My first tow in the mountains with the new camper

I was really curious how this was going to go. I’ve read so much crap on here about 3rd gens and towing I wasn’t sure what to expect. So we took the new camper out this weekend for our first trip with it and the last before the winter. Some details, 2714 lbs dry and probably 3500 loaded. Very aerodynamic too. The truck was right at the 940 pound limit. Maybe a few under.

Again I think my truck is some kind of unicorn because it towed great on about 70 miles of mountain highway grades. I only tow at 55-60 and I was switching between s4 on inclines and s5 on the flats. The transmission was not hunting at all. It’s was very stable too. The only little complaint is 12.5 mpg. But again, this was towing in the mountains. I bet on flatter highway that would be closer to 15 mpg. But I’m not expecting fuel economy while towing anything so not a big deal.

 

You don’t have a unicorn. I have a 2.7L 5sp manual and pull a Tab 320 Boondock in the mountains (WV) a good bit. It does just fine. Most would have you believe you need a One ton diesel to pull 3 thousand pounds.
I have relatives in Nova Scotia and have pulled it there and back from central Virginia.

 

I towed a less aerodynamic Micro Minnie, and it did wonderful in the mountains. It was miserable in the desert with long, gradual grades. It is not uncommon to have a slight grade for 10+ miles. It did not like that.

 

6 years of annoying the locals with my "foreign" license plate. It's seen it's share of the major watersheds in the lower 48. It does okay.

 

You think your license plate annoys the locals? Try having mine!

 

Last time I was doing the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and touring the back side of Crested Butte, the local radio channel made it a point to complain three times a day about how Texas plates were absolutely choking the roads to a standstill. The next day, it was Californias turn to get a share of the hate.

I don't remember what station I was tuned into, but damn yall, hyperbole much?

 

Footnote to this. No weight distribution hitch used. Thinking about removing it completely and selling it. The big hitch is extra weight for nothing. Did use a sway bar though.

 

I have the same trailer. Your Tacoma should pull it easily. The only thing you have to worry about is trying to load up the truck with a heavy load AND pull the trailer. Put as much in the trailer as possible and keep the truck as light as possible. Every 100 lbs you move from the truck to the trailer reduces the weight in the truck by 87 lbs. 100 out of the truck but about 13 more on the hitch. Maybe less depending on where you load it in the trailer. I'd rather see someone slightly exceed the GVWR of the trailer as long as they don't exceed the trucks payload and if they keep about 13% of the trailer weight on the tongue.

You don't need a WDH or a sway bar with that trailer.

12.5 MPG is about as good as you can expect. In my experience I get as good, if not better fuel mileage in mountains. You burn more going up, but almost none coming down. And you're driving slower. On level ground you tend to drive faster and wind resistance at faster speeds hurts fuel mileage more than hills.

 

What model rpod is that, @Da Voke ? Mine’s a 179 and I get similar results towing as you’ve stated. Except for the mileage. I’m towing in MB (flat, but with wind, mostly head or cross) and the best I’ve ever got was 13.0 mpg and that’s with a tail wind.

 

171. How fast are you towing? I find that makes all the difference. But towing milage is going to suck anyway.

 

60~65 mph. Maybe I should try getting under 60 next season.

 

I tow an rPod 180, and have for five years. No issues in the mountains, no WDH, just a sway bar (purely for peace of mind) and blue sumosprings. I have tried all transmission settings, and find that ECT and using the gear select for 4th gear works for me. We get 13mpg plus or minus at 60 to 65 mph.