safe towing capacity

Hi, looking to upgrade to a 5100# camper. I have a 2023 4x4, double cab, v6, 5 ft bed, with tow package and weight distribution hitch/sway bars. Is this something this can handle? I’m told max towing capacity is 6400#.

 

5100# dry, or is that the GVWR?

A lot of folks don't like to go over around 80% of the rated towing capacity. Another thing to keep in mind is tongue weight. Keep in mind that your weight distribution hitch should be counted towards the tongue weight.

Just a side note: it sounds like you already tow a travel trailer, but I'll just mention it anyway..

Don't tow in overdrive, keep your speed at or below 65 MPH, take your time and your truck will be much happier.

 

Larger transmission cooler and brake controller. I also have the Roadmaster active suspension system. I have. Grand Design 17MKE. About 5100 loaded.

 

Thanks-Sorry, I should have added that I do have a brake controller and the #5100 is dry. Thanks again.

 

once loaded, you will be close or over the max towing limit. you will not like the tail wagging the dog. get the right tool for the job at hand. Ski

 

Welcome to the forum

That 5100 pound dry rating will end up much heavier when you load up for a trip.

These trucks don't have much payload, the tongue weight will put you close to maximum with nothing in the bed - remember people count against the payload.

Although the truck will do the job it really isn't the right vehicle for it and doesn't make for an enjoyable drive.

 

I would recommend air bags. They are very easy to install, will keep the truck from bottoming out, allow the truck to be level with different loads on the rear suspension.

I once carried about 2000lbs over the manufacturers limit. I asked for a specific amount of sand in a trailer but when I weighed it, it was way over. I kept it under 45 mph, didn't go down any steep hills. It felt completely fine, other than accelerating slower, i didn't even notice the extra load. I would have been terrified on the freeway or a steep hill.

In summary, I wouldn't recommend going over the limit, air bags help a lot.

 

your exact build has a sticker in the door jamb covering this.

5,100 lbs dry, is half ton territory. Another factor is height and width, TT's are giant wind sails and the medium sized Tacoma is not creating that big of a hole for the trailer to follow through.
I don't know this,,, but I suspect, the TT manufacturers are going to publish the absolute lightest weights, in order to move more expensive units and get more people to buy (W/O upgrading their vehicles at the same time). Then, let the dealer add items on, like battery, spare tire, etc. I would take their published number and add at least 5%, if not 10%.


It looks like you just bought a 2023 Tacoma, so you are going to be looking for a smaller and lighter TT,,,, or you're going to be looking for a new truck if you go with this one.

 

I think that's too heavy.

I'm at my limit towing a 3700# (dry) trailer in my Sport with tow pkg. WDH is about 500# tongue weight, plus a big gas generator in the bed. I'm under the Tacoma's posted GVWR for towing when the trailer has water in the tank, but just barely. I don't want insurance to have any reason to deny a claim if I need to.

Just did a 7 state blast and got about 6-7 MPG average. I have a manual which helped, but stayed in 3rd & 4th gears most of the way -- the trailer is a freaking parachute! My little truck pulled hard for me but I'm right at its limit.

 

Check out page 16 of this PDF for towing and tongue load numbers from Toyota.

http://www.tfltruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2016-toyota-Tacoma-Technical-specs.pdf

 

5100 dry is too heavy. I wouldn't enjoy 5100 gross.

The answer that most people don't want to hear is that if you want to pull a big trailer, you need a big truck.

 

I pull a rpod with a dry weight just under 2300 loaded without clean water and empty black and grey tanks it is around 3000 .I have added a brake controller, Anderson wdh and alcan progressive leaf pack built for my truck and trailer. This set up tows just fine if you don't mind not having any power. I would not wanna tow anything over 3800 dry. However we all have a different threshold for what we are comfortable with.

 

I've pulled 6K a short distance. It would be a hard no for longer distance, but the Tundra was very comfortable at 6K.

 

Forget it.

Your Truck will PULL 6400 lbs, but the suspension isn't rated for that much. Check your payload. There is a sticker on the driver's door jamb with a statement that reads (The total weight of passengers and cargo should not exceed XXXX lbs). The exact weight varies depending on the individual truck, but a 3rd gen 4X4 crew cab is usually 1000-1100 lbs. Some as low as 900.

By the time you get propane, a battery, water, food, and other camping gear inside a 5100 lb trailer you will be over 6000 lbs. Next you figure 13% of the trailer weight as tongue weight. So, 6000 lbs will put 780 lbs on your trucks suspension. Add another 100 lbs for a WDH and that will eat up virtually all of your payload. You will be able to pull the trailer and stay within your trucks payload, but you won't be able to carry any other passengers or cargo inside the truck.

A sensible max for a Tacoma to tow is around 4000-4500, 5000 if you pack carefully. And that is with the trailer loaded which means a 3000-3500 lb dry weight trailer. You could certainly safely pull a heavier trailer as long as you don't have anything else in the tow vehicle other than the driver. But very few of us do that.

 

Get a new truck or a smaller trailer.