Calling all pop up tent trailer owners

I'm debating on buying a full size pickup vs a Tacoma. The main reason is I have a 2013 Starcraft pop up weighing 2450 lbs dry, around 3000-3200 lbs loaded. I have read the tow bible as well as several threads on towing. I wanted to get an idea of what it's like to pull a pop up of this size. Does the Taco struggle at all in this weight category or pull with ease? I don't want to be climbing a hill at 30 mph barely making it. But a compact truck would be nice and I love the Taco!

 

I can let you know after Labor Day - I just got my Tacoma, so I haven't towed with it yet. My PUP has a 12' box, slide out, toilet/shower, and front storage. Last time I had it on the scales, it weighed in at about 3,300#.

Based on my experience towing it with a 2006 Sienna, I expect the Tacoma to tow it with ease.

 

Just sold our 2007 Fleetwood Tuscon. 1500 lbs empty. Tacoma pulled it like it wasn't there. Wish it were the same story with our new TT. 4000 lbs and profile 3 feet above the Tacoma. 9.5 mpg :-(

 

Sounds good, can't wait to hear. We pull ours now with a 2007 Acura MDX. It tows it just fine, but I can definetely feel the difference compared to my 1985 Starcraft (1200 lbs empty). My MDX is rated at 5,000 lbs, but I noticed it has 300 hp and 275 lbs Torque, slightly better than the Tacoma. So I'm curious to see how the Tacoma does.

 

I tow a Coleman Sun Ridge. Its over 3k loaded down plus other gear in the truck. It does fine, you know its back there and I always tow big grades where I'm going with no issue. Trailer brakes are a big plus when you gotta stop it. I towed it with a 1st gen as well, no real issues there either.

 

Good to know. I have trailer brakes on my pop up. Just gotta get a second controller installed on the Taco when I get one.

 

My '07 FJ, '09 Taco, and '13 Taco have all pulled my 2004 Viking pop-up with no problem at all.

The camper weighs 2,900 dry, but probably closer to 4,000 with all our crap + firewood in it.

You don't absolutely need the trailer brakes, but you're better off with them.

 

Thanks for the info. Diggin the custom brackets. I'd like to see some versatile uses for those

 

My tent trailer weighs around 2700 empty and my tacoma pulls it well. The only time I notice is when I'm going over a mountain pass. It also pulls 2 walker mowers on a 14" trailer all week long with now problems. I was getting a lot of rear sagging but I put on the full OME kit with the dakars and it sits pretty level with a trailer on

 

The 2nd gen taco w/ tow pkg has a pretty good tow rating and it'll handle that pop up with no issues. I have a TT that weighs the same AND I have to deal with the wind. So from personal experience, it'll be no prob. Power and braking is never an issue. You'll be fine. If you get a full size for just a pop up then its super overkill.

 

My pop up is about half the weight of yours but I pull a 18' Ranger bass boat that weighs close with no problems.

 

I tow a 3000lb speedboat with no problems. As others said, you should be fine

 

I tow a 2010 Starcraft 176RB, it's GVWR is 3500 lbs. The taco pulls it fine, even up the steep grades I encounter traveling in the Rocky Mountains. I know it is back there, but I can still pull at the posted speed limits (But see about 10 mpg). If you are buying an automatic trans, you will want to keep the truck in "4" not in "D", I actually shift my truck manually to better control rpms, etc. Also a good quality weight distributing hitch such as the Equal-i-zer brand, and a brake controller are a must!

 

I just took my first camping trip with a new-to-me pop-up. It's a smaller one, but once I jammed every available bit of space full of gear, I'm figuring it weighed around 2K. The Tacoma pulled it like it was glued to the back of the truck. I only had to downshift to 5th (manual) I think three times on hills in a 150-mile trip, and the rest of the time was 65 mph in 6th with no issues.

As someone else brought up, your only problem could be with the rear springs. By the time I had the trailer loaded, plus the bed of the truck loaded, I was seriously dragging ass and this is with the 4-pack TSB springs. I'm planning to upgrade to a bigger truck in the near future, but that's strictly because I want more cargo and interior space. If I was keeping the Tacoma, I would definitely be looking at some aftermarket leaf springs.



Edit: I have the 4.0L and tow package.

 

Like I said above, a good WDH setup will help alleviate a lot of the sag by distributing the weight between the front and rear axle. Not to mention the anti sway properties to go along with it.

In the picture I posted I have my trailer (600 lb tongue weight) plus generator, 5 gal gas can (full), cooler (full), extra propane tank (full), archery equipment and targets (rhinehart 18 in 1 and 3d deer), and a 55 gal water barrel (empty) in the bed and was sagging slightly. Never once on the whole trip did the rear suspension bottom out.

This is on the factory 4 leaf TSB pack. I wouldn't tow a heavy TT or pop up without a Equal-i-zer hitch!

 

Toyota REALLY needs to do something about these springs, for 2000lbs & it sags like that is ridiculous, the same thing happened to me towing a UHAUL 6X12 trailer with a total of like 3000lbs & with these trucks being rated to tow 6500lbs this crap should NOT happen, I have a AAL & will upgrade to some Dakars in the future but Toyota needs to put better springs from the get go.

 

I read somewhere to pull the trailer with the overdrive off engaged. That changes the gearing for towing. Anyone do this. I plan on lifting the Tacoma with Icon front shock assembly and a drakar leaf replacement pack for a full 3.5 inch lift. Also, I'm gonna look into a weight distribution hitch. Our Acura MDX drags ass a little when loaded.