere around 4000-5000 lbs is a more realistic max.

There are 2 things to consider. When tow ratings are assigned to most trucks, they assume nothing in the truck but a driver. Towing on level ground, and at sea level. When you start adding passengers and cargo to the truck that tow rating goes down. Your engine loses about 3% power for every 1000' above sea level. At sea level you are getting all of the engine's power. If you tow at 5000' power is reduced by about 15%. If you live in the Rockies some passes are 11,000-12,000' and your engine is only putting out about 65% of its power near the top.

The 2nd thing to account for is payload. Most Tacoma's are rated at 1000-1300 lbs. Calculate 13% of the trailers weight as tongue weight. So, a 5000 lb trailer will put 650 lbs on your truck's suspension. If your truck has 1000 lbs payload that only leaves 350 lbs for you, passengers, and cargo in the truck. If you have 1300 lbs payload, then you have 650 lbs to work with. Each truck is different, you need to check the sticker on the driver's door jamb.

If your truck is pulling an open trailer OK, then the enclosed trailer won't be much different with the same stuff inside. The trailer is a little heavier, and you have to account for wind resistance. It would be a good idea to weigh the trailer to know where you are. But as long as you don't start moving gym and weightlifting machines you should be OK.

The Tahoe probably isn't rated to tow any more than your Tacoma. But the more powerful engine will pull it easier, and the Tahoe probably has more payload.

 

Just don't expect to pass anyone ever while towing.


I apologize, that was kind of short of me.

 

I guess I must be crazy. I have a 2015 SR with the 2.7 and 5 speed manual. For 8 years I have been towing a 6x10 cargo trailer with camping gear and my telescope and equipment from central Virginia to Spruce Knob WV on a regular basis. I also own a Tab 320S Boondock that I have towed down the Blue Ridge Parkway, to Ohio and to Nova Scotia. The trailers weigh about 2,000 and 3,000 pounds. I have never felt like there was a problem pulling either one. You should have no problem at all with a V6.

 

There seem to be two camps with this...

1) GET A FULL SIZE TRUCK AND SELL THE TACOMA

2) You won't immediately die and blow the engine on the truck. Don't overdo it and you'll be just fine. Sure, it will be slow, stopping distance will increase, gas mileage will decrease, but it will do it.

 

Good or Bad? good if you just tow it around empty - bad if you load it up. Don't confuse "tow ratings" for a truck "designed and manufactured for towing". The Tacoma is capable at the lower end of its tow ratings, but you only need to tow the same load at the upper end of the Tacoma tow ratings with a truck designed for heavier loads to appreciate the difference.

 

I hate towing threads.
It usually ends in an argument.

My advice is, if you’re going to tow over 3k lbs. let the engine do the work. Not the transmission.

4th gear is a good gear.

 

I tow a 5x 10 (but 6' tall!) around Wisconsin all spring and early summer. 3000 Lbs + (with trailer brakes. It tows really heavy because it is up in the wind as it is a very tall trailer.) Truck is also carrying a load with all my offroad junk. 255/85 r 16's no regear. Stock V6 with t ow package. Stock it sucked, because the dam thing was nearly sitting on the bump stops and tar strips put it there. I added custom Alcan springs that are 1200Lbs over stock with 1" lift this summer. Tows fine now. Won't win any races, and needs to visit almost every gas station you see. Ashland to Minocqua and back to Hurley is it. Ashland to Rhinelander, gotta get gas in Minocqua. Don't feel like I am exceeding the trucks capacities, just have to plan ahead for a passing and stopping-and I have trailer brakes. Picture is for reference-those are the stock spring.

 

Go for it. I have a 10,000 lb Equal-i-zer hitch I no longer need, cheap, if you want to tow safely.

 

Keep in the limits, use a WD hitch(maybe a 6x10 won't be putting that much on the hitch) and trailer brakes.

Just towed a 6x12 up the ak highway and back in a 3rd gen. You knew the trailer was back there and the aerodynamics kills the mileage but it's fine otherwise.

 

I can say that having both and experimenting it is night and day difference with the same trailer and a larger rig designed to tow heavier payload and trailers. Again just my personal experience, YMMV. I tow a small 6x10 landscape trailer with my taco no problem empty but loaded up it’s not fun.

 

I Appreciate all the feedback. I wish i would have made a wiser decision before buying the truck 2 months ago(about). I thought cause it was a V6 it would be lighter on gas (instead of a larger v8) and it came bare bones almost stock. (which i felt was good for insurance wise) nothing fancy. I am debating if i should just keep the truck and move on with it. use it more for the lighter flat trailer we have as well. I am mostly just moving furniture that's it. I have 55k miles on the truck bought it will 52k. I do some driving so that is a major factor with my furniture side gig.
I have been talking to my sweetie and asked if maybe i should just trade the truck back in. But then I would be possibly in a slight loss(carvana I think will still give me a fair return on it.) But then I am looking at trucks with lots more miles over 100k and i need to stay in my budget of 32k after taxes. I think maybe I should jus keep it and deal with what i got. I just wish I had more power and i wish it wasn't such a giant gas hog when hauling for 100miles or so round trip.
My lady says just keep the truck, that I was trying to do the right thing but obviously i have never bought a truck and didn't think our furniture side business would be getting this much going. I was actually looking inially at PRERUNNERS as well. Glad my buddies told me don't buy them. I would probably be even more upset i guess. lol

 

You should be fine with the Tacoma, just don’t be in a hurry. The nice thing is that the truck will hold resale if you decide you need a full size. I have added Firestone airbags to help manage the load, and I am usually at the speed limit when towing.

 

I will agree. This is my 6x12.
Unloaded its like it’s not back there. (Most of the time)
Loaded is a whole different story.

 

I see people posting mostly the trucks with the upgrades though. THE TRD editions . My friend said you should have a tow button in your truck but i do not. Where you would see all the small buttons on the panel i have only the traction button and that side airbag off option. That is all i have on my panel the rest is just plastic covers for the buttons. So i must have just the bare bones V6 I guess. It sounds though that I guess the truck will be fine as long as i just try not to do a race. I appreciate everyone's feedback, this is a nice forum .

 

There is No tow button.
In my prior post, I mentioned 4th gear.
That’s the “Tow” button.

What you want to avoid when towing is the converter locking and unlocking constantly.
This creates heat, and heat the the #1 enemy of the transmission.
I find these trucks like to tow “better” close to 3,000 rpm.
You aren’t going to hurt the engine, so don’t be afraid to push it.

Can you tow in 5th?
Sure you can, but only if the converter is locked and stays locked the majority of the time.
(It won’t how ever if you pull any hills at all)

Have I towed in 5th?
Yes. But again, I monitor the shifting and converter lockup.

 

Also, do you know if your truck has the tow package?

 

Before your next furniture move, go "rent" a full size "anything" with a hitch. Make your move. Then, YOU, will know the difference. You won't be relying on biased opinions here on TW. If your side business continues to grow, you will be prepared.
Ps - if the side business flounders, you'll be happy you own a low mileage Tacoma and it will last for years.