Tacoma towing

I am a die hard Tacoma fan. I have owned several from 1st gen to 3rd gen. I recently bought a travel trailer (dry weight of 2700 and loaded weight of approx 3300) and I got it in my head I needed a 1/2 ton so I sold my Tacoma. I ended up picking up a Chevy trail boss lt. The Chevy is super nice and it has more than enough to tow what I need it to but it’s just not me. I’m really missing my Tacoma but I’m really not sure if it’s the right fit to pull my TT. I have read through numerous threads on here with mixed reviews towing with the Tacoma. Is anyone towing around 3200-3400 pounds with the new 3rd gen and if so what are your thoughts? Also, I think it’s worth mentioning that I live in Florida so everything is flat and my camping trips will be between 1.5 and 7 hours in length. Any advise is appreciated

 

Plenty of us tow bigger than that;
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/show-us-what-you-tow.27460/

19flb Hideout, 3800lbs dry, 4800lbs headed to the campsite..

 

I just traded my 2017 Tundra TRD OR for a 2021 Tacoma DCSB OR. I will be towing approximately the same weight and also mostly flat highways and secondary roads. Just make sure to add a brake controller and it should do it no problems. (You will feel it back there though). I went with the Redarc Liberty which is a fantastic unit and looks factory. Must say that I do not miss the Tundra.
Link to brake controller. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/brake-controllers.711132/page-5#post-25624319

 

I took delivery of a Tab 400 last week and pulled it home to south Florida from Georgia with my 2021 Tacoma. The Tab with the stuff I have in it at this point is about 3,300 pounds. The CAT scale with me, my stuff in the bed and in the trailer, a full tank, and the trailer was 2,440 front, 2,960 rear, and 2,940 trailer for a total of 8,340. Pin weight is 320. No weight distribution or sway hitch. This caused 3” sag at the rear bumper.

The truck with a full tank and me (180 pounds) but otherwise empty was 2,640 front and 2,140 rear for a total of 4,780. I have about 125 pounds of accessories above the baseline truck weight.

I’m within all the ratings but you can see the trailer and other payload took 200 pounds off the front. I might add air bags for appearances as there is margin on the rear truck and trailer axels.

All of this said the trip was uneventful. I was comfortable doing the interstate at 70 mph. Can’t say what wind speed or direction was.

 

Thanks for the replies fellas. Can any of you tell me what kind of mpg you average on the highway and what rpm’s you are running with those loads going around 70 mph? I know the Toyota’s wheelhouse for torque is up there near 4K rpm but it tweaks my brain a little when I have to run like that for an extended period. I know they can handle it but hate pushing a $40+k truck like that. Also I’m a bit neurotic for future reference

 

I got about 10 mpg on my trip from Georgia to south Florida. The hills I encountered popped rpms to about 4,400. Even at 70 mph it wasn’t running at 4,400 on level roads.

 

I’m towing almost the exact weight as you quote. This is my third season. All flat here in Manitoba. Absolutely no problem.

10-12mpg, 2700~3000rpm @ 55-65mph in 4.

 

@Walker01
Interested in the comparison of the 2 trucks - I'm sure the Chevy is comparable -
What steered you into buying one in the first place and how does it stack up to the Tacoma / Tundra

 

The Chevy is awesome for what it is. I actually really like everything about it. The ride is nice, the look is good especially with the factory 2” lift and the inside is very functional (the haters complain about the cab being “dated” but I find it functional and easy to use). Comparing the trail boss to the Tacoma is not really fair because they are definitely not the same thing. They are both very capable in their own ways but they are different ways for sure. If I were to compare the trail boss to the tundra that is a fair comparison. As of the 2021 model years the Chevy is the way to go IMO. I know the Toyota fans are going to have heartburn over that comment but that’s me being honest. That said, if you are interested in a tundra there will be a complete redesign released the end of this year for the 2022 model year....it has been said that it will be a world beater so we shall see.

 

Bought a Toyota Pickup Truck ( pre-Tacoma ) in 1992... put 199,999 miles on it - sold it for a song.
Haven't driven a Truck in 25 years.
Picked up a 2021 Tacoma ( SR5 V6 4WD Access Cab ) a few weeks ago.
Haven't owned (for me anyway) a new vehicle in 25 years so for me, this Tacoma is the Bee's Knee's...
I priced out one of those Chevy's... looks good... but it came in at about 14k more than my SR5.

 

Keep it in S4 + ect and let it rip. Have only done a couple 300-400 mile round trips so far and it has done fine. One trip back was a little sketchy because of the wind. Even the semi’s on the road we’re getting blown around.

 

Yes sir they certainly aren’t cheap. In regards to quality IMO nothing beats a Toyota but the Chevy is a good truck as well. I went with the trail boss over the tundra because of the fuel economy.

 

@a2lowvw
Patriot blue looks awesome. What’s the tow weight on your TT?

 

@a2lowvw @wiljayhi @vicali

Riddle me this - (anyone feel free to chirp in)

Small camper ~1,000 dry and probably ~1,300 (tops) loaded

More than likely the ~300 loaded pounds are now gonna reside in the bed of the truck along with
another ~200 pounds of 'stuff' add in me and the wife at a whopping 275 pounds between us do
you think ECT mode will run this fine or do I need to go ECT + S4-S5 or just go S4-S5 ...

SR5 - V6... little camper has electric brakes... will be hitting 5 degree grades up and down.

 

I sold my truck because third gens fucking suck towing. My trailer was 3300lbs and got me shit mileage, shit driving experience, and was a money pit to get there. Personally, I'm in the midwest. Everyone's experience varies, but imo unless you spend a bunch of money on bags or springs, regear, fuel tank and a tune it is less than favorable.

No disrespect to the guys with hundred foot trailers saying they can tow anything, but they're dumb.

 

3300 wet, 2900 dry.

13-15 mpg. Have towed it coast to coast multiple times. It does great on the road.

Slightly lower wind profile than most tho.

 

it’s almost exactly 4000 loaded.

you are probably fine in S5.

 

A dream payload and towed load. I’d probably run S5+ECT. (Slightly better gas mileage over S5 no ECT).

 

I see way too many people trying to tow too much weight here and on other truck forums. But in this case 3000-3500 lbs shouldn't be too much of a problem. I've done that and more with my 2nd gen 2007 with ease. I've never driven a 3rd gen, but the engine specs say you get similar HP and Torque. You just need 4500 rpm instead of 3500 rpm. You'll need to run in lower gears with a 3rd gen and push the skinny pedal closer to the floor, but it should handle 3500 lbs.

The true limiting factor most of the time is going to be payload. A 3500 lb trailer is going to use about 450 lbs of your payload in tongue weight. Most Tacoma's have 1100-1300 lbs payload, but I've seen some under 1000, and 1500 wouldn't be unheard of. Theoretically you can build one with over 2000 lbs payload.

Assuming your truck has 1200 lbs payload that would leave you 750 lbs for the passengers and any cargo in the truck. That is doable, but you can get into trouble if you're carrying 3 passengers and a driver. Four skinny 150 lb passengers is 600 lbs of the 750 available. Not much room for any gear in the truck AND pulling a 3500 lb trailer. If you choose a new truck with payload closer to 1000 lbs you're going to struggle. If you choose one closer to, or one of the unicorns over 1300 lbs you're going to be fine.

That is where 1/2 ton trucks have an advantage. Most of them will have 1700-2000 lbs payload. A Tacoma will PULL the 3500 lbs just fine, but most 1/2 tons will handle the weight on the suspension and braking much better.

 

@Marshall R
Thanks for your perspective. That is very helpful