What's It Like to Tow With a Toyota Tacoma? 

This is the way.

Hope he reads your comment, you are on the money.

How do you lock the OD gears?

@@christianramone5204 use selective mode so your transmission doesn’t try to use s5 or 6

Have you noticed a difference after making adjustments

By S4, do you mean go into manual mode and keep it in 4tg gear at 60 mph?

@@christianramone5204Tacoma doesn’t have OD…it’s a misconstrued comment. They need to at least make a viable comment.

What brand of leaf spring kit did you use?

Do you live near mountains?

I live in Arizona I’m always climbing hills anywhere from 3%-7% grades

How many pounds are you towing?

I tow a 6,000 pound trailer sometimes gets up to 6,300 depending on my load for that day

Hey sir, you still don’t have any problems cause of the towing?

Nice, just upgraded to a 22-foot that weights 4500 fully loaded. It felt a little dicey driving her home so I purchased a weight distribution hitch for this weekend's trip. Looking forward to seeing how that effects things.

@@aaronstestlab The wt distribution set up will help a lot. Good luck!!

Fake news....l.g.b.

I recently purchased a Geo Pro 19FBS (basically the same trailer). It's a little hilly where I'm at and my truck is lifted with 33" inch tires. The weight of the tires and wheel seem to really impact the towing performance. I'm only getting about 7mpg on the highway doing about 65mph on average and the transmission is constantly between 3500 and 4000 rpms. I've regeared to a 5.29 gear ratio which helps - can't imaging how bad it would be without the gearing. I'm really considering purchasing a new set of wheel and tires to use for longer towing trips and keeping my existing wheels and tires for overlanding trips without the trailer.

I ended up going with the Tekonsha Prodigy iD and 3D printing a trim plate. Think it works and looks great.

Can you explain s mode to me please? I just got my Tacoma and am towing a teardrop trailer. I just don’t know when I should switch to s mode.

@@pattyelaine9563 Hi Patty, “S” mode is a way of shifting an automatic transmission like a manual transmission. When selecting “S” mode it will shift between 1st & 4th gear on its own. However, if you are towing a trailer, you can intervene and pre select a gear and it won’t shift past that gear until you push up on the shifter. So for example. I have a heavy load in my Tacoma. 5 people, gear in the back and a trailer. At a stop I place the truck in “S” mode. I pull down on the shifter 3 times and it changes the gear from 4th down to 1st. The small LCD display in the middle between the speedo & tachometer shows what gear you are in. So now that you are in first gear the truck will not shift up until you move the shifter up or forward. This will shift the transmission to second gear. And same with the next gear. You can also do the same to downshift from like 4th to 3rd to help slow down the vehicle by using the engines braking power while also using the trucks braking system. Just pull down or back on the shifter to go to a lower gear. This is handy as you can control the RPMs as you move along or slow down fully loaded. I’d suggest experimenting with “S” mode before you head out on a road trip to get a feel of what it’s like to control the shifts. For me, going up and down steep mountain grades with a fully loaded truck is awesome to be able to control the gears. Going up the grades I can keep the RPM up by holding it in 3rd or 4th gear. Going down steep grades I can use and hold the transmission in 2nd or 3rd gear. Making it way easier on the brakes on the Truck and feeling more in control. Also, if you have a trailer like you plan to do, combined with all the weight in the truck it is very important that the trailer has brakes, they are properly adjusted and maintained. It’s very important that the trailer is helping to break as well. The truck can’t do it all. Even with a Tear-Drop trailer. Using ”S” mode is a great way to stay in control at all times. Unfortunately it does require more concentration and is less relaxing than using “D” or “ECT” mode. When towing its good practice to be paying attention at all times. These Tacoma’s can tow but it has to be properly matched and rated. I dunno, I hope this helps.

Don't lug the engine. Revs cool the transmission. Weak link. Don't worry about gas mileage. I got 10-14 mpg towing a 3,000 lb. trailer load San Diego to TX. Towed beautifully. Up hill/ downhill. Be gentle. Temp gauge never moved from normal.

I have 115,000 on my '16 Tacoma. At least half of those miles have been towing an enclosed V-Nose cargo trailer that's about 2200lbs empty and full of motocross gear/parts/bikes/tools/fuel/generator/ and with a sleeping quarters, probably about 3500 when it's full. I pull it from NY to Timmins, NY to Florida, NY to Texas, and NY to Alabama multiple times a year. In S4 ECT mode on I can typically keep it around 70-75mph. I changed the transmission oil at 100,000mi, and the oil was slightly darker than new oil and next to nothing on the magnets. Trust me, that transmission isn't gunna cook, it can take it. All this talk about ruining transmissions from towing with this truck is just BS

​@@cledussnow9507if your towing @75 with a little Toyota your insane

@@kenj.8897 well he does do motocross lol

I've since bought a WD hitch...you're right, huge difference!

Lol, thanks for some perspective.

“

Stop it , 0 to 60 it’s 6 seconds

Its both

I assume there's no temp gauge for the manual transmission. I'd love to know how hot it gets

Does the Canadian government automatically freeze your bank account if they catch you with a truck and a trailer?

​@@aaronstestlab😂😂😂

Curious what you are towing for trailer…looking for new tow vehicle for Tab 400, right around that same weight. Can’t decide if Tacoma is enough or do I something bigger.

Not sure that would address the power issue

Yeah, I’m just gonna get a tundra

haha, I know the feeling

I don't think it does

I've thought about it. But I've also thought that it's a pretty expensive band aid for what is ultimately an underpowered engine.

I just use a wireless one so the trailer can be pulled by multiple vehicles

I think it needs an engine with a better torque curve

@@aaronstestlab that too! Lol

why not

Just get a tune ppl. Also, what air bag kit did you use? I need kt

I've got the V6...in my experience, ETC doesn't seem to do much, but I can't speak to other's thoughts on the matter. The truck definitely struggles with any weight behind it anywhere in the Cascades...that said, just ease off the throttle and you'll be fine.

are you still waiting?

@@aaronstestlab fell asleep....couldnt wait any longer😁

To be fair he was up to speed at 60 (which I assume is the speed limit at that stretch) when people were entering into the oncoming lane (on a mountainside no less!) to pass over him. He was sluggish, but he was also accelerating from a dead stop, uphill, in the mountains with less O2 and thus less engine power. That's pretty decent for a midsize, those other folks were just impatient, and perhaps a bit unsafe.

Too scared of voiding my warranty

@@aaronstestlab the tune wont void warranty.

Too scared of voiding my warranty

@@aaronstestlab mine is 2019 still on the warranty had it in several times and I did not detect The tune you don’t say nothing they don’t know it’s all in the programming

No, I assume if it becomes a problem the truck will let me know

I'm late to the party. I don't run mirror extensions either on my 2021 coachmen clipper, which is 7'9" wide. The trailer isn't wide enough to need them. The view is perfect without them.

Lol sounds like you’re not happy with it

I have the same truck and not sure what you’re talking about. I put a pedal commander and cold air on it and made a huge difference in throttle response and acceleration. Had it deep in the woods and city streets and still enjoy it.

Sounds like you don't work on vehicles for a living. Toyotas, by far, are the most reliable and dependable vehicles made. Just sayin'

Should be ok. Wouldn't go any bigger though.

I think its too much. Should go smaller

Regear to 5.29. You be fine.

I've since upgraded to a WD hitch and it's made a world of difference. Still pretty slow, but feels very confident otherwise.

I might consider it if it were offered via Toyota. Not interested in voiding my warranty.

@@aaronstestlab i had the Toyota dealership install a magnuson supercharger on my Tacoma earlier this year. Bought the supercharger separate but still. Truck runs great with it on. As part of the install, there’s two tune programs one for the engine and the other for the transmission. I’ve had less issues with the trans hunting for gears since the install. Haven’t had a chance to tow anything significant yet.

I feel exactly the same way. One one hand it's held it's value very well. On the other, it doesn't tow well, is slow af and has a bunch of interior rattles. I think the truth is that this truck was designed in an era without much competition in the midsize space. So they could get away with mediocre performance and terrible interior quality. Hopefully, the 2024 redesign will rectify this, I'll likely trade in for that.

You struggle to haul 1200lbs? Really or do you mean 12000lbs?

@@mannycali334 1200. And yes, it does struggle. I have 4 other trucks, one a 1/2ton with a v6, no ecoboost that handles it no problem. I like my Taco, but it is nowhere near the workhorse the diehard fans make it out to be.

@@Steve-uy8kx interesting, I tow a trailer that’s around 2k lbs with no issues

I do run with ECT on. Though I feel like it doesn’t make much of a difference.

Be careful when towing with ECT on…it will help keeping the rpm’s up for power, but the Tacoma transmission will heat up quickly. I just learned that with my UltraGauge monitor. With ECT on, trans quickly heated up to 215-220* towing trailer up hill. With ECT off and in S4, it stayed under 210*

This is what I was wondering. Manual says S4 and ECT on for towing.

@@Droow-d2g that’s what I read too unless flat land then can be on s5. But I have not read about overheating on ect though

4"Wx5"D u-bolts into a 1/4" aluminum mounting plate. I'd double check the frame size though before ordering anything. AS might use a larger beam on a larger trailer.

No problems with temps so far

Yes it does

Tow mode

I'm pretty sure the 0-60 portion was on a flat-ish section

6...Tacomas just don't tow well

​@@aaronstestlab is it true that all v6 4x4's now have the tow package?

It might help to have it engine swapped

Probably noticeable when accelerating, but wouldn't effect mileage much as that's more a function of wind resistance.

@@aaronstestlab Thanks. I appreciate your work here.

They really aren't' great for towin

@@aaronstestlab no but they are pretty great offroad 👍

mechanical reliability is great, resale value is great, interior quality is shit

lol, it is

You’re not supposed to use 4h on dry pavement

You're right, serious lack of power at low RPMs

I feel the same way. We just upgraded to a 22' that weights 4500#s loaded. The Tacoma struggles with it. Also looking at a new truck but sadly not much is available without a dealer markup.

@cantkillme You don’t know what your talking about. Tacoma’s are rated at 6800 lbs towing capacity. That camper is practically half that. It should tow that fairly easy but that 3.5 liter motor is lacking horse and torque. I have 5.29 gears and ov tuned. Towing my 2500lb boat still feels underpowered after 55mph. I shouldn’t have to buy a v8 for that. They say 278hp on those motors from factory, if that were true, I wouldnt be on here bitching about it. Most tunes I’ve seen, that motor is only pushing 230hp and around the same for torque. My buddy has a Honda oddessey (van) v6 don’t know the specs but it pulls my boats way better than my truck does. It’s actually so annoying, I’m looking at superchagers, next years project😉 if this Tacoma I have hadn’t been gifted to me. I’d probably be driving and towing with a different vehicle

@@muskbeard3924 Exactly. I just bought my first Tacoma (2019), because of reliability, resale value, and really like the way it looks. Also has the 3.5L. So far only using as a daily driver, and this engine has no snort until you get up to about 4000 rpm. Invariably everyday heading to work there is always that one car that goes slow and shifts over into my lane, and really have to get on it to pass. This was a great video where he actually has footage of real use. I noticed the uphill shift points are approaching 6000 rpm. I'm sure it's a great engine for long term dependability, available for multiple vehicle platforms, and good fuel efficiency. If you tow on a semi-regular basis, a stock Tacoma is not the way to go. I might have to look at the Tundra in the spring instead.

I used to have a Ridgeline...was great until it got totaled.