How do I increase towing performance?

DO NOT tell the sales guy when you want to buy. When they give you the price, even if you like it, tell them it'd have to be a way better deal for you to buy it now, otherwise you'd have to wait. Never hurts to try and get a better deal. They have the margin for it.

 

Yeah, I wasn't really into the whole trailer lifestyle but I'm really liking the sound of it the more I look into it. It started out as a necessary evil but it's starting to look like a blessing in disguise. I'll save tons of money until I'm ready to either start a family or move to a position with no travel. I'm actually pretty excited about it just need to iron out these issues with towing and again thanks for all the help.

 

Ok good to note. I remember doing that when I got the Truck from the dealership. I guess treat it as buying a new truck with the negotiation process?

 

remove your tailgate too for some weight savings

 

Yep. Same exact thing. Never show your cards.

 

Plan is for 10 years. Ok that’s good - but you don’t know what the future brings. So - don’t go all hog wild and get a crazy expensive setup - try the cheaper setup out for a bit to be sure you like it first!

 

Don't rush into a purchase - you will probably have this for a long time, so make sure you get what you want. A little inconvenience now will be forgotten in a very short time - a bad purchase will not.

Look at several different trailers, get a feel for what you like, what "feels good" when you step inside.

Then, buy a Max!

 

Thankfully I still have the option and some random stranger did make that decision for me yet.

 

That's the plan! If I could get one today that would be cool but I don't want to rush into it until I know it's right for me. Thanks for the advice!

 

As a die hard tent camper, I reluctantly got a Micro Minnie 2106ds travel trailer.

It rules and I am glad we got it (and I can still rough it whenever.) Dry weight is 3,750lbs and I am typically rolling with the tanks empty until I get to where I am going.

The taco pulls it well on the highway, but it doesn't like stop & go / winding country road miles. Trans cooler and beefy brakes are a must. An oil cooler would also be good, especially for long climbs, but I don't have one. I run a ScanGauge to keep an eye on all my temps and roll within the limits of the truck. Overdrive OFF!

I was also seeking to improve towing performance, but at the full cost of all the components that go along with the supercharger, tuning, and running premium forever... the juice wasn't worth the squeeze for me.

Live fast- ride slow.

Having stuff like an oven, a hot shower, and flush toilet kicks ass.

Hot tip: We got our trailer in the off season (in December) and got an insane deal.

 

ah damn, I wish I could wait until December but HR called me today and said my pre-employment stuff came back good and I'm all set for orientation next week. At least it's not the end of the world. I think even with the lighter trailer I still want to s/c and all that for fun.

 

What all the others before me in this thread said.

I bought a 3400 pound dry weight toy hauler and it is right at the limit of what my Tacoma can tow. https://coachmenrv.com/travel-trailers/freedom-express-select/17BLSE/7543

 

Here for the dog pile.

If I were living out of a trailer and moving around that much, even a lighter trailer, I'd probably be looking at an F150. Way better at towing, way better at cruising, and dealerships, meaning parts availability and people to install them, at every corner. Your livelihood depends on your truck now, and we all like superchargers and mods, but you won't like it when the nose drive bearing goes out and you can't find anyone to work on it wherever you break down. Or you can find someone to work on it, but you have to send the unit out and it's a 3 week turn around. Were I in your situation, I'd be bone stock except for a winch. You truck is now a tool, no longer a toy.

Even with all the money you could spend on big brakes, a supercharger, all kinds of upgrades cooling, etc, the chassis of the Tacoma will never be as wide and stable as a full size.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/maybe-ill-work-on-my-something.375786/page-17

The above is a realllllly long thread. But it has lots of cool build stuff in it. The first 16 pages focus on a hot rod and an airstream, and around page 17 he starts on a trailer conversion to live in.

I would classify it as lush, convenient and secure. Also better than any of the shelf buy you can make.

Not sure if he's using the Tacoma or Tundra to tow with though. If I were you I'd buzz through that part of the thread and if you find something you want to ask him about, shoot him a DM.

 

Yeah, I'm just going to get a smaller trailer. I looked at a bunch of trailers today and I really like the little guy max. It's pretty small (~3k empty 4.2k GVWR) but big enough for me to be comfortable. Plus tacomas will pull them no problem. But to be honest I just hate the f150s if i got a full size i'd go with a tundra but I just don't want to get rid of my tacoma.

 

Without an AC the coolest your trailer will be is whatever the outside temperature is, and only if you have enough windows open and fans running to cycle air through it. On days forecast for less than 80° I just leave several windows open and both ceiling fans running on exhaust to keep the temps reasonable. Hotter than that and I button everything up minus the fan in the bathroom and run a generator with the AC set to 80°. My cat has survived a year so far and been fine.

I’d also recommend against the automatic litter box. Not only do they require 120v power (will you always have hookups or a generator 24/7) but they take up a ton of space. I keep a normal covered litter box in the tub to help contain the litter and just scoop it out every day or two. You’ll also need to get a good vacuum because you’ll be vacuuming cat hair and litter multiple times a day from all over the trailer.

Most trailers that will be comfortable to live in full time, have enough storage space to live in full time, not fall apart from use other than the occasional weekend trip they’re built for, warm enough in the winter, cool enough in the summer, etc are too heavy for a Tacoma. My recommendation - buy a new truck and buy an Outdoors RV if you want all of the above.

Lastly (for this post) get a trailer with a sealed underbelly with the tanks and all plumbing enclosed in a heated space. The first time the temperatures drop and you’re not left shit out of luck with no water, no way to dump your tanks and potentially broken plumbing you’ll be glad to have spent the extra money.

 

That's heavier then I would like to pull full time with a Tacoma, especially at altitude, but I hope it works out for you. It sounds like this job is an exciting change for you and it sounds like a great way to live for a while. Were I confined to a trailer at a younger age, I would've saved so much money by not even being able to buy a bunch of stupid crap. Especially a new motorcycle every year. God I'm dumb.

I hope you make a thread about your travels, I'd definitely like to read it. One retirement idea I've had for a while was traveling around like you will, but to change the light bulbs at the tops of cell towers.

 

We just bought our first camper. We used RVtrader to find a lower price from a dealer 3 hours away and the dealer 1 hour away matched. It wasn't a crazy reduction in price but they lowered the price.

My criteria (family of 4) was lightweight (under 3500) and enough room for everyone. You are solo but light and roomy probably fits the bill. We ended up with a Bushwhacker Plus but the construction and build quality wouldn't hold up to full-time use. Here are some light trailers with space that might work for you. One more small point to consider is tank water heater vs. tankless. Being full-time and working you may want a tankless, 6-gallon tank heater after a long day doesn't go far. These all sleep 4 but there are other options from these manufacturers.

https://intech.com/rv/models/sol/horizon/
https://nucamprv.com/tab400-camper
https://www.airstream.com/travel-trailers/bambi/
Littleguy Max (already mentioned)

Casita and Escape also fit the bill but the lead times are too long for how quickly you need it.

Lastly, get a WDH, Pin the transmission thermostat open, and get OBD Fusion and a Veepeak OBD2 or scanguage. figure out the rest from there. Have fun!

 

Cool trailers.

Question: I see people recommending pinning the thermostat on the transmission... why? It's designed to open when it needs to cool. Once you break that threshold it will stay open if it needs too, and towing that will basically be all the time. The only thing NOT pinning it will do is let the truck warm up the fluid a little easier so you aren't working it as hard to get it moving on colder morning. Pinning it open doesn't make it cool any better.

 

A quick note on the water heater. My Max uses either/both electric and gas to heat water. Turning both on heats the tank pretty quick - not as fast as tankless, but fast enough to take a shower shortly after washing the dishes.