I towed a camper ... and was highly disappointed [Sport 6M]

[jay06]

I recommend swapping out bump stops to Timbrens when towing. It drives amazingly. The bounce is usually the tires. You need to switch to LOAD E tires. I run my tires at 65 or 70 psi, depending on load. Thats the bounce you feel. I run duratrac , swapped after 200 miles from OE.
I rent my truck / camper combo at times and everyone is always surprised how great it drives but its simply prepped for it. BTW, the bumpstops take 30 min to swap out . I use them and take them out after my trips. With out load, they are a nightmare lol.

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[Duck Amuck]

Nice write up. Sorry about your experience. I had a similar experience towing a 2500lbs 5x8 U-Haul from Colorado to Florida. The sag was egregious, and I felt like I bottomed out on every bump. (Though, I did have weight in the bed so that may have contributed). I feel like the coil spring rear is a little underdeveloped for our trucks. I believe if we're going to tow with these trucks often, we should look into stronger aftermarket springs.

That's really surprising. I towed a 5x8 UHaul from Alberta to BC, through the Rockies, and the only time I knew it was there was coming down the mountains when I really wished the trailer had brakes. I never weighed the UHaul but I'm sure it was similar in weight.

 

[MustardTiger]

No way that camper was 3k. Did a quick search and it looks like this was a Jayco 19H. With the pop out ends, tandem axles…you were towing at least 5,000lbs. Add in your payload, passengers…I’d say you were pushing max capacity of your truck. If there ever was a time to be running 5w30 engine oil….this was it!

I just got back from a 3500km trip to the mountains/northern AB with my camper, which loaded is around 9k, with a hefty 1500lb tongue. I tow with an F250 6.7 diesel, with air bags, 60 gallon Titan fuel tank, and I absolutely would never tow with any less of a truck!

 

[ToyTaco]

No way that camper was 3k. Did a quick search and it looks like this was a Jayco 19H. With the pop out ends, tandem axles…you were towing at least 5,000lbs. Add in your payload, passengers…I’d say you were pushing max capacity of your truck . . .

My guess, the OP was probably at or over the maximum payload capacity of the truck. The primary limiting factor when towing with most trucks (especially mid-size and 1/2-ton) is payload capacity, not tow capacity.

It's nearly impossible to make any definitive conclusions about any given towing rig without heading to the scales and getting the unloaded and loaded axle weights. Very few folks take the time to do this.

 

[Brent@ANParts]

I agree, the payload was very likely above 3,000lbs even before anything was loaded up. Definitely a fair bit of work pulling that around, but also that's the towing life! Night and day difference depending on your rig. I started off pulling a travel trailer with an F350 Super Duty, kinda ruined all other trucks for me after that!

 

[crepr12]

if it can't fit in the bed I wont haul it....I always heard if you need to tow get a full size truck...My limited aint built for that shit...jmho

 

[Sagebrush]

With the pop out ends, tandem axles…you were towing at least 5,000lbs. Add in your payload, passengers…I’d say you were pushing max capacity of your truck. If there ever was a time to be running 5w30 engine oil….this was it!

 

[Mtnbikes]

With many years of experience towing various size campers with different size tow vehicles the limiting factor is always payload capacity of the vehicle. My best guess is the OP has exceeded his payload capacity. The scales don’t lie. Weigh your setup before making any changes.

 

[Ron]

Ive done short runs with my limited hybrid with 6000 pounds behind me (with trailer brakes). For a mid size truck, i was very impressed.

With a proper weigh dist hitch it feels safe and confident but not alot of pep going uphill.

Not a setup i would ideally use on a regular basis but the truck can do it.

 

[IttyBittyFitty]

No way that camper only weighs 3000 lbs.

 

[danb]

Just completed a trip to Maine from northeast CT. 170 miles each way and maintained 16.2mpg. Usual average mileage is 21mpg. Very Happy with the mpg on the trip. Pulled an Airstream Nest with 370 lb. tongue weight. and weighs in around 3500 lbs empty. I previously owned a Ram 2500 gasser and pulled a 8K lb 5th wheel. Average mileage was around 10.

 

[Kielly]

I feel like the coil spring rear is a little underdeveloped for our trucks. I believe if we're going to tow with these trucks often, we should look into stronger aftermarket springs.

Definitely agree, and was my first thought as well. Airbags or stiffer springs for towing on the regular is almost a must.

Bottom line, I think the trailer you rented may be within your truck's capabilities when set up differently. Which when you're renting, might be difficult. Not a great solution, I know. I guess if I were in your position, I wouldn't give up if I wanted to rent again. I would ask about a WDH at the rental place and consider adding an Airlift if you plan to use it often.

I was using a WDH, there's just simply no way I could've towed it without one through the foothills. The sag let off substantially using a WDH, my concern was the struggle the i4 was out through trying to tow it, well within the weight rating of the truck, I'd hate to try and tow double that weight, I feel like I would put a rod out through the block lol.

How fast do you go? We often tow a 16' Casita camper which is admittedly more rounded off than yours at up to 65 - 70 mph although often lower and get mileage in the upper teens. Auto trans in tow/haul mode.

Fastest was 110kph when passing, but 100 on the highway, and 80-90 through single lane highways and the foothills.

I towed 3500lb the other day with my SR and that thing barely squat, the leaf springs are not as comfortable to regular drive but they do the work for payload and towing nice. I have an automatic so transmission wise didn’t have any issue. This is a picture with a load of 1000lb approximately of pickets on the bed.

Yep - there are good reasons why all of my other Toyota trucks had rear leaf springs.

Definitely was the one time I wished I had leaf springs lol. I throughouly am thankful for my springs any other time, but towing those leaf springs come in handy.

Not sure if you looked into it but maybe try higher octane fuel. I haven't pulled our camper yet with my Taco but I'm expecting the Hybrid to make a difference. I've had my 2024 TRD Pro less than two months. Before that I had a 2018 Honda Ridgeline and pulling my 3100 lb camper was marginal dropping speed up hills. On a camping trip last year and just before leaving Walsenburg CO, I decided to try the highest octane (Maybe 91) and man what a difference. I could pull at 80 up the big hills! I'll find out about my Taco in a few weeks.

That was my one regret after the trip was over. Next time I'm definitely going to put higher octane in and see if that helps along the engine. It's worth a shot.

I’ve read mostly positive reviews of towing with the 4G Tacoma. This is actually the first negative review I’ve come across. I imagine most all of the reviews I’ve read are of automatic variants.

I would say so, I love my manual and wouldn't trade it for an automatic no matter what but there was definitely a few times I wished I had an auto on that trip. Banging it back from 4th to 3rd as quickly as you can on a hill trying to maintain your speed wasn't pleasant. I'm just glad the truck has iMT, rev matching wouldn't of been any funner haha

 

[Kielly]

No way that camper only weighs 3000 lbs.

Yessir, 3000lbs and some change dry weight, verified by the plaque on the door. 90% of the drive was dry weight driving, didn't have to drive far at all to fill up on water and dump.

I have a camper from 1996 permanently parked that's about 5-6ft longer than the one I towed and it's only 4500lbs dry weight so it's definitely not unbelievable haha

 

[Kielly]

I recommend swapping out bump stops to Timbrens when towing. It drives amazingly. The bounce is usually the tires. You need to switch to LOAD E tires. I run my tires at 65 or 70 psi, depending on load. Thats the bounce you feel. I run duratrac , swapped after 200 miles from OE.
I rent my truck / camper combo at times and everyone is always surprised how great it drives but its simply prepped for it. BTW, the bumpstops take 30 min to swap out . I use them and take them out after my trips. With out load, they are a nightmare lol.

Noted, ill look into that. As for the tires I'm also running Duratracs Load E lol

No way that camper was 3k. Did a quick search and it looks like this was a Jayco 19H. With the pop out ends, tandem axles…you were towing at least 5,000lbs. Add in your payload, passengers…I’d say you were pushing max capacity of your truck. If there ever was a time to be running 5w30 engine oil….this was it!

I just got back from a 3500km trip to the mountains/northern AB with my camper, which loaded is around 9k, with a hefty 1500lb tongue. I tow with an F250 6.7 diesel, with air bags, 60 gallon Titan fuel tank, and I absolutely would never tow with any less of a truck!

My guess, the OP was probably at or over the maximum payload capacity of the truck. The primary limiting factor when towing with most trucks (especially mid-size and 1/2-ton) is payload capacity, not tow capacity.

It's nearly impossible to make any definitive conclusions about any given towing rig without heading to the scales and getting the unloaded and loaded axle weights. Very few folks take the time to do this.

I agree, the payload was very likely above 3,000lbs even before anything was loaded up. Definitely a fair bit of work pulling that around, but also that's the towing life! Night and day difference depending on your rig. I started off pulling a travel trailer with an F350 Super Duty, kinda ruined all other trucks for me after that!

No way that camper only weighs 3000 lbs.

2008 Jay Feather EXP 19H - 3200lbs dry weight.

There's no doubt my payload was probably maxed out with the passengers I had.

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