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Towing with a 3G Tacoma.
- Thread starter Joe H.
- Start date
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- overland gear
5800lbs is getting close to the top end. There are a few things to consider here.
1. Have you considered a load leveling system? I recommend the Straightline 10,000 system. You will need something or you are going to squat. Badly. Make sure a trailering/camper dealer that you use sets the system up for you (unless of course you have done it before)
2. You have a electronic brake system? This is a must have for that weight.
3. Follow the manual's recommendation of towing in 4th gear ONLY, and ECT ON. Your truck is going to stay in high RPMs, this is NOT a bad thing. That is where this motor makes the HP/TQ.
Take a read of this post by me:
https://tacoma3g.com/threads/coastierons-silver-build-bs.69/page-4#post-2266
a little bit less than what you are thinking, but close.
1. Have you considered a load leveling system? I recommend the Straightline 10,000 system. You will need something or you are going to squat. Badly. Make sure a trailering/camper dealer that you use sets the system up for you (unless of course you have done it before)
2. You have a electronic brake system? This is a must have for that weight.
3. Follow the manual's recommendation of towing in 4th gear ONLY, and ECT ON. Your truck is going to stay in high RPMs, this is NOT a bad thing. That is where this motor makes the HP/TQ.
Take a read of this post by me:
https://tacoma3g.com/threads/coastierons-silver-build-bs.69/page-4#post-2266
a little bit less than what you are thinking, but close.
A video I made may help.
jhipwundah
2️⃣ Bronze
I tow a 19' whaler / dual axle trailer with electric brakes (combined weight close to 3,300 lbs - ice, gear and dead fish excluded) and you can definitely tell there's something behind the truck. On flat roads, she tows fine but on the inclines is where I feel it struggle a bit. I'm not improving my situation either by recently adding 34" tires. With that said, I'm looking to regear (4.88 or 5.29) in the near future and possibly a big brake kit.
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jhipwundah
2️⃣ Bronze
Aloha, you mentioned 4.88 gears in your video... Since you’ve installed them, have they helped out quite a bit especially with towing?
To add to some of the suggestions above.
Tongue weight is an important factor too, usually it's 10% of the trailer weight, but ideally you should have a scale, the heavier the tongue weight is, the more likely it is to cause a sag, which can be dangerous when braking, if your tongue weight is high due to load being at the front of the trailer, you can always get weight distribution hitch.
Another thing we can add is, once you got all that sorted, go for a short drive on quiet roads to get used to the weight.
Happy towing!
Tongue weight is an important factor too, usually it's 10% of the trailer weight, but ideally you should have a scale, the heavier the tongue weight is, the more likely it is to cause a sag, which can be dangerous when braking, if your tongue weight is high due to load being at the front of the trailer, you can always get weight distribution hitch.
Another thing we can add is, once you got all that sorted, go for a short drive on quiet roads to get used to the weight.
Happy towing!
jhipwundah
2️⃣ Bronze
What brake kits do you offer for our 3rd gen trucks (2018)? I tried a search on your site but none applied?
Yes, they helped a ton. I also recently tuned my truck with OVtune so I'm excited to see how that effects towing.
jhipwundah
2️⃣ Bronze
Are you running the 1.05 version? Let us know your feedback after you've done some towing again!
Camped near zion today. The truck does well (255 85r16, Ride rite airbags daystar cradles, 4.88s and big trans cooler). Were based out of Phoenix and love the trailer for stuff close to home base. Weve towed it up to the PNW and Montana a few times and it can be a bit tedious. Ive definitely fantasized about 6.7 cummins on those trips but still prefer having the awesome smaller 4x4 Taco once we arrive. Its a Jayco 195rb with timbren suspension around 4k loaded. Definitely selling it in the next couple years and getting a smaller expo style trailer or 4x4 van.
danlewayne
1️⃣ Getting Started...
I think he is right I have also towed a vehicle with Tacoma 3g with an approx weight of 5500lbs, I used Tacoma 3g as NYC 24-hour towing services.
jhipwundah
2️⃣ Bronze
Short answer is Yes, it can. But it’s cutting it close. Depending on how often, how far and if there’s any inclines, I’d consider regearing.
planning my future build and curious if you had to do it over would you consider the 5.29 gearing over the 4.88? would it kill it too much on the highway at 75 for you or would the added power for towing be worth it?
I think the 255 85r16s and 4.88s are a great combo and probably a little over geard. I would definitely consider the 5.29s with bigger tires. With that said I dont think the 5.29s vs 4.88 would change much for me as far as towing my trailer. At the end of the day its not the weight of the trailer as much as it is the wind resistance at highway speed that just kills it. You may hold 5th a little longer with the 5.29s but as soon as the auto trans jumps down to 3rd gear ( it will lol) those 5.29s will be making the motor rev just that much more.
Thanks for the input Devil Driver. The more I read about 5.29 and input I get on them the more I am leaning towards them. I just wanted to make sure it's not overkill and from everything I've heard from people running them they seem to prefer it. I'm sure either way I lean I'll be happy.
jhipwundah
2️⃣ Bronze
What will you be towing and what's your tire setup?
Anyone towing a camper with a manual trans? I have a stock sport and trying to figure out what size camper i can haul without going crazy with suspension upgrades
jhipwundah
2️⃣ Bronze
Do you have a link of where you bought the "big trans cooler"?
Lord Humongous's Tow-coma
Hello, my name is Mr. Humongous but you can call me Lord. I'm a customer service representative for one of the most beautiful cities in the Southewest. I enjoy alpaca wool clothing, craft beer, carrying heavy things and rain. I'm moving over from the other place so my build is going to fairly...
tacoma3g.com
Andrew0311
3️⃣ Silver
I pull a small TT with mine, loaded down for dry camping with water, generator, fuel, etc the back end was a little too soft and I’d drag a lot when pulling into and out of gas stations and the sort, I would say that the engine and transmission stock are pretty impressive. I have not had much second thought while pulling up hills or anything like that. It gets the job done. I’m afraid I can’t say off the top of my head what the weight of my trailer is but i did resort to a lift and adding heavier duty leadfs to compensate for the weight.
Andrew0311
3️⃣ Silver
Your going to need susspension in the read to compensate for the weight, your going to drag everywhere. Add a leaf