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.

[Camper_G]

I test drove a 16 Tacoma before i bought my Silverado. Nice truck, but very snall inside. I know they were redesigned this year, but if i were looking at small trucks, I'd give the Chevrolet Colorado a hard look if i were you. At least compared to the 16 Tacoma, the difference between the 2 was night and day. The Chevrolets frame was much larger and more beefy and was a bigger truck all around. Gm is really building some nice stuffv these days. All have pros and cons, but that new 2.8 diesel looks like a good pulling engine. I would not want to pull a TT with the Toy. good luck

[slavcha]

I tow 2015 Prowler Lynx 22 LX using my 2013 Tacoma with tow package. I have Teconsha wireless brake controller that i can switch to my other trailer and TV. trailer weighs around 5000 and it tows just fine. And for WD i use one from harbor freight.

[Fireballsocal]

The casita 17' Liberty deluxe as shown in the picture (My very truck and trailer) scaled in at just under 4000 pounds and 400 pounds tongue weight. I tow with full water tanks, full propane, and the trailer was fully optioned at the time. Plus 600 pounds of bike and gear in the bed.

I don't begrudge anyone a heavy duty truck to tow with but you also can't expect a mid size truck to tow a load without compensating by downshifting on hills to keep the engine in its sweet spot. The taco will work to pull that trailer on serious hills but it will pull it and do it safely and reliably as long as the trailer is loaded properly and the hitch set up correctly. Yeah, the 3/4 ton trucks don't need that extra step with such a small trailer but also get much worse milage not towing, and aren't as capable offroad nor easy to park.

[beeser]

Fireballsocal wrote:

I have to think the bigfoot was loaded incorrectly or the hitch not adjusted correctly. The 17' fiberglass trailers seem to be a perfect match for a V6 extended cab Tacoma. My Casita, the same size and weight as your bigfoot, was perfectly happy behind the taco without even a weight distribution hitch. It was my first RV and I didn't know about WD hitches. Didn't matter as the Casita towed well in wind, rain, etc.

The 17' Casita basic weight is just shy of 2200 lbs. as opposed to the Bigfoot 17.5 dry weight of a little more than 3200 lbs. The Bigfoot is also wider and taller than a Casita. I never towed a Casita but as stated before the Bigfoot 17.5 was not fun towing with our Tacoma Extended Cab V6. We never experienced any sway or handling problems but it just felt like the Tacoma was not up to the task. Any significant grade was a struggle to climb. I will admit the F250 was an overkill for this small of a trailer but we bought the larger tow vehicle in anticipation of purchasing a larger trailer. Our present setup, a newer F250 and a 21.5' Bigfoot, hits the sweet spot in my opinion. Again, I'm not knocking Tacomas or any light duty truck towing a small trailer. I just wanted to pass along my experience for what it's worth.

[Fireballsocal]

beeser wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

beeser wrote:
I had to chuckle at the OP's question. We originally had a V6 Tacoma but later purchased an F250 for towing our travel trailer. The difference in towing comfort was almost night and day. The trailer at times felt as if it was pushing the little Tacoma around. Not so with the F250. It wasn't just the power difference between the two TVs. The brakes are beefier on the F250, which provides an extra margin of safety. In fact, everything is more heavy duty on the F250. I'm not knocking the Tacoma, it's a very nice and capable light duty truck but it can't be compared to a full size truck for towing.

so what was the size/weight/etc. of your TT?
bumpy

The Tacoma and later the F250 was used to tow a Bigfoot 17.5 weighing about 4000 lbs. We moved up to a Bigfoot 21.5 weighing a little over 5000 lbs and only towed it with an F250. The Tacoma was doable with the smaller trailer but it wasn't fun.

I have to think the bigfoot was loaded incorrectly or the hitch not adjusted correctly. The 17' fiberglass trailers seem to be a perfect match for a V6 extended cab Tacoma. My Casita, the same size and weight as your bigfoot, was perfectly happy behind the taco without even a weight distribution hitch. It was my first RV and I didn't know about WD hitches. Didn't matter as the Casita towed well in wind, rain, etc.

[ralph_day]

Glad to hear someone is thinking about a Tacoma for towing. I've had one and towed about 15Kmiles with it. Trailer is custom built Taylorcoach, 19 foot, 4000 gross, (loaded about 3500). Tows like a dream. But tow in 4th gear!

[beeser]

Bumpyroad wrote:

beeser wrote:
I had to chuckle at the OP's question. We originally had a V6 Tacoma but later purchased an F250 for towing our travel trailer. The difference in towing comfort was almost night and day. The trailer at times felt as if it was pushing the little Tacoma around. Not so with the F250. It wasn't just the power difference between the two TVs. The brakes are beefier on the F250, which provides an extra margin of safety. In fact, everything is more heavy duty on the F250. I'm not knocking the Tacoma, it's a very nice and capable light duty truck but it can't be compared to a full size truck for towing.

so what was the size/weight/etc. of your TT?
bumpy

The Tacoma and later the F250 was used to tow a Bigfoot 17.5 weighing about 4000 lbs. We moved up to a Bigfoot 21.5 weighing a little over 5000 lbs and only towed it with an F250. The Tacoma was doable with the smaller trailer but it wasn't fun.

[Bumpyroad]

coolmom42 wrote:

Captain_Happy wrote:
Besides, Tacoma's don't cost over $55,000.00 like an F-150.

There are some pretty nice used F-150s out there for reasonable prices.

if one wants a used worn out piece of ..
bumpy

[Bumpyroad]

beeser wrote:
I had to chuckle at the OP's question. We originally had a V6 Tacoma but later purchased an F250 for towing our travel trailer. The difference in towing comfort was almost night and day. The trailer at times felt as if it was pushing the little Tacoma around. Not so with the F250. It wasn't just the power difference between the two TVs. The brakes are beefier on the F250, which provides an extra margin of safety. In fact, everything is more heavy duty on the F250. I'm not knocking the Tacoma, it's a very nice and capable light duty truck but it can't be compared to a full size truck for towing.

so what was the size/weight/etc. of your TT?
bumpy

[beeser]

I had to chuckle at the OP's question. We originally had a V6 Tacoma but later purchased an F250 for towing our travel trailer. The difference in towing comfort was almost night and day. The trailer at times felt as if it was pushing the little Tacoma around. Not so with the F250. It wasn't just the power difference between the two TVs. The brakes are beefier on the F250, which provides an extra margin of safety. In fact, everything is more heavy duty on the F250. I'm not knocking the Tacoma, it's a very nice and capable light duty truck but it can't be compared to a full size truck for towing.

[coolmom42]

Captain_Happy wrote:
Besides, Tacoma's don't cost over $55,000.00 like an F-150.

There are some pretty nice used F-150s out there for reasonable prices.

[hbrady]

Still have my 2004 Taco (my son drives it) and after 150k HARD miles it's still going strong (I plowed / hauled / towed A LOT with it.) If my wife and I ever downsize a new Taco would be my 1st choice. That said, I agree with what others have said. Pick out the smaller camper you really want, then make sure the Taco will be a good fit.

Good luck!

[Captain_Happy]

Besides, Tacoma's don't cost over $55,000.00 like an F-150.

[rexlion]

Wind resistance is the big factor, so the frontal area of the TT you're buying makes a difference. For a 7' or 7.5' wide TT under 4000 lbs (loaded), the Tacoma should be ok. An 8' wide TT or one that's taller than usual could be a pain to tow in any significant headwind. Make sure your TT hitch weight is at least 150 lbs (dry) below the Tacoma's hitch weight rating, because when you add LP and battery and gear and water the tongue can get heavy very quickly.