Towing Capacity

Hello: I have read some of the threads regarding towing capacity and was hoping that someone might help out a "newbie rookie here." My wife and I just purchased a Toyota Tacoma 2011, Double Cab 4x4. Of course we LOVE IT and so good to have another Toyota again (20 years later).

We are very seriously considering purchasing a travel trailer for the summer. The truck has a a "regular or real" hitch underneath the bumper, 2 inch receiver. Any idea from the pros here if this truck can safely handle a 17-20 foot travel trailer that weighs at the most 5,500 pounds?

We will not be traveling across country with it, all within an 150 mile radius. The truck is in excellent condition (in my opinion) but it is a 2011 and does have 123k miles on it. I have read various threads saying up to 6500 pounds and others say only 3500 pound unless you have a special tow package. I am not sure if the 2 inch hitch underneath is considered a "special tow package?"

Is there anything we need to do like change the transmission fluid to something heavier, etc.? Again my apologizes, I am sure that this has been discussed elsewhere on here and my overall knowledge is pretty basic but I sure would appreciate the help. My first Toyota was a brand new extended cab 4x4 back in 1992 with a 4 cycl. Long long time ago The 2011 has a v6, which I am guessing is standard now? Also it is an automatic transmission if any of this helps.

Thank you..

Noah

 

5500# is not too bad for a tow if you have the tow package (that's where the 6500# you might have heard comes in). I ended up getting airbags and that made a huge difference in the driving experience. THe rear leaf springs are pretty weak if you are stock and will bounce around without the air bags. Check the manual for maintenance stuff, but if I recall, keep on 4th gear. Enjoy.

 

I would service the transmission with a full flush and filter change. Ask or check for a transmission cooler. Add a Tekonsha brake controller. I have a #3200 lb small camper. It does fine. I don't pass people, but it works. Pulling is not the problem, stopping is. Campers are generally wide, tacos are narrow. mirror extensions are necessary to see around. NEVER TOW IN OVERDRIVE!!!!!!! I use an ultra gauge to monitor transmission temps.
On the short list of campers are Scamps, Casita, and pop-ups. Always bear in mind that wind resistance is just as bad as trailer weight. I always stay around 75% of the tow rating on a vehicle. Go to the trailer towing thread and dig around. People on here forget how many threads there are, It makes a search difficult at times.

 

I have a 2WD, V6, Access cab Pre-runner and am currently towing a 20 foot RV trailer that weights 5,000 lbs empty and the Tacoma is too small. I live in Florida, which is fairly flat, and you can not use overdrive because even the slightest incline will make the transmission hunt for a gear between overdrive and 4th. In a 1 and a half hour drive to a nearby state park I drove in 4th the whole way, never exceeding 60 mph and I got 10 miles per gallon. My current plan is to sell the RV trailer I have and look for something smaller at half the weight.

 

No matter what I tow, I am in 4th. I too tow below 60. Yes it sucks. Yes I get 10mpg... The dilemma is I tow 5% of the time and just daily drive the other 95%. I could rent a truck for towing and be money ahead, unless its time to replace the truck anyways. 5000# is pretty heavy for the taco. The trailer weight specs doesn't include luggage and beer. The OP says that he doesn't plan on going much further than 150 miles. As much as I hate to see someone limit their travels, the taco would handle a 4000# trailer if prepped right. Tacos are not 3/4 trucks. Ironically lots of guys move out of 3/4tons into a taco. As long as you are within the limitations of the truck, it will do it. Yes the 5000# camper was a bit large.

 

The hitch could have been part of the factory tow pkg (6500 lb rating) or added later on (3500 lb rating). Easiest way to tell if you have the factory tow pkg is to open the hood and peek down behind the plastic grille for a small 4x11" radiator. That's the transmission cooler. There should also be a donut shaped heat exchanger sandwiched between the oil filter and its cup, with coolant lines running to it:



Tow ratings nowadays are performance-based (something like 0-50 mph in 20 sec at max tow rating up a steep grade). That's why the tow pkg equipment are mostly powertrain related. Note braking ability is not part of the test, because the trailer is expected to have its own brakes sized for its own weight.

 

As people have said the tow package is the alternator, cooler, battery etc. Nothing to do with the hitch.

With a tow package you could do a 5500lb trailer on that short of a distance without it being too painful. Although you sound inexperienced. Maybe if you can borrow or rent a camper you are thinking of getting and do a practice run to see if you are up for it.

Id do a full flush on all fluids at 123k miles especially transand diffs if you want to tow.

 

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

 

should be fine. Make sure you have a trans cooler, brake controller and trailer brakes and you should be fine. go slow and always tow in 4th.

 

Yeah, if it has a tow package, as others have said it will do it - no problem. Drive it in 4th. Toyotas are happy being worked and don't worry about gas mileage when you tow. You're fulfilling a purpose and it costs what it costs. I pull a horse trailer with mine and it's perfect. Make sure your trailer has good brakes and you have a good brake controller on board. Keep the brakes serviced, clean and working. These things don't stop on a dime so take it easy and be alert and drive defensively. It's a piece of cake.

 

Also be aware of what the actual weight of your camper will be fully loaded. This can be much different than just the weight of the camper when you take it off the lot. Adding food, cooking equipment, clothes, tools etc. adds up pretty quickly. For short trips you should be OK but always keep in mind what thetotal is in both the camper and in the truck. By the way NEVER trust what a camper dealer tells you when it comes to towing. After all,they are trying to sell you a camper at the highest cost they can. Surprise surprise they will lie to you.

 

Bad information - the receiver hitch is indeed part of the tow package and also includes the 7 pin hitch wiring connector.

 

Sure is along with sway control built into the brakes

 

Yeah along with an electrical connector mounted alongside the receiver. You'll need to install your brake controller though, but the wiring is all there for it in the cab hidden behind a panel by the emergency brake.

 

Not in 2011

 

Towing in northern michigan? It's fairly hilly up there isn't it? I towed with a 2nd gen v6 for MANY miles, 11 hours one way trips through mountains, towing near #6500 (or more oops). Do I reccomend doing that? NO. Did the tacoma do it? Yes. The truck pulls fine, I actually was extremely surprised with how well the truck did pulling. The question you need to ask yourself is, stopping. Can it stop? I upgraded the brakes on my tacoma, rotors, pads, lines, etc to accommodate the stopping, obviously had the brake controller too (absolute must have). It did fine on flat land, still had many scary moments. However, going down big hills or mountains ohhhhhhhh nooooo. I've never been more scared for my life, so scared I sold it. It's just not meant for super heavy loads on hills.

If it's mainly flat, go for it, she'll do great IMO. Hills and mountains and stuff, never.

 

The trailers own brakes should control it if it's properly set up.

 

Not if the hitch was installed after market by a previous owner. He just bought the truck.

 

Not that heavy of a load. Would not want to bet my life on it. Get a brake controller. Many states require it.

 

Maybe some trailers have less adequate brakes, but my horse trailer has pretty good brakes. I guess with a couple of big animals on board the trailer manufacturers have to be serious. Mine are definitely heavy duty and I do bet my life, my horses life and everyone else's life I encounter on the road on them.