Question Hi there, I am a new owner of a Sonic 231VRK. I am looking to purchase a Toyota Tacoma with the towing package. Not using correct terminology, but

[Flyfisher57]

I am looking to purchase a Toyota Tacoma with the towing package. Not using correct terminology, but its dry weight is roughly over 4400lbs. I plan on taking it up and around
and around western North Carolina. Is this truck capable of pulliing this double ale RV without difficulty up steep grades and going down? Big learning curve here. Thanks!

 

[FL-JOE]

Probably would be my answer. It looks like that model of TT (travel trailer) would weigh in a little over 5,100 to 5,600 pounds when fully loaded. It could have a tongue weight of between 500 and 900 pounds.

You need to look up the specs on towing ability for the exact Toyota Tacoma you would be purchasing (engine, tranny, gear). I assume the Toyota would be a gas truck so you certainly won't be the first one up any steep grades and you will have to use caution coming down, like lower gears instead of riding the brakes.

 

[Flyfisher57]

Thanks, It would be a gas truck. I more often that not will have it fully loaded, but even so, I do want to have a comfort level knowing that I won't be fighting with the travel trailer while pulling.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

If it's MPG numbers, spend time comparing other makes and sizes, you may be surprised. Note also that tow MPG is never listed, don't think they want you to know.
It is my thought that anytime you need conformation you have enough truck then you would have better peace of mind going larger(bigger). I know everytime in my life I had to start picking alt routes I was disappointed in my choice.

 

[Flyfisher57]

If it's MPG numbers, spend time comparing other makes and sizes, you may be surprised. Note also that tow MPG is never listed, don't think they want you to know.
It is my thought that anytime you need conformation you have enough truck then you would have better peace of mind going larger(bigger). I know everytime in my life I had to start picking alt routes I was disappointed in my choice.

thank!

 

["EZ"]

I personally think that this truck and trailer combination will be marginal in the mountains and OK on flat land. You said you don't want to fight it when it's fully loaded. If that's the case I recommend a bigger truck or at least a truck with a bigger engine! The 3.5L V6 engine that the Tacoma offers is pretty weak. This engine can put out up to 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. If I were pulling 5500 pounds of swaying travel trailer I'd want a V8 with 400 hp and 400 lb/ft of torque. And the bigger truck would have bigger brakes too. Then you could head out to go camping anywhere you want!

 

[Flyfisher57]

Thank you! I have really appreciated all the feed back. I am definitely going bigger. Love the mountains so don’t want to stress over the tow ability of a truck. Thank you!

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I personally think that this truck and trailer combination will be marginal in the mountains and OK on flat land. You said you don't want to fight it when it's fully loaded. If that's the case I recommend a bigger truck or at least a truck with a bigger engine! The 3.5L V6 engine that the Tacoma offers is pretty weak. This engine can put out up to 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. If I were pulling 5500 pounds of swaying travel trailer I'd want a V8 with 400 hp and 400 lb/ft of torque. And the bigger truck would have bigger brakes too. Then you could head out to go camping anywhere you want!

@"EZ" brings up another point here. Swaying trailers come mostly from two sources. One, not enough hitch weight, sometimes when someone knows the payload is a problem they try to reduce the hitch weight with improper loading of the trailer. This can cause a jackknife and is very dangerous. The other is side winds. Both of these conditions are avoidable and totally under the drivers control.

This is why I don't use RV parks! Yes schedules are the main reason people drive in conditions that increase accidents ( the wind thing).

This is also why I double pull. The fifth has a good pin weight for my trucks payload numbers but only the 1/2 ton has the tow capacity for all my stuff. By double pulling the Payload of the 1/2 ton can handle both of these numbers, the 1 ton has a lower tow capacity so I am not treating the drive train well with my load. Note loads are withing the numbers but not the full 20% that I like to follow.

 

[FL-JOE]

If we are going to talk about "swaying" RVs, then we should probably rate RVs from bad to worse as far as driving down the road with them.

IMHO travel trailers are the worse no matter what you are pulling them with. They are usually light and wind tends to effect them. The simple fact they are pulled by a ball tends to make them less stable.

Next would be 30' to 38' gas 2-axle Class A rigs. These tend to be without any type of air suspension and generally have the Ford F53 suspension which is weak at best. Even with added suspension modifications these RV usually are not much fun driving in cross winds.

Next would be 32' or longer Class C rigs. These handle winds a little better than their bigger gas brothers but still will provide some white knuckle driving experiences in higher cross winds.

The last group would be all your Super C, DPs, and larger fivers, depending on how they are set up. Most of these RVs handle moderate cross winds pretty good.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

If we are going to talk about "swaying" RVs, then we should probably rate RVs from bad to worse as far as driving down the road with them.

IMHO travel trailers are the worse no matter what you are pulling them with. They are usually light and wind tends to effect them. The simple fact they are pulled by a ball tends to make them less stable.

Next would be 30' to 38' gas 2-axle Class A rigs. These tend to be without any type of air suspension and generally have the Ford F53 suspension which is weak at best. Even with added suspension modifications these RV usually are not much fun driving in cross winds.

Next would be 32' or longer Class C rigs. These handle winds a little better than their bigger gas brothers but still will provide some white knuckle driving experiences in higher cross winds.

The last group would be all your Super C, DPs, and larger fivers, depending on how they are set up. Most of these RVs handle moderate cross winds pretty good.

On the money!! The truck will not stop a trailer from swaying, that is up to the driver.