Alright guys, im currently saving up to take an extended trip across the U.S. next summer. I have been going back and fourth debating if I should upgrade to a tundra from my 2011 Toyota Tacoma Trd sport dbl cab w/tow package. I absolutely love my truck but after countless hrs of research I understand it's not the greatest tow vehicle. But I still think it's capable for what I will be using it for. I'm not looking for a huge trailer, Just need something with a bed/bath/shower/dinette small/kitchen.(under 3500lb fully loaded). Been thinking about a casita/scamp or something similar.(any sort of pop up is out of the question). Any other suitable suggestions? I do plan of going through some steep inclines/mountainous areas. My question is: what will I need to do to equip/setup my truck to tow the kinda trailer I'm look for? It's bone stock right now with 50,000 miles. Also what kind of maintence should I be doing w/that mileage to get it ready?And what do you "estimate" that it will cost to set it up properly?Thanks in advance!

Does it have a tow package? If so, all you need is a brake controller. You won't have any trouble at all towing a smaller Scamp or Burro, etc. But for a Casita, you'll feel it on the hills and will want a sway bar. It actually might go over your tow weight. I had a Casita and towed with an FJ Cruiser and had no problems, but it's rated to 5k, and I did feel it on hills. ALso had a Burro and loved it, didn't even feel it back there.You might also consider an ALiner or hardside popup.

My first question is, does it have the factory installed tow package? If it does, the Tacoma is quite the little work horse and should easily be able to handle the size/weight of the trailers you are considering. You'll need a weight distribution hitch, cost depends on brand and type. And you'll need a brake controller, highly recommend a Prodigy P3, $145 on Amazon and worth every penny. So long as you have been following the recommended maintenance schedule there is nothing special you need to do. It's a truck and is built to handle what you want to do (again provided it has the tow package). Going up steep grades, just take your time and don't expect to win any races. No one says you have to do the speed limit up a 6% grade. Watch the trucks, they crawl up those grades with their flashers on.

It does have the factory tow package rated at 6500lbs , and I will 100% have a brake controller and w/d hitch. The truck currently has 50k on it, the only maintenance I have done is change the oil religiously at 25-3000 miles. And just recently changed my rear diff fluid- trucks only 2wd. Should i have done other maintenance already? And what maintenance should I be doing to get it ready for the trip? The casita fully loaded won't be over 3500lbs. I have been adviced to possibly upgrade my rear leaf springs and get a sway bar. Should I be upgrading my shocks or anything else as well? All suggestions/opinions are greatly appreciated.

We have the same truck, and we pulled a 18 foot travel trailer from California, to the gulf in Texas, up to Indianapolis and on to Rhode Island, then back to California last spring. No towing problems.

I tow with a Tacoma. I have a Passport 195RB, about 3900 lbs dry. It as heavy as I dare go with the Tacoma. A Casita should be no problem at all but fuel mileage is a bit of an issue. I get 10-11 mpg while towing, so with a 16 gal tank I'm stopping every 150 miles to fill up.

Toyota Tacoma towing Travel Trailer/Casita | Good Sam Community

2lazy4U
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
Does it have a tow package? If so, all you need is a brake controller. You won't have any trouble at all towing a smaller Scamp or Burro, etc. But for a Casita, you'll feel it on the hills and will want a sway bar. It actually might go over your tow weight. I had a Casita and towed with an FJ Cruiser and had no problems, but it's rated to 5k, and I did feel it on hills. ALso had a Burro and loved it, didn't even feel it back there.

You might also consider an ALiner or hardside popup.
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
My first question is, does it have the factory installed tow package? If it does, the Tacoma is quite the little work horse and should easily be able to handle the size/weight of the trailers you are considering. You'll need a weight distribution hitch, cost depends on brand and type. And you'll need a brake controller, highly recommend a Prodigy P3, $145 on Amazon and worth every penny.

So long as you have been following the recommended maintenance schedule there is nothing special you need to do. It's a truck and is built to handle what you want to do (again provided it has the tow package).

Going up steep grades, just take your time and don't expect to win any races. No one says you have to do the speed limit up a 6% grade. Watch the trucks, they crawl up those grades with their flashers on.
Breaky0self
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
It does have the factory tow package rated at 6500lbs , and I will
100% have a brake controller and w/d hitch. The truck currently has 50k on it, the only maintenance I have done is change the oil religiously at 25-3000 miles. And just recently changed my rear diff fluid- trucks only 2wd. Should i have done other maintenance already? And what maintenance should I be doing to get it ready for the trip? The casita fully loaded won't be over 3500lbs. I have been adviced to possibly upgrade my rear leaf springs and get a sway bar. Should I be upgrading my shocks or anything else as well? All suggestions/opinions are greatly appreciated.
dsoucy1
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
We have the same truck, and we pulled a 18 foot travel trailer from California, to the gulf in Texas, up to Indianapolis and on to Rhode Island, then back to California last spring. No towing problems.
mckind
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
I tow with a Tacoma. I have a Passport 195RB, about 3900 lbs dry. It as heavy as I dare go with the Tacoma. A Casita should be no problem at all but fuel mileage is a bit of an issue. I get 10-11 mpg while towing, so with a 16 gal tank I'm stopping every 150 miles to fill up.
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
It sounds like you've done everything you should to your truck. Your owners manual has a schedule in it. Just follow that. If you don't have one they are available to download.

At 50k miles, aside from inspecting vacuum lines and hoses, there really isn't much too consider.

There's no need to upgrade springs or shocks. The WD hitch will take care of what you need, which is to put weight back on your front wheels to regain full sterring control. There will always be some rear squat. Your suspension is made for what you want to do.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
I bought an AScend RD17 that pretty much fits your description. tow it with my Highlander. dry weight was 3528 or so. IIRC. a casita would be ideal.
I get 14 mpg towing with mine.
bumpy
2lazy4U
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
If you're rated to 6500, you won't have any trouble with a Casita. All you need is a sway bar and brake controller.
westend
Explorer
Aug 05, 2015
You'll struggle with that Tacoma pulling anything over 2K lbs. It's not made to pull anything bigger like a travel trailer. My suggestion would be to get a bigger truck.
mtnbbud
Explorer II
Aug 05, 2015
I have a 2001 Tacoma rated to tow 5000lbs. My engine is rated at a little lower hp than yours. It has over 100,000 miles on it. I added an automatic transmission cooler as my truck didn't have one. My trailer weighs 3000 lbs dry. With the WDH and trailer brakes, I have no problems other than driving at 45-50 mph on long steep uphill grades.

https://goo.gl/photos/ZH4VPvEpxo8E6bqx8

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