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Old 12-06-2016, 08:49 AM   #1
JJ1
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Towing a 23D with a 2010 Tacoma 4x4 V6?

Ok, I'm in need of some help. I am selling my 23D Intl in the hopes of upgrading to a 28' Intl. I have an interested buyer, but he currently has a 2010 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 V6 and he's not sure if he can make this set up work for the time being. His plan is to upgrade to a larger more capable tow vehicle in the not to distant future, but obviously doesn't want to get into something that wouldn't work short term. The tow capacity for the Tacoma is 6500lbs, the trailer is 4640 dry/6000 max. I know it's tight and not ideal, but has anyone had any experience using this setup before?
Thank you for your advice!!
John
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Old 12-06-2016, 08:53 AM   #2
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Why is not ideal? Sounds like it's more than capable. What is the payload capacity of the Tacoma? That's what I would think could cause a problem.
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Old 12-06-2016, 08:58 AM   #3
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Not directly, but my 2013 V6 Taco was rated to tow 5400 lbs. 3500 lbs worth of cattle/stock trailer put it in a bind every time. My max trips were only to the vet about 40 miles away on very gently rolling hills. I couldn't see for the life of me where the Toyota folks thought the power for another ton of trailering was supposed to come from. 2500-3000 lbs trailer weight seemed to be the sweet spot for mine. Tongue weight may also be an issue, not sure what the Taco's limits are for a WD hitch, but my guess is that the buyer wouldn't be pleased with the results of his first towing experience. Just my $0.02
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Old 12-06-2016, 10:09 AM   #4
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We had a Tacoma and it had a higher payload capacity rating than the Tundra we replaced it with; I've doubted the validity of those ratings since.

No one knows how the other guy will try to use his towing setup, or his skill in doing so. With some hitch work the Tacoma would probably work for some people and be a disaster for others.

I think the greatest challenge would be getting enough weight distribution without twisting the receiver upward and getting too much frame flex. Frame flex is where body-on-frame is not as good as unibody construction in a smaller tow vehicle.

The hitch receiver could be reinforced with a bar welded forward to resist the twisting, but would he do that on a temporary setup. Then there is the question of transmission fluid cooler if an automatic, transmission gear availability when he needs it, rear axle ratio, tires, and the rear drum brakes.

Like most vehicles it can be improved with some modifications, but who knows how and where it might intend to use it. My greatest concern would be descending long grades (worse with a heavier load) and there are a lot of them in your part of the country.
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Old 12-06-2016, 11:30 AM   #5
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As I have indicated in a different thread, we have some friends who rolled their 23 pulling with a Frontier and a Reese hitch. A semi passed and the sway got them. Impossible to assess the precise cause but they now have a new 23, a 1/2 ton Ram Eco, and a ProPride hitch.

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Old 12-06-2016, 11:42 AM   #6
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I had a 2009 Nissan Frontier with the v6 and it was rated similarily to the Tacoma. I towed a sport 16 with it and it did just ok. I actually couldn't imagine towing my new 19c with it? Sure it had the towing capacity and even the payload if you traveled lightly but it's just no fun towing at the margins. Not to mention it's likely not that safe. I like to have a little bit more of a margin.
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Old 12-06-2016, 11:51 AM   #7
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I have a 2015 with tow package and blue ox. Pulls my 2017 with no issues. Just went up to Whistler so hills included. I would say for the short term it would be fine enough to check it out. I'm guessing 1000 lbs difference st the most??
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Old 12-06-2016, 12:40 PM   #8
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Believe the numbers. They are there to protect the manufacture as much as they protect us. No doubt the truck, without further modification, is well able to handle the load.

As he said, he's planning on upsizing his TV soon anyway. He should be just fine.
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Old 12-06-2016, 12:52 PM   #9
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Believe the numbers. They are there to protect the manufacture as much as they protect us. No doubt the truck, without further modification, is well able to handle the load.

As he said, he's planning on upsizing his TV soon anyway. He should be just fine.
I tend to agree. Tacoma is a bit lightweight, and does not have a super powerful engine. But it should be fine for short term, until an upgrade. Also, the hitch on Toyota trucks (plus big SUVs like Sequoia or Land Cruiser) is really stout. You don't need a hitch reinforcement. IMO, you don't need a hitch reinforcement for all but exceptional situations anyway, and this is clearly not one of them.
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Old 12-06-2016, 12:57 PM   #10
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We have towed our 19' Bambi with both a 2006 Tacoma Double Cab and now a 2016 Double Cab (both with the factory tow package). I think it's a great fit for 16' & 19' Airstreams .. we have never had any trouble in the mountains of AZ, NM, CO, UT and CA ... I think it would be OK with a 23' to get them through in not-too-hilly terrain till they get a bigger truck. But (and I know there are people who do this routinely), I personally have always been of the opinion that if we were to go to a 23' I would want a larger truck.
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Old 12-06-2016, 01:36 PM   #11
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I used to have a Flying Cloud 19' that I towed with my FJ Cruiser complete with a lift kit!. It wasn't an ideal combination since the FJ has a short wheelbase. But I had an Equalizer fitted and with a great deal of perseverance (5 attempts at different hitch dealers) it was finally set up to my satisfaction.
The real problem for me was that my full consumption was hugely affected and on a long cross country trip I was getting between 9-11mpg. And with the limited tank capacity, I was refilling up to 5 times in one day with frequent scares when the warning light came on!
So in my opinion a Tacoma V6 4x4 can tow it, but with limitations.
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Old 12-06-2016, 02:45 PM   #12
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Tocoma

He will get buy fine, just go a little slower and not push it to hard on steep hills. Lots of people pull trailers like that with a car.
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Old 12-06-2016, 03:28 PM   #13
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I towed my Oliver with a 2012 Tacoma V6 for about 4K miles. My Oliver is about the same weight as a 23D (5,100lbs when it rolled out of the factory). The Tacoma did fine. I replaced it with a Ram 1500 not because of towing but because the fuel tank is small and the bed is small. He should be fine.
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Old 12-06-2016, 05:03 PM   #14
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Thumbs up I did it with my 2008, towed our 1973 29' Ambassador

I "upgraded" to a Tundra now, but my 2008 Double Cab Tacoma, 4x4 with the 4.0L did great. Tell them to get the Dodge RAM style foldout towing mirrors for $170 or so off of eBay or Amazon. I think my dry weight was 4,825lbs and loaded, about 5,400 (full gas, water and black). With a weight distribution and antisway it towed great, and I'm out in CO and NM with some real hills. The truck worked hard, but did fine. Flats on I-25, it was no problem pulling at 70MPH, just get a good brake controller too.

Have him check the load rating on his tires. That was the limiting factor for me. I had 265/70R16 111S M + S tires and they were rated at 2,403 lbs per tire, so I figured 9,612 lbs. however, the GCVWR of the truck (lbs.) 11,100 lbs, so I needed / wanted a higher load index. Ended up getting some tires with a load index of 117 which is 2,275, per my old notes (11,100 / 4 = 2,275 lbs./tire)
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Old 12-06-2016, 05:21 PM   #15
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I had a 22 and towed with a 2012 Taco V6 with TOW Package. Factory tow package is very important as it has an additional trans cooler, which you will need.

Towed throughout AZ, UT and CO. Also suggest getting a ScanGauge to monitor trans temps. https://www.scangauge.com/
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Old 12-06-2016, 07:29 PM   #16
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I tow a 20' FC with a 2012 Tacoma with the factory tow package and I'm happy with the performance. I use an Equalizer hitch with 600 lb. bars, and in my case, it needed 8 spacers.

The Tacoma is fine here in the midwest, but is underpowered in the mountains. Braking is fine, ride is good, never had a problem with sway, average 12.5-13 MPG in the midwest.

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Old 12-06-2016, 07:56 PM   #17
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The real weight numbers of the 23' Airstream in question are needed to make a rational decision on the suitability of the truck in question.

After extensive modifications to our 2015 23D International Serenity, the actual weights camping ready on my scales on 9 May 2016 are:

Tongue………928
Front….1,280……1,246 - total front axle 2,526
Rear…..1,376……1,233 - total rear axle 2,609
Total Axles………5,135
Total Trailer….6,063

We tow with a 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI 3.0L V6 diesel with a Hensley Arrow hitch.Our max tow speed is 55 mph. The seven speed transmission keeps the engine within limits and will drop back to 4th at 3,100 rpm for 55 mpg going up the mountains in our area. Going down hill through Salt River Canyon at 35 mph, the engine has enough back pressure to control the speed without brake usage. On the level, the engine will go into seventh gear at 1,650 rpm and we see over 16 MPG on average.

We had the Mercedes receiver reinforced at CanAm so we could use the Hensley Arrow weight distribution hitch.

The Mercedes axle weight numbers on the scales when hitched are well within limits even with a propane conversion Honda 2000 watt generator, a small propane grill, an air compressor, folding chairs, a bottle jack and tire ramp, and a twenty pound propane tank in the back of the car along with the wife and me in the front seats.

So the truck in question must have adequate payload for the driver and passenger, all the "stuff" to be carried in the truck cab and bed plus about 75% of the tongue weight when the weight distribution hitch is setup. The total weight of the trailer and truck must be within the limits specified on that specific truck's door label.

Due diligence before acquisition is less expensive than finding out a different tow vehicle is suddenly needed that has better numbers.
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Old 12-08-2016, 12:35 AM   #18
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I do this

I have towed my 2013 23'FC front bed with a 2006 Tacoma 4x4 V6 over 32000 miles in the past 3 years. I have a manual 6 speed transmission and the towing package as well, so am able to anticipate grades better than with an automatic trans. I am careful about trailer loading and carry minimal water during travel, like 10 gallons in the fw tank. I use an equalizer for load distribution and sway control. This all works fine for me, but may not for others who want to cruise at 70 mph.
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