Rav4 v6 engine vs new tacoma v6 engine

Hi everyone,
I currently have a rav4 2012 v6 with 3500lbs capacity.
Have towed trailer and rv’s near the 3500 lbs with no issue but we want to go a bit bigger with rv’s like near 3000 lbs empty.
I’ve check to make a step up in the towing capacites with buying a tacome v6 in the 2020 with 6500 lbs capacity.
I’ve checked a lot of video on youtube with poeple towing 3-4000lbs and the engine of the tacoma seems to work excalty the same way my v6 in my rav4 work when uphill and when accelarating.
My question is:
Is it the same engine in the ravy than the tacoma? The numbers of hp and torques seems to be the same…
So why only 3500 for the rav4 and 6500 for the tacoma.
I don’t whant to make a move i will regret afterwards…. I’ve test drive a pro 2023 yesterday and what a pleasure to look at and drive!!
I’m checking a vr with electric break by the way..
Thanks !

 

because more goes into the tow rating than the engines ability to pull.

 

The Tacoma has different weight, wheelbase, and gearing properties than the RAV4. The RAV4 is more geared toward highway cruising and not exactly made to tow. The Tacoma is a truck. Towing isn't the #1 focus, but it is far more of a focus than it is for the RAV. The Tacoma 3.5L V6 is part-time direct injected and makes peak power around 3500 RPM, which is higher than people are generally used to. It doesn't mean it is struggling by any means. It wouldn't be rated for 6500lbs if it was having issues at 3000lbs.

 

Better divetrain durability, suspension, brakes, and longer wheelbase allow the Tacoma to have a higher tow rating. Edit: I guess stronger frame too.

You're right, the engines are very similar. I'm guessing they will both sound about the same and work just as hard pulling the same trailer, but the Tacoma will last longer doing it, and be safer.

Most I ever towed with the Taco is about 4000; I wouldn't be going higher than that personally, and not for multiple long trips.

If you're going to buy a new truck because you want to tow an RV, you should look outside the Tacoma. Maybe the best approach is decide what trailer you want, find the max GVWR for that trailer, then choose a new truck that can tow well above that number (people say your max practical limit is 80% of the tow rating, for example).

 

^ This!

There are lots of vehicles on the market where the "towing package" is an option; with such vehicles, the engine is identical regardless, however, the suspension various cooling systems are virtually always upgraded. The RAV4 may well have the same squirrel mill under the hood, but the rest of the vehicle just isn't up to the task of safely managing a 6,500 pound trailer.

 

If you are towing that amount regularly, you really should be looking at a full size truck, IMO.

 

The RAV4 has a unibody frame. Unibody frame vehicles are not as sturdy as full frame vehicles. The gears and brakes are not designed to tow 6,000, or so, pounds, on a RAV4 because the frame could never handle that weight. The RAV4 probably gets fairly good gas mileage on the highway when it's not loaded down. Guess what? That is what the RAV4 was designed to do, get decent gas mileage. The Tacoma was certainly not designed for towing being a mid sized truck. However the Tacoma is a full frame truck with gears, transmission and brakes with a 6,000, or so, pound tow rating. You need a RAM 1500 5.7 would be my first pick if I was towing over 5,000 pounds once a month or so.

 

This I regularly tow a 2500ish lb boat with a pretty full load of camping gear and the truck can do it but it is not it's strong suit. Pulled it with the f150 work truck once and it was far happier simply based off the fact that the overall truck weight is alot more

 

I've towed my 2k lb boat, and gear with both my 4.7 tundra, and this gen3 tacoma 3.5. I have to say both seemed equally happy, being up to it. It's when I got over 3k lbs with my tundra I felt its load on long hills. I have yet to tow that, or more with my tacoma.

 

Then the Tacoma would not be what I'd buy.

Figure out a 'wet weight'. Look at the trucks load rating (not tow). Figure out stuff you pile in the bed and passengers, plus the tongue weight of the trailer. (normally about 10% of the wet weight)

I'll bet my lunchtime beverage you'll be over loaded. And you'll still need a weight distribution hitch and brake controller.

 

unless you are pulling low drag popups, you are looking/comparing the wrong vehicles,, get a full size truck to tow.

 

Why do people say this?

It depends on what you're towing. Not everyone needs to tow 10,000lbs / feel better because they don't feel anything when they tow 5,000lbs.

20 years ago people got this.

 

Took the words right out of my fingers.

 

Read what I say - 'REGULARLY TOW 3K+'. Can the Tacoma do it - sure it can. Is it happy doing it - not really. It is a purely a matter of opinion - which is actually what the OP was asking. I would much rather have a tool that is suited for the job and does it well.

 

Friday ? That you ?

 

Not to mention that was 3k dry. As suggested in post 10, calculations need to be run if one cares about exceeding the trucks load capacity.

 

the rav4 must have different transmission programing. seems to always rev higher than the tacomas at same speed.

 

"You can take the donkey to the top of the rim or you can take the tram. It is the same price." Like Ron says, Ya might not have the best sales pitch...

 

You ALL have it wrong! It's NOT about what it can pull or how much and how efficiently but about what happens when you have to slam on brakes when some dipshitz pulls out in front of you when hauling a boat, a trailer or whatever.
If the towing vehicle doesn't have the weight, the stiffer frame and suspension etc. it will likely jackknife, flip and wreck when try to stop or avoid a collision. Just ask any state highway patrol officer who has responded to many of these mishaps.

I'm 69 and been pulling plenty of boats and trailers over my lifetime and know better. AND never wrecked a one inspite of many aholes scaring the crap out of me. ALWAYS try keep you distance wide open.

 

What's the rave4's final gear ratio?