Towing heavy with 4 Cylinder

Hello everyone, new to the forum. I'm starting a pressure washing business and I have a 2021 Tacoma 4 cylinder double cab. Max tow rating is 3500lbs.

I'll be towing a double axle trailer with a 200-275 gallon water tank and hot water pressure washer. Weight of the trailer will be 2200lbs without water in the tank however to keep the trailer stable I'll fill the water tank with 150 gallons of water since it's mounted in front of the trailer closest to the tongue. The washer unit is 900lbs and at the rear of the trailer. Total weight will be 3500lbs

My question is how well can this tacoma handle towing at max load? Will I need a transmission cooler?

 

It is generally recommended that you keep your weight at percentage of towing capacity. The percentage varies, but here is a representative formula: https://www.fastwaytrailer.com/blog/towing-capacity

 

get a trans temp and wish for the best or get a v6. Or a v8. I would get a v8.

 

lulz

You're going to need a different truck. Ask me how I know.

 

I know. Once business picks up and I can afford one I will upgrade. But short term this can work right?

Eventually I'll be hauling 2 trailers each weighing about 4500lbs loaded. Would a Tundra be able to handle that load on the daily or is that 3/4 ton territory at that point? Wish Toyota made a 3/4 ton.

 

Tundra will be fine. I'd still invest in a transmission cooler if you'll be towing with the Taco. Our trucks can make that much weight move, but they definitely aren't good or even okay at it.

Here's what I found on my diff drain plug magnet when I changed fluid the other day. I don't know that my problem is specifically towing related, but I tow about 1300lbs every weekend with lots of stop and go driving.

 

Is that your first diff fluid change? That looks like manufacturing swerf not damage.

 

Some of that looks as if It came from the Manufacturing/machining process and didn't get removed. Is this the first diff drain?

 

Good luck with that, with the 4 cyl tacoma. Shouldn't be any issue with a tundra, especially an older one with the v8's.

 

FULL. SEND.

 

The short answer is you have too light a truck for the job.

First, your math is off:
2200 lbs trailer
900 lbs washer
1245 lbs water (8.3 X 150)
------
4345 lbs total - before hoses, tools, etc.
This close to the curb weight of your truck.

434 - 652 lbs tongue weight (10 - 15 percent of 4345)
Payload would be probably technically be ok providing you don't have a bunch of gear in the bed and you have the means to adjust the load to achieve the correct tongue weight, since the water tank is front mounted I will guess not.

As an added issue as you use the water from the front of the trailer tank you will change your tongue weight dramatically which will make your handling vary from screwy to dangerous.

Can you haul this trailer around - sure.
Can you safely & legally haul this trailer around -- no.

In addition to a transmission cooler you would need an electric brake controller too, your non-towing package truck isn't pre-wired for it.

 

There is a lot to towing capacity, people often think of power, cooling, strength of frame, etc.
What is most often overlooked is the mechanical advantage of the trailer against the truck - leverage.

A pallet jack makes a good example if you are familiar with one. A 200 pound man can tow a 2000 pound pallet easily on a smooth concrete floor even though the pallet is 10X heavier than the man.

Now try to stop or turn the same pallet suddenly -- it doesn't matter how "strong" the man is, the weight of the pallet now easily overpowers him. Try the same pallet on a slight incline either up or down, the weight wins every time.

Substitute trailer for pallet and truck for man -- this is always the light truck towing capacity problem.

 

You should not tow that much and not tow at the limit with any vehicle

 

Not well at all.
See the previous posts.
Can you move the trailer - yes. But can you stop when you HAVE to - probably not.

 

I wont be towing 2 trailers with the tacoma to be absolutely clear. Only with a new truck and it seems like it would max out a tundra's towing capacity.

I appreciate the advice of everyone here. I will be loading the trailer as light as I can and filling the water tank at the job site. Just have to organize the trailer in such a way that it is stable and has good tongue weight. Might put the 900lb machine in front and the empty water tank in back.

If I get the kind of business (commercial apartments) I'll be buying a new truck very soon. This is very much a temporary thing because this is the truck I have and can afford at the moment. Initially was just hauling lawn and washing gear.

Let's say I tow 2500, all gear and no water to the job sites for about a month or 2. I would then trade this truck for a f250. I just want to be as careful as possible to maintain this truck for that time period.

 

I have a nit pick with this. The legalities vary by state and the capacities stated by the manufacturer may or may not have legal ramifications especially if we are talking criminal law.You don’t need a electric brake controller where I live. A surge brake suffices in a weight range that includes my boat and trailer.

 

Properly loaded the 2500 pound trailer is a much better idea, still need to and an electric brake control.

By the way, have you ever towed any kind of tank vehicle? In a sudden stop situation the water slams into the front of the tank like a giant hammer. It can push an 80K lb bulk tanker tractor trailer with all the wheels locked. Drive far ahead and keep it in mind when braking.

 

Where did the OP mention a surge brake system?

Like it or not we live in a litigation happy society, if you are over the manufacturers GVW of the vehicle and are in an at fault accident the door is opened to a potential lawsuit.

Better to insure one is on the safe side of the specifications.

 

I was replying to you and you said that an electric brake controller was needed.

 

Yes, I got that. You introduced surge brakes into the conversation.

The OP is towing a tandem axle trailer and it is generally accepted that over 3000 lbs brakes are required on all axles, this may vary by state, a brief search showed Calif starting at 1500 lbs for travel coaches for example.

Requirements aside for a moment, when your tow weight approaches the curb weight of the vehicle the prudent operator gives himself every safety advantage especially in a commercial application.