2017 Tacoma towing - need feedback

Hi; we just bought a 2017 tacoma with towing capacity of 6500 lbs. It's 3.5L with a V6. We are looking to purchase a Lance 1985 travel trailer with GVWR of 5700 lbs. Any towing advice or feedback would be much appreciated. We are new to both the truck/trailer experience. Is this trailer too much to tow over AZ mountains? Thanks!

 

That's too much for this truck. I live in AZ and have towed 2500 up to flagstaff and onto the rim. Most id go is 3500 to 4000lbs. Your engine will be screaming at 4k rpms + in 3rd or 4th gear to maintain 50mph on those climbs even with 3500lbs behind it

 

Thank you!

 

You have to remember you'll have more than just an empty trailer. Factor in for food, coolers with ice, gear, people, etc...weight adds up quick. If you want to tow 5000lbs plus over and down mountains I'd recommend a full sized. Also going is only part of the equation. Stopping and maneuvering safely in an "event" with all of that weight behind you is another thing. These trucks are not really designed to tow a lot of weight.

 

Thanks again. 6500 lbs on a truck is a bit misleading. I should have gone with a full size p/u. But too late now.

 

Pfft I think you'll be fine. Full throttle doesn't hurt an engine and trailer brakes are a must, it'll stop. You don't have to be Mario Andretti on the hills.

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

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/whats-the-heaviest-your-taco-has-towed.149629/

 

Here's a good video on what to consider before towing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJFVMj-bVsY&feature=youtu.be

 

Says the guy from Nebraska.....

 

second gen here, ive done 4000 lbs from VA to GA and it handled it pretty well but I would not tow more then that. (gf's car better not break down in the middle of nowhere again). I think that 5700 is to close to the limit, I assume that is dry weight and extra weight adds up surprisingly quickly.
For towing look into this thread, nothing on third gens yet but lots of very good info.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/#post-35017

 

......that being said these trucks have crazy resale value...drive it for a year and if you still don't like it , sell it, get a full sized.....you will probably get a used full sized with decent millage for what you will sell the Tacoma for.

 

Which is right next to Colorado.

Oh wait, I forgot about the state border guards that keep us from leaving the state.

 

If you've towed here in AZ regularly your opinion and experience might carry more merit in regards to towing in AZ.

 

Ok.

Define regularly.

Wait, I don't care how much merit I carry. NVM

Edit. Sorry, I can't get on board with advice that says you have to haul approximately 50% of what the manufacturers says you can, when in fact it's probably more. Understand that there are things to know before you tow like equipment setup, loading, tongue weight and CG, route selection, driving ability..

If OP's trailer GVWR is 5700, you really think he should be loading more than 5700# with coolers of ice and beer and firecrackers? I kinda thought 5700# would be the limit on total weight summed up on the hitch ball and trailer tires.

 

It's all about the Hills. And I'd say 50mph is slower than only the Heaviest 18-Wheelers chugging up and down the mountain highways here in the west. Going slower than an 18-wheeler is dangerous for the rest of the road. Also, maxing out your engine every time you hit elevation changes is no good, and you Will be buying a full-size after that gas V6 is toast. I have a tow-pkg on my '98 but have only towed a 5,000lb racer and trailer on flat roads, I know it would never make it on the hills, not at a safe speed. IMO

 

Do you drive a third gen and have you towed regularly in Arizona? Ok then.

 

Why does so many people think that full throttle applications kill engines?

 

Did you read my profile thingy on the left side where you saw Nebraska, says what I drive? Turd gen drastically different?

And again, define regularly?

 

Hi Guys. I should have clarified that 5700 lbs trailer weight is all inclusive GVWR. I would probably never load it to the full capacity, but like someone said, I would probably have extra weight in truck bed.

• Gross Dry Weight 4045 Lbs.
• Hitch Dry Weight 520 Lbs.
• Axle Weight 3525 Lbs.
• Cargo Carrying Capacity 1655 Lbs.
• GVWR 5700 Lbs.

 

That would be the upper limit of what I would want to tow on a regular basis with a Tacoma. I realize this is a 3rd gen question and the engine/trans are different, but I don't think it really matters that much in this case.

I hauled 2 tons of pellets last year with about 1000 lbs in the bed and the rest on a trailer. That was with a '14 v6 MT. The truck handled it like a champ, but then again I only had to go about 10 miles. You will definitely know the trailer is there and if it doesn't have trailer brakes the stopping distance will be SIGNIFICANTLY longer. I don't imagine you will be holding 65MPH on the highway easily.

I used my dad's 2nd gen V6 Auto to haul my crap to and from school a few times. Never approached the weights you are talking about. I used the double axle U-haul trailer and probably had over 1000lbs in it. I found that the truck did great on the flat highway, but any kind of hill would cause it to downshift and hunt for gears. There is a reason Toyota tells you to leave it in 4th when towing. That was a fairly comfortable load for the truck, but the trailer had an inertia brake too.

Once you get above 2T I think you are pushing the limits of what you should be pulling on a regular basis with the Tacoma, especially without trailer brakes. I know they are rated to ~6.5k, but damn that's a lot of weight for a little truck.

Just my opinion and experience. YMMV

 

Exactly. 2 tons = 4k lbs and is the upper limit of what id want to tow regularly in this truck. Especially when you consider the elevation changes here in AZ can go from 1200ft MSL to 7000 or 8000 ft in less than 60 to 80 miles