Tacoma 4x4 doublecab V6,auto. Pulling?

[HandsOn]

Looking at buying a tacoma 2004, 4x4,TRD, v6, auto. Anyone have any experience towing with one. Boat is approx. 3500-4000lbs. Good or bad idea??

[rivercrazy]

It will pull that load just fine.

[sorry dog]

I don't know if they have changed the tranny any but I've pulled my 2000-2300# boat a few times with a T100 that has the same 6 and it does OK. The motor runs real smooth so it didn't bother me but it did have to downshift a lot for any type of grade on the interstate. The tacoma weighs less so that should help. With the T100 - if I towing with that a bunch then I would put in a tranny cooler, but maybe they have made some revisions since then...
I can say for sure though that you will know the boat is back there if it weighs that much.

[Phat Matt]

I used to pull this with a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4, auto, v6. I could definitely feel the boat behind me. I think with the trailer it was close to 5000lbs, which was the towing capacity. Go up the long hills wasn't the greatest if you lost momentum. And I always got a little worried when the tach started screaming. So I bought a new Excursion 4x4 with the 6.0L diesel. Now I put the cruise control on and forget the boat is back there. Now I think I need to get a bigger boat. :D

[Chris Winn]

i had a 2001 crew cab 4 wheel drive (it had everything but the trd package) it pulled my 25ft Baja no problem (it was even better after i put the trd blower on it) it was a great truck, the metal is a little thin and it did ding easy though (don't buy a black one!)
i think that it is rated to tow 4500lbs, and i pulled about 5500lbs with it with no problem.

[HandsOn]

Looking at the tacoma because of better gas mileage as a daily driver vs. my chevy 4x4. Not sure if I really need a 4x4 to tow the boat.

[77charger]

dont expect alot of milage on the drive train with that v6 towing a boat that size.
I had an older 94 v6 towed a 19ft jet here and there well it needed 2 valve jobs by 105k biggest pos i ever owned and will never own another toyota

[Kilrtoy]

It will pull that load just fine.
At 35mph Downhill

[ROZ]

Originally posted by 77charger
dont expect alot of milage on the drive train with that v6 towing a boat that size.
I had an older 94 v6 towed a 19ft jet here and there well it needed 2 valve jobs by 105k biggest pos i ever owned and will never own another toyota
94 and older was just over 150hp (now what new 4cyl taco's have) and had problems... 95 and up and bag the rear and i think it should be fine, especially with the supercharge :cool:

[Boozer]

Buy a dodge and forget about it. You want good gas mileage? Go spend 40k on your tow rig and 4k on a daily driver used civic.
My boat nailed the back of my truck going 60mph. I hit a wall. Total cost of repairs is going to be $1,000. Had that been a Toyota I'd probably be dead right now.

[FRENCHIE]

i had a 1998 felt two sea doos behind it going up grades... i would at least ry to get an 8 cylinder!:D

[CBLavey]

The new bigger Tacoma will be out this fall with the same bigger V-6 that is currently used in Forerunner.
For about the same price as the Tacoma Double Cab, you can get a Tundra Access Cab V-8 since Toyota offers rebates on Tundra Access Cabs but never seems to offer them on Double Cabs.
There is little to no difference in Mileage - I average 17-18 Hwy and if it helps you, I paid $21,800 after rebates, before tax and license. :cool: :cool:

[FRENCHIE]

what about a 70's VW-bus??!! ok .. i know that was random!:D

[Kilrtoy]

Forgoet the VW BUS,
I was thinking that a 1970's Honda CVCC with an 1100 would due just fine.....

[rivercrazy]

The V6 in the Tacoma is pretty strong. Stronger than the 4.3L V6 in the Chevy S-10's. The tranny is solid and comes with a good quality tranny cooler with the towing package.
It will pull a 3.5K to 4K boat without any problems. Its rated to tow 5K.
I used to have a Toyota Mini that pulled a 3.5K boat with the 2.4L 4 banger. It was a little slow up the hills but it was extremely reliable. Nothing ever went wrong with it. The V6 will blow the doors off the 4 banger.
Toyota makes some of the most reliable trucks on the plant.....

[Kilrtoy]

Toyota makes some of the most reliable trucks on the plant.....
Oh so true,
I wish they would just make a truck that could tow something other than gardening trailer. I have owned two toy's, neither could tow a damn thing. I had the 3L V6 and then the 3.4 L V6. Never had a single problem, BUT THEY CAN"T TOW
Buy a real truck if you want to tow,
Dodge Chevy Ford.
those are thge only logical choices.
I know you talking about 4.3L, but please their V8 can't tow.

[rivercrazy]

I agree that the 3L V6 was a bit a dog. But the 3.4L is a great motor. Ever drive a 2.8L V6 S-10 or a 3L ford ranger? Those were even bigger jokes than the 3L Toyota motors. Your trying to compare mini-truck towing performance with V8 full sized trucks. That doesn't make any sense!
And as for the V8 in the Tundra, it pulls my 25 Shockwave great. No problems with power at all. In fact it pulls my boat better than a 5.7L Chevy V8 that I've used a few times! Are they as strong as V10's or the new diesels - of course not - it would be crazy to compare the two. But they are more than competitive with the American 1/2 ton trucks for towing with similar sized motors. My Tundra has a 7100 pound tow rating. I've pulled my 25 all over the place. And towed travel trailers up to the eastern sierra and back.
Unless you've owned one you really don't know what they are capable of.

[rivercrazy]

But back to the original question. A 3.4L V6 Toyota will do OK pulling 3,500 pounds. Its well within its tow rating. Just don't use overdrive (like most trucks)

[Kilrtoy]

Don't get me wrong,
I WISH THEY WOULD MAKE A REAL TRUCK THAT TOWED.
I would dump my american piece of shit and buy it. But they don't. Don't tell me that that truck pulls your boat up the 15fwy at 70mph. Im sure that thing does great on hills at 50 or 55mph.

[rivercrazy]

5500-6000 pound towed load. Its pulled Cajon, Needles Grade, the grade outside laughlin over to search light no problem. Never gets hot. The steepest sections needed 2nd gear at 3800 rpm at 55mph at 1/4 throttle.
I think we should just agree to disagree! :D Have fun with your rig when it gets out of warranty or over 100K miles! Absolutely nothing has gone wrong with mine and I'm at 126K miles so far. Doesn't even burn oil.

[Kilrtoy]

Ill never own it that long, Its american, it will break by the 3rd year, 4th max. They always due.

[rivercrazy]

I hope your wrong and your rig proves to be extremely reliable.
The only american truck I would buy after owning the Toy is a Cheby Duramax with the Allison. Those seem like awesome rigs.....It would definately get better MPG than my gasser. I get 10 towing and it hurts with the gas prices!

[Kilrtoy]

I never drive the truck, I use it to go Grocery shopping at the corner and the tow the boat. The tires will probably rot off, before I hit 40K. I have owned 4 Toyotas and loved everyone. F250 V10 now and love it, just not as much as the toy's.

[rivercrazy]

My rig non-towing gets 17 or so. But its still killing me. Cost me $50 to fill it today and I need to fill it about once per week!
Those hybrids are looking really good bout now! Might be time soon for a 3rd car.........:yuk:
Those V10's are impressive. I rented a mid sized class C mobile home with one of those motors. Used it to pull a 4K boat to the river and back. Towed the grades much better than I expected.

[HandsOn]

Thought about a 2wd, but have never pulled a boat with one. A little worried about put in and take out with only the 2wd on the steep ramps.

[Kilrtoy]

Good luck what ever you do

[sorry dog]

A 3.4L V6 Toyota will do OK pulling 3,500 pounds. Its well within its tow rating. Just don't use overdrive (like most trucks)
It did fine for me to use the O/D on level ground and switch it off before going up a grade. If I didn't, it would start to hunt in and out of the converter lockup which probably runs the heat up. If it had a cooler, it probably wouldn't be much of a problem.
I'd read up a lot on the TRD supercharger and the kit seems real good but it has been recommended for a few other things to go with it like an EGT guage, fuel pump change (Supra pump), some tranny mods.
Those V6's are wonderful motors but it will be running in the upper part of the rev range a lot while towing.
Also - good trailer brakes would be a good idea.
Don't get me wrong, I WISH THEY WOULD MAKE A REAL TRUCK THAT TOWED. I would dump my american piece of shit and buy it. But they don't. Don't tell me that that truck pulls your boat up the 15fwy at 70mph. Im sure that thing does great on hills at 50 or 55mph.
Actually, they do-- but like lotsa good toyota stuff we don't get it here. The 1HD-FT 6 cyl turbo diesel is supposed to be a great motor and would probably tow 70 @ 15mpg easily.
I'd contact my banker now if we had a 105 series landcruiser with a diesel and a 5 speed on this side of the pond.