Community Forums

37driver · 04-15-2020, 10:15 AM

A lady friend of ours is wanting to buy a travel trailer and is asking me questions on what she can safely pull with her 2018 Tacoma, 2wd V6 crew cab. It has the tow package and a 6800 lb. tow rating. However real world capability is usually not what's advertised. I was hoping someone here might own or know of what this truck will actually do.
Thanks

Wrktfsh · 04-15-2020, 10:40 AM

Maybe a pop up, small hybrid, Scamp, Casita or teardrop.

tuffr2 · 04-15-2020, 12:54 PM

I just looked at the smallest Hybrids made by Rockwood / Flagstaff and they are all too heavy. I had a friend that towed 19' Winnebago with as 2018 Tacoma. He said it did not tow that well. I also towed a 4,400lb travel trailer with a Honda Ridgeline. It did not tow well either. By not well the trucks could not control the trailer as speed increased. They were fine at 45 to 55 mph but any faster and it was white knuckle driving.

Have her look at a T@B 400.

RickNC · 04-15-2020, 01:01 PM

I know some who is pulling a 19’ airstream with a 2015 Tacoma .IIRC he said the trailer is around #3500 fully loaded. They travel all over the country with it.

vermilye · 04-15-2020, 03:49 PM

I towed an Escape 17B for about 15,000 miles with a 2016 Tacoma (3.5L engine). Trailer at 3100 lbs & 360 tongue weight.

Switched to an Escape 21 in 2017 - 4800 lbs & 550 tongue weight. I really loved the Tacoma and tried for 9000 miles, but finally got tired of spending too much time in 3rd great at 4000 RPM & getting 10 - 11 MPG. I was also overweight on payload by 200 pounds. Switched to a 2018 Ford F 150 3.5 EcoBoost. Better mileage (12.5 - 13.5 MPG), better brakes, mirrors & a 36 gallon gas tank. While I miss the Tacoma, the F 150 is a much better tow vehicle for a 5K trailer. I'd hate to see what the Tacoma would do if you towed near capacity...

WyoPops · 04-15-2020, 04:01 PM

I have towed an Wildwood 18' toy hauler with an ATV on board with a 2013 Tacoma Access cab, V-6 automatic. Being in Wyoming the wind blows quite often and the Tacoma struggles fighting the wind and/or uphills. The gas mileage can be horrendous!

37driver · 04-15-2020, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vermilye

I towed an Escape 17B for about 15,000 miles with a 2016 Tacoma (3.5L engine). Trailer at 3100 lbs & 360 tongue weight.

Switched to an Escape 21 in 2017 - 4800 lbs & 550 tongue weight. I really loved the Tacoma and tried for 9000 miles, but finally got tired of spending too much time in 3rd great at 4000 RPM & getting 10 - 11 MPG. I was also overweight on payload by 200 pounds. Switched to a 2018 Ford F 150 3.5 EcoBoost. Better mileage (12.5 - 13.5 MPG), better brakes, mirrors & a 36 gallon gas tank. While I miss the Tacoma, the F 150 is a much better tow vehicle for a 5K trailer. I'd hate to see what the Tacoma would do if you towed near capacity...

Thank you, that's what I needed to know. So it's basically good at 3000 to 3500 pounds?

Cumminsfan · 04-15-2020, 06:07 PM

I'd have her look at R-Pods and other brand clones. Lightweight and fairly aerodynamic.

37driver · 04-15-2020, 08:38 PM

Thanks for the responses. I'll steer her to a small lightweight.

bneukam · 04-15-2020, 10:48 PM

Lance 1475
Dry weight 2,600 with a dry bath, and a full size fridge. Plus a Truma Combi on demand water heater.

tuffr2 · 04-16-2020, 12:14 PM

IMHO the very best truck that is light and powerful is the F-150 with the 2.7 liter Eco Boost. This F-150 has a thinner frame, aluminum body and probably does not weigh much more than the Tacoma. The 2.7 litre engine is very powerful and made of Graphite Infused Iron block which is the material they use in the bigger diesel engine.

If she has the $$$ trade the Tacoma and then buy a small more comfortable trailer with a queen walk around bed and a better bathroom. Even this light-weight F-150 has the wider wheel base that is needed to tow and control travel trailers.

Have her look at the Rockwood 2901S as an example of a trailer type 2.7 F-150 could tow.

bneukam · 04-16-2020, 02:53 PM

That 3.5 GR family V6 in Tacoma has been in production in other Lexus/ Toyota vehicles since 2007. Very reliable, and no way would I trade it for an Ecoboost.

tuffr2 · 04-16-2020, 07:28 PM

If I wanted to tow a comfortable trailer I would trade a taco for a F-150 2.7 in a heartbeat.

Toyotas are not magic. Been there done Toyotas and Hondas.

Now drive a Nissan car and Ford truck.

bneukam · 04-16-2020, 11:11 PM

Was talking the GR family of engines the Tacoma has in it. I agree not all Toyota vehicles are equal. But the 1GR is what you see running around the harshest environments in Africa, and Middle East.

My neighbor had a F150 Eco 2.7 that he towed with, and the cab was going to have to be removed for repairs at 30k miles! He traded it in.

Have 3 GR vehicles with the oldest being a 2002, and it will outlast a brand new 2.7 Eco.

I am no fan of any truck manufacturers, only a fan of my wallet. Would never recommend someone to rid of a GR Tacoma for a Ecoboost. There is nice trailers that Tacoma can tow. Sure, you can tow a larger trailer with the Ecoboost, but at what cost.