Small trailer and Tacoma

[VTLee]

I am thinking about downsizing from my fifth wheel and looking at a small TT. For a tow vehicle I am looking at a 2017 Tacoma with a trailer towing package. The package has sway control but not an integrated brake controller. Does anyone have any experience with this setup? Will the added on brake controller be adversely affected by the sway control on the tow vehicle if they are not integrated? Any thoughts will be appreciated.

[deltabravo]

If I were looking to downsize to a smaller truck, the GMC Canyon / Chevy Colorado with the 2.8L Duramax is at the top of my list.

[deltabravo]

VTLee wrote:
The reason that I am looking at the Taco is that I want to downsize from my F-250 but it is looking like it may not be a good idea.

Why isn't it a good idea downsize to a Taco from a F250?

[gmw_photos]

As others have stated, I would suggest you define exactly what trailer you are considering as small in regards to pairing it with a Tacoma.

Example, I pull my 2012 funfinder 189FDS with a Nissan Frontier ( essentially the same as a Tacoma ). It's a good match. I use a BlueOx swaypro weight distribution hitch with built in sway control.
As for brake controller, I use a Tekonsha prodigy P2, which works well.

[Bumpyroad]

Oh, I used a Tekonsha primus IQ from etrailer in my tacoma.
bumpy

[Bumpyroad]

options, V6 tow package $650 ,class IV towing receiver hitch
ATF cooler, Engnie oil cooler, power steering cooler
130 amp alternator, 4 & 7 pin connector with connector and trailer sway control (TSC)
so I guess it does come in the package.
bumpy

[NanciL]

I guess that anti sway using the trailer brakes initiated by the brake controller in the truck has been thouroughly tested, but I visualize every time a tractor trailer passes you and you get a slight sway, (which you will pulling it with a light duty truck)your trailer brakes are going to be initiated.
Doesn't sound good to me!

It would be nice to hear from someone who has experience with it.

Jack L

[Bumpyroad]

don't remember if anything was said/written about sway control. I added a proportional brake controller from Hopkins IIRC, will have to verify that. incidentally finding where to plug the controller in was a witch with a capital B. it is buried under the kick panel on the left side behind a post? mesh, etc. two toyota mechanics and my mechanic could not find it until my mechanic really jammed his hand in there. we gave it one last attempt and if no go got the OK from the mfr. to return it and go with the remote controlled one, which I probably would have bought if I had known about it to begin with. that way any tow vehicle would work to tow my TT since the controller just plugged into the cigarette lighter socket.
will see if I can find out anything about sway control.
bumpy

[VTLee]

Thanks for the reply Bumpy. Does your 2016 Tacoma have the factory installed tow package with what Toyota is calling "sway control"? What brake controller did you install? I am concerned about possible negative interactions between the computerized sway control and the brake controller. If you do tow with the Tacoma sometime it would be interesting to know how it went.

[Bumpyroad]

I tow a 3500 lb. dry Ascend A17RD with my 2011 Highlander which is a lesser vehicle than my 2016 tacoma. haven't towed it with the Tacoma yet but should do better. my highlander got 14 mpg towing it.
I added brake controllers to both vehicle and contray to other opinions, the Tacoma will tow much more than tent trailers. and the Tacoma is easier to drive/park in town/etc. than a F150 sized truck.
bumpy

[coolmom42]

braindead0 wrote:
I'd suggest figuring out what TT you need to tow, and then finding the right TV.

This too.

[braindead0]

I'd suggest figuring out what TT you need to tow, and then finding the right TV.

[coolmom42]

Consider going to a F-150 with the 3.5 L Ecoboost engine. Great towing capabilities, could easily handle a small to medium size trailer. When not towing, you can expect 22-24 mpg, which is pretty awesome for a full-size truck.

[VTLee]

Thanks for that response. According to Toyota they are using the tow vehicle ABS to control trailer sway and yes I think it is a bad idea also. The reason that I am looking at the Taco is that I want to downsize from my F-250 but it is looking like it may not be a good idea.

[braindead0]

RAM integrated brake controller has 'sway control' built in, if it detects sway it'll apply trailer brakes to correct. So in that respect sway and brakes can be related, however OP notes no brake controller... so no clue what he's talking about.

Perhaps the 'tow package' come with heavier ANTI-sway bar(s)?

Found this:

Class-IV towing hitch receiver,31 ATF cooler (not available on M/T), engine oil cooler, power steering cooler,
130-amp alternator, 4- and 7-pin connector with converter, and Trailer-Sway Control (TSC)(V6 only)

The footnote on that is just legal disclaimer, don't tow over limits..etc. I think the only way it could have trailer sway control would be via integrated brake controller, or perhaps they're relying on electronic stability control on the vehicle to control trailer sway (stupid idea I think)?

And found this article on the subject: Toyota Trailer Sway Control which makes a provably false statement: "Then if automatically applies brake pressure to the individual trailer wheels." (spelling error in original article). Found another reference that states is applies braking to individual wheels (on the TV not TT).

So the system will use your TV brakes to try and control trailer-sway. IMO that's a terrible idea, unless towing a really light weight TT..

[donn0128]

Sway and brakes are two different subjects.
Trailer brakes are mandatory. So, you will need a brake controller. Never heard of sway control on a trailer? Most folks use a combination of correctly setup hitch, hitch weight, and either friction or hitch type sway control.
Personally I think a Taco, while a nice vehicle is really not suited to tow much over a tent trailer. Why not get a regular sized 1500 series truck?