Anyone using this little truck to tow their boat? I'll be towing 60mph or so on rough roads from Gainesville to Jacksonville or St. Augustine and wondered how this truck will do. I see pics of family sedans towing out boats, but with all my mods, I'm sure Bellaroo's way over the stock 3K pounds she came in.
Towing with my Wrangler around the corner was fine, but now that I really have to tow like a normal person, it's a little unsettling. Not experienced at high speed towing and that blue hull is huge.
Thanks!
Michael
2010 Tacoma Off Road Towing the 26M
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Catigale
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Re: 2010 Tacoma Off Road Towing the 26M
This probably isnt wise. 60 mph is fine on a good interstate, but if you have bumps and potholes, I would pick another route. The stock Mac trailer is run right up at the ratings of all of its components (axle, bearings, tires)I'll be towing 60mph or so on rough roads
There is little safety margin
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Hardcrab
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Re: 2010 Tacoma Off Road Towing the 26M
mtc,
I have a 2005 Taco, 4X4 Off Road.
The truck is rated for 6500 lbs as I recall.
I have towed my M six times, each trip at least 150 miles or more.
Five speed auto tranny, book says to keep it in 4th gear.
A mix of hills and flats, 12-14 mpg ,down from 19-21 mpg normally.
It tows the boat very well, but with one exception.
First of all, it's not a lack of power. I've had it up to 75mph without knowing it at the time.
California freeways and highways, you have to fly or get run over.
What a shock to look down and see the speedo.
What I did get very white-knuckled on was a 15-20 mile piece of open desert highway with a nasty 25-30mph dead crosswind blowing.
Talk about freeboard.
The boat wanted to steer the truck.
Had to slow to 45mph, (70mph posted), to regain any feeling of control for the entire distance.
Lot's of scare that night.
Maybe any tow vehicle would have been ugly that night, don't know.
18 wheeled trucks going the other way on a two-lane is kinda shakey also, but it doesn't last long.
I wouldn't want anything less for the job, but all in all, it's very fine and up to the task.
(The 4X4 in low range is just the ticket for pulling the boat back out of the water at almost idle engine rpm's).
I have a 2005 Taco, 4X4 Off Road.
The truck is rated for 6500 lbs as I recall.
I have towed my M six times, each trip at least 150 miles or more.
Five speed auto tranny, book says to keep it in 4th gear.
A mix of hills and flats, 12-14 mpg ,down from 19-21 mpg normally.
It tows the boat very well, but with one exception.
First of all, it's not a lack of power. I've had it up to 75mph without knowing it at the time.
California freeways and highways, you have to fly or get run over.
What a shock to look down and see the speedo.
What I did get very white-knuckled on was a 15-20 mile piece of open desert highway with a nasty 25-30mph dead crosswind blowing.
Talk about freeboard.
The boat wanted to steer the truck.
Had to slow to 45mph, (70mph posted), to regain any feeling of control for the entire distance.
Lot's of scare that night.
Maybe any tow vehicle would have been ugly that night, don't know.
18 wheeled trucks going the other way on a two-lane is kinda shakey also, but it doesn't last long.
I wouldn't want anything less for the job, but all in all, it's very fine and up to the task.
(The 4X4 in low range is just the ticket for pulling the boat back out of the water at almost idle engine rpm's).
Re: 2010 Tacoma Off Road Towing the 26M
To punctuate the comment on road conditions:
My parents tow a 33ft RV with their Excursion which is a sizable vehicle and have done this for decades. On the way home this year, running at 60MPH, they hit a huge pothole in the highway which blew out their left "tires". The trailer swung, they went off the road, back on and ended up spinning 180 degrees and the trailer flipped on its side. No one was hurt and no other vehicle was hit (that is amazing on I-75) but the trailer was totaled and the truck had very light damage.
My Dad is a VERY experienced truck driver which greatly contributed to the safe outcome. As a post-mortem, the highways are deteriorating and that was not the only pot hole they hit, it was just the biggest. Each of these caused from a small to obviously a catastrophic control issue. The size of the vehicle provided the ability to have a control over the load.
When they replace their RV, it will be a 5th wheel (more control) into a pickup truck and given the deterioration of the highways, the speed will be slower.
Jim
My parents tow a 33ft RV with their Excursion which is a sizable vehicle and have done this for decades. On the way home this year, running at 60MPH, they hit a huge pothole in the highway which blew out their left "tires". The trailer swung, they went off the road, back on and ended up spinning 180 degrees and the trailer flipped on its side. No one was hurt and no other vehicle was hit (that is amazing on I-75) but the trailer was totaled and the truck had very light damage.
My Dad is a VERY experienced truck driver which greatly contributed to the safe outcome. As a post-mortem, the highways are deteriorating and that was not the only pot hole they hit, it was just the biggest. Each of these caused from a small to obviously a catastrophic control issue. The size of the vehicle provided the ability to have a control over the load.
When they replace their RV, it will be a 5th wheel (more control) into a pickup truck and given the deterioration of the highways, the speed will be slower.
Jim