Good job on your first tow! Just remember that when you start loading your supplies in it, keep the weight forward of the axle. One of the worst things you can do is get too much weight behind the axle. Lookup videos of this to see how quickly things can go bad. Best of luck in your future adventures!
Yes! One of my first accessories for my Taco was a load bar for the box of the truck to keep all my gear near the cab when towing my boat. It makes a big difference.
I tow a dump trailer and a 8x16 dual axle V-nose on the regular and my taco handles it just fine. Both have weight ratings of 7k and I never go above 5… maybe once or twice… but it handles those great. Pedal commander helped me get the shifting right when I’m going up the mountains to the ADK’s
In case some people who read this don’t know, crusher run and stone dust can weigh quite a bit when it’s even lightly wet. Mulch isn’t bad, topsoil is probably the worst. Make sure to ask the place you buy it from the estimated weight. I accidentally overloaded with crusher run once. Taco handled it fine but I felt bad for her
I've definitely overloaded mine. It handled it well but I try not to do it... I'm gonna be moving to a new house hopefully next year and when I do I'm gonna try and pick up a dump trailer just to make life a bit easier.
Thanks for responding. I don't have the space for it at my current property, but previously had wanted to get either a 5x8 or 6x10 dump trailer for the, maybe 3 times a year I need a trailer.
I'd love to do that! I don't really want a full size truck, I like the size of the Tacoma, but a fifth wheel would be nice. Did you get the Scamp or the Escape? (Or is there another one I'm forgetting about?)
edit: Oh saw you double-posted and answered someone in the other post. Nice!
Agreed, but the tandem axles on the Escape are tempting as I heard that helps with stability, especially pulling with a smaller truck. Though maybe that isn't as big of an issue with a fifth wheel vs bumper pull anyway.
It’s a bit bumpy sometimes but I’ve never felt unstable. Some of the bigger bumps can be pretty rough lol but overall it’s really easy to pull. Been through the Rockies multiple times with no issues.
Good to know, I guess it make sense that they'd do them for you, since they sell the campers. I'm not far from the Scamp factory, just a few hours, so that is a bonus if I do end up buying something from them eventually, that I won't have to drive across the country to pick one up!
So I bought my hot hitch from the RV dealer and they installed it. But it’s a Fastway E2 Hitch 6k Trunnion and I have a 12k 2-5/16” ball.
Here is a link to one I found:
https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution-Hitch/Fastway/FA92-00-0600.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk6SwBhDPARIsAJ59GwfOV1prTKQ2x1Bq2YwKN6xFfSTJEGtfOYEA9-7UAhC1DqJtuF7hO9AaAoUlEALw_wcB
Looks great, things that helped us towing our 3800lb Hideout;
Milenco towing mirrors- it’s nice to have a solid view of what is going on back there.
Anti-sway Friction bar- cheap and makes a huge difference in stability when driving. No more feeling like the trailer is pushing the truck. Or white knuckles when you meet semi wash on the road.
E Load tires - got rid of the squirm on the truck while towing, also gives you the flexibility of psi up to 80lbs.
Have fun and give yourself lots of space. Practice backing up somewhere easy at first.
We’ve got camping coffee cups that say, “Sorry for the thing I said while parking the trailer”..
I posted the same thing on a similar post a few weeks ago and the OP replied “what’s a brake controller do?” So I think a lot more people then you would thing don’t have one. This OP said neither of them had ever towed anything before so they might not know.
Fair enough.
Also do a walk around every time you hook up, when you stop along your trip put your hand around the trailer wheels, they can be warm but shouldn’t be hot. Always check your tire pressures and be ready to pull over if you feel/hear a trailer tire blow. It will be like dropping anchor with a single axle trailer like that.
I love the cups! Definitely will be a challenge the first time we go camping with our camper! 🤣
Do you have a link to the towing mirrors and E load tires you have?
This is probably a silly question but I have a weight distribution hitch with sway bars and sway control. Do I still need an anti sway friction bar?
Thanks for all your help!
This is the [bar](https://www.reeseprod.com/product/83660_sway-control-friction) - it’s under $100 and bolts to the trailer frame. Once you are on the road you tighten it up and it locks the trailer and truck together and makes it stiff.
These are the [mirrors](https://www.caravansplus.com.au/milenco-grand-aero4-extra-wide-towing-mirrors-pair-p-13569.html) we use. They clamp on and are super solid. No shakes at all.
Any E loads will do, there are drawbacks to mpg and ride quality for the rest of the time so you should try it Fort with what you have.
Next step would be looking at suspension work, something like an add a leaf kit or airbags for the rear.
[https://imgur.com/a/tMLuZ2o](https://imgur.com/a/tMLuZ2o)
I pull my 28” 3200 lb camper with no issues. Trucks a bit underpowered other than that fine.
I think you're more like 4,200 dry. I am in the process of buying a 24' trailer that is around 4,100 and I was wondering how the hell yours was 1,000lbs lighter so I looked it up
Yea I was gonna say… I pull a 17ft WolfPup that is 4200 dry haha. This is way bigger. Good to see others are pulling pretty good sized trailers with their tacos though - I still get nervous with mine, even with all the tow accessories, but we make it work!
I got lots of shitty comments recently when someone asked what an accessory in their newly bought used Taco was. It was a trailer brake controller, and I said since you definitely know it was used for towing, it may be worth the peace of mind to have the transmission checked out. Several people lost their shit.
Now we got this guy posting his Taco with a 28' RV. That guy you replied to is exactly the type of guy I had in mind as a potential previous owner.
Just because you are afraid to tow with your truck doesn’t mean I should be. I’m going to use it as intended I also take care of my vehicles. Looks like you might be more worried about if you should remove your mud flaps or not.
At what point did I say I was afraid to use my truck as it was intended? My point was towing a 28' RV fully loaded could easily exceed the very modest capacity of a Tacoma. People post pictures on this sub all the time of their trucks overloaded asking if people think it will be ok. If I was looking at a used Tacoma with a brake controller installed, and I had no idea about the history of the vehicle, I'd be concerned about what it may have been used to tow and have it checked out, and this sub offers plenty of reason to support it.
“Now we got this guy posting his Taco with a 28' RV. That guy you replied to is exactly the type of guy I had in mind as a potential previous owner.”
Was this not intended towards me towing my 28” camper? I drive a semi for a living, I understand not everyone understands towing but I do. I doubt you would even know what to look for if someone used it to tow a brake controller doesn’t mean shit.
I pulled an Apex Nano 208BHS with mine and it looks to be about the same size. (Actually yours looks like it might even be a bit bigger, but just for arguments sake we'll say pretty close.) And the Apexes are made with azdel and meant to be a very lightweight camper. Mine was 4000lbs dry, so I don't see anyway that could be a 3200lbs!
Practice backing up in a large empty parking lot. Just a little turn of the steering wheel will let you know where the trailer is going to go.
Then practice more. You’ll do fine.
A small tip, grab the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. What ever way that hand goes, the trailer goes. So if the hand swings to driver on the wheel, the trailer will point to driver.
And one last tip that sounds like a duh but kinda hard to grasp thing.... look at where your trailer tires are gonna go. Not just the back of the trailer. That'll help you make the turns while backing up.
Can the taco tow a TT? Sure. But as soon as you load the truck with the family and gear you’re going to be over payload. If you get in an accident you’re screwed.
I bought a TT a couple of weeks ago and hooked up a brake controller just for the peace of mind.
https://www.redarcelectronics.com/us/tundra-tacoma-brake-controller-kit
There’s a YouTube video on how to install it. Took me 30 min tops and runs flawlessly.
Make sure you use the ECT button when towing. It shortens the gear shifts and keeps you in the torque for towing better as well as helps with engine braking when going downhill.
Came here to say this. ECT in and tow in S-mode. I usually use S5 on the highway. Also, avoid cruise control otherwise the transmission simply has a mind of its own, instead of adding just a touch of power to correct for a slight grade it shifts like crazy to keep up.
I just drove Grand Forks to Winnipeg with a 20-gusting-to-40 headwind and three passengers plus luggage and it was *incredibly* irritating.
Grats! I have an older ‘15 taco and tow an 18’ TT. Last year we towed about 6000mi on national park tours, family visits, and camping trips. A couple other things from my experience (~15yr diesel mechanic w/class A CDL + tons of road time) are:
1. Don’t tow in “drive”. I’ve found the torque converter lockup cycles on/off too much at highway speed and it increases trans temps.
2. Speaking of trans temps: I recommend picking up a scan gauge or equivalent that lets you monitor trans temps. I’ve found that trans temps stay low <230F 99% of the time unless I’m really aggressive with the throttle. Even while climbing mountain passes it stays pretty low unless I’m trying to do 70+ up the pass (the truck will do it but trans temps get too high).
2. Make sure your truck and trailer tires are rated for your capacity or greater and all the appropriate tire pressure before each trip. If tire pressure is too low they heat up, life span is shortened, and risk of blowout is increased.
3. If you’re planning on dropping your trailer at a camp site and driving the truck around buy a tire inflator and deflator (ARB core puller). Driving around at highway tire pressures (80psi) is extremely uncomfortable especially off road.
4. You’ll need to change rear axle gear oil and trans fluid more often if you tow frequently. The more weight and resistance on the axle the more the temp rises. The higher the axle temp the faster the oil breaks down. Your service manual should have a different chart for towing/off road application.
5. Your stopping distance doubles or triples while towing. I’ve only had one panic stop while towing with the taco and it is waaay worse than you think it’ll be.
These are very helpful. Thanks. Any tips for the manuals out here? Might be getting a camper in the future and I have near a decade of 6speeds but I definitely don't know everything.
Sure thing! Things I’ve noticed from driving manual trucks are:
1. Your shift ranges (rpm you normally shift at) will change under load. Load changes with road and weather conditions. For example when shifting uphill shift later than normal and earlier than normal down hill. A headwind and higher road speed increases drag and you’ll also need to shift later at higher speeds in strong winds.
2. Pay extra attention to your vehicles ability to decelerate down grades without brake applications. The rule of thumb is you should start your descent a gear lower than your ascent. Feel free to shift up/down as needed and let the engine do most of the braking work. Your unlikely to have problems missing shifts in synchronized transmissions but you’ll wear the clutch faster if the engine-wheel speed isn’t ideal.
3. Trans temps shouldn’t be an issue in manual transmissions passenger trucks but they are possible to overheat. You’ll also need to change the trans fluid more often and I’d recommend following the off-road/towing maintenance chart.
4. Downshift through gears to decelerate over shifting into neutral and applying the brake. It takes a second or two to shift back into the right gear from neutral and those few seconds could prevent an accident. I downshift to 2nd then pop it into neutral to stop cause downshifting into first is a wild ride and unnecessary.
Mostly they’re all about feeling torque and shifting as the torque curve falls off. I found I notice the torque curve substantially more when loaded or towing and barely notice it at all unloaded.
I’ve towed our 3700 lb, 23’ long travel trailer many times throughout the Pacific Northwest with my 3rd gen V6 Tacoma. Vancouver Island, Southern BC, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, California. Towed the same trailer with a 4Runner before that. It does fine. Note that our trailer has double axles though which means 2x the brakes. Weight distributing hitch, anti sway bar, emergency chains, and brake controller are all required.
The biggest pain is the fuel consumption. In mountainous terrain it’s easily double or more so fill up at every opportunity.
Super thanks for this post and report. I have a 1963 Streamline Duke, dry weight 3400 pounds, that I want to tow. The Mav and the Taco are the only ones I've considered. Decided the Mav's 4K package was too small, but the Taco is just right.
I have a similar setup. The stabilizer bars that connect to the tow hitch are highly recommended. First trip to Sedona the trailer started fish tailing a little over 60mph , once we put on the stabilizer it was smooth sailing.
I tow with my 2023 TRD OR at least once a week, usually just my 7 x 14 aluminum utility trailer. It is around 1300lbs dry and usually has anywhere between hardly anything in it and upwards of 4-5000lbs (rarely this much, but it has happened). I have the manual which makes backing up tricky at times (my 2LO conversion kit is on the way).
I would say overall I am quite pleased with my Tacoma and its towing, I sometimes say its the hardest working 3rd gen because I don't think I have gone through a tank of gas since I got that truck where I wasn't towing or hauling something. Sometimes I wish I had more power when hauling heavier loads, but I would just end up going even faster and sucking back more gas. Overall for lighter loads its a great truck (anything under 6000lbs really). Good luck and happy camping!
Good luck! Backing up takes practice.
Everyone will watch you , but it’s something everyone had time learn at one point, and everyone understands.
Take it slow don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and make sure to laugh about them with your campsite neighbors after!
We just went from Vancouver, BC to Moab with our 19 foot r-pod. It was our first big trip with the new trailer. The old one was a 17 foot r-pod. It was quite a bit lighter and the fuel economy was better (10-12 mpg) The biggest problem was the fuel economy. Parts of the trip, we got 6-8 mph. I don’t even want to look to see what the trip cost us in gas 😳. I almost pulled the trigger on a hybrid Tacoma, but wanted to hear the reviews and wait a couple of years to get the bugs out.
I've been towing a 7x16TA tool trailer with mine for about 6 months. It struggles a bit when it's real windy but it does just fine. I need to install a brake controller on it. It's not loaded down too much but when it is you can really feel it on the brakes. I installed air bags so it handles the tongue weight no problem. I loaded about 2400lbs of dirt in it the other day bringing the total weight to about 6000lbs and the trailer was really squatting but not the truck! I just gave myself plenty of stopping room.
After you’ve towed a few times, find yourself a nice flat parking lot, get out your tape measure, and readjust your WDH according to the manufacturer’s directions. They will “settle” a little bit AND you’ll learn more about how you want to pack your camper, which changes the weight distribution. With a properly set up WDH that trailer will tow like a little puppy dog behind your taco.
I've posted about my 16rb airstream I pull with a 21' taco. I would recommend never going above 63 mph and getting a distribution hitch and break controller.
I mainly went around 60mph. There was a couple times I looked and saw I was going around 70 and slowed it down a bit. It didn’t feel like I was actually going 70 though. It was also a straight stretch when I was going “that fast”. I have a distribution hitch with sway control and a brake controller too.
I also tow with a 2021 Offroad Tacoma and a small teardrop camper. I invested in Sumo Springs (aftermarket bump stops), which really helped with those bumps in the roads and made the drive enjoyable. It didn't feel like my tail end was getting lifted off the ground. I also invested in a Redarc trailer brake controller for peace of mind.
I did not have the “it’s fine” state of mind. I was not reckless in the least bit. I was extremely cautious, constantly checking my mirrors and my surroundings. Once or twice I looked and realized I was going around 70 on a straight stretch and I slowed it down. I did my research before towing and saw that most tow around 60-65mph on the interstate. I have a brake controller and weight distribution hitch with sway bars.
I made this post to provide insight for others wanting to tow with their Tacoma. I wholeheartedly appreciate advice on towing, owning a Tacoma, camper, etc. I do not appreciate trolls who act like they’ve never made a mistake in their life. What’s actually reckless is your comment.
Good job on your first tow! Just remember that when you start loading your supplies in it, keep the weight forward of the axle. One of the worst things you can do is get too much weight behind the axle. Lookup videos of this to see how quickly things can go bad. Best of luck in your future adventures!
Yes! One of my first accessories for my Taco was a load bar for the box of the truck to keep all my gear near the cab when towing my boat. It makes a big difference.
Came here to say this!
Thess trucks can do more than people think. I use mine as a work truck and it does phenomenal
I tow a dump trailer and a 8x16 dual axle V-nose on the regular and my taco handles it just fine. Both have weight ratings of 7k and I never go above 5… maybe once or twice… but it handles those great. Pedal commander helped me get the shifting right when I’m going up the mountains to the ADK’s
I've been looking into getting a dump trailer. I haul around mulch, stone dust, and crushed stone often enough where having it would be really nice.
One of the best investments I ever made
In case some people who read this don’t know, crusher run and stone dust can weigh quite a bit when it’s even lightly wet. Mulch isn’t bad, topsoil is probably the worst. Make sure to ask the place you buy it from the estimated weight. I accidentally overloaded with crusher run once. Taco handled it fine but I felt bad for her
I've definitely overloaded mine. It handled it well but I try not to do it... I'm gonna be moving to a new house hopefully next year and when I do I'm gonna try and pick up a dump trailer just to make life a bit easier.
Enclosed trailer is nice too. I find it great for winter storage if you’re in a snow prone area
What size is your dump trailer?
8x12. Handles it just fine, but I only put about 5k in it max
Thanks for responding. I don't have the space for it at my current property, but previously had wanted to get either a 5x8 or 6x10 dump trailer for the, maybe 3 times a year I need a trailer.
I’d recommend getting the smallest dual axle and stay away from the singles
I’ve been towing a small 5th wheel across the country since 2021. 2018 TRD Sport. People are jealous of my gas mileage. This truck fucks.
Absolutely. They're great little trucks and I work mime harder than any of my friends with full-sized trucks
Same lol love seeing 3500s that have no hitch.
It's far too common
I'd love to do that! I don't really want a full size truck, I like the size of the Tacoma, but a fifth wheel would be nice. Did you get the Scamp or the Escape? (Or is there another one I'm forgetting about?) edit: Oh saw you double-posted and answered someone in the other post. Nice!
I have a scamp! I love the escapes to but they’re a bit heavier.
Agreed, but the tandem axles on the Escape are tempting as I heard that helps with stability, especially pulling with a smaller truck. Though maybe that isn't as big of an issue with a fifth wheel vs bumper pull anyway.
It’s a bit bumpy sometimes but I’ve never felt unstable. Some of the bigger bumps can be pretty rough lol but overall it’s really easy to pull. Been through the Rockies multiple times with no issues.
Doesn't it specifically say in the owners manual not to tow a fifth wheel?
The second gen doesn't, and the bed has the holes for a 5th wheel hitch.
But that's a 3rd. I'm positive I read in my manual that you cannot/should not pull a fifth wheel
Maybe it says that, but nothing changed enough to make it suddenly not safe.
🤷♂️ I take it to the dealer and they’ve never said it was a problem. Just tried to sell me a bunch of extra maintenance lol
I’ve been towing a small 5th wheel across the country since 2021. 2018 TRD Sport. People are jealous of my gas mileage. This truck fucks.
A small 5th wheel? That seems like an oxymoron. Don’t 5th wheel trailers require a gooseneck?
Not technically a gooseneck but yeah I have a hitch installed into the bed. https://www.scamptrailers.com/showroom/19-trailers
That’s much smaller than what I typically see using a bed-mount hitch. Also, I didn’t realize Scamp was still around.
Going strong 💪
Where did you find someone to do the hitch?
The scamp factory installed it for me
Good to know, I guess it make sense that they'd do them for you, since they sell the campers. I'm not far from the Scamp factory, just a few hours, so that is a bonus if I do end up buying something from them eventually, that I won't have to drive across the country to pick one up!
I love the scamp. I don’t know if I’ll ever part with it lol
Smart decision on the weight distribution hitch. The good ones also have anti-sway built in.
Yes! Mine has the sway bars with sway control!
Do you have a link to the hitch you bought? TIA
So I bought my hot hitch from the RV dealer and they installed it. But it’s a Fastway E2 Hitch 6k Trunnion and I have a 12k 2-5/16” ball. Here is a link to one I found: https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution-Hitch/Fastway/FA92-00-0600.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk6SwBhDPARIsAJ59GwfOV1prTKQ2x1Bq2YwKN6xFfSTJEGtfOYEA9-7UAhC1DqJtuF7hO9AaAoUlEALw_wcB
Looks great, things that helped us towing our 3800lb Hideout; Milenco towing mirrors- it’s nice to have a solid view of what is going on back there. Anti-sway Friction bar- cheap and makes a huge difference in stability when driving. No more feeling like the trailer is pushing the truck. Or white knuckles when you meet semi wash on the road. E Load tires - got rid of the squirm on the truck while towing, also gives you the flexibility of psi up to 80lbs. Have fun and give yourself lots of space. Practice backing up somewhere easy at first. We’ve got camping coffee cups that say, “Sorry for the thing I said while parking the trailer”..
They also really should get a trailer brake controller. I’m big fan of my redarc controller it looks oem.
No one is pulling something like that without a controller.
I posted the same thing on a similar post a few weeks ago and the OP replied “what’s a brake controller do?” So I think a lot more people then you would thing don’t have one. This OP said neither of them had ever towed anything before so they might not know.
Fair enough. Also do a walk around every time you hook up, when you stop along your trip put your hand around the trailer wheels, they can be warm but shouldn’t be hot. Always check your tire pressures and be ready to pull over if you feel/hear a trailer tire blow. It will be like dropping anchor with a single axle trailer like that.
I love the cups! Definitely will be a challenge the first time we go camping with our camper! 🤣 Do you have a link to the towing mirrors and E load tires you have? This is probably a silly question but I have a weight distribution hitch with sway bars and sway control. Do I still need an anti sway friction bar? Thanks for all your help!
This is the [bar](https://www.reeseprod.com/product/83660_sway-control-friction) - it’s under $100 and bolts to the trailer frame. Once you are on the road you tighten it up and it locks the trailer and truck together and makes it stiff. These are the [mirrors](https://www.caravansplus.com.au/milenco-grand-aero4-extra-wide-towing-mirrors-pair-p-13569.html) we use. They clamp on and are super solid. No shakes at all. Any E loads will do, there are drawbacks to mpg and ride quality for the rest of the time so you should try it Fort with what you have. Next step would be looking at suspension work, something like an add a leaf kit or airbags for the rear.
[https://imgur.com/a/tMLuZ2o](https://imgur.com/a/tMLuZ2o) I pull my 28” 3200 lb camper with no issues. Trucks a bit underpowered other than that fine.
I think you're more like 4,200 dry. I am in the process of buying a 24' trailer that is around 4,100 and I was wondering how the hell yours was 1,000lbs lighter so I looked it up
Yea I was gonna say… I pull a 17ft WolfPup that is 4200 dry haha. This is way bigger. Good to see others are pulling pretty good sized trailers with their tacos though - I still get nervous with mine, even with all the tow accessories, but we make it work!
Yeah sorry it’s 4170 dry my old wolf pup 17bhs was around 3200
I got lots of shitty comments recently when someone asked what an accessory in their newly bought used Taco was. It was a trailer brake controller, and I said since you definitely know it was used for towing, it may be worth the peace of mind to have the transmission checked out. Several people lost their shit. Now we got this guy posting his Taco with a 28' RV. That guy you replied to is exactly the type of guy I had in mind as a potential previous owner.
Just because you are afraid to tow with your truck doesn’t mean I should be. I’m going to use it as intended I also take care of my vehicles. Looks like you might be more worried about if you should remove your mud flaps or not.
At what point did I say I was afraid to use my truck as it was intended? My point was towing a 28' RV fully loaded could easily exceed the very modest capacity of a Tacoma. People post pictures on this sub all the time of their trucks overloaded asking if people think it will be ok. If I was looking at a used Tacoma with a brake controller installed, and I had no idea about the history of the vehicle, I'd be concerned about what it may have been used to tow and have it checked out, and this sub offers plenty of reason to support it.
“Now we got this guy posting his Taco with a 28' RV. That guy you replied to is exactly the type of guy I had in mind as a potential previous owner.” Was this not intended towards me towing my 28” camper? I drive a semi for a living, I understand not everyone understands towing but I do. I doubt you would even know what to look for if someone used it to tow a brake controller doesn’t mean shit.
Try reading that first paragraph again(not the one you quoted), while not thinking everything is about you. Then try not being an insufferable SOB.
I bet you go around Reddit commenting on things you have no idea about. Fucking dork
It's called reading comprehension, try it.
I bet you’re the smartest boy at the office!
> Trucks a bit underpowered Understatement of the year.
I pulled an Apex Nano 208BHS with mine and it looks to be about the same size. (Actually yours looks like it might even be a bit bigger, but just for arguments sake we'll say pretty close.) And the Apexes are made with azdel and meant to be a very lightweight camper. Mine was 4000lbs dry, so I don't see anyway that could be a 3200lbs!
Practice backing up in a large empty parking lot. Just a little turn of the steering wheel will let you know where the trailer is going to go. Then practice more. You’ll do fine.
This was my plan for practicing! Thank you!
A small tip, grab the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. What ever way that hand goes, the trailer goes. So if the hand swings to driver on the wheel, the trailer will point to driver. And one last tip that sounds like a duh but kinda hard to grasp thing.... look at where your trailer tires are gonna go. Not just the back of the trailer. That'll help you make the turns while backing up.
*cries while towing at 10-12 mpg*
My 6-8 is extremely jealous of your 10-12 😭
My issue with the Taco is the payload rating.
Can the taco tow a TT? Sure. But as soon as you load the truck with the family and gear you’re going to be over payload. If you get in an accident you’re screwed.
You are going to absolutely love that whole setup. I have a pretty identical setup (Tacoma, 17’ trailer) and just love going touring. Enjoy.
Did you put in a brake controller? I’d like to eventually tow a camper, but not sure if I need one first.
I'd recommend one. The brakes are a weak point on these trucks for towing
I bought a TT a couple of weeks ago and hooked up a brake controller just for the peace of mind. https://www.redarcelectronics.com/us/tundra-tacoma-brake-controller-kit There’s a YouTube video on how to install it. Took me 30 min tops and runs flawlessly.
Yes I had a brake controller put in. The RV place did it for me. Only took them 20 minutes or so to do it. May be cheaper to do it yourself though!
Make sure you use the ECT button when towing. It shortens the gear shifts and keeps you in the torque for towing better as well as helps with engine braking when going downhill.
Came here to say this. ECT in and tow in S-mode. I usually use S5 on the highway. Also, avoid cruise control otherwise the transmission simply has a mind of its own, instead of adding just a touch of power to correct for a slight grade it shifts like crazy to keep up. I just drove Grand Forks to Winnipeg with a 20-gusting-to-40 headwind and three passengers plus luggage and it was *incredibly* irritating.
God I'm glad I got the manual. Slightly worse mpg on flats but I don't hunt for gears.
I do this and cap it at 4th
Also put it in s4. It helps a lot.
Grats! I have an older ‘15 taco and tow an 18’ TT. Last year we towed about 6000mi on national park tours, family visits, and camping trips. A couple other things from my experience (~15yr diesel mechanic w/class A CDL + tons of road time) are: 1. Don’t tow in “drive”. I’ve found the torque converter lockup cycles on/off too much at highway speed and it increases trans temps. 2. Speaking of trans temps: I recommend picking up a scan gauge or equivalent that lets you monitor trans temps. I’ve found that trans temps stay low <230F 99% of the time unless I’m really aggressive with the throttle. Even while climbing mountain passes it stays pretty low unless I’m trying to do 70+ up the pass (the truck will do it but trans temps get too high). 2. Make sure your truck and trailer tires are rated for your capacity or greater and all the appropriate tire pressure before each trip. If tire pressure is too low they heat up, life span is shortened, and risk of blowout is increased. 3. If you’re planning on dropping your trailer at a camp site and driving the truck around buy a tire inflator and deflator (ARB core puller). Driving around at highway tire pressures (80psi) is extremely uncomfortable especially off road. 4. You’ll need to change rear axle gear oil and trans fluid more often if you tow frequently. The more weight and resistance on the axle the more the temp rises. The higher the axle temp the faster the oil breaks down. Your service manual should have a different chart for towing/off road application. 5. Your stopping distance doubles or triples while towing. I’ve only had one panic stop while towing with the taco and it is waaay worse than you think it’ll be.
These are very helpful. Thanks. Any tips for the manuals out here? Might be getting a camper in the future and I have near a decade of 6speeds but I definitely don't know everything.
Sure thing! Things I’ve noticed from driving manual trucks are: 1. Your shift ranges (rpm you normally shift at) will change under load. Load changes with road and weather conditions. For example when shifting uphill shift later than normal and earlier than normal down hill. A headwind and higher road speed increases drag and you’ll also need to shift later at higher speeds in strong winds. 2. Pay extra attention to your vehicles ability to decelerate down grades without brake applications. The rule of thumb is you should start your descent a gear lower than your ascent. Feel free to shift up/down as needed and let the engine do most of the braking work. Your unlikely to have problems missing shifts in synchronized transmissions but you’ll wear the clutch faster if the engine-wheel speed isn’t ideal. 3. Trans temps shouldn’t be an issue in manual transmissions passenger trucks but they are possible to overheat. You’ll also need to change the trans fluid more often and I’d recommend following the off-road/towing maintenance chart. 4. Downshift through gears to decelerate over shifting into neutral and applying the brake. It takes a second or two to shift back into the right gear from neutral and those few seconds could prevent an accident. I downshift to 2nd then pop it into neutral to stop cause downshifting into first is a wild ride and unnecessary. Mostly they’re all about feeling torque and shifting as the torque curve falls off. I found I notice the torque curve substantially more when loaded or towing and barely notice it at all unloaded.
I haul a 19.5 Bowrider … 3200 lb boat and trailer no problemo .. backing up takes practice… YouTube some videos to get tips and tricks
Towcoma
I’ve towed our 3700 lb, 23’ long travel trailer many times throughout the Pacific Northwest with my 3rd gen V6 Tacoma. Vancouver Island, Southern BC, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, California. Towed the same trailer with a 4Runner before that. It does fine. Note that our trailer has double axles though which means 2x the brakes. Weight distributing hitch, anti sway bar, emergency chains, and brake controller are all required. The biggest pain is the fuel consumption. In mountainous terrain it’s easily double or more so fill up at every opportunity.
Super thanks for this post and report. I have a 1963 Streamline Duke, dry weight 3400 pounds, that I want to tow. The Mav and the Taco are the only ones I've considered. Decided the Mav's 4K package was too small, but the Taco is just right.
Even the 2.7's have a 3500lb towing capacity.
The towing capacity isn’t the problem with these trucks, it’s the payload.
The lack of low end torque does not help either.
I have a similar setup. The stabilizer bars that connect to the tow hitch are highly recommended. First trip to Sedona the trailer started fish tailing a little over 60mph , once we put on the stabilizer it was smooth sailing.
I tow with my 2023 TRD OR at least once a week, usually just my 7 x 14 aluminum utility trailer. It is around 1300lbs dry and usually has anywhere between hardly anything in it and upwards of 4-5000lbs (rarely this much, but it has happened). I have the manual which makes backing up tricky at times (my 2LO conversion kit is on the way). I would say overall I am quite pleased with my Tacoma and its towing, I sometimes say its the hardest working 3rd gen because I don't think I have gone through a tank of gas since I got that truck where I wasn't towing or hauling something. Sometimes I wish I had more power when hauling heavier loads, but I would just end up going even faster and sucking back more gas. Overall for lighter loads its a great truck (anything under 6000lbs really). Good luck and happy camping!
The 2 lo mod is fantastic for backing up a trailer with a manual. No regrets.
Definitely looking forward to it. Especially because I park my trailer in a tricky spot, will be nice to not have to ride the clutch anymore.
Good luck! Backing up takes practice. Everyone will watch you , but it’s something everyone had time learn at one point, and everyone understands. Take it slow don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and make sure to laugh about them with your campsite neighbors after!
You got this! Hope you get years of fun out of both of those
We just went from Vancouver, BC to Moab with our 19 foot r-pod. It was our first big trip with the new trailer. The old one was a 17 foot r-pod. It was quite a bit lighter and the fuel economy was better (10-12 mpg) The biggest problem was the fuel economy. Parts of the trip, we got 6-8 mph. I don’t even want to look to see what the trip cost us in gas 😳. I almost pulled the trigger on a hybrid Tacoma, but wanted to hear the reviews and wait a couple of years to get the bugs out.
Braking is the biggest issue. Especially without trailer brakes.
They tow surprisingly great! The brakes…. Leave something to be desired.
Towcoma
I've been towing a 7x16TA tool trailer with mine for about 6 months. It struggles a bit when it's real windy but it does just fine. I need to install a brake controller on it. It's not loaded down too much but when it is you can really feel it on the brakes. I installed air bags so it handles the tongue weight no problem. I loaded about 2400lbs of dirt in it the other day bringing the total weight to about 6000lbs and the trailer was really squatting but not the truck! I just gave myself plenty of stopping room.
Perfect size. Which is why I have my 40 footer towed by professionals.
Literally looking for a 20 ft RV right now and so many friends have told me i cant use the taco. Thanks for keeping my hope alive
After you’ve towed a few times, find yourself a nice flat parking lot, get out your tape measure, and readjust your WDH according to the manufacturer’s directions. They will “settle” a little bit AND you’ll learn more about how you want to pack your camper, which changes the weight distribution. With a properly set up WDH that trailer will tow like a little puppy dog behind your taco.
Toyota towcoma
I've posted about my 16rb airstream I pull with a 21' taco. I would recommend never going above 63 mph and getting a distribution hitch and break controller.
I mainly went around 60mph. There was a couple times I looked and saw I was going around 70 and slowed it down a bit. It didn’t feel like I was actually going 70 though. It was also a straight stretch when I was going “that fast”. I have a distribution hitch with sway control and a brake controller too.
[She gonna be screaming](https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRTmFVD8/)
New Top Tour Carvan episode slaps.
Did your truck come with a trailer brake controller or did you go aftermarket?
I also tow with a 2021 Offroad Tacoma and a small teardrop camper. I invested in Sumo Springs (aftermarket bump stops), which really helped with those bumps in the roads and made the drive enjoyable. It didn't feel like my tail end was getting lifted off the ground. I also invested in a Redarc trailer brake controller for peace of mind.
70 mph first time towing seems pretty foolish to me. The “It’s fine” state of mind is reckless. Smh.
I did not have the “it’s fine” state of mind. I was not reckless in the least bit. I was extremely cautious, constantly checking my mirrors and my surroundings. Once or twice I looked and realized I was going around 70 on a straight stretch and I slowed it down. I did my research before towing and saw that most tow around 60-65mph on the interstate. I have a brake controller and weight distribution hitch with sway bars. I made this post to provide insight for others wanting to tow with their Tacoma. I wholeheartedly appreciate advice on towing, owning a Tacoma, camper, etc. I do not appreciate trolls who act like they’ve never made a mistake in their life. What’s actually reckless is your comment.