Opinion on towing with '04 Tacoma

[obscurotron]

I think I already know what the consensus will be, but I wanted to sanity(insanity?)check myself.

I was pondering flat-towing my CJ-7 with my Tacoma. It's an auto/V6/4x4 with an ARB+winch up front, 235/85/16 tires, a FROR rear bumper, a class III receiver and an ARE shell (in other words, it's already heavy just on it's own). This would include a full load of camping gear for a week in the desert.

I'm 99% sure that the towing load would come in under the 5000lb max, but probably just barely. Has anyone done this? I'm thinking it's a stupid idea, or at least a very bad one, but figured I'd ask to be sure.

 

[sasaholic]

i wouldnt do it personally. i have a 1500 sierra 4x4 and i can feel 5000 lbs behind me rather well and its rated at 7500 or something close to that. these trucks just arent heavy enough and get pushed around my that much weight to easily. just my opinion . i error on the side of causion alot though

 

[joker2041]

Just the other day, I saw a Tacoma extended cab 2WD 5-lug pulling a car trailer with a Jeep Wrangler that was slightly built. It pulled that load down some pretty rough backroads as I was coming out of the trail head when I saw it.

It didnt look like a good idea!

 

[obscurotron]

Fair enough. I prefer to err on the side of caution over ending up in the ditch. It's just not that important.

 

[CJCA]

I've towed a few times with my 2000 V6 auto Tacoma. Always a packed Uhaul trailer when needed for moving. I've never approached the 5000 pound mark. Maybe 2500 pounds tops for trailer weight and that was with roughly 500 pounds of cargo in the bed.

I don't believe I'd like to tow over 3k pounds as at that weight you do notice hills and braking performance. You will read about Tacoma owners towing max capacity of 5k pounds and more. I wouldn't and don't. For larger loads I rent a moving van. Traler brakes would absolutely be needed for loads over 3000 pounds.

 

[Mr. Leary]

The Taco will get it moving. The important thing is... can it stop it? and the answer is... "NO." Taco brakes kinda suck, and that is a lot of weight to stop. Maybe if the Jeep was on a trailer with brakes, but no flat towing. I have flat towed a truck home with a fully loaded rig (4Runner). I didn't have much trouble getting the trucks moving, but even with my Tundra brakes would have had trouble stopping them if I did not have a driver in the truck on the end of the rope to apply brakes as needed. I have also towed large boats and trailers... and would not do so without brakes.

You could probably get away with it, but the consequences of circumstance are dire.


"Better don't!"

 

[4xdog]

I towed my Triumph TR3 on a double-axle trailer from OH to MO (c 500 miles) behind my 2001 Tacoma DC 4WD SR5 TRD last summer. Handled like a champ. Braking a little bit longer than normal, but nothing special. Mileage a little *better* than normal -- probably a little lower speed.

Triumph and trailer probably at or above the weight of your CJ.

The only downside was the check engine light came on within minutes of hooking up the trailer -- even empty. A P1135 code -- O2 sensor temp. The light went out within minutes of disconnecting the trailer, multiple times.

Kinda odd, I thought. The same code fired briefly the other day with no load at all, so maybe I have something else going on...

Doesn't sound like too much for your truck, to me...

 

[vwexpeditioner]

i pulled a uhaul car hauler with brakes 200 miles with my vw bus fully loaded with stuff. uhaul rated it too heavy for the truck but i got it anyway. i have a 2002 v6 5sp. i drove in 4th and ran it at 2800rpm after listening close and running at the smoothest rpm. pulled fine and stopped decent. i would do it again no problem. i got 16mpg

i would just use the trailer with brakes and it should be no problem.


:smiley_drive:

 

[obscurotron]

I appreciate all the feedback, guys. Braking will be a concern, as I'll be heading over I-80 from CA into Nevada. The brakes on my Tacoma are so-so now. They're all bled, pads and rotors are good, but they're just barely up to the task of stopping it as-is. I can't imagine adding another 4k lbs. to the brake load.

Yeah, I'll skip it. The CJ can stay home and be used for shorter trips until I have time to really go through it and fix *Everything* (JustEmptyEverPocket).

Ed

 

[vwexpeditioner]

I-80 from ca to nv :Wow1:

good choice i would not try that either.
i towed here in oklahoma on relatively flat ground.

sounds like your driving a nice rig anyway.

 

[RMP&O]

I have towed about 4k with mine across town. Wouldn't tow any farther than across town with mine...like everybody else has said the brakes suck.

If you do tow....use your transmission to slow you down (along with your brakes), even if it has an auto.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Sounds like you just need to transport the Jeep to its final destination, am I right?

(I was trying to figure out why someone would pull a Jeep behind a Taco since a moderately built Taco can go almost anywhere a Jeep can!)

If it were me I'd rent a truck or truck/trailer combo. Expensive, yes, but you will be putting the wear and tear on someone else's vehicle, not yours.

The 3.4 is a nice motor but it's only "powerful" if you compare it to the 3.0 or 22re.