Towing With a Tacoma - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

georgiapeach · 05-05-2011, 09:38 PM

What is the longest Hi-Lo anyone tows with a Tacoma? I've seen a post from someone with a 22 footer. I'm looking at a 2006, 24 footer that weighs 4009 lb. I currently tow a tradional TT (Tracer 195M) that weighs 3374 lb. and has a tongue weight of 499 lb. Of course, I have the wind drag with my current TT. What do you think? Is the 24 footer too much for my truck, when the weight is coupled with the length?

I have the Tacoma with a heavy duty tow package and a towing capacity of 6500 lb. (don't think I'd ever tow that much!).

vannooch · 05-05-2011, 10:45 PM

It sounds fine to me, it's not much heavier than your current trailer. Use a weight distribution hitch and be sure the brakes are functioning as they should.
There are a few others on the forum towing with a Tacoma as well, so I'm sure that they will have some wise direction for you.

David

RichR · 05-05-2011, 10:47 PM

We tow our 2310H with a 2007 Tacoma with tow package. It weighs about 4000 pounds dry, and we are probably pushing 5000 pounds when fully loaded and we travel light. I don't think I would want to tow anything larger or heavier. If you take 80% of your 6500 pound tow limit which is 5200, that is a comfortable tow limit. You have to deduct the weight of people and cargo in the Tacoma from the tow limit, and you should have a margin to come and go on like for towing in hilly terrain.

georgiapeach · 05-06-2011, 06:27 AM

Thanks for the quick responses! I've towed trailers of one sort or another since I was 16, and I'm WAAAAYYYY older than that now, starting with a horse trailer and going as large as a 34 foot fifth wheel/Ford F-250 combination. I hesitate to pull the 24T with the Tacoma. I don't want to be at my limit, which I will be with that trailer. I agree with the 80% suggestion - I've always believed that, too. I've also always towed the several TTs we've had with a WDH hitch, as well. I wouldn't tow w/out one.

My current TT, a 2011 Tracer 195M, is 22 1/2 ft. (to the tongue), and I was hoping to eliminate the wind drag. The Tacoma pulls it just fine, but if I go over 60 mph, my gas mileage really drops. I get around 11 +/- mpg pulling this trailer.

I think I'll wait. I don't want a larger truck, especially with gas prices spiking. Thanks again!

vannooch · 05-06-2011, 07:58 AM

HiLos models are measured and labeled from tongue to bumper as well. the 24' trailer that you were considering is from tongue to bumper. There is probably about 20' of living space, I'm guessing. Mine looses three in fromt and another foot at the bumper.

TJM · 05-06-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgiapeach

Thanks for the quick responses! I've towed trailers of one sort or another since I was 16, and I'm WAAAAYYYY older than that now, starting with a horse trailer and going as large as a 34 foot fifth wheel/Ford F-250 combination. I hesitate to pull the 24T with the Tacoma. I don't want to be at my limit, which I will be with that trailer. I agree with the 80% suggestion - I've always believed that, too. I've also always towed the several TTs we've had with a WDH hitch, as well. I wouldn't tow w/out one.

My current TT, a 2011 Tracer 195M, is 22 1/2 ft. (to the tongue), and I was hoping to eliminate the wind drag. The Tacoma pulls it just fine, but if I go over 60 mph, my gas mileage really drops. I get around 11 +/- mpg pulling this trailer.

I think I'll wait. I don't want a larger truck, especially with gas prices spiking. Thanks again!

My wife and I just finished up a trip to the West Coast. We towed our 22' 1996 HiLo with our 2001 Toyota tacoma with 135,000 miles on it. Our Tacoma is a 4wd with a 3.4 V6. It has a tow capacity rating of 5,500 pounds and our HiLo weighs 3,700. In all, we put 5,900 miles on this trip. We also spent $1,800.00 on gas. had no trouble towing, except it slowed down some at 8,800 feet elevation, as even some of the "bigger boys" did. We had to cut our trip short in order to get home and survey tornado damage to our property. Also, we sustained hail damage on the trip and our insurance totaled our HiLo. Sad day, all around for us.

Antares · 05-06-2011, 05:55 PM

I tow a 27' that weighs 4750lbs and a 750lb tongue with my Jeep Commander rated to tow 6500lbs. With a proper weight distributing hitch it tows just fine. I tow dry but usually have a pair of kayaks loaded on the roof of the Jeep.

RichR · 05-06-2011, 07:17 PM

Because the Hi-Lo has less wind resistance I would say that you could get away with a bit more weight on the tow vehicle. I have never heard what a typical trailer would be. I'm sure wind resistance would be a part of the formula. I'm not saying it is OK to tow a heavier trailer because starting and stopping is the prime factor, but there is surely less strain on the tow vehicle at highway speeds.

JackandJanet · 05-06-2011, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichR

Because the Hi-Lo has less wind resistance I would say that you could get away with a bit more weight on the tow vehicle. I have never heard what a typical trailer would be. I'm sure wind resistance would be a part of the formula. I'm not saying it is OK to tow a heavier trailer because starting and stopping is the prime factor, but there is surely less strain on the tow vehicle at highway speeds.

Wind resistance IS, Rich, at least with Ford vehicles. My F150 says the frontal area of the trailer should not exceed the frontal area of the truck unless I use a Class IV hitch. If I have a Class IV hitch, the frontal area can be up to 60 sq feet. However, I suspect the wind resistance part is consideration for the strain on the towing connections themselves at highway speeds. For instance, I COULD mount a ball on the bumper and safely tow up to 500# hitch weight, but that would not be adequate for the wind resistance of a high frontal area trailer.

My trailer is about equal to the frontal area of my truck, so it's no factor for me, and I use a Class IV hitch anyway.

- Jack

georgiapeach · 05-08-2011, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antares

I tow a 27' that weighs 4750lbs and a 750lb tongue with my Jeep Commander rated to tow 6500lbs. With a proper weight distributing hitch it tows just fine. I tow dry but usually have a pair of kayaks loaded on the roof of the Jeep.

My engine is only a 4.0 V-6. Your V-8 makes a big difference, I think.

TJM · 05-08-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgiapeach

My engine is only a 4.0 V-6. Your V-8 makes a big difference, I think.

My Tacoma, with 135,000 on it is a 3.4 ltr V6 Coming back home, going through Oklahoma, through 10 - 1/2 hours of solid rain, head and cross winds, we only got 11 miles to a gallon but our Hi-Lo did great. That was it's final trip as our insurance company totaled it this past Tuesday do to hial damage from this trip and from last year, that by the way, they did not detect then. Word to the wise. Really check out your roofs. If you see any "black specs", take caution and really inspect. Those are true indicators of perforation.

campthewestcoast · 05-08-2011, 04:30 PM

Georgia Peach,

We have a 2006 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner 4 ltr V6 - sounds like the same tow vehicle that you have with a GVWR of 6,500 lbs. We have a 1997 21ft Towlite with a dry weight of approx 3,000 lbs. It tows great with the Tacoma. The only problem that we have is the visibility with our tow mirrors.

We would have concerns with the weight of towing the 2406. I believe that model has the tip out couch making it pretty heavy. An older 24 foot tow-lite without a tip-out is probably light weight enough for your tow vehicle.

You didn't mention whether the trailer was a Towlite or Classic. The Towlite is built of lighter weight materials making it easier to tow.

Hope this helps.