Toyota Tacoma- Genuine Stories

Popular tow over at fiberglass RV- folks pulling everything from 13 footers to fivers. (Weights up to 4,000 pounds or so.) Here are a couple of links to threads there with owner testimony:

Tacoma towing?

Towing with Tacoma

Fiver or 16' scamp with Tacoma?

Don't own one but a buddy of mine does. He's towed all kinds of stuff with it and loves it. Nice smaller truck IMHO, if you stay within its weight carrying capacity I think it would make a great tow vehicle.

I had a 2007 PreRunner with the tow package. I towed a 24' Jayco 213EXP with a GVWR of 5500#, though it was actually was never over 4800#.
It had the power to tow it, but I knew it was back there. I kept it out of O/D unless it was a flat road. The 4 Liter V-6 loved to rev when it had to, but never head a problem with it. I had an Equal-i-zer hitch which really helped.
I traded it for my RAM 2500 CTD when we ordered our 5th wheel. Even when towing the Jayco with my RAM, it was like towing a gigantic bread box and my MPG sucked. If I had my choice of a TT, I'd get an Airstream because of the aerodynamics. A properly equipped Tacoma wouldn't have a problem towing the right one.

I have a 2007 tacoma TRD pre-runner and tow a 2012 Forest River Shamrock 19' hybrid using a weight distribution/sway control hitch. Added tow mirrors and had Deaver add an additional leaf in the back. Trailer was typically around 4500 lbs as we left on a trip (scale verified). As stated above, the truck pulled the trailer amazingly well in most cases but was challenged at altitude (above 7500') and struggled with a headwind. Gas mileage averaged around 11.5 mpg, with a low of 8.3 (nasty, sustained head wind crossing the Mojave desert) and a best of 14.1 (Ca Central Valley with a great tailwind). If the truck is set up correctly, watch the weight of your setup and remain within conservative limits of the truck the Tacoma is a surprisingly capable vehicle (*****.before I get flamed for that statement understand that I'm 2000 lbs under the published towing capacity for the truck and at 85% of the CCC).

Our friends had one and the TT made it a dangerous game as it was rated to tow higher than it was safe to. He said the truck was too light but had enough power for Virginia to NY state. Went for a Ford Van with 7.3 in it.

4 adults in the crew cab is TIGHT.

Had a 2009 Tacoma Crewcab towing a 4000#, 24' TT

Problem was the truck's 1050# payload. With all the junk we carry and 600# tongue weight, we were always 300-500# over weight.

The 5 spd tranny back then didn't have a tow/haul mode to lock out the converter. Not sure about newer Tacomas, but a modern 6 or 8-spd tranny with tow/haul would be a major improvement.

And it was noisy. The 4L V6 had to rev high to get the torque and hp needed. The mountains weren't that bad, but a day or two of prairie headwinds was exhausting. Newer trucks with V6s, including the Tacoma, are probably a lot quieter though because of more/improved sound-deadening insulation.

I had an '02 Tacoma TRD Xcab (3.4L V6 engine) with towing package. I towed a Funfinder X 139, a sweet little TT with a GVW of 3500 lbs. I think it was a great matchup but at the upper end of the truck's capacity, although I didn't use a weight distribution hitch and it sagged the rear of the truck quite a bit when fully loaded. I didn't even know what a WDH was back then. Power-wise it was adequate, it does just fine at city speeds but getting it over 55 mph was a big chore. Mileage was 10-11 mpg if I remember. I do recall that the tiny 16 gal fuel tank was a pain, seems like you'd barely be up to speed before you had to stop for gas again.