Towing with a V6 Toyota Tacoma

[StevenF01]

Pros and Cons towing with the V6 Tacoma. I have a Tracker TX 190. Looking for a new tow vehicle.

[boatinpete]

Like my 21 v6 4X4, get 16 towing my Ranger VS175, about 2900 pounds, have seen over 27 highway, enjoy my truck.

[06 SB]

I towed a 20’ Basscat with a 250 with a Tacoma 4x4 TRD without a single issue going or stopping. The Taco will pull the Tracker wonderfully.

[GeauxTide]

I have a 2019 4x4 Nissan Frontier with the 4.0 Liter and it pulls my RT188 just dandy and gets 15-16 mpg. Mine is a little heavier with the port console, 2 Stroke Opti, and Die Hard AGMs. I have noticed that I have to get on the brakes a little harder in the Alabama hills.

[Lowerider58]

I just traded of my 2012 Tacoma 4.0 liter and it was fine for towing my Triton TX18.
Ive never driven a 3rd Generation Tacoma but see a lot of them pulling boats in my area.

[StevenF01]

Thanks for all your input. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[Extremeboating]

The only thing I don't like about towing or pulling any extra weight with 2nd gen 4.0L Tacoma's in OE form is that you have to straight dog them to make them move up any sort of mild incline. I tow my Tracker Classic XL with a very modified supercharged Tacoma and I can barely tell the boat is back there. The Tacoma's in OE form have weak leaf springs and can barely handle the weight of the truck alone during braking. This applies to both the 2nd and 3rd gen trucks. I would not necessarily recommend the Tacoma for towing heavier rigs in good conscience. The 3rd gens, well, that's outside of my experience so I'll let someone else chime in who owns one of those give their honest opinion of it.

[BigEasy]

I’ve got a 2010 Taco V6 and pull my 1648 Polarcraft skiff with it just fine. No way would I think of pulling my Vexus 1880 with it. However, there’s a pretty sharp dude on the Vexus page (KennyVexus) that uses a Taco to pull his and says he’s happy with that combo.FWIW

[tcesni]

Your boat should weigh very close to my RT188 and I tow with a V6 Ford Edge AWD. I'd think that a V6 Tacoma would tow your boat just fine.

[n2ratfishin]

My RT188 was 2700 lake ready at the scales. A 4 banger Taco will pull it, the V6 will do ya fine. I pulled with an AWD Ridgeline and it did a real good job.

[Pokie Pa]

I tow with a GMC Canyon.... No problems at all, and it is very mountainous here. Stops no problems.

[StevenF01]

Thanks all. The Colorado/Canyon are also under consideration.

[FlFedAngler]

I'm sure any of them will pull it just fine. I pulled my RT 188 with a 06 Frontier with no problem (it was my 2nd Frontier). Traded it for a 2019 Colorado about 6 months ago. It started having transmission (torque converter problems). The dealer replaced it under warranty and a couple months later it was doing it again. After doing some research that is a common problem (transmission shuttering) for Canyon and Colorado from 2015 - 2020. Anyway traded the Chevy for the new (completely re-designed) 2022 Frontier PRO-X and could not be happier. Plenty of torque and 315 Hp. I've had plenty of trucks over the years including 2 Titans & 3 Frontiers, with no problems from any of them so that's why I went back to a Frontier. Take a look at the 2022 Frontier, can't hurt. Good luck with your search.

[Johnnyred]

I tow a heavier, longer boat with a V6 Jeep GC... like butter. Don't even give a second thought to towing with the V6 trucks you are considering... truly.

[FloridaFlyer]

The engine will be fine. I would get 4WD or at the very least limited slip if it is optional. I have seen several lightweight trucks have trouble with an open differential on wet ramps that are steep or have some vegetation on them from dead lily pads or similar on the ramps. I have pulled with a V6 Jeep Liberty a lot but it has 4WD....and I have used it coming up a steep ramp.

[Tim kroul]

I tow my 2020 RT188P with my 2020 V6 Tacoma TRD and hardly know it’s behind me.

[Lund1625]

My son tows 2700 lb Lund with 2018 Taco V6 SR5, no problem.
I tow 3400 lb Lund with 2021 4Runner SR5, no problem.

[Casslaw]

I tow with a 3.6l V6 Colorado and I get better mpg than my V8 F150 did. It ties the boat great, zero safety concerns! The brakes are great and it has plenty to set the cruise at 75 on the interstate and just chill. I average 17.5 with the boat, which is 1mpg more than my F150 got on its own.

[Bluzharp]

I have a 3rd gen Tacoma and just sold my Tracker PT175TXW and dragged my new Gatortrax up from LA. The taco hauled the Tracker with ease. It pulls the much bigger boat but it is down shifting to 3rd on every incline and running 4K rpms and getting around 8-9 mpg. I have an aftermarket tune which helps and Roadmaster active suspension which is awesome. The stock springs are not enough to handle a heavy tongue weight. So, yes it can do it, but I will get a bigger truck after the madness settles down. Too bad the new Tundra has the Taco motor with twin turbos and no more V8.

[Woody b]

A Tacoma is more than capable of towing a TX190. It's capable of towing something much bigger/heavier. The key to towing (with anything) is drive like you're towing something. Start stopping sooner, and take your time going up big hills.

Around here I see a BUNCH of diesel 3/4 and 1 ton trucks pulling single axle lawn trailers. I always laugh.