Towing a 19 Escape with a Tacoma 2016 wt Tow package

[Hucker]

We tow our 2017 19 with a 2017 Taco TRD and WDH without an issue. 105-110k on the hwy, 80k on the hills at 3000rpm. I don’t push it and 105k is holiday speed for me. Very comfortable.
As someone stated most of us use our trailer for a small portion of the year and really most don’t travel across the continent regularly so I’m really liking the Taco as a daily driver.
Have owned 3 F150s, love them but not a necessity at this point until I increase my luxuries (generator?) and haul for longer periods.
Mike and Jody from theToad Haul.

[steve dunham]

When we bought our first FG trailer , a 16 ft Scamp , we put little thought into what and how we were going tow it .. We soon learned that trying to force the vehicle we had to fit the bill didn’t work .
I’ve towed trailers with small /mid size pickups ( Nissan Frontier - Dodge Dakota - Ford Ranger - Chevy S-10) and under certain conditions they do the job but the other half of the time they come up short .

[arniesea]

I think the choice really depends on your camping style. When I owned a 2013 19’ Classic Escape, I towed it first with with a 2014 Tacoma SR5, then later with a 2016 Tacoma TRD Sport. Both did the job, but as John V. Mentioned, the 3rd gen Taco w/ the 3.5L engine spends a lot of time in 3rd and 4th gears at 3,000 + RPM.

So when we were camping within a one or two day drive from home, I didn’t mind the “work” of selecting the right gear for conditions. But when our trips started getting longer, 2,000 plus miles, those long consecutive days in the saddle were no longer enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my TRD Sport as a daily driver! Great truck!

But now we have a 2017 Tundra with a 5.7L power plant, towing an Escape 5.0 TA and the difference is night and day. Both the truck and the trailer are much more comfortable. And I’m averaging the same 11.5 MPG I got with the 2016 Tacoma while towing because the Tundra spends most of its time around 2,000 RPM.

So bottom line: make an honest assessment of your camping style, daily driving needs, etc and go from there.

(By the way, I adjusted my lifestyle when not camping and do not use the Tundra for errands like I did the Tacoma. The Tundra is a dedicated towing / yard work truck.)

[Rossue]

Speaking of honesty I find it hard to believe folks reporting 14+ mpg towing a 21 with a Highlander. I used to get 14 with my 2013 Highlander/2010 17B(with 3" frame). Even with two more gears another 1000 pounds getting the same mileage defies belief- unless you're on the flats the whole way and going 55.

On our last 4K mile trip ro Utah/ CO with 2019 Excursion 3.5/3.73 we got 14.5 vs. 12.5 with a 2014 Yukon SLT 5.3/3.42.

[steve dunham]

Brand loyalty seems to have a magical affect on a vehicles towing performance , reliability and fuel economy . I can proudly and without prejudice say that my tow vehicle is surprisingly adequate for towing my Escape 21 if the towing conditions are favorable !

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

Brand loyalty seems to have a magical affect on a vehicles towing performance

And a vehicle's towing performance has an affect on brand loyalty.

[John in Santa Cruz]

I can proudly say, F250 4x4 is complete and total overkill for towing my Escape, under any and all conditions. its diesel gets perfectly good towing mileage (better than 13 MPG towing if I'm not going 80+, and as high as 19MPH on the open highway cruising light). The longbed is cavernous.

Its an 8800 lb GVWR truck towing a 4500 lb GWR trailer. It is rated to tow a 12500 lb trailer, and has a 2000 lb payload. The GCWR is around 20K lbs. I will never exceed any of these numbers. I will never even get close to any of these numbers, except maybe the payload. Its a tank that drives like its on rails, and has way WAY better brakes than my previous 150 class van.

Really, the only downsides are the 62 foot turning circle, and the 20 foot long parking space the longbed extended cab requires, hah hah hah.

Its definitely not my daily driver.


I've owned VWs, Volvos, Toyotas, Fords, Mercedes. and some other junk. They all have their ups and downs.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

I can proudly say, F250 4x4 is complete and total overkill for towing my Escape, under any and all conditions. its diesel gets perfectly good towing mileage (better than 13 MPG towing if I'm not going 80+, and as high as 19MPH on the open highway cruising light). The longbed is cavernous.

Its an 8800 lb GVWR truck towing a 4500 lb GWR trailer. It is rated to tow a 12500 lb trailer, and has a 2000 lb payload. The GCWR is around 20K lbs. I will never exceed any of these numbers. I will never even get close to any of these numbers, except maybe the payload. Its a tank that drives like its on rails, and has way WAY better brakes than my previous 150 class van.

Really, the only downsides are the 62 foot turning circle, and the 20 foot long parking space the longbed extended cab requires, hah hah hah.

Its definitely not my daily driver.


I've owned VWs, Volvos, Toyotas, Fords, Mercedes. and some other junk. They all have their ups and downs.

My daily driver for a over 20 years was a White Chevy 1 ton V8 pickup
Still be driving it if I hadn’t retired . Downsized to a 1/2 ton truck , it’s nice but I miss my real truck . I probably got one more new truck in me so maybe next time a 3/4 ton diesel with all the bells and whistles !!
An Escape 23 may be just enough to start the process rolling.

[Hucker]

To be clear ,105-110 on the hwy is at 2000rpm as I have found with all my trucks and my 2008 RAV4 it is the sweet spot for fuel economy. Anything over and it’s an exponential difference I found.
$.02
Mike

[ChuckBC]

Totally agree with checking payload capacity. If you are looking at buying truck on the lot or own a truck the yellow door label will give you the rated safe payload. From model to model and various options this capacity will change. Payload includes occupants, 15% trailer weight (or measured tongue weight), canopy, gear etc. For my 2019 F150 2.7Ecoboost Supercab & 6.5'box it appears in literature to be 1640lbs. Given options the yellow label states 1420lbs!

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by ChuckBC

Totally agree with checking payload capacity. If you are looking at buying truck on the lot or own a truck the yellow door label will give you the rated safe payload. From model to model and various options this capacity will change. Payload includes occupants, 15% trailer weight (or measured tongue weight), canopy, gear etc. For my 2019 F150 2.7Ecoboost Supercab & 6.5'box it appears in literature to be 1640lbs. Given options the yellow label states 1420lbs!

now slap a shell on it, boom, 1250 lbs, 4 big dudes, 250 lbs... big cooler of beer, 150 lbs.... where did it all go?!?

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by ChuckBC

Totally agree with checking payload capacity. If you are looking at buying truck on the lot or own a truck the yellow door label will give you the rated safe payload. From model to model and various options this capacity will change. Payload includes occupants, 15% trailer weight (or measured tongue weight), canopy, gear etc. For my 2019 F150 2.7Ecoboost Supercab & 6.5'box it appears in literature to be 1640lbs. Given options the yellow label states 1420lbs!

I agree that checking the sticker is critical. I have a 2018 F150 3.5 EcoBoost Supercab 6.5' box & the sticker says 1826 lbs. No payload package, the lowest tow package & 36 gallon tank. I do wonder with the larger (and I assume heavier) engine where the extra 400 lbs came from...

[Defenestrator]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

I agree that checking the sticker is critical. I have a 2018 F150 3.5 EcoBoost Supercab 6.5' box & the sticker says 1826 lbs. No payload package, the lowest tow package & 36 gallon tank. I do wonder with the larger (and I assume heavier) engine where the extra 400 lbs came from...

The 2.7's a hefty iron block vs the aluminum 3.5EB. From what I can find, the 3.5 is only about 10lbs heavier.
Total GVWR may also vary between the two. The current F150 has 3 different frame thicknesses and multiple axles etc, depending on options and packages.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

I have a 2018 F150 3.5 EcoBoost Supercab 6.5' box & the sticker says 1826 lbs. No payload package, the lowest tow package & 36 gallon tank. I do wonder with the larger (and I assume heavier) engine where the extra 400 lbs came from...

Originally Posted by Defenestrator

The 2.7's a hefty iron block vs the aluminum 3.5EB. From what I can find, the 3.5 is only about 10lbs heavier.
Total GVWR may also vary between the two. The current F150 has 3 different frame thicknesses and multiple axles etc, depending on options and packages.

Elliott's right - while the truck's base curb weight is about 100 pounds more with the 3.5 than the 2.7, there is only one GVWR currently offered for the SuperCab with 6.5' box with 3.5, and it's 390 pounds (4X2) or 340 pounds (4X4) higher than the base SuperCab with 6.5' box with 2.7. Ford assumes that 3.5 buyers will want to haul more, and equips the truck for higher GVWR with that engine (which may be frame but may only be springs). Even the payload package only brings the 2.7 up enough to roughly match the base 3.5.

The Tacoma has fewer possible variations than the F-150, but it's still worth checking the ratings and weight of the specific configuration.

[AKCamper]

Originally Posted by arniesea

I think the choice really depends on your camping style. When I owned a 2013 19’ Classic Escape, I towed it first with with a 2014 Tacoma SR5, then later with a 2016 Tacoma TRD Sport. Both did the job, but as John V. Mentioned, the 3rd gen Taco w/ the 3.5L engine spends a lot of time in 3rd and 4th gears at 3,000 + RPM.

So when we were camping within a one or two day drive from home, I didn’t mind the “work” of selecting the right gear for conditions. But when our trips started getting longer, 2,000 plus miles, those long consecutive days in the saddle were no longer enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my TRD Sport as a daily driver! Great truck!

That about sums it up. We tow our 2016 Escape with our 2017 Tacoma and you do have to use the gears and keep it between 3000 and 4000 RPM on steep mountain passes. I love driving the Tacoma when we aren’t towing so we’re keeping it. If you don’t want to have to deal with marginal power I would get a Chevy 1500, a Ford eco boost, or a Toyota Tundra. Personally I’m gonna see how many miles I can get out of this Toyota. Our last Toyota was still running great when we gave it away cause the body was falling off.

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

now slap a shell on it, boom, 1250 lbs, 4 big dudes, 250 lbs... big cooler of beer, 150 lbs.... where did it all go?!?

The beer went into the big dudes, that’s why they are big. And yes those caps can be heavy.
I had a Leer on my Dakota and I couldn’t believe how heavy it was. But never had four big dudes in there. Only hauled stuff to colleges, weddings,
Groceries and dead deer.
Iowa Dave

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

The beer went into the big dudes, that’s why they are big. And yes those caps can be heavy.
I had a Leer on my Dakota and I couldn’t believe how heavy it was. But never had four big dudes in there. Only hauled stuff to colleges, weddings,
Groceries and dead deer.
Iowa Dave

my problem is many of my camping trips involve several tables, a couple 10x10 awnings, plenty of chairs for a small crowd, a couple carpets, and a big telescope + associated gear which includes a 7' step ladder, a couple motorcycle ramps (for loading/unloading)... packing all that in the Tacoma, and even 2-up, we were overloaded.

[arniesea]

Originally Posted by AKCamper

That about sums it up. We tow our 2016 Escape with our 2017 Tacoma and you do have to use the gears and keep it between 3000 and 4000 RPM on steep mountain passes. I love driving the Tacoma when we aren’t towing so we’re keeping it. If you don’t want to have to deal with marginal power I would get a Chevy 1500, a Ford eco boost, or a Toyota Tundra. Personally I’m gonna see how many miles I can get out of this Toyota. Our last Toyota was still running great when we gave it away cause the body was falling off.