2017 Toyota Tacoma - Towing Capabilities

[phsw98]

Hello Brent and Cheryl,
Thank you for the post. After reading many posts here on TVs for the 19 and 21, decided to buy a 2018 Tundra Crewmax 5.7L for my eventual 21 purchase sometimes in 2019. for now I'm just getting used to driving a full size pickup

Phil

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Mike G

Ummm..... 500+ miles, a bit of hyperbole perhaps? 13 mpg x 28 gallons = 364 miles.
Although I'll be the first to admit, you truly can drive all day with that truck and never use a drop of gas!

oops, typo. its a 38 gallon tank :-p

and 13 MPG is the *worst* I've gotten towing with a mix of mountain driving and heavy slow-n-go traffic... cruising easy when towing, its more like 15-16 mpg.

[thumper-tx]

I have a 21 and two trucks. My 2017 Taco 4x4 has tow package plus equalizer load leveling. Tows fine but steep mountain passes on a regular basis would not be my first choice. Average mpg around 12. I love this truck!
My 2014 F-150 eco boost tows everywhere very well with no load leveling and gets average 12mpg but the gas tank is twice as big. I like this truck ok.
I have a close friend with a 19 and she spends 3 1/2 months on the road every summer / fall rowing with a Tacoma 2wd with tow package and she has no issues at all.

[tractors1]

2013 V6 4dr 4WD long bed Taco hauls my 21 around with no issues; at bit slow on 6% grades uphill, but I make it up on the downhill side.

[jerryandmaria]

I have a 2016 TRD 4x4 longbed with air shocks and a 21. I can get anywhere from 13 to 16 mpg depending on grade and speed. I never go faster than 60. I don’t have a problem with power and love my Taco, but if I had to do it over I’d get a Colorado diesel with engine brake.
Jerry

[noblets]

We have a 2017 Tacoma (4WD) with the V6. It is a, in my view, a poor tow vehicle. We pull a 17A, that probably weighs about 3000 lbs. The Tacoma struggles up freeway hills. To maintain 60 mph, the engine is running better than 4000 rpm, shifted down to 3rd (in the S mode). The engine is listed as an "Atkinson" engine, and develops peak torque at 4700 rpm.

I love the Tacoma as a 4X4, but not as a tug

[noblets]

Incidentally, we were recently in Iceland, where we rented a Mitsubishi L200 diesel 4X4 with a camper. It was actually a great truck. Lots of low end torque. Doesn't appear to be widely available in the US

[bjp447]

Just to add my two cents
I tow my 21 with a 2017 Tacoma shortbed 2X4. Works fine for me.
In mountainous regions like the Blue Ridge or TN it works to get it
up the hills but it keeps up with ever other truck that is struggling.
But these are not Colorado mountains!
Talking about trailering it is not about what you can pull, it is really
about what you can stop and the Tacoma has the same brake setup
as the tundra. Since I don't care for the big P/U's, I like toyota and only
trailer less than 10% of my driving time I am a happy camper (no pun
intended) with my Tacoma and Escape 21.

[Red]

I tow a 2018 19 foot Escape with a 2007 Tacoma Off Road with a tow package and an E2 WD hitch. It has the 4.0 with a 5spd auto. We just completed a 2000 mile tour through the Cascades and Monashee mountains with many 6% plus grades. Generally, it can handle grade in 4th gear at 60mph. The Coquihalla smasher is at 8.5% which made it drop to 3rd gear at 3500 rpm. On the level it does not struggle and can float along at 60 mph in top gear with no problem. It has an after market brake controller and can handle braking duties well. It can easily do 70 mph but the gas mileage really takes a hit. Would I like more power, hell yes, but how much is necessary?

What I appreciate with a Tacoma is when I unhook the trailer and do some 4x4 exploring or drive into the city or bigger towns. The Tacoma is such a pleasure to drive and it handles so well in all conditions. For me the bigger trucks are too big and have become too expensive.

In the end you need to match your vehicle with how you use it. Just make sure it meets the towing and payload requirements.