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Shinumo · 04-03-2023, 10:09 PM

OK, so I have a 2016 TRD-Off Road Tacoma that is completely stock.

GVWR: 5600lbs
GCWR: 11280lbs
Trailer Weight rating (TWR): 6500lbs
Payload: 1150lbs
Curb weight (with full tank of gas): 4405lbs

I'm looking at a Kimberley Karavan that has the following specs:

Single axel
Dry Weight: 3700lbs
Trailer GVWR: 5290lbs
7'5" high when towing
Articulating Hitch
No WDH/sway control (trailer has a sway bar on the axel)

Let's say I pack 1000lbs of cargo into the trailer making it 4700lbs.
The weight of the passengers and dogs + odds and ends in the Tacoma is: 489lbs.
That leaves me with 661lbs of payload capacity. 1150-489 = 661lbs of payload left.

4700lbs trailer + 4405lbs Tacoma + 489lbs Passengers/Cargo = 9594lbs
The GCWR of the Taco is 11,280lbs.
So I'm below the GCWR.

Trailer + 1000lbs gear = 4700lbs which is 71% of the Tacoma's trailer weight rating (6500lbs). Since it's below the general guidance of 80%, I should be good there too.

Tongue weight = 13% of trailer weight = 611lbs.
I have 661lbs of payload left so 661lbs - 611lbs = 50lbs of payload left over.

To summarize:
My trailer weight (with 1000lbs gear) is 71% of the TWR of the Tacoma.
My GCWR is 9594lbs which is less than the Tacoma's GVCR of 11,280lbs.
With all cargo + passengers + tongue weight, I have 50lbs of payload left over.

Given these calculations, do you think I would have any problems towing this trailer with my Tacoma? (I've had pop-ups, a 5th wheel, and a travel trailer so I do have some experience towing.) I plan to do a lot of camping at high elevations in the western US (7000-11,000ft.) Would that present any problems? Is this too much trailer for my Tacoma?

Just trying to make sure my Tacoma can handle this trailer in the deserts and mountains. Better safe than sorry! I would appreciate any and all input. Thanks!

Tomahawk · 04-04-2023, 12:49 AM

I don't think I would do it. My tt is slightly lighter and camp mostly between 6000 and 9000 ft in the Sierra Nevada. I think you would want the WDH and I think you will be unhappy going downhill. Some if that will depend on the road. Steep twisty is going to tax the tacos brakes a lot. I tow between 4200 and 4500 lb. My measured TW is 650. When I first checked, it was 720. I moved some stuff around to get it to 650.

Dave Pelletier · 04-04-2023, 09:21 AM

I think you're pushing it and unless you actually weigh the loaded trailer, you should use the trailer's GVW of 6,500 lbs as they are almost always heavier than stated. With a 50lb buffer on your payload using the advertised dry weight plus your anticipated gear/food/propane/fw load, that's the choke point. I'd bet money on you exceeding your payload.

...the other issue is that these trucks are very low on power (278hp/265ft lbs) so towing anything substantial is bound to be painful

2 cents,
Dave

CecilD · 04-04-2023, 09:37 AM

I wouldn't do it. You may be slightly under your numbers, but my gut feel is that you are considering an unsafe and unenjoyable tow, especially where you want to camp. I've been over Ebbets pass in the Sierras. With an elevation of 8,700 feet, hairpin curves and grades up to 26%, there is no way I would drive your proposed rig down the mountain especially with single axle braking on the trailer. Maybe if you wanted to camp in Kansas. Plus I would never pull a single axle trailer without some type of sway control regardless of how the trailer's axle is set up. You are going to get a lot of tongue bouncing with the single axle trailer and you will feel it in the truck; you will want a weight distribution hitch to alleviate which takes you over your numbers.

Vehicle specifications define their limits. I would feel uncomfortable taking them to the max. I towed a less than 3,000 pound tent trailer with a Toyota T-100 that had similar specs. The truck wasn't the right tool for the job. Sorry for the downer advice.

Alpine36 · 04-04-2023, 09:51 AM

I was surprised the things my brother towed with his Tacoma Pre Runner.
He hauled a 26’ Starwood TT (with WDH) on occasion, no issues.
He hauled a heavy (6.5k) 21’ Arima boat from Portland Or. to coastal Garibaldi every week in the summer. Only modification was a set of rear air bags, since the boat wasn’t equipped with a WDH. The boat trailer did have surge brakes. I rode with him on a few fishing trips. The Tacoma was very capable. If you’re under GCVWR I’d try it. You can always upgrade to a Tundra….

carybosse · 04-04-2023, 11:02 AM

At one time I had a 2015 GMC Canyon with a 1400 pound payload and a 7K tow capacity. I would not try towing that trailer with my old truck.

I have to assume passengers are extremely light and your dogs are tiny to keep your cargo load down to that. My wife and I with the dogs is about 450 pounds (with me at over half of that). I probably am always carrying 50 pounds of tools, then toss in some firewood, a few camp chairs, etc., and I am pushing 600-650 pounds against my payload on a light trip.

Also, where did you figure the 100 pound WD hitch into your calculations?

Punkinhead · 04-04-2023, 11:21 AM

I've seen people tow loads like that in flat places like Florida but even then an emergency stop would be a disaster. Forget about hills or mountains. I loved my Tacoma but it didn't have the brakes or engine for towing. I don't like towing to be a white knuckle experience.

tuffr2 · 04-04-2023, 11:48 AM

Sounds like you are going to tow in some very hairy places. If you were going to tow on flat land I would say yes - but that is not the case. Coming down a mountain to a hair pin turn your Tacoma will be pushed over the edge and we will read about it on Reddit or TikTok.

radar · 04-04-2023, 11:58 AM

It seems all in spec with some margin. But wether I would do it or not depends on the test drive. How does it handle, how does it stop, how does it climb. If you are happy with all of that that you are good to go.

Happy trails.

Shinumo · 04-04-2023, 12:07 PM

A huge THANK YOU to all who responded! I appreciate your experience and candor. I see MANY people towing trailers with 4000lb dry weights with their Tacomas and always felt they were pushing it. I think I'll be moving up to a tow vehicle with more towing capacity and payload!

Dave Pelletier · 04-04-2023, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shinumo

A huge THANK YOU to all who responded! I appreciate your experience and candor. I see MANY people towing trailers with 4000lb dry weights with their Tacomas and always felt they were pushing it. I think I'll be moving up to a tow vehicle with more towing capacity and payload!

It's hard to go wrong having a bit more truck than you need rather than the other way around.

Dave

Cumminsfan · 04-04-2023, 01:21 PM

Not the same truck but very similar. Same tow rating and very close on power. 265hp/284tq.
2006 Nissan Frontier V6 AT towing a 4050 lb loaded 20' TT. 7'6"Wx9'9"H
Towed it for a few months and traded it in on a 2008 F150 5.4.
Those small trucks feel pretty spunky unloaded. Load them up with 4000 lbs in tow and the spunkiness drops off a cliff. So does the mpgs. Mine went from 8.5 with the Frontier to 10.5 with the F150.
With the Frontier I ran out of power at anything near 65 mph. Towing up hills was a chore.
If you have a chance to rent a trailer of any kind that weighs close to your projected loaded weight you give it a try before you buy. I think you'll be really disappointed in the overall experience. Especially considering all the places you want to tow. If you were just looking a some 100-200 mile RT trips 10 times a year then you probably wouldn't mind the anemic aspects of the setup.
One other thing is the small gas tank and low mpgs It really cuts into distances between fill ups. Of course you can always pack more gas.

Marine359 · 04-04-2023, 01:52 PM

I’m towing 4,700# (loaded) 5,000# GVWR trailer with a 2021 3.6L Canyon. In 2020 GM gave it an 8spd tranny. Plenty of power. It tows our rig very well, up and down mountains at 65mph. We carry 600# on the tongue, making it difficult to stay under rear GAWR, even with very light stuff in the bed. And that’s with a 1,340# payload. We do use a WDH with sway control. If we had only 1,100# payload our trailer would be mission impossible. In your case, You’re talking about a trailer with higher tongue weight, than our and a tv with less payload, and less torque than our Canyon. Considering we are close to our limit, it doesn’t seem you’ll be able to make your combination work. Big hint here: Your TV rear axle weight while towing will ALWAYS be greater than your initial calculations, and you can’t possibly know for sure until you scale the loaded truck alone, and then scale again with trailer on the ball but no WDH engaged. Manufacturer ratings and weights a far from being accurate.

Wire4money · 04-05-2023, 08:37 PM

Tried towing our 4200lb loaded trailer with a 22 TRDOR. The gearing in the trans is wrong for towing, 4th would not have enough power to maintain speed, but 3rd had all the power you could ever want. It was a frustrating experience. I took advantage of the great resale, and cannot believe the difference a half ton made.