How much boat can I haul?

Hi, I'm wondering how big a boat I can haul in my 07 Tacoma. Base model V6 4x4. And what can I do to increase the towing ability?

 

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

Welcome to TW.

The search feature is awesome

 

Welcome to the forum.

Let me answer with a question. How much boat do you WANT to haul?

 

Due to its design and construction a pontoon boat may give you some highway towing problems that upgrades could not effectively deal with. It can be done, but not safely.

 

Legally nothing can be done to increase tow capacity over the factory tow rating. Depending on distance you may want to consider a larger trans cooler I don't believe boat trailers require a brake controller because I bet they all use surge brakes, don't quote me on that though. Stay at 80% or lower of your tow capacity you'll be fine. You may want air bags or stronger leaf springs to help level out the rear.

 

The realistic limit for these trucks is about 4500 lbs even though most are rated for 6500. But there is a lot more info needed to say for sure. The only way to increase that is buying a bigger truck.

 

22ft four winns cabin cruiser. Single axle trailer

 

I wouldn't hesitate towing that if it has surge brakes.
I tow this 17' McCullough. Here she is getting some new upholstery.

 

Legally, you can haul as much as the sticker on the door says, I don’t think there’s a reasonable way of legally increasing tow capacity on your truck, definitely some things you can do to make it tow more comfortably. Air bags, heavier leafs in the back, tune, brake controller, WDH etc....

 

Maybe up to a 30ft.

 

Does your base model have the factory towing package? You have to have a frame-mounted hitch receiver to tow more than about 1500 pounds, otherwise you'll look in your RVM one day and see your boat and rear bumper doing their own thing in the distance behind you. Factory hitch will have a 7-pin connector, go ahead and upgrade your boat trailer's 4-pin connector to that for simplicity sake, or get the adapter.

 

It has frame mounted hitch with a 4 pin connector.

 

How much does this combo (boat AND trailer) weigh?

 

Dont know. The owner says he doesnt know either

 

One way to find out. hook it up with a bigger truck and take it to a scale and have it weighed. Not with your truck in case it's past your max. Or look up with details of the trailer and boat online and find the weights.

Random search i found this. Cant find the Cabin Cruiser specifically but you might be able to find something close. Looks like the 22' listed weighs around 3200. That's without a trailer. I personally agree with @Marshall R with 4500 being a realistic limit. That's with a tow package. Not just a frame mounted hitch.

https://www.fourwinns.com/uploads/2017/2/FastFacts1990.pdf

 

Cool thanks alot for the info

 

You really need to look and see if you have the factory tow package. Look for these.

 

You can tow more than you can safely stop. The brakes on these trucks aren't that great to start with so you'll definitely want trailer brakes of some sort if you start creeping up towards the manufacturer's listed tow weight.

 

I’d say right around 20ft. I have a 23ft sailboat that tows fine. For the exact numbers on everything towing is in the manual. I found everything I needed to know about towing with your truck by searching for, “2007 Toyota Tacoma owners manual”, on the pages around 311.

 

Finally, the correct answer above. That much freeboard on the side of the boat will kite in the wind something terrible while towing. Been in the marine industry. Twice. That boat is going to be hell to tow with a Tacoma. Why? Let me show you a couple of things. You see how the boat is hog-tied with rope? Because it can't be securely mated to the trailer otherwise. You see how the front keel roller is new? You see where the trailer is not welded so that it can tilt? All of that is indicative of play, loose tolerances in places there should be no play. Nobody TILTS a trailer anymore! There's no TILTING in boating! That was the 70's! There is no front crossmember with a keel roller to support the boat and the next keel support roller is too far back. WAY too much weight on the front keel roller, and with the boat wagging back and forth in it. That's probably why it has a new one. The trailer flexes as it is towed and will telegraph a 'pitch-poling" effect on the tow vehicle. ESPECIALLY a mid-size tow vehicle. That looks like WAY too much boat on WAY too little trailer. It begs for a large turnbuckle between the trailer and the bow cleat. If it is not yours already, I'd pass.