Towing with Tacoma Question

[bentaluminum]

I have a 2004 Tacoma (SR5/TRD Access Cab with V-6 5 Speed) I;m putting a class-3 receiver hitch and trailer wiring on it. I would like to pull a 16ft car trailer with my 81 Truggy on it. Is this a bad idea? Have any of you Tacoma owners pulled a car trailer with a vehicle on it? Thanks in advance for your opinions, thoughts, suggestions!

[Pavement Pounder83]

i know people who have towed a truck with a similar one it was an auto with a super charger. it seems skechy to me

[kjmcdaniel]

Make sure you have a trailer with trailer brakes, and you shouldn't have any problems.

W/O trailer brakes, I would say you will have problems.

[bjack]

Is this a bad idea?
Yes

[Bones]

Did it with a Taco with my full bodied 4runner back in 2000 I think. It was riden hard, but it didn't make it up the mountain pass in CO to get us to Moab. Motor was wasted, power was poor, it had trailer brakes though. You make the call.

I would not do it with that nice of a rig that is meant to pull a small utility trailer, ATV's, waverunners or a small boat. Should have at least bought a Tundra

I have towed 2-3 ATV's with my 04 DC (auto of coarse) and that was noticable, and OD was left off and the r's were annoying to me

[bbagwell]

I wouldn't tow it very far. Like Bones said why mess up your nice truck by pulling something it was never designed to pull?

[bentaluminum]

Thank you everyone for the info. I just figured it could handle it. My 81 Truggy is just under 3000 lbs. I looked through the owners manual for Towing specs and figured what is in there is what they recommend. I figured a little more weight wouldn't hurt anything. Guess I'll have to sell it and get me a Full Size. I really like the way the Full Size Turbo Diesel trucks perform. I guess it's a no win situation both Gas and Diesel are both expensive right now!

[Bones]

A diesel is far more fuel efficient though and the power is well worth it.

[yellowspeedracer]

Sorry to bring back a semi old thread but I have the same exact truck and I pull my car (~2500lbs) on a 22' trailer (~1800lbs) and it's just fine. It's slow going up long hills but it will easily go 80+ on flat road at 5000ft.
If you have any questions you can email me, yellowspeedracer at aol dot com. I only check this forum once in a blue moon, I was looking for tires today.

Good luck.

[ScottFJ40]

Sorry to bring back a semi old thread but I have the same exact truck and I pull my car (~2500lbs) on a 22' trailer (~1800lbs) and it's just fine. It's slow going up long hills but it will easily go 80+ on flat road at 5000ft.
If you have any questions you can email me, yellowspeedracer at aol dot com. I only check this forum once in a blue moon, I was looking for tires today.

Good luck not killing anyone.
:)

[Tim84K10]

I think you are suicidal.

[DavidLH]

I have an 04 Ranger (4 litre,5 speed manual, 4.10s, extra cab, 4x4). I have pulled trailers for 30 years with small trucks (Toyotas,etc) and never had a mishap. I drive 60 MPH and don't tailgate AND use common sense! I weigh my trailers because there is a scale a mile from my house and it's FREE. 3500 lb loads in the hills are okay if you drive cautiously. I have pulled 4400 lbs on flat ground and never have any issues.... My 2 cents.

[TEX]

Is it a bad idea? Well, it's not a good one. SINCE YOU ALREADY HAVE THE TRUCK, do everything right & you can probably get by until you're able to purchase a proper tow rig. If you were looking to buy one for a tow rig, I'd definitely say no phuckin' way.

TEX

[stomprat]

I pull a jeep on a 16' car hauler with an s-10 no problems but don't buy a small truck
to pull with

[Bones]

I pull a jeep on a 16' car hauler with an s-10 no problems but don't buy a small truck
to pull with
2WD 10 towing a 4runner. This was in OK and he "I don't tow that far, just over to Arkansas." :shaking:

[demonranger]

It will work it all depends heavily on your driving style. Your clutch is not going to like you at all that's for sure. You're rated to pull 3500 or with towing package 6500. You're going to be pushing it to find a light enough trailer to keep you relatively within the 3500 the 6500 w/o a doubt you're clear the trailer is going to push you and it'd be best to use a weight distributing hitch. You need to find out what the towing package has that isn't standard with the v6 option.


I've pulled an explorer on a dolly with a 2.9 Ranger 5 speed w/ oversized tires. It didn't like to get going especially starting on a hill. No problem stopping. Though definately not something I would want to do on a regular basis.

[4x4not]

I just think it is a bad idea.... mini trucks just weren't designed to TOW

[4Mogger]

Keep the combined trailer/load total to 5K-5500#'s and with good trailer brakes and good load placement you would be fine. Skill and prudence are key. You won't break any speed records but it may be a better choice than going out to buy a new truck. I don't see the need to get a new rig just to tow around a truggy under 3000#. Even with your trailer you are still under 5K#. High quality synthetic lubes are a must with as much stress as the rig will be under. Don't skimp there. My brother towed a 5K# trailer around EVERY DAY for work with his standard cab '95 Taco with the 4 banger and had no problems. He has a Tundra now too.
I went to a Tundra because my 4Runner is more like high 5K range and went way light on the trailer- a Featherlite with brakes on both axles.