The Toyota Tacoma is a legendary truck famous for its skill and power on the road. Its powerful engine guarantees plenty of pull for all your towing and off-road needs.
Read on to know how much the Tacoma generation can tow and which is most potent.
How Much Can Toyota Tacomas Tow?
Toyota Tacoma has a maximum towing capacity of 6,800 pounds. The towing capacity depends on your tow package and a proper trailer hitch. Recent models have a minimum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, regardless of the engine or bed configuration.
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The towing capacity delivered by older models of the Toyota Tacoma is not the same as in newer model years.
The main reason is because of the varying engine types and towing packages.
Other factors like truck, passenger, and cargo weight affect your unit’s towing capacity.
Here is the towing capacity of the different Toyota Tacoma model years.
1st Generation: Year 1995-2001
2.4 L 2RZ-FE 14
Most units produced under this model year had the 2.4L 2RZ-FE 14 engine.
The towing capacity for this engine is 3500 pounds, while its gross combined weight rating is 6700 (2WD).
3.4 L 5VZ-FE V6
The 3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 engine is the Tacoma, whose maximum towing capacity is 5,000, and has two configuration options.
The 2WD has a gross combined weight rating of 8300, while the 4WD has 9000.
2.7 L 3RZ-FE 14
The maximum towing capacity of the 2.7L 3RZ-FE 14 engine is 3500 pounds.
The model year’s gross combined rating is 7400 (4WD).
1st Generation (Facelift): Years 2002-2004
2.4 L 2RZ-FE 14
The maximum towing capacity of this engine option in the Toyota Tacoma model years 2002 to 2004 is 3500 pounds.
The car’s gross combined weight rating is 6700 pounds.
3.4 L 5VZ-FE V6
The 3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 engine from 2002 to 2004 had minor upgrades like the tow package.
The towing capacity of the engine with the tow package is 6000 pounds and 3500 pounds without. You also get a 2WD and 4WD transmission configuration option.
The gross combined weight rating is:
- 6800 pounds (2WD),
- 7500 pounds (4WD),
- and 1000 pounds (4WD and Prerunner with tow package).
2.7 L 3RZ-FE 14
Toyota Tacoma from the years 2002 to 2004 also featured the 2.7L 3RZ-FE 14 engine in their trim options.
The engine has a maximum towing capacity of 3500 pounds, with a gross combined weight rating of 7400 on the 4WD and Prerunner variants.
2nd Generation: Years 2005-2015
The second generation of Toyota Tacoma had its problems. However, there were no problems with towing!
2.7 L 2TR-FE 14
This engine is the base option in the 2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma model years and has a maximum towing capacity of 3500 pounds.
The car’s gross combined weight rating of the 2WD option is 7500 pounds, while the 4WD and Prerunner variants have 8000 pounds.
4.0 L 1GR-FE V6
The maximum towing capacity of this engine without the tow package is 3500 pounds and 6500 pounds with the tow package.
The 4WD configuration has a gross combined weight rating of 8100 pounds, while the 4WD with tow package is 11100 pounds.
You can the prices of used Toyota Tacomas here.
3rd Generation: Years 2016-2022
Let’s continue with the third generation.
2.7 L 2TR-FE 14
The 2.7L 2TR-FE 14 has a maximum towing capacity of 3500 pounds and a gross combined rating of 7810 pounds (2WD) and 8020 pounds (4WD).
3.5 L 2GR-FKS V6
The towing capacity of the 3.5L 2GR-FKS V6 is 3500 pounds.
The tow package allows you to increase the capacity to 6500 pounds, provided you have an SR5 and 2WD Access Cab configuration. On a 2WD double cab with a tow package and TRD Off-road, the maximum tow capacity is 6700 pounds.
The gross combined weight rating is:
- 7890 pounds on 2WD,
- 8150 pounds on 4WD,
- 11310 pounds on 2WD with tow package,
- and 11360 pounds on 4WD with tow package.
Tips for Safe Towing and Trailering on Your Toyota Tacoma
Here are some good tips to help you tow better.
#1 Stay Within the Limits
You must review your truck’s towing capacity before you begin towing. Failing to do so will cause your Toyota Tacoma to not last long.
Ensure your car can handle the trailer’s weight to avoid compromising safety on the road.
Dangers of exceeding the maximum towing capacity include:
- poor braking performance,
- dangerous handling,
- and severe suspension damage.
It would also help to follow the owner’s manual advice on weight-carrying and distribution hitches to guarantee road safety. Certain modifications can impact your truck’s towing capacity, from the body style to drivelines and bed lengths.
Also, include passenger weight when evaluating your vehicle’s total weight to ensure you do not exceed the gross vehicle weight rating.
#2 Pack Practically
How you pack your trailer also determines the safety of your towing experience. You must not exceed your trailer’s maximum load capacity and achieve the ideal outlay.
One key element to consider when packing is placing around 60% of your trailer’s load on the trailer’s front half.
Even weight distribution is crucial to achieving a tongue weight on traditional hitch trailers.
The left side should not be heavier than the right side of the trailer, and securing the cargo is necessary to prevent load shifting during transit.
#3 Check the Tires Regularly
Tires are crucial when driving since they are the contact point between the road and your vehicle. You should pay close attention to the state of your vehicle and trailer tires to ensure proper inflation.
Under-inflated tires can cause handling complications, creating more rolling instances while consuming more fuel since the engine works harder.
To achieve the perfect inflation pressures on your truck, refer to the driver’s doorjamb’s tire pressure label.
You also need to know the speed ratings on your tow vehicle and trailer to avoid exceeding your speed.
#4 Inspect Your Lights
Serious drivers understand the importance of tail lights and marker lamps on their trailers. Since large trailers often obscure your truck’s tail lights, the lights on your trailer will help other drivers see your vehicle.
Non-functioning tail lights are the most common reason for night collisions.
#5 Check Your Brakes
Suppose you plan on towing a heavy trailer, checking your brakes before departure would be best. Smaller trailers often lack a trailer brake system.
The trailer brake system helps with braking and supplements your truck’s brakes.
You must adequately attach the emergency “breakaway” cable to your tow truck even if your trailer has electric or hydraulic surge brakes.
The emergency brakes help activate your trailer brakes in case your trailer disconnects when in transit.
What Is the Toyota Tacoma Tow Package?
The tow package in your Toyota Tacoma helps achieve the maximum towing capacity of your engine. The following are some of the features you should expect;
- An ATF cooler only available in automatic configuration
- A 130-amp alternator
- Trailer-sway control on the V6 engines only
- A class-IV towing hitch receiver
- An engine oil cooler
- A 4- and 7-pin connector with a converter
This package also means your Toyota Tacoma will do very well in snow.
What’s New for the 2023 Toyota Tacoma?
Although unreleased, there is a lot to awe about in the 2023 Toyota Tacoma. One of the most exciting advancements is the introduction of two new packages.
The SX package adds black over-fenders, badging and trim details, and black wheels with black lug nuts.
The chrome package comes with chromed door handles, exhaust pipes, and a tailgate logo, complemented by 18-inch polished wheels.
Here is what’s new for the 2023 Tacoma:
#1 Better Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The base engine of the 2023 Toyota Tacoma is a 159 hp 4-cylinder producing 180 lb-ft of torque.
You should avoid this underpowered option if you plan on towing heavy trailers. An optional 278 hp V6 engine produces 265 lb-ft of torque, enough power for your towing and off-road needs.
The TRD Sport and Limited models are perfect for driving around the city, while TRD Pro Versions and TRD Off-Road prefer rougher paths.
All trims of the 2023 Tacoma are for quality handling and performance in extreme environments, not speed.
#2 Towing and Payload Capacity
You can achieve up to 6,800 pounds of towing capacity from a perfectly-configured rear-wheel 2023 Toyota Tacoma.
You can pull 6,500 pounds on four-wheel drive options. 2WD Tacomas equipped with a 4-cylinder engine have a maximum payload capacity of 1,685 pounds, while the 4WD and V6 engines have lower capabilities.
#3 Comfort and Cargo
The 2023 Toyota Tacoma has a new, improved interior with even more cargo space than previous models. It features a functional layout and materials and has higher trim levels with hard plastics and minimalist materials. You also get an adjustable driver seat to guarantee comfort, especially on long adventures.
The vehicle’s interior has enough space to fit a five- or six-foot bed. However, passengers in the rear will have to squeeze into the small legroom.
The storage cubbies are also small, minimizing the overall cargo space offered in previous years.
#4 Safety and Driver-Assistance
The driver-assistance technology featured in the 2023 Tacoma is among the best in its class. These features help maintain vehicle control when you have a heavy trailer.
They include:
- Standard automated emergency braking and forward-collision warning
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- Standard lane-departure warning
How Big a Boat Can a Toyota Tacoma Tow?
How big a boat you can tow in your Toyota Tacoma depends significantly on the boat’s weight.
A speedboat weighing 8,000 lbs. is the biggest boat you can tow despite the maximum towing capacity of a Tacoma being 6,800 lbs.
Other boats your Toyota Tacoma can tow include:
- Ski boat- 3,500 lbs.
- Pontoon boat- 3,100 lbs.
- Sail boat- 1,700 lbs.
How Big a Camper Can a Toyota Tacoma Tow?
Experts advise against pulling a camper more than 55% of your truck’s maximum towing capacity.Your Tacoma truck can only push a fully-loaded camper not exceeding 3,700 pounds for safe towing.
Towing a camper exceeding the mentioned weight is possible but exposes you to stressful towing issues. You may find it challenging to haul on inclines or change lanes since the engine lacks enough power for quick and safe execution.
It would also help to note your insurance claim is likely to be denied if you exceed your vehicle’s towing capacity and get involved in an accident.
Conclusion
Understanding the different engine options in the Toyota Tacoma allows you to improve your towing skills.
It also saves you time when planning to buy one, since you know the specific models that will meet your needs.
Avoid exceeding the towing capacity to protect your truck and trailer while enjoying your adventures.