Towing With the Taco

I just picked up a 2 place side by side hybrid snowmobile trailer. The trailer weighs just under 1,000 pounds empty. I'll be adding 2 snowmobiles that weight about 480 lbs each. Most of that weight will be over the axle obviously so it shouldn't feel that much different than towing the trailer empty.

I have a 2017 Sport M/T w/towing package and I have to say, I am not impressed with how the truck handles towing this trailer. The truck seems to struggle quite a bit and I can really feel the trailer back there. The truck is rated for something like 6800 pounds and I have less than 2k back there. Going up and slight grade, even just a modest grade on the highway caused the truck to lose power. It has absolutely no acceleration and seems to vibrate quite a bit. Do I just need to keep the revs higher? I typically cruise in 2,500 RPM range without the trailer and this is what I've tried doing with the trailer as well. Maybe I just need to keep it up to around 3-3500 RPM all the time for it to feel better.

I'll admit that this is my first time towing a larger trailer so I'm not sure if the way it feels is normal or not, but I didn't think it would feel this considerably different.

 

My taco struggles with an empty 6x12 single axle cargo trailer it's the worst truck I've ever had for towing. Loaded I feel like im going to make the motor explode and I'm lucky to get 8-9mpg lol. oh, even with the trailer empty it's about 9-10mpg too!

 

The 6800 Lb rating is for 2 wheel drive access cab.

 

Yeah, I feel the same way. My trailer is 8.5 x 12. Hopefully it doesn't feel much worse when loaded with snowmobiles... I traded my RAM 1500 Hemi for the Taco two years ago because I didn't think I'd be towing much at all and certainly not big loads. Now I find myself needing to tow much more often. I can't believe Toyota rates this truck at 6800 pounds towing capacity as it seems to struggle mightily with under 2,000.

I love everything else about the Taco over a big truck, but I may need to look at a Tundra just for the towing capacity.

 

I Tow a 77" x 14' Landscape trailer https://www.bigtextrailers.com/utility-trailers (model 35SA) fairly often and this one weighs ~1000lbs empty. I add my old laser Z LHP56" exmark (used to own a landscape company) and that sucker weigh a fair amount. If I put the mower over the trailer axles, I can kind of feel it back there. If I load it tongue heavy, my truck noticeably sags. I have had a JD2503 tractor on there, a ton of pelletes, etc... I think this truck tows pretty darn good for being a little truck.

EDIT: The trailer in my pic is ~10' dump trailer that I have loaded many times with sand, loam, etc... AND yes, it very noticeable back there. Good thing this trailer has brakes

 

I'm considering trading my Tacoma for an Ecodiesel for towing.... My boat isn't huge, but it doesn't like it.

 

Keep it light. Also, manual transmission is geared much lower.

 

Maybe I just have unrealistic expectations. Like I said, it's my first time really ever towing so I don't have anything to compare it to. It could also be the trailer. Maybe that type of trailer with no brakes, just doesn't tow great.

I have no doubt that the Taco will take it anywhere I want to go, but it's just not as comfortable as I thought it would be. I just image driving it 4 hours to the mountains in a snowstorm...

 

I'll be using it to haul my three dual sport bikes this weekend. That will equal a little more weight than the snowmobiles so should give me a good idea of what it'll be like.

 

I regularly tow 4-5000 lbs with mine the key to it is to let it eat. The 3.5 likes to rev. Try running the rpm up to the 4500-5000 rpm range in the first 4 gears and don’t pull a grade in overdrive. When you see a hill just down shift to 4th gear and throttle as needed to maintain your speed.

I tow loads like this one pretty regularly. As well as lots materials for my metal fabrication and pipe fencing side jobs.

First load I ever towed with the 3rd gen.

 

Yeah, I kind of had a hunch it could have a lot to do with how I shift. In normal driving, I usually shift at 2500-3k RPM because the engine sounds pretty wound up at that point. I can't imagine how it sounds revving to 4-5k, but maybe that is something that I just need to get over mentally and that'll solve my problem. I'll play around with it a little next time and see if changing my shift habits has a positive effect.

 

Just take your time in getting used to the feel of your trailer. The weight you are pulling shouldn't be that much of an issue, but you'll still need to slow down a bit hitting the mountains. The majority of my miles anymore are towing. I don't normally have a car on it, but definitely my SXS. SXS and trailer weigh between 3200 - 3500 loaded. Another 900 or so with the Ace.

I usually keep it in 4th on my automatic, and running 3k and better all the time on the freeway. And up a steep stretch, definitely 3rd and 4k+ rpms. Fully loaded the other day I was foot to the floor on 18 over near the Tiger Summit, 62 was all I could pull.

 

I saw this right after I bought my truck.
Good comparison to other trucks if you want to search for their other tests.

 

Keeping the RPMs too low. I mean even without towing it doesn't pull hard under 3k RPMs. Just going to be worse with weight back there. As far as "feeling it" back there...I mean yeah. That's to be expected with a Tacoma. It's a small truck so dragging weight around is not optimal. It can do it sure but to get that effortless tow feeling you have to have a large vehicle - not just a big motor.

 

These trucks have a small displacement engine with a high rpm power band you have to let it wind up to get up where it makes power. 3500 rpm and above is where this little engine shines. Try it out it will change your mind about it.

 

Rev it! From what I understand this engine likes to rev. I tow my Casita about 3200 lbs and my MT pulls it very well. Never go into 6th gear when towing and only sometimes 5th. if a grade comes up drop it let her rev. I got like 12MPG last time over about 200 miles.

 

Yeah, sounds like letting her rev out more might be the ticket. I have been putting her in 5th and 6th going between 50-60 MPH so maybe trying to keep it 4th at those speeds will make a difference. Will try it out!

 

I also have a 2 place hybrid snowmobile trailer, a Triton TC118, just like the op. I believe most of what you are feeling is the wind resistance of the trailer and not the weight. Like you said I am around 2000 pounds loaded. I am always in 5th on flat ground, shifting to 4th or 3rd for hills, depending on the size and how much speed I am trying to maintain. I did a 1600km (1000mile) round trip in the mountains with mine this past spring. Took a while to get used to the amount of shifting required compared to when not towing. But hey, that's why I bought a manual!

 

I tow this with no issues

 

Whats the weight empty?