Can a V6 Tacoma pull a 22' Cruiser?

[Anonymous]

I've used my 96 V6 Taco 4x4 to tow a 22-cruiser with no issues. airbags in the back will help, also having 16 inch wheels (TRD or later Tacos) rather than the lower end LX 15s help. Take it slow, leave lots of space between you and the cars in front. Power wise, the 3.4L Tacos have plenty. You'll average 12-15 MPG. 20+ towing nothing. I hope this helps.

PS: A Tundra would of course be the best Toyota for towing. They get roughly the same MPG's as the Tacomas (with a V8!) bigger, wider, heavier, etc. Used (up to 07 body style revamp) they seem to cost roughly the same as the Tacoma too...it's quite strange.

Thank you to MilesandMiles! If you really want to know what people tow with Tacomas check the below link. The newer Tacomas are alot better than the older ones as well as T100's. Keep what you have since if it's paid for.
http://www.tacomaworld.com

 

[Anonymous]

Oh here we go with the little truck pulling the big boat story........Good luck to you all and hope your insurance is all paid up.....

I agree with TR. I had a 1996 T100 (4.0L), and it was barely adequate to pull the boat over the coast range. No relative power on the climbs, and it felt like the boat was pushing the truck at stops.

If you're going to much more than just a few miles to the ramp and back, use the Ford.

No disrespect but I do not think a 1996 T100 ever came with a 4.0L motor. Maybe a 3.4L.

 

[MilesandMiles]

I'm a Toyota mechanic by trade: ALL the T100's had 3.0 V6's and they're the worst truck Toyota ever built. Total misfire. The 3.0s have serious head gasket issues, will blow their tops at the slightest grade, you can find early 90's 4runners all over craigslist for a song with blown 3.0L. My humble opinion is stay away from T100s and 3.0L V6 Toyotas.

The 3.4L Toyotas on the other hand hand are bullet proof.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm a Toyota mechanic by trade: ALL the T100's had 3.0 V6's and they're the worst truck Toyota ever built. Total misfire. The 3.0s have serious head gasket issues, will blow their tops at the slightest grade, you can find early 90's 4runners all over craigslist for a song with blown 3.0L. My humble opinion is stay away from T100s and 3.0L V6 Toyotas.

The 3.4L Toyotas on the other hand hand are bullet proof.

I thought they also had a 3.4L motor as well. What do you think of the 4.0L motor which is in my 08 Tacoma?

 

[hardee]

Oh here we go with the little truck pulling the big boat story........Good luck to you all and hope your insurance is all paid up.....

Don't let this guy scare you. Tacoma's are great trucks that can handle a 22 just fine.

You asked for experience:

I pulled my 22 Cruiser home with a Tacoma, 02, sorry don't know what engine, but with a manual transmission, and it was not the power it was the tail wagging the dog thing. Trip home ~4 miles, trip to the marina~3 miles, and that was enough to know that I was never going to go onto the highway with it. Too Scarry. That was my experience.

Took the Tacoma in for an oil change and came home with a Tundra. Tow problem fixed. :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[MilesandMiles]

I'm a Toyota mechanic by trade: ALL the T100's had 3.0 V6's and they're the worst truck Toyota ever built. Total misfire. The 3.0s have serious head gasket issues, will blow their tops at the slightest grade, you can find early 90's 4runners all over craigslist for a song with blown 3.0L. My humble opinion is stay away from T100s and 3.0L V6 Toyotas.

The 3.4L Toyotas on the other hand hand are bullet proof.

I thought they also had a 3.4L motor as well. What do you think of the 4.0L motor which is in my 08 Tacoma?

My opinion: the 4.0L is another GREAT Toyota motor. Toyota has had very few "bad motors" in their day. The 3.0L V6 was just a dud. Underpowered, very sensitive to overheating, if you happen to have one, watching the anemic cooling system closely will keep it going for while. I've seen a few go into the 200K+realm, but not nearly as many as the 22R/3,4L etc.

I put 05 Tacoma 16's on my 1st gen Tacoma for towing, coupled with some high end airbags ($300 bucks), I've had no troubles with being pushed around. While pulling a 22, I think keeping it around 55MPH is smart, but I personally wouldn't want to go any faster than that no matter what I was driving.

 

[Anonymous]

The 02 had a 3.4 at 190 Hp and my 08 has a 4.0 at 236 Hp. Two different trucks in my opinion and the later model seems to be alot beefier than the first generation Tacoma's and the T100's.

 

[gwwalsh]

We have a 2010 Tacoma, 4.0 liter V-6, TRD Off-Road 4X4 and tow the CD 22 as well as a small travel trailer. We do need to tow in 4th gear per the owner's manual and get about 12 mpg towing either. I am pleased with the handling and have towed on the interstate and two lane roads. We usually tow the CD 22 to the ramp to put in for the season and from the ramp at the end of the season as we rent a slip during the season. No problems.

The Tacoma is a sweet little truck, but if I had another 12-15 k to throw around, I might spring for a 3/4 ton rig. As it is, I am content.

 

[Pat Anderson]

Well well well! Nobody has suggested the obvious! This gent and I should trade my 2004 Titan, which will be great for his CD22, for his 2008 F350! A match made in heaven, no? I will even throw in a case of two of beer!

 

[Anonymous]

Oh here we go with the little truck pulling the big boat story........Good luck to you all and hope your insurance is all paid up.....

Don't let this guy scare you. Tacoma's are great trucks that can handle a 22 just fine.

You asked for experience:

I pulled my 22 Cruiser home with a Tacoma, 02, sorry don't know what engine, but with a manual transmission, and it was not the power it was the tail wagging the dog thing. Trip home ~4 miles, trip to the marina~3 miles, and that was enough to know that I was never going to go onto the highway with it. Too Scarry. That was my experience.

Took the Tacoma in for an oil change and came home with a Tundra. Tow problem fixed. :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

Appreciate the experience but not knowing what engine you had is really not great experience. Did you have a 2wd four cylinder. Huge difference when comparing Tacoma's. Kind of like saying I had a Honda motor on my 22 cruiser but was way under powered but not sure how many horse it was. Hell it could be a 9.9. Know what I mean.

 

[Anonymous]

55 is a safe speed (unless you are Sammy Hagar) and max. in California pulling a trailer.

 

[hardee]

Oh here we go with the little truck pulling the big boat story........Good luck to you all and hope your insurance is all paid up.....

Don't let this guy scare you. Tacoma's are great trucks that can handle a 22 just fine.

You asked for experience:

I pulled my 22 Cruiser home with a Tacoma, 02, sorry don't know what engine, but with a manual transmission, and it was not the power it was the tail wagging the dog thing. Trip home ~4 miles, trip to the marina~3 miles, and that was enough to know that I was never going to go onto the highway with it. Too Scarry. That was my experience.

Took the Tacoma in for an oil change and came home with a Tundra. Tow problem fixed. :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

Appreciate the experience but not knowing what engine you had is really not great experience. Did you have a 2wd four cylinder. Huge difference when comparing Tacoma's. Kind of like saying I had a Honda motor on my 22 cruiser but was way under powered but not sure how many horse it was. Hell it could be a 9.9. Know what I mean.

It was a 6 cyl. That I know, and it was a 5 speed manual trans. 4WD. About 20K miles on it when we got it, and about 30K when we traded. Great truck, Loved it for almost everything, just too light for the 22 IMHO.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[Anonymous]

Oh here we go with the little truck pulling the big boat story........Good luck to you all and hope your insurance is all paid up.....

Don't let this guy scare you. Tacoma's are great trucks that can handle a 22 just fine.

You asked for experience:

I pulled my 22 Cruiser home with a Tacoma, 02, sorry don't know what engine, but with a manual transmission, and it was not the power it was the tail wagging the dog thing. Trip home ~4 miles, trip to the marina~3 miles, and that was enough to know that I was never going to go onto the highway with it. Too Scarry. That was my experience.

Took the Tacoma in for an oil change and came home with a Tundra. Tow problem fixed. :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

Appreciate the experience but not knowing what engine you had is really not great experience. Did you have a 2wd four cylinder. Huge difference when comparing Tacoma's. Kind of like saying I had a Honda motor on my 22 cruiser but was way under powered but not sure how many horse it was. Hell it could be a 9.9. Know what I mean.

It was a 6 cyl. That I know, and it was a 5 speed manual trans. 4WD. About 20K miles on it when we got it, and about 30K when we traded. Great truck, Loved it for almost everything, just too light for the 22 IMHO.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

Thanks Harvey!

 

[MilesandMiles]

I love the Tacos

The first TRUE "Tacoma" was sold in late 95 with the 3.4L V6 (and a smaller 2.7L 4-cyl) pre-95 were "Hilux" or just "truck" with either the 22R (great motor) or 3.0L (terrible motor)

Tundras are great. I've come soooo close to trading "up" but just can't seem to let go of a 200K truck that still runs like new. An occasional timing belt/water pump, fluid changes, etc and there's no end in sight. I've personally worked on a 360K Tacoma 4x4 that looked like a new truck (in Cal, not Mn) they cruise down the freeways with tall gears, yet have a low range that will pull a tree out of the ground.

I could go on and on. YES, they're a little on the small size for the 22's but with some good safe driving, handle one no problem. I pulled a 22 cruiser from Sacramento to Seattle, over all those passes with ZERO issues, just went slow...which I'd recommend doing no matter what you drive.

 

[Sea Wolf]

Quite a discussion!

1. The Toyota Tachomas are legendary for toughness.

2. You indeed can get by towing with a small truck if you're careful....
(Play the "The Little Engine That Could" theme music...............!)

3. Until you have to panic stop, and that trailer/boat/whatever just keeps on pushing you into whatever is ahead, and you can't do anything at all about it!

Point in case:

My Durango can pull the CD-22 easily, staying under 60, better at 55.

It can also pull my 6400 lb (dry weight) Sea Ray on a triple axle 1400 lb aluminum trailer (maybe 8500 lbs all together) back and forth to Lake Shasta. Here about 50 mph is more like it. And using side roads, too.

But.......experience shows that with a 700 pound sailboat/trailer combination behind the Durango and even with its ABS, the stopping distance is very adversely affected, and can push the Durango into the unseen vehicle stopped ahead, just over the rise in the road. What's more, there's nothing you can do about it except go off the road into the ditch or canyon, etc. AND if 700 extra pounds can do that, what can 8500 do? I don't want to know!

Pulling power is the lesser of the issues, believe me!

Everybody who tows with any kind of a "marginal" vehicle should go out on an empty road and do a few panic stops to get to know how the combination stops. Better to find out then than later!

Joe. :teeth :thup

 

[Anonymous]

Quite a discussion!

1. The Toyota Tachomas are legendary for toughness.

2. You indeed can get by towing with a small truck if you're careful....
(Play the "The Little Engine That Could" theme music...............!)

3. Until you have to panic stop, and that trailer/boat/whatever just keeps on pushing you into whatever is ahead, and you can't do anything at all about it!

Point in case:

My Durango can pull the CD-22 easily, staying under 60, better at 55.

It can also pull my 6400 lb (dry weight) Sea Ray on a triple axle 1400 lb aluminum trailer (maybe 8500 lbs all together) back and forth to Lake Shasta. Here about 50 mph is more like it. And using side roads, too.

But.......experience shows that with a 700 pound sailboat/trailer combination behind the Durango and even with its ABS, the stopping distance is very adversely affected, and can push the Durango into the unseen vehicle stopped ahead, just over the rise in the road. What's more, there's nothing you can do about it except go off the road into the ditch or canyon, etc. AND if 700 extra pounds can do that, what can 8500 do? I don't want to know!

Pulling power is the lesser of the issues, believe me!

Everybody who tows with any kind of a "marginal" vehicle should go out on an empty road and do a few panic stops to get to know how the combination stops. Better to find out then than later!

Joe. :teeth :thup

I agree somewhat but then again - There are thousands of TACOMAS towing some decent weight and stopping as well. If the truck could not handle it then I am pretty sure it would be known. I know from experience that I pulled a little over 2000lb cargo trailer loaded and had no issues at all with towing or stopping ( Sacramento to Clear Lake) Sounds like to me you should get rid of the Durango (700lbs, really and had issues) buy a late model Tacoma and slow down on those mountain/foothill roads.

 

[REBEMUP]

Well, if cost or storage or parking or ????? is not a consideration, then bigger will always tow better than smaller and perhaps more safely. However, given the givens I tow my 22 with a Toyota Sienna with air bags and heavy duty shocks. I usually tow on city streets and short distances. The Sienna, rated to tow 3500 lbs does fine. It goes up steep hills and pulls the launch ramp better than some 2X pickups I have watched 2X trucks spin their rear wheels on the slime at low tide while I come right up. I have tried some quick stops from 35mph and full on anti-lock stops from 25. Straight and quick with the trailer brakes and the van feeling well balance. Notice, I have not tried a panic stop from 55 since I don't drive it that fast. I have no need to do so. I do think it would be safe if towed empty and kept at 55. The Sienna weighs 4400 pounds and my 22 angler empty should weight right around 3500. At least it is not the tail wagging the dog. If I find the need to tow for more than short distances, I will probably look to buy something bigger like the new F150 with the Eco-Boost 3.5L V6. It is rated for towing up to 11,500 pounds with 365h.p & 420ft pounds of torque. Towing test show it outperforming the big blocks from Chevy & Chrysler including the Hemi. Some Hyper-milers did a cross country trip and got 32.281mpg filling up 3 times coast to coast while EPA rated for 22mpg highway. OK, I admit it I would like the F150 for towing...don't see the need for F250 or F350 for a 22. Great if you have one or need one for other reasons but certainly not needed to tow 3500 to 4000 pounds. Now if I find I need to move my house the F350 with 800 ft pounds of torque might just be the ticket.

Sometimes you just need to dance with the one you have.

Ron

 

[matt_unique]

I have a 2004 Tacoma 6 cyl with 4WD. I would have no concerns about towing a C-22 whatsoever. (I don't know the specs on the 01 Tacoma).

I can easily - yes easily - tow my 10,000lb Tomcat up and down low tide ramps in low range 4WD without lugging my 131,000 mile engine. I release brake, press the gas gently, and it moves. I use my Taco to move her out of harms way when a hurricane is coming or if I need to work on it. Now - she could NOT tow 10,000 lbs beyond about 15 mph. Way too much weight, etc. I rent an F-250 diesel to tow on the highway.

With the above as context, I would not personally hesitate towing a C-22 in high range 2wd on the highway based on my 04 Tacoma. I would always use low range 4WD for the ramp of course regardless of weight. In MA we have an 8-11' tidal change and at low tide you can barely walk on the slime let alone drive anything with just 2 wheels of power.

Good luck with your research.

 

[potter water]

Someone is pulling your leg on a tacoma or anything else that is a true half ton getting 32 mpg. The physics just don't add up. Maybe if they drove at 30 mph on the flat with a tail wind they could get a spot mileage of 32, but avereage? Truck owners are like fishermen. Bigger is in the mind of the talker.

 

[NORO LIM]

Someone is pulling your leg on a tacoma or anything else that is a true half ton getting 32 mpg. The physics just don't add up. Maybe if they drove at 30 mph on the flat with a tail wind they could get a spot mileage of 32, but avereage? Truck owners are like fishermen. Bigger is in the mind of the talker.

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/05/cl ... ickup.html

As Rebemup said, it was hyper mileage guys, and also as he said it was a Ford, not a Toyota.