towing 4500lb tractor with a Toyota Tacoma

[BoFuller]

I have a 2003 Tacoma and I occasionally pull a water trailer (1,000 MT and 5,000 full). That's a lot of weight. I only pull it 3 miles and I stay in low range when it's full. For emergency you are okay, but basically that's not enough truck.

 

[beckmurph]

hotdog4
Did you and I talk about Kubota's in front of Long John Silvers last Monday?
I would look into putting brakes on the other axle. You will be grossing at least 9500lbs. That will be hard to stop with your Toyota.
congratulations on your new L3200:thumbsup:

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Are you sure on the weight of your tractor? and are you including loader??

I have MX5100 4WD HST at 3774 lbs
water fill ballast at least (400x2) 800 lbs
LA 844 loader 1322 lbs
For total 5896 lbs

If this is wrong let me know but I have L3130 which is smaller and it needs a 20ft 10k trailer to be ok and with backhoe it needs a little more.

David Kb7uns

 

[hotdog4]

hotdog4
Did you and I talk about Kubota's in front of Long John Silvers last Monday?
I would look into putting brakes on the other axle. You will be grossing at least 9500lbs. That will be hard to stop with your Toyota.
congratulations on your new L3200:thumbsup:

No it wasn't me you talked to....I figured I would be pushing the limit of my truck...When I get some time I'll take some pictures of the tractor and my trailer...I really like this site you guys know your stuff on these tractors,and I'm sure I'll have plenty of question since this is my first tractor I've ever owned.

 

[crazyal]

Can you split the load up? Maybe transport the loader and backhoe and then go back and get the tractor? I think you're going to be over the rating of your Tacoma otherwise. I think it'll pull it but with that size trailer your not going to have much room to get the tongue weight right. With that combination of truck, trailer, and load even the smallest issue will be compounded and could cause big problems.

 

[hotdog4]

I think I'm going to play it safe and when money permits buy a bigger truck...I might also look around for a good used 18' trailer also just for a little more room....MY 16' trailer is nice and has the let down gate that makes loading a 4 wheeler or my rhino easy,but isn't built for the weight of this tractor...I did haul a small excavator on it once,and when unloading it raised my back wheels of my truck about 2 feet off the ground lol.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Definitely go for a bigger truck, Toyota's tow ratings are way over inflated to begin with. My 4runner is supposedly rated to to 5000lbs and I did once and it's down right scary. Had a Tacoma before this one and it was no different. They just don't have enough weight, suspension, brakes, gearing or tire to handle that type of weight. Honestly nothing over about 3500lbs feels safe to me behind a mini-truck.

 

[Will_C]

That's quite a load-I am guessing your trailer weighs 1500 or so, and I am sure that your TLB would be 3500-4000 pounds-I know my B2620, FEL,and loaded tires comes in around 25-2600lbs.You could do it, but I would stress short trips and slow speeds.

Will

 

[PSUTundra]

I will also chime in for the bigger truck and brakes on both axles.

But Toyota can do it, just look at a Tundra. I have an 06 DC, and even with the older style "small" full size truck it tows well. There is no replacement for a long wheelbase when towing, that and the other capabilities others have mentioned.

Just remember to be careful with all that weight and even with good equipment you have to respect the fact that you are 3x or more than a regular car going down the road.

 

[JimRB]

I had a trailer with 2 axle, only one axle with brakes. After an exciting spinout on the highway I bent the axle with no brakes. With two axles of brakes the trailer can stop itself. Much nicer to tow with plenty of stopping power. This was before the big truck and really had less to do with the tow vehicle weight than the fact that I failed to pump up the trailer tires to full pressure and I failed to do the math on the weight of the load.

My 6,000 pound Dodge is rated to tow I think 14,000 pounds. More than twice the weight of the truck in any event. Many tow vehicles can tow their own weight and more if the trailer is properly equipped.