Towing heavy with a Taco

Hi folks, I'm new here. I'm looking at a Taco 3rd gen but I'm not sure about towing with it. I like the gas mileage over a 1/2 ton but I've got a pretty big trailer. Its an Apex 269RBSS coming in at 5622 lbs dry and 30' long from hitch to bumper. I am currently towing with a 2001 GMC Yukon XL but the Yukon is showing its age so I'm looking at my options. I've always liked Toyota, owned 2. So, my towing would only be about 3-6 times a year and mostly less than 75 miles one way. The rest of the time it would be a grocery getter. This may sound like a stupid post but I have seen some in here that have pulled over 7000 lbs cross country so maybe not so much. Thanks in advance, what do y'all think?

 

Don't do it, a tacoma wouldnt be happy. Check out the Tacoma Towing bible. Just google it, its a sticky on here. check the towing on the bottom of this page

 

You're going to want a full size for that.

 

I am pretty sure that new full size pickups get better fuel economy than the tacoma (excluding the tundra)

oh yeah....and can tow more

 

For only 3-6 times a year ~75 miles, why not just rent a U-Haul or Penske truck and then buy whatever vehicle you want?

 

Too heavy

 

Dont EVEN go there..... 7K? seriously? not with a Tacoma you wont

 

Dangerous and your gas mileage will suffer to where that 1/2 ton looks better

 

cctk2 I'm just repeating what is being said in the first sticky post "show us what you tow". There are several posts in there where people have towed 7300 lbs, 7900 lbs. another says he pulls a 6000 lb boat on a regular basis, several more in the mid 6000's. Just going by what I see here. I have never owned a midsized truck so I don't know, that's why I'm asking. Also, a lot of people backing up the guys that are towing heavy saying that its ok. Plus there is a youtube video of a guy pulling a camper bigger than mine. As far as gas mileage suffering when towing, I don't think anyone really thinks that theyre gonna get any fuel economy when they tow. So many things can come into the mix that its pretty much impossible to say how much fuel mileage any one person would get from one day to the next. One day I towed with about a 30 mph wind at my back and got 14 mpg. 2 days later we came back same route and got 8, wind in my face. I am referring to mpg while not towing. I'm getting the idea that you guys think its a bad idea. Thanks

 

Here's the catch: 75 miles? Is it roughly flat? Is it heavy traffic? etc. I mean, crap, 75 miles barely gets me across the DFW metroplex. As the others have said, that's going to be a lot of weight for the Tacoma. 6 times a year means 12 tows. Figure 1.5hrs each way? If it were me, I honestly don't know what I'd do if I was really opposed to a full size. Maybe buy the wife a full size grocery-getter that you happen to use for towing too? If I only had to move that weight a few times and be done, I'd probably use my Taco. If I had to move it regularly..... dunno. Sorry, no help here after all.

 

RushT its probably all gonna be flat towing. I live in central florida. the biggest hill we have around here might be 40 feet! Its a gigantic sandbar. As far as traffic, sometimes. Depends on where I go. If I want to camp Disney,75 miles, yes, for about half the trip, Kissimmee and St. Cloud. Out to the beach, 30 miles, no. Up to Daytona, 90 miles(I lied) mostly interstate. Biggest trip I've done with the new trailer is 160 miles but I'm not gonna do that 1 again. There's always the possibility of going to the florida keys. Maybe somewhere around 200 miles one way. But mostly close by. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to defend my position and try to rewrite the Taco book. I'm just trying to give the best info to get the best info back

 

The reason you are asking is that you know you have doubts about towing this much weight and you should. By the time all is said and done you’ll be exceeding all the manufactures weight ratings- gross vehicle weight, tow weight, hitch weight etc. That makes it a really dumb idea. You’ll be over stressing the drive train, the suspension, the brakes and yourself. It can be dangerous for you and others to tow that with a Taco. You’d be better off to put some $$$ into your Yukon and tow with that. Or get a 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton truck that is designed and built to tow that size and weight trailer. Towing with your Taco just a very bad idea.

 

I like this for the few times a year you need to haul your trailer. Cheap to rent a full size.
My buddy’s GMC could put a Tacoma in the bed and be under the GVW, Can tow over 24,000lbs.

 

Realistically about 4500 lbs is as much as you want to tow with a Tacoma. And roughly 50% of the 1/2 ton trucks on the road won't pull a 7000 lb trailer. If you want to tow 7000 lbs you had better do your research and choose carefully even with a 1/2 ton truck.

Most 1/2 tons are OK at 4000-6000 lbs, although some are rated for less than 4000 lbs. Between 6000-8000 you have to choose carefully. Between 8000-10,000 they make some 1/2 tons that will do it, but it is time to at least think 3/4 ton. They advertise some rated at as much as 12,000 lbs. But good luck finding one, they are unicorns. Above 10,000 lbs it is just easier, and cheaper to go with a 3/4 ton truck

If you've seen others tow that much they are idiots. The problem isn't PULLING the weight. I've pulled 30,000 lbs up a hill with my Tacoma once for a couple hundred yards, but that was flat towing with no additional weight on my suspension. The limiting factor is the suspension. Most Tacoma's are rated at 6500 lbs towing with around 1000-1200 lbs payload. The 6500 number assumes a 150 lb driver and NOTHING else in the truck while towing at sea level on level ground. Add any weight or passengers to the truck and you are overloading the suspension.

A Ford F150 with the 2.7L turbo engine will get BETTER fuel mileage than a Tacoma, and if you get one set up with the right packages and axle ratio will tow 8500 lbs. But even then you have to choose carefully. That assumes a 4X2 truck with a regular or extended cab and one of the basic trim packages. Add 4X4, a crew cab, and the higher end trim packages and you end up with payloads no more than Tacoma. The heavier you make the truck the less payload you have

 

5700lbs here. Tows fine. Just take it slower and relax in the slow lane lol!! Towed this boat a ton and always felt safe. (Albeit slow but safe lol!!)

 

Thanks for all the input. I have what I need. Gonna pass on the Taco. Sad but facts are facts. I'm looking at Tundra but that fuel mileage is tough to swallow. Anyone know if there's a place to investigate putting a higher gear in the rear? like a 3.73? All I can find is where they get lower gears when they put taller tires on. They're going to 4.88 and even 5.20 something. That oughta bring the mileage down to about 7-10!!

 

i wont suggest or recommend................... not even give permission

yet

ive towed HEAVY.................. more than U mention

weight follows weight
i weiged my Taco............4000 empty

lane changes .....ramps Handling

Stopping !!!!!!!

east coast im mostly flat to rolling hills
UNless i turn wets several hundred miles

3-4 times a year
75miles
in the corect gear wont hurt Ur taco

jack rabbit starts
abrupt braking
sport cornering

Not Good

saw a Goldwing pulling a 2axle Uhaul trail3r with w FULL Sizw Cadilac thru Phila oe nite
GooGled same
U wouldnt believe what gets towed

good luck

 

What the shit is this supposed to say?

 

Just have to add that this has been posted before (below). There are some flat & level road tests in the towing standard, but there are also some specific high grade road tests too. Braking is also part of the test. This doesn't mean that passing the tests means that all persons towing with the Tacoma will be happy and comfortable with the performance. It just means that the Tacoma has passed what the SAE has determined to be a relevant and meaningful capacity test at the rated capacity.

http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/towing/1502-sae-j2807-tow-tests-the-standard
https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j2807_201602/

 

OP went to a different school system than the rest of us.