A travel trailer can be the perfect investment that will allow you to travel around different places, road-tripping as you go, without having to worry about accommodation.
It’s like having a house on the go!
However, before you get your dream travel trailer, you need to consider whether or not your car is going to have the necessary power to pull it along. Otherwise…you won’t be getting very far any time soon.
If you have a Toyota Tacoma, you will indeed be able to pull a travel trailer with ease.
However, all car models have a limit, so you might be wondering what is the biggest size of travel trailer that your Toyota Tacoma can tow.
Truth is, it depends on the exact model of Toyota Tacoma that you have, as different models will have different capacities when it comes to towing the travel trailer.
So before you set about buying your travel trailer, you need to figure out the max towing capacity of your car, so that everything is compatible and doable, and you’re not faced with any complications down the road.
So let’s get right into it!
What size trailer can a Toyota Tacoma pull?
The size of the travel trailer that a Toyota Tacoma can pull and tow depends on the exact model of the Toyota itself.
However, as a general rule, a Toyota Tacoma can tow trailers between 3500 lbs and 6900 lbs.
If you want to know more specific stats for towing capacity, here are the basics for a few of the main models:
Toyota Tacoma SR Model:
This Toyota model has a dry weight of 3980 lbs. It can tow up to 3500 lbs, and it has a payload capacity of 1620 lbs.
Toyota Tacoma SR5 Model:
This Toyota model can tow up to 3500 lbs, and it has a payload capacity of 1620 lbs.
Toyota Tacoma Limited Model:
This Toyota model is a lot more powerful, with a dry weight of 4480 lbs. It can easily tow up to 6400 lbs, and it has a payload capacity of 1120 lbs.
Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Model:
This Toyota model has a dry weight of 4180 lbs. It can tow up to 6800 lbs, and it has a payload capacity of 1420 lbs.
Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Model:
This Toyota model weighs up to 4060 lbs. It can then tow up to 6800 lbs, and it has a payload capacity of 1540 lbs.
Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Model:
This Toyota model has a maximum dry weight of up to 4445 lbs. It can tow up to 6400 lbs in weight and has a payload capacity of 1155 lbs.
However, it is important to remember that these are just the basic and standard capacities for a few different models.
The actual towing capacity of your Toyota can vary with certain upgrades and features, and there are also many subclasses for the different models that need to be taken into account.
If you want a more exact estimate for the towing capacity, you should visit the Toyota official website, or talk to a Toyota representative able to tell you the details for your particular Toyota car.
But overall, Toyota Tacoma cars are pretty good for towing travel trailers, as they have a good amount of power and a wide range of towing capacity that offers quite a few different possibilities when choosing your trailer.
Factors to consider when pulling a travel trailer
Before you get a travel trailer and hook it up to your Toyota Tacoma for towing, you need to seriously consider whether it is doable or not.
If it turns out that your Toyota can’t properly tow the trailer, you might be in for some significant damage, which is why this should be avoided at all cost until you are certain it’s okay.
Before you start towing a trailer, there are a few factors you need to take into consideration, to make sure everything is in order and accounted for.
Here are the basics:
The Tongue Weight
The tongue weight is the amount of pressure the hitch is putting on the truck, and it is depending on how loaded up the trailer itself is.
This is something that you absolutely have to take into consideration, to ensure stability in both the trailer and the towing vehicle, and to avoid any major problems.
It’s also important to never overload trailers past their capacity and maximum weight, or else you will be endangering the stability and the ability to tow the trailer.
Take everything you need, but don’t overdo it!
The Payload Capacity
As a general rule, the average amount of payload capacity is usually around 2000 lbs.
So if, for example, the total weight of the passengers and the gear came up to around 1000 lbs, then that would mean that you have 1000 lbs of tongue weight left.
Of course, this can change and vary depending on each specific truck. But basically, it’s super important to look at the payload capacity and the tongue weight together, as they affect one another.
Overweight Towing
Towing a trailer that is heavier than what the max towing capacity indicates for your towing vehicle, is a big no. If it’s just over by a bit, you might be tempted to just go with it.
But trust us, this can lead to some pretty significant issues. For starters, it will majorly affect the effectiveness of your brakes, which puts you and everyone else on the road, in grave danger and at risk of an accident.
Plus, you will have very little control over the trailer, as it will sway a lot more and will be harder to maintain stability, which leads to reckless and bad driving on the whole.
Long story short, it’s super dangerous, so don’t do it. Always account for the max towing capacity of your towing vehicle, and make sure you are within the limits.
The Best Trailers for a Toyota Tacoma
There are plenty of different camper options when it comes to a Toyota Tacoma, so there is plenty for you to choose from while ensuring everything is safe and stable, and not over the limit of the capacity of your car.
Pop up campers, as a general rule, will have a dry weight of around 4000 lbs max. Fifth wheel campers will have a way higher dry weight of up to 20000 lbs on average.
And teardrop campers will have a dry weight of around 2000 lbs, making them the lightest ones on average.
There are pros and cons to each type, and there are many things you can consider when choosing so that, ultimately, you have the best option for both your needs and your preferences, depending on the exact Toyota Tacoma that you have.
Let’s go over the basics for each of the three main types, and we might include a few of our favorite trailer options for each too!
Pop Up Trailers:
Pop up trailers are a smaller and lighter version of travel trailers, and they can be incredibly convenient and practical.
They can usually be pulled by most vehicles (as long as they have sufficient towing capacity, of course), and also tend to come pre-equipped with a weight distribution hitch to keep everything stable.
They can be folded down when you’re on the road so that they’re compact and easy to tow.
And they can then be folded out to their full size when you’re parked, to put up the living space and make the most out of the camping experience.
When it comes to a Toyota Tacoma, you shouldn’t have any issues finding a suitable pop up trailer.
Nevertheless, it’s important to check that you are getting one that falls under the limit of your Toyota’s towing capacity.
Here are a few of our favorites, currently available on the market:
- The Flagstaff Tent 208
- The Jay Sport 12UD
5th Wheel Trailers
5th wheel trailers are travel trailers but designed to be a lot more luxurious, for some high-end camping.
The good thing is that they come in many different sizes and designs, meaning they can weigh as little as 3000 lbs or as much as 20000 lbs. The average weight would be around 2500 lbs.
The huge range offers plenty of possibilities to find something suitable for your Toyota, making them a versatile option.
However, when it comes to 5th wheel trailers, it’s almost more important to check the payload capacity, rather than the towing capacity.
This means that the options are significantly reduced, as you have to find something within both towing and payload capacity.
Here are a few of our favorite 5th wheel trailers, suitable for average Toyota Tacoma vehicles:
- The Escape 5.0. TA
- The Scamp 19’Deluxe Lite
Teardrop Campers
Teardrop campers are the smallest type of travel trailers available, as they are designed to be extremely compact and maneuverable, for practical use.
This means that they are the easiest to tow, and you will have no problem whatsoever in finding one suitable for your Toyota Tacoma.
They are lightweight, aerodynamic, and they don’t block your rear mirror view.
And although they are quite small compared to other types of campers, they come with everything you need for camping, and they might help you enjoy the experience in a more adventurous way.
Plus, there are many options for extensions and fold-out additions that you can integrate into your teardrop camper if you want to make it bigger when parked.
Here are a few of our favorite options, currently available on the market:
- The Tab 320 CS
- The Timberleaf Classic
- The Little Guy Mini Max
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Tacoma pull a fifth-wheel?
The answer to this is yes! A Toyota Tacoma can indeed pull a fifth-wheel trailer.
However, you need to check both the towing capacity and the max payload capacity, in order to ensure that your particular Tacoma can do the job.
Especially because fifth-wheeler capers are the heaviest on average, so it’s easier for them to be above the safe limit!
How much weight can I pull with my Toyota Tacoma?
The maximum weight that you can pull with your Toyota Tacoma will depend on the exact model of Toyota Tacoma that you have and whether there are any upgrades or modifications in place.
But as a general rule, Toyota Tacomas will pull between 3500 lbs and 6900 lbs of weight.
Is a Tacoma good for towing?
Toyota Tacoma’s are a great vehicle when it comes to towing, especially when it comes to towing trailers.
This is because Tacoma vehicles are known to be very powerful on average, and there are also plenty of different models with different towing capacities so that you can adapt and find a suitable trailer.
Will a Toyota Tacoma pull a camper?
Yes, a Toyota Tacoma, on average, should have no problem whatsoever pulling a camper.
However, it is important that you check that the camper in question is within the limit of the towing capacity of your particular Toyota Tacoma, as the maximum capacity varies from model to model, and the camper needs to be within the safe limits in order for it to be towable.
Which Toyota Tacoma has the highest towing capacity?
If you’re aiming for the biggest trailer possible, you will need the Toyota Tacoma with the highest possible towing capacity.
In this case, the Toyota you need is the TRD Sport, which has a maximum towing capacity of 6800 lbs.
In Conclusion
Toyota Tacomas are incredibly popular, especially when it comes to towing a travel trailer so that you can be on your way, on route to your very own camping adventure.
This is because Toyota’s are pretty powerful when it comes to their average towing capacity, and there are also plenty of different models to choose from, depending on what you need.
On average, a Toyota Tacoma will be able to pull up to 6400 lbs of weight, which gives you plenty of options when choosing a suitable trailer to tow.
And even then, there are upgrades and modifications available that could add a little extra, to push the limits in a safe way.
Just remember to always check the max capacities and to stay under the limit, so that you can be on your way with the trailer, without having to worry about any complications or issues along the journey.
