mdcamping wrote:
Mike Up wrote:
mdcamping wrote:
Some what out of the box here... what about a crew cab Tacoma, 6500 lbs of max towing, gives you more options for PUPs, hybrids, TT's.
Mike
Tow rating is nothing. These are midsize trucks with midsize capabilities. The low payload and low hitch weight rating on these trucks suggest that the low 6500 lbs tow rating is only for boats and car trailers that have little tongue weight, that will not go against the low hitch rating and the low payload rating.
Been there, done that with a Pathetic Nissan Pathfinder with the 4.0L V6 rated to tow 6000 lbs and 600 lbs hitch weight, along with a low payload of around 1200 lbs.
A 650 lbs hitch weight rating would only net a dry unoptioned camper weighing around 3500 to 4000 lbs (based on factory options and loading from 1000 lbs. to 1500 lbs). Not many Hybrids or TTs in that weight range except the Forest River R-Pods.
In fact that 2005 Pathfinder needed suspension help with a heavier front trunk style pop up, that couldn't use a weight distribution hitch.
Unless you go full size, I wouldn't suggest any TTs or Hybrids other than the R-Pod type campers.
Mike, I've been towing 5000#+ since 2007 on my Tacoma (14 repeated state trips)
....I've had no problems.... :h
Mike
I had a
2008 Ford Sport Trac and had pulled 5000 lbs loaded loaded as well and never had a problem.
The difference is that I had a hitch rating for 740 lbs and paid close attention to my payload. We only traveled with 3 of us and very light gear.
Now our family grew 1 and so did the stuff that goes into the truck. The Sport Trac with it's factory 1400 lbs payload and it's actual 1288 lbs of payload was to low. Today we would had overloaded the GVWR.
It's been shown on here where factory hitch receivers were breaking welds from going over their hitch ratings. Actually the Tacoma was one and well as 1/2 ton GMCs and Chevys. I would never chance it with a tongue weight over the rating of the hitch receiver. With 5000 lbs, any tongue weight over 13% will be over 650 lbs.
There aren't that many 5000 lbs 'loaded' TTs or Hybrids. Mine was 3900 lbs from the factory including 'factory options'. I previously weighed everything that went into it when I had the Pop Up. So I came in right around 5000 lbs.
As I said there really isn't any campers that come in that light anymore. Most are unoptioned and weigh over 4000 lbs for even the smaller floorplans. Many others that are less have ceiling heights and beds to short to even fit a 6' man as many of Jayco's SLX models. So I don't even consider them usable for the average joe.
Glad your Tacoma worked out for you but I don't see it working out for many that's why I recommend a Full Size truck based tow vehicle.
