I have a toyota Tachoma I need to toe a ck30 TLB

BGL990 · Apr 27, 2005

I have a Toyota Tacoma and I don't think I'd do it. Sure it'll move the setup, but the truck just isn't heavy enough to make me feel good about towing that much weight. The stock rear suspension is pretty soft too. Even if you have the load balanced so you aren't on the axles, I'd be a little concerned about going over bumps etc. and bottoming out.

You could always do what I want to do - trade up to a Tundra ... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Will_C · Apr 27, 2005

As a former Tacoma owner, I want to point out that Brent's post is accurate in regards to the 2005 Tacoma. The highest max trailer towing capacity on the previous generation (1996-2004) Tacoma was 5000lbs.
Will

RalphVa · Apr 28, 2005

Tacomas only weigh in the vicinity of 3,000 pounds. In fact, my Extracab 1996 2wd only weighs 2,900 pounds. I'd be concerned about towing a trailer with total weight more than the weight of the vehicle.

The trailer I rented to tow my Gravely and all its attachments was pretty heavy, but I don't think the whole thing was more than 3,000 pounds.

My 2wd averages 26-27 mpg, by the way. It got 30 mpg driving 85 mph from Baton Rouge all the way to Virginia.

Ralph

getut · Apr 28, 2005

Mileage is the reason I made the jump that I did.

Previous to my Tacoma I had a 1990 Chevy Z71 regular cab, short bed with the 350. I got a job that was a 45 minute drive one way and it was eating me alive in gas so I reluctantly traded it on a new 2000 Tacoma 4x4 6 cylinder. I was in shock at the lack of power for quite a while and never did get used the lightness of it. I still work at the same place but have moved and that 45 minute drive is now 20 minutes. Gas however is much higher now... yet I still desperately wanted to get back into a full size pickup. I had always had a fear of diesels until I got my tractor. With the fear of diesels cured, it just made sense to get a 3/4 ton diesel and all the utility that it offers, especially considering the MPG that mine gets is nearly exactly the same as my Tacoma 4x4 was.

Tacoma 4x4 / 22MPG / can't haul much at all
Chevy Z71 / 14-18MPG / can haul a good bit
Older F250 Diesel / 18-22MPG / can haul a house

It made sense to me to get the diesel. I like the Dodges too, but it seems that in order for the Dodges to create those huge torque numbers they do, they have greatly sacrificed fuel economy. Ford is following the same track with the newer 6l diesels. I like where 7.3l diesels fall... great HP and torque, not best in class... but a good mix of torque and fuel economy.

I hope to run this thing around 500k miles .
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JeffRey30747 · Apr 28, 2005

I have a 2001 Toyota Tacoma Double cab 4WD. The maximum trailer weight is 5000 lbs. and tongue weight is 500 lbs. The manual states that trailer brakes are recommended for any load exceeding 2000 lbs. However, the tow package is not prewired for a brake controller so I had to run a few wires to install the prodigy in mine.
After looking at a Tundra, I don't think it will allow you to gain much real world towing capability despite what the creative marketers may say. If you want to upgrade for towing, you will have to go to a 3/4 or 1 ton model from one of the big 3 domestic truck makers. My personal preference would be F-350 but the new 6.0 Powerstroke isn't getting rave reviews in the circle of real world truck users that I have access to. A good deal on an older 7.3 sounds like a good way to go at the moment.

Jeff

BGL990 · Apr 28, 2005

My mom's got a GMC 3/4 ton 6.5L diesel pickup whenever I need more towing capacity. Personally, I don't generally like buying a used anything, and if I buy another new vehicle it will definitely say 'Toyota' on the back (or maybe 'Smart' beside the Mercedes logo ...)
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Jagmandave · Apr 28, 2005

I think it depends on whether you just need to move it once (rent something appropriate) or if you need to move it frequently ( then you need a bigger truck!)

tracdoc · Apr 28, 2005

We have used our '03 Tacoma (with a rated max towing capacity of 5,500#) to haul our race car all last season w/o any stress to the truck. The race car is a Mini Cooper S (modified) which weighs ~2,500#. The only way we could manage to tow the race car plus our gear and us (2 adults, one child) was to get a lean trailer. We went with a 14' Featherlite open car hauler {HERE}

The Featherlite is all-aluminum, and weighs in at barely sub 1,000#, and that's with dual 3,500# axles. If it weren't for the light weight of the trailer, we would have never be able to tow the race car and gear. I should mention that the Tacoma has a Leer cap, and we had to figure in the weight of that, too.

Bottom line is that payload can only be increased if the trailer weight goes down, assuming that other parameters (driver, passengers, travel gear, etc) remain constant. If that's not possible, then I don't think the Tacoma would be a reasonable tow vehicle. With a Tacoma pulling a Featherlite trailer, you could safely trailer your CK30, and maybe the FEL, but not much else.

txhawg · Apr 29, 2005

I don't think the Tacoma would have a problem moving a trailer with that kind of weight. However, once you get that rig rolling, you will eventually have to stop, and sometimes you will have to stop in a hurry. That is a serious safety concern, as I doubt that little truck can stop that load.

Brent said it right. The GVWR on any vehicle was determined by some very smart people for a reason, be it mechanical or safety related. Since we all drive on the same roads you do, please, please, PLEASE do not exceed those ratings.