SIGforum.com    Main Page  Hop To Forum Categories  The Lounge    Trailer Towing w/ 4 cyl Tacoma ... Advice Requested!
Page 1 2 
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
Trailer Towing w/ 4 cyl Tacoma ... Advice Requested! Login/Join 
Member
Picture of John Steed
posted
I have a 2.7 liter / 4 speed auto Toyota Tacoma. I am asking for a sanity check on using it to tow a trailer.

Some sources say it could tow up to a 3,500 lb trailer. I am impressed with how many members here have experience in this area and want to know how advisable this plan is.



... stirred anti-clockwise.
 
Posts: 2057 | Location: Michigan | Registered: May 24, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Bookers Bourbon
and a good cigar
Picture of Johnny 3eagles
posted Hide Post
Describe the trailer.



BIDEN SUCKS.

If you're goin' through hell, keep on going.
Don't slow down. If you're scared don't show it.
You might get out before the devil even knows you're there.


NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER
 
Posts: 7120 | Location: Arkansas  | Registered: November 06, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
The Ice Cream Man
posted Hide Post
That you are asking, pretty well indicates the advisability of it - barring something very small with limited drag
 
Posts: 5702 | Location: Republic of Ice Cream, Miami Beach, FL | Registered: May 24, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
No, not like
Bill Clinton
Picture of BigSwede
posted Hide Post
Yes, tow but I would keep it under 2k for towing often



 
Posts: 5281 | Location: GA | Registered: September 23, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Wait, what?
Picture of gearhounds
posted Hide Post
I have a 98 Taco with the 2.7- I can load firewood in the bed until it looks like a low rider and it rolls along fairly well (albeit sluggishly) but towing is a different beast obviously.




“Remember to get vaccinated or a vaccinated person might get sick from a virus they got vaccinated against because you’re not vaccinated.” - author unknown
 
Posts: 15491 | Location: Martinsburg WV | Registered: April 02, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Not as lean, not as mean,
Still a Marine
Picture of Gibb
posted Hide Post
Towing really depends on three factors.

1. Can the vehicle safely pull the weight from a dead stop, without overworking the transmission?

2. Can the vehicle stop the load from travel speeds, without overworking the brakes?

3. Can the vehicle maintain speed without overworking the engine?

For your vehicle, the limits of 1 and 2 are determined by the manufacture to to be a max combined weight (Trailer and load) of 3500lbs.

The limits of 3 are determined by the type of trailer and the type of driving.
- A small trailer (750lbs) with a compact load (2500lbs of paving bricks) on flat ground? No issues.
- A boxy trailer with winds, or a lot of driving uphill? I'd get a bigger truck.




I shall respect you until you open your mouth, from that point on, you must earn it yourself.
 
Posts: 3351 | Location: Southern Maine | Registered: February 10, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
safe & sound
Picture of a1abdj
posted Hide Post
It's a common sense thing. Small vehicles can tow small trailers. Jet skis, small boats, single axle utility trailers, and similar.

To tow larger trailers you need a larger vehicle.

What are you looking to tow?


________________________



www.zykansafe.com
 
Posts: 15684 | Location: St. Charles, MO, USA | Registered: September 22, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Nullus Anxietas
Picture of ensigmatic
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by John Steed:
Some sources say it could tow up to a 3,500 lb trailer.

To hell with what "some sources say." What does the manufacturer say?

The "common wisdom" I read, when I was looking into this when I was considering towing with the vehicle I had at the time, was not to exceed 90% of the manufacturer's rating.

Member Gibb pretty much nailed it, IMO.

Additionally, you have to consider the terrain over which you'll be towing. Flat or mostly flat-ish terrain is one thing. Mountainous terrain is something else entirely. Inclines vastly increase load on the drive train and declines greatly increase the demands on the brakes.

E.g.: You don't want to be towing at or near capacity, headed down a long decline, and find you need to stop relatively quickly.



"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe
"If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
 
Posts: 25980 | Location: S.E. Michigan | Registered: January 06, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Leemur
posted Hide Post
Is the truck set up to tow anything? Just having a hitch doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good idea. Stay well below the rated capacity. If it’s a short distance you’ll probably be okay. If there’s a significant amount of stop and go involved you absolutely should be easy with it. Does the transmission have a cooler? You don’t want to overheat it and either bugger up the gears or heat the fluid up to the point that it’s molasses. Toyotas will haul more than they should. Be careful.
 
Posts: 13731 | Location: Shenandoah Valley, VA | Registered: October 16, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of bigdeal
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by ensigmatic:
The "common wisdom" I read, when I was looking into this when I was considering towing with the vehicle I had at the time, was not to exceed 90% of the manufacturer's rating.
Personally, given that engine, and that my father owns the same truck, I would highly recommend not towing more than maybe 60% of max capacity if you want it to behave well. That motor is not a torque giant, and towing anything really heavy behind it would not be a pleasant experience.


-----------------------------
Guns are awesome because they shoot solid lead freedom. Every man should have several guns. And several dogs, because a man with a cat is a woman. Kurt Schlichter
 
Posts: 33845 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: April 30, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Nullus Anxietas
Picture of ensigmatic
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Leemur:
Is the truck set up to tow anything? Just having a hitch doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good idea. Stay well below the rated capacity.

That is another consideration. Is the truck equipped with a towing package from the factory, or will the OP be adding a hitch and wiring? Is the towing capacity based on that model with a towing package, or without? It can make a difference. Factory towing packages sometimes include more than just a hitch and wiring. (E.g.: Bigger brakes, enhanced drive train cooling, etc.)



"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe
"If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
 
Posts: 25980 | Location: S.E. Michigan | Registered: January 06, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
His diet consists of black
coffee, and sarcasm.
Picture of egregore
posted Hide Post
In case no one has asked Razz, what kind and size of trailer are we talking about? If you want to tow something like a U-Haul trailer, even a large one, across town or something like that, no problem. A big camper trailer over long distances and/or up and down steep grades is a different matter. So might a boat up a steep launching ramp. A four/auto is unlikely to have an auxiliary cooler.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,
 
Posts: 27777 | Location: Johnson City/Elizabethton, TN | Registered: April 28, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of smlsig
posted Hide Post
Sooo...

What is the gcvwr of the truck. It is posted on the B pillar or the side of the drivers door. Without that we are all pissing in the wind.


------------------
Eddie

Our Founding Fathers were men who understood that the right thing is not necessarily the written thing. -kkina
 
Posts: 6304 | Location: In transit | Registered: February 19, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of John Steed
posted Hide Post
Work got in the way of a more timely response ...
Thanks to BigSwede, Gibb, Leemur, and Bigdeal for giving good answers to a less than perfect question.

More information:
1. This Taco has no factory-installed tow package.
2. The truck's manual says Trailer Weight Rating = 3,500 lbs.
3. From the sticker inside the door:
GVWR = 5,100 lbs.
GAWR FRT = 2,755 lbs.
GAWR RR = 3,000 lbs.

What trailer?
I have a small utility trailer which I want to tow around town.
Lately I have been thinking of buying a 13 foot Scamp camping trailer which the factory lists at 1,500 lbs., empty.
The Scamp will have brakes.
Naturally, I am wondering if my Taco could handle towing such a Scamp.



... stirred anti-clockwise.
 
Posts: 2057 | Location: Michigan | Registered: May 24, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
posted Hide Post
The current SAE std. for trailer rating system is very tough. And Toyota is pretty conservative. You will absolutely have no issues towing either of those two trailers.


“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
 
Posts: 10958 | Registered: October 14, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
His diet consists of black
coffee, and sarcasm.
Picture of egregore
posted Hide Post
quote:
Lately I have been thinking of buying a 13 foot Scamp camping trailer which the factory lists at 1,500 lbs., empty. The Scamp will have brakes.

I can't imagine this being a problem for the truck. It might be a little slow on steep uphill grades. Shift the transmission manually to 3rd gear (overdrive button on the shifter) if it has to shift excessively ("hunting). If it doesn't have an auxiliary transmission cooler, I'd add one if you're going to tow it at all extensively. These plumb into the transmission return line from the radiator. Bypassing the radiator cooler altogether may make the transmission run too cool.
 
Posts: 27777 | Location: Johnson City/Elizabethton, TN | Registered: April 28, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of sourdough44
posted Hide Post
Another factor is distance, terrain, length of tow, and driver experience.

I see you’re in MI. If we’re talking reasonable distances, with some experience, a lot better than planning a Yellowstone trip.

I have a relative that used to ‘over-tow’ with his Ford Ranger. He was a former logger & trucker, never had a problem. With that in mind, there is a ‘gray area’ in the middle. Then we have some that shouldn’t be towing anything.
 
Posts: 6114 | Location: WI | Registered: February 29, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
safe & sound
Picture of a1abdj
posted Hide Post
If a VW can tow it, so can your truck Wink



________________________



www.zykansafe.com
 
Posts: 15684 | Location: St. Charles, MO, USA | Registered: September 22, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
member
Picture of henryaz
posted Hide Post
 
I have that same engine in my 2010 Tacoma, with a 5 speed manual. I have a Big-Tex utility trailer (single axle), that is rated at 3500 lbs. The trailer itself is ~1000 lbs. I mostly haul brush and other large trash to the local transfer station.

Typically with that weight rating one would use a Class 2 receiver, with a 1.25" x 1.25" opening. I had a Class 4 receiver installed (2" x 2" opening), not because I wanted to push the towing weight, but because almost all hitch accessories are easier to find in that size (bike racks, platforms, etc). The most I've ever towed (loaded trailer) was just over 2500 lbs (based on the scales at the transfer station).
 
I do stay out of 5th gear (overdrive) when towing.



When in doubt, mumble
 
Posts: 10770 | Location: South Congress AZ | Registered: May 27, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Dinosaur
Picture of P210
posted Hide Post
You won’t have a problem with a Scamp. Towing in overdrive is bad for your transmission and if you avoid it you will be fine.

“● To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system performance when using engine braking, do not use fifth gear (5-speed manual transmission), sixth gear (6-speed manual transmission), or do not put the transmission in D (automatic transmission).”

http://www.ttguide.net/trailer_towing-80.html
 
Posts: 6955 | Location: 96753 | Registered: December 15, 1999Reply With QuoteReport This Post
  Powered by Social Strata Page 1 2  
 

SIGforum.com    Main Page  Hop To Forum Categories  The Lounge    Trailer Towing w/ 4 cyl Tacoma ... Advice Requested!

© SIGforum 2024