Current top picks for tow vehicle for 21'

[Doug2000]

Originally Posted by Greggo

There are a bunch of happy 4.0L Tacomas owners, like me. Tow's great, right size. Can't speak for the newer slate of sub-4.0L engines but anecdotal comments seem less than satisfactory.

I towed my 2007 Escape 17B with my 2008 Tacoma SR5 4.0L. It towed no issue at all in Ontario. I later traded for a 2017 4Runner 4.0L TRD Off Road, again, around Ontario towed great. Both trucks could pull out and pass while following a car doing 50mph no problem.

I have read many comments about the new 3.5L Tacoma which lead me to come to the conclusion its a great hot rod, but not a good tow vehicle. Same horsepower, but at 1000 rpm higher. If your towing it's going to rev hard.

One thing I will add, if your towing at higher elevations, higher than 6000 ft, you will probably want a V8 or a diesel. I was really surprised how much power you lost as I climbed the mountains in Colorado. I was in Utah on a steady limb but didn't realize it, I thought there was something wrong with the truck. I had to bump it into third on some hills. It all made sense when I saw a sign 8800ft IIRC.

[John in Santa Cruz]

at 9000 feet, there's approximately 27% less air then at sea level. if you don't have a turbo (like most diesels), the engine will be burning 27% less gas, and getting 27% less horses and torques, all else being equal. a turbocharger can compensate for this (but not all turbos are setup for altitude compensation).

[Vermilye]

As one that really tried with the combination of a 3.5 Tacoma & a 21 (for 9000 miles) I am now the proud owner of a F150 3.5 EcoBoost...

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

As one that really tried with the combination of a 3.5 Tacoma & a 21 (for 9000 miles) I am now the proud owner of a F150 3.5 EcoBoost...

I drove the 21 home from Texas with my Tacoma, and started looking for a F250

mostly, I wanted a diesel, big tanks, and a long bed with maximum cargo space. none of those things are available in an f150, so...

[EdColorado]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

I drove the 21 home from Texas with my Tacoma, and started looking for a F250

mostly, I wanted a diesel, big tanks, and a long bed with maximum cargo space. none of those things are available in an f150, so...

That’s not a truck, John, this is a real mans truck.

Hennessey VelociRaptor 6X6 | Hennessey Performance

[Greggo]

Im bewildered at available tow replacements. 2010 Tacoma will be due in a year but no mid size truck comes close. Full size is not in the cards. Very disappointed with whats out there now. May be looking at trailer downsizing, unfortunately.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Greggo

Im bewildered at available tow replacements. 2010 Tacoma will be due in a year but no mid size truck comes close. Full size is not in the cards. Very disappointed with whats out there now. May be looking at trailer downsizing, unfortunately.

Ford Ranger. My brother just got one, great looking truck. Bigger than the old Ranger, but smaller than my F150.

[Greggo]

Tow reports are not inspiring tho. Little 4 banger even with a turbo seems weak. Has/will he tow with it?

G

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Greggo

Tow reports are not inspiring tho. Little 4 banger even with a turbo seems weak. Has/will he tow with it?

G

For sure, the 7,500 towing capacity will pull his 19 real nice. Would even pull a 21 fine.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

For sure, the 7,500 towing capacity will pull his 19 real nice. Would even pull a 21 fine.

As always, consider your payload. Many trucks run out of payload long before they exceed towing capacity.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

As always, consider your payload. Many trucks run out of payload long before they exceed towing capacity.

Yes, very true, my Ram can pull close to 7 times its carrying capacity....

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

As always, consider your payload. Many trucks run out of payload long before they exceed towing capacity.

that was why I retired the Tacoma, it was past rear axle load carrying my typical full kit (big telescope + astro gear, 2 tables, 4+ chairs, 3 carpets, big cooler, heavy duty 10x10 popup, 5-10g of drinking water, etc etc). in fact, just the two of us + the E21's hitch weight was putting it near GVWR,

btww, that Hennesey thing? thats an F150, and its a joke.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

The Expedition is based on a shortened F150 chassis, much like the Tahoe is a shorter Chevy 1500 pickup.

... and the Toyota Sequoia is based on the Tundra.
But in each case, they are the same only up to the rear seat. In all of these vehicles, the SUV has a different rear suspension from the pickup, and so the rear part of the frame is different.. so they're not exactly a shorter pickup with a longer cab.

[Doug2000]

Originally Posted by Greggo

Im bewildered at available tow replacements. 2010 Tacoma will be due in a year but no mid size truck comes close. Full size is not in the cards. Very disappointed with whats out there now. May be looking at trailer downsizing, unfortunately.

If it was me and against a full size, I would be looking for a low mile 2015 Tacoma. That 4.0L is bullet proof. You should consider a 4RUNNER with that same 4.0L, a few more horses in the 4RUNNER. Me, I bought a Tundra 4.6L for my pending 19 purchase.

Sorry, I’m not interested in a turbo unless it’s beside a Cummins or Powerstroke.

[Greggo]

Jim, can it tow, sure. Can it tow well, another matter. 2nd and 6000 rpm isnt my idea of a great tow vehicle. Not just grades but passing and getting up to speed at on ramps as well. Had my share of close calls even with my Tacoma. That unfortunately seems the norm for the current selection of mid sized trucks unless something changes, there just isnt much out there. Frontier is the last of the "big" 4.0L's. My 2010 Tacoma TRD has been great but needs to go in 2020.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Greggo

Jim, can it tow, sure. Can it tow well, another matter. 2nd and 6000 rpm isnt my idea of a great tow vehicle. Not just grades but passing and getting up to speed at on ramps as well. Had my share of close calls even with my Tacoma. That unfortunately seems the norm for the current selection of mid sized trucks unless something changes, there just isnt much out there. Frontier is the last of the "big" 4.0L's. My 2010 Tacoma TRD has been great but needs to go in 2020.

Not sure where you are getting your numbers from for the Ranger, but it is rated in many write ups as the best towing for a gas engine in it's class. 270 hp and 310 foot pounds of torque is pretty good. Up to 1,860 lbs of cargo capacity is as good (actually a bit better) as my F150, though I know options can vary this a bit.

I am not saying the Ranger is the vehicle for everyone, just added a comment. I know some folks just don't like Ford for some reason, but I have had some really good luck with them over the years, though most were Super Duty with Powerstroke diesel engines.

[wxguy]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

In the last couple of days someone posted regarding their rig which included a six speed stick shift transmission. I thought at the time how interesting and “rare” it was to be using a stick shift vehicle but at the same time how effective and positive it could be.
Dave

Iowa Dave, you make a great point. Why so few manual transmissions in America any more, except on performance cars, when they seem to be available in the rest of the world?

European auto rental places in general assume that Americans just can't get that clutch/shifter thing figured out. AND THEY ARE RIGHT! I recently saw a piece in Car and Driver Mag. (I think) that claimed less than 20% of American drivers under age 25 are clutch competent. Not surprising, given that they have so few opportunities. Manual transmissions have their advantages, but only if you can drive them.

I wanted better for my kids. The first thing all three of my kids did when I taught them to drive was to spend a dozen hours learning how to standing start our old 1995 manual Sub. Legacy- first on a flat parking lot and finally on our steep driveway. Then they moved on to learn to shift and steer- to actually drive- in our Miata, including motor-induced deceleration with the Miata's bullet-proof 5-speed drive train. Their final test was a double downshift, say from 5th gear (3500 rpm) directly to 3rd gear (6700 rpm). This requires smoothly disengaging the clutch over a period about a second or so to let the engine spool up.

Done correctly this dumps about 30 mph so fast it makes your head spin. Literally. Of course, this is a Miata, not a tow vehicle under load, but the concept of helping your breaking tow vehicle a lot by "engine braking" is a real deal. Of course, modern automatic transmissions can downshift for breaking, but especially with a heavy load under strong engine braking, they don't do it gracefully, and also produce a hydraulic "shock" IMO.

I had the opportunity to try the above braking exercise with a little newer 6-speed automatic Miata. The auto trans. would not make the equivalent shifts without a brief lockout. Now, I realize the automatic was designed to prevent over-revving the motor. Thing is, I want to be responsible for that possibility and not have the car override my decision.

This example is not that practical (unless a moose and her calf jump onto the road right in front of your Miata) but it is a hard and fast example of how the automatic transmission underperforms the experienced driver. Maybe most people need to be prevented from doing this but give me back my manual 5-speed. You can do it your way, and i'll do it mine and we can still be friends.


Dave

Point being in the mix and match world of trailers and tow vehicles combinations while not infinite no doubt number in the tens of thousands. When folks ask us about our tow setup, we answer them honestly but I do not pass judgement on other setups unless it is to analyze a failure. And I keep that opinion to myself unless asked. If you can’t be with the one you love, Honey love the one you’re with (CSNY?). Remeber that pick to click from stacks and stacks of golden wax?
Iowa Dave

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by wxguy

give me back my manual 5-speed.

Dave

You wouldn't be so enamoured with a manual transmission and clutch, if you lived in Vancouver or any other city with daily major traffic jams ( not Fishhook ). I have an automatic and still choose not to drive except between 10am and 2:45pm.
I had a VW bus with manual transmission. The clutch pedal went 90 degrees down into the floor. Try spending an hour depressing the clutch every ten feet or so.
I simply slow on approaching a downhill and pull my transmission down to 3 or 2 to hold back my speed.

[John in Santa Cruz]

I got stuck for 2 hours once in my 6-speed Tacoma while towing our Casita in stop and crawl traffic in Sacramento, I doubt I'll ever buy another manual. My clutch foot was cramping.

modern automatics, like Ford's 10 speed, are MORE efficient than any traditional clutch + stick shift. the 10 speed only uses the torque converter from a full stop til you're rolling in 1st, then the torque converter clutch is engaged, locking the transmission in gear, and all further shifts are done with the TC locked, by electronically dropping the torque for the instant the shift takes as the gear ratios are very close together.... The 10 speed actually only has 4 gear sets, the 10 gears are done with combinations of these.

[steve dunham]

At 70 I often get nostalgic for things from my past but a manual transmission is not one of them . Driving a vehicle with a manual transmission in stop and go traffic has the same appeal now as it did when I was a teenager , absolutely none .
My knees are shot and pushing on a clutch pedal only makes them hurt !