Pulling with a Toyota Tacoma 4cyl?

[acarter92]

So I have a 17ft blue fin sportsman, according to some searching online it weight somewhere in between 1500-2000 lbs. I currently have a 03' F350 Pickup that is my work truck and my daily driver. Obviously that truck has no problem pulling the boat (don't even know it's back there), but I'm looking getting an older (early 2000's) toyota as a daily driver and save some fuel. My dad has owned a few of these and they last forever and get low 20's MPG's, plus the 5 speeds are fun to drive. One of the perks to buying it would be being able to use it to haul the boat.

I'm looking at the early 2000's Toyota Tacoma's, reg cab 4x4 with the 4 cylinder 5 speed. From what I've read they are rated at 3,500 lbs. So I'm the truck would be fine locally, but what about long trips. For instance, we go to Maine once a year, that's about a 8 hour drive, would that kill the truck? What about bi-weekly 3-5 hour round trips with it.

So anybody pull with these trucks? Is it hard on them? Obviously it's not good for it, but is it too much to ask?

Thanks,
Austin

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Pulling with a Toyota Tacoma 4cyl?

I pulled a similar boat with a 97 toyota. Only problem was mirrors. Pulled/handled fine. You'll do fine.

 

[acarter92]

Re: Pulling with a Toyota Tacoma 4cyl?

I pulled a similar boat with a 97 toyota. Only problem was mirrors. Pulled/handled fine. You'll do fine.

Ah... Good point, I'm used to those huge Ford Super Duty mirrors, what a luxary when towing.

Austin

 

[superbenk]

Re: Pulling with a Toyota Tacoma 4cyl?

I think it should be fine. It'll take some getting used to after a F350, though

 

[mrdancer]

Re: Pulling with a Toyota Tacoma 4cyl?

...So anybody pull with these trucks? Is it hard on them? Obviously it's not good for it, but is it too much to ask?
...

As always, pulling is not the issue. A four-cylinder five-speed, properly driven, could pull twice that weight. The real issue is stopping. As you're pulling locally, try a few emergency stops to get a feel for how the rig behaves when you get in a bad spot. Start at slow speeds and work your way up to highway speeds you think you'll be traveling. If emergency stopping is too squirrelly, add brakes to the trailer and make sure they are set up correctly.

 

[acarter92]

Re: Pulling with a Toyota Tacoma 4cyl?

Ok, well I don't think I'll have a problem with the stopping thing. It shouldn't be any different than pulling 10,000+ lbs with my other truck.

All I've got to do now is find one of these little trucks, the extra cabs are everywhere but the reg cabs are hard to find and that's what I want.

Thanks,
Austin

 

[superbenk]

Re: Pulling with a Toyota Tacoma 4cyl?

If emergency stopping is too squirrelly, add brakes to the trailer and make sure they are set up correctly.

I'd get the brakes anyhow. A set of Kodiak surge disc brakes with coupler & reverse solenoid is ~$500. Well worth it in my opinion.