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Hi Everyone
I am a new "poster" to this site, have however been following the site for a while. I am in the process of buying a new boat and was wondering if anyone out there tows with a 4 cylinder Toyota Tacoma. It is rated to be able to tow up to 3000lbs. We are looking at a package that would weigh out at around 2200lbs (including fuel, misc gear, etc). Does anyone have any experience towing with a vehicle similar to this? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I towed a 4000 lb boat with a Tacoma but it had the V6. It towed very good for a V6. I towed a 3000 lb rig with a Nissan Frontier and it was way underpowered. It had a 2.4l four cylinder. If you have the 2.7 You should be able to tow 2200 ok but if you have the 2.4 it will struggle alot. If you only have short trips you can tow with the smaller four cylinder. By the way do you have the four wheel drive tacoma? If so you probly have the 2.7 and you can use low range to pull it out of the water. A two wheel drive with 2.4 and a manual trans will have alot of trouble pulling even a 2200 lb rig up a ramp.
Hi
It is a four wheel 2.7L tacoma. So you think that we should be ok towing a 2200lb rig with that. My biggest fear would be getting the boat back up the ramp. Thanks for the info.
Thanks Cat O lies
Good info to know. Did you ever have any issues getting the boat up the boat ramp?--any difficulties with steep boat ramps? How was the ride on the road, sluggish?
No problem, the 2.7 is a very good four cylinder engine and with four wheel drive and low range you should have no problem pulling it up even gravel or dirt ramps. You can always tow in fourth gear if its a 5 speed manual and it should tow fine of your only towing 2200. I liked my Tacoma alot but needed the v-8 Tundra because I tow a 4000 lb rig all over the state of Michigan. The Tundra tows very nice.
I towed a 5000 lb rig from florida to mass with a 4 cyl 88 Toyota. Too much weight but the truck is strong. It puts a pretty good beating on the cluth. I had the title because I thought I might not make it. Now has 160k miles and still running strong but I only to 4 times a year under 7 miles. Its ok on good ramps but I put it in 4 low to be safe.
You guys have to be kidding, my dive buddy has a Tacoma V-6 and pulls a little 20' Key Largo CC with a 150 Merc and his truck is a DOOOOOGGG!! As a matter of fact he is on his 2nd truck same boat and he never reached 100K with the last one before it fell apart! Makes me laugh that his little Toy trucks cost almost as much as my 97 F-150 Xcab 4x4 did and mine has 150 K still trucking.
I have a 1998 Tacoma 4X4 and I tow an 18' Parker CC with it... My boats dry weight is 1950 and add on the motor, gear gas and trailer I figure I am maxed out at 3500 +or -. It does a fairly good job, but I think the weight is too much for the truck. I only tow twice a year with it (she stays in the water) and wouldn't want to trailer it all the time. She struggles on inclines and is tough on the clutch. I will be buying a tundra within the next couple of years, because my ole girl is gettin tired. The four cyl. 5spd just aint enough for towing. Just my 2 cents
I had a 1998 Tacoma 4cyl ( 2.4L, same basic engine) with 2wd and towed a 17 foot boat that was near 2000lbs total towed weight. I only pulled it twice a year in and out of the water or I would have gotten a better truck. While the Toyota could pull the boat it sure was not fun. The Toyota 4 is a high rpm low torque engine thats fine empty but has no "guts" for pulling.
I only had to move the boat a few miles to and from the ramp so I did it early in the AM because besides a lack of power I had a very long stopping distance.
I know you have a 2.7L and 4wd may help on the ramp but it just makes your truck heavier. I would consider a larger, more powerfull truck.
Sorry for a bad news opinion but thats what I have seen.
Location: ICW, Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Posts: 622
RE: Anyone towing with a Toyota Tacoma
I had a 4x4 4-cyl. automatic Tacoma. It's a good little truck and does a fine job. It should be fine, for towing, take it easy, take it slow and just don't push it hard. You'll definately want good brakes on the trailer, though, and long distances is gonna' be a pain and a rough ride. With that said, you have GOT TO test drive the new Tundra. I have one and it's GREAT!
You will never be stuck at a ramp with a 4x4 Toyota. However, you wont get much over 60 on a highway with any hills. I have the 190hp 6cyl 4x4 and it has a lot of muscle on the low end but lacks seriously on the top end. My boat weighs around 3000lbs loaded up and ready to fish. It is all about your towing distance. Enjoy your new boat!
I've had four Toyota four cylinder trucks (since 1985) and towed boats up to 2,000 pounds with all of them, never had a problem with transmission, clutches or anything with any of them. I currently have a 6-cyl Tundra which I recently towed my new 206 KenCraft back from Richmond to southern Maryland without nary a problem. Of course, I stayed the hell off of I-95 as I didn't feel towing at 70mph was entirely prudent. The 2.7 liter four is rated up to 3,500 lbs., so I wouldn't worry a hoot about towing your 2,200 lb. rig.
I used to launch my boat with a '95 6-cylinder 4x4 Tacoma. The rig was probably 6-7k lbs loaded, full of fuel and water. I never had a problem "getting it up" the ramp, but I would never want to go over 30 mph with that rig. I traded the truck with 140k miles on it to get a new Tundra--never had a problem with anything.
It sounds like you have responses that are about 50-50, but the fact is you're within the rated limit, you have 4-low for a tough ramp situation, and you already own the Tacoma. Take it easy, give 3 times the normal space between you and the next vehicle, pay attention, look ahead, and drive conservatively. Most important--get that boat in the water and have some fun!!!
OK, heres the deal. That vehicle will tow anything under 3500lbs. anywhere you want to go anytime with no problems. I own 2 toyotas, a 4runner and a 4 cyl tacoma. As long as you stay within the rated tow limits you'll be fine. No, they are not powerhouses but watch the temp needle, IT WILL NEVER MOVE! I've towed 3000lbs through the mountains of Colorado from Cali to Ohio and the needle never budged. Again, take your time and leave extra stopping distance (just like any trailerboater should regardless of towing vehicle) and you will be fine. Lock out the overdrive. Anyone who says not to do it just expects to go too fast. Here in Ohio the speed limit towing a boat is 55mph. Those who do 70 should check the laws in their state. From 1st. hand experience Toys are the most reliable tow vehicles around, period. Paul
For what it is worth, I have a 2003 2.7 liter Taco and a boat, motor, trailer package at around 3500 when fully loaded with gear and fuel. I am still amazed at how well my truck handles the load. I have not gone far, just to the ramp and back from my house which is only a few miles. But up and down the ramp has been a breeze.
I have a 4cylinder Tacoma. It's a 4x4 standard cab with the manual tranny and I use it to
occasionally pull my 2300lb boat/trailer about 80 miles each way. It pulls easily in 4th
between 55-65mph on level or near level roads. On steeper grades about 4-6% I need to
downshift to 3rd and can run at any speed I want, but I usually slow to about 55-60 which
is about 3500rpm. My mileage runs in the low teens when towing.
Launch ramps have never been a problem, even those with good algae growth. Stability is OK.
Anyone towing with a Toyota Tacoma 
