Towing with a Tacoma and need advice

[dblaettler04]

We are new to towing and have a 2006 dbl. cab, 4x4 long bed truck that can tow a max of 6500lbs. We looked at the surveyor sport 260 but then realized that for what we want to do, like go to the Tahoe mountains and such, that the trailer will be too much. The dry weight was about 4200lbs which would be the max of what we would want but the total length would have been 28ft a bit too much. So we are now starting to look at the Rockwood Roo 23RS, 233 hybrid or the Rockwood 2306 without the murphy bed option. Does anyone have any advice and if you have any of these trailers do you like them etc? Anything would be helpful.

Thanks

[cat]

i tow a salem 22rb with a 2010 nissan frontier. aprox 4500 lbs loaded, no problem.

[ng2951]

Figure about another 1,500#. Also remember that dry weight frequently do not include the weight of optional equipment like a/c.

[shurack24]

We have a 09 Tacoma and a Palomino Gazelle 230; empty 3700lbs and loaded is about 4500lbs. I don't have the specific wights handy right now, but we are all within limits of front & rear axle wgts and gross combined wght when we checked. The Tacoma is very capable; pulls fine and handles quite well with no sway at all. Near max wgts like this is, a good WD hitch properly set up is key. We calculated our wgts out and the 6500lbs is really a strecth. Here in the northeast hills are not much of a problem but if your pulling on the Rockies, you'll need to be more conservative.

[ng2951]

I would add I never towed beyond 5,000# plus pardette and two small dogs. In New Mexico above 6,500' up steep hill grades 55 MPH 10 MPG or less was the best we could do.

You are probably going to be 1,000# heavier than that. The truck, properly equipped and hitch adjusted will handle that but you probably won't get 55 up steep grades (unless you have the turbocharger).

The truck also lacks a transmission temperature gauge. I don't know if the new ScanGauges can access the transmission temperature probe or not. If I were going to run that close to the truck's max I would want to monitor that temp...

[shurack24]

The ScanGuage II now monitors the transmission temperature on the Tacoma's (not sure about Tundra's). 2 temps in fact; I'm led to beleive one is the "hot" side and the other is the "return" side from the transmission cooler. The codes are supposedly still in beta and may not be part of the standard set as shipped, but they did supply the code to me.
Transmission temps typically range 170-190 on the highway but I have seen them climb above that on secondary road hills. The highest i've ever seen was about 225 on longer/steeper grades.
I believe the transmission temperature warning light comes on at 275.

[shineysideup]

Originally Posted by dblaettler04

We are new to towing and have a 2006 dbl. cab, 4x4 long bed truck that can tow a max of 6500lbs. We looked at the surveyor sport 260 but then realized that for what we want to do, like go to the Tahoe mountains and such, that the trailer will be too much. The dry weight was about 4200lbs which would be the max of what we would want but the total length would have been 28ft a bit too much. So we are now starting to look at the Rockwood Roo 23RS, 233 hybrid or the Rockwood 2306 without the murphy bed option. Does anyone have any advice and if you have any of these trailers do you like them etc? Anything would be helpful.

Thanks

The Roo's may be lighter but they also sit higher in the air (read: more wind drag). The front is also almost vertical. The surveyor sits much lower and has a more pronounced slope to the front. This will help with towing at highway speeds. For me, I would buy the surveyor without a question ahead of the Roo IF the layout was what I wanted (IMHO).

The weight of the trailer is only one aspect of the tow experience. Proper Weight distribution and sway control is a must along with proper tow mirrors. Trucks will also benefit from changing the passenger tires to LT tires for less sidewall flex.

Better dealerships will set you up and let you test tow before you buy... Read the many posts in forest river forums, get an idea of what a proper setup would be.

good luck,