ModernMuscleCars.net - Modern Muscle Cars Archive

Pages: 1

Towing
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: Slow Nova

Is there anything I can do to my Tacoma to allow it to tow a 21.5' boat that weighs about 4800lbs w/ trailer? The tacoma is rated at 3500lbs towing capacity stock.

If I get helper springs and a load balancing hitch, do you think it would do the trick? I don't plan on towing it uphill, as I don't think the 2.4L would handle that anyways. I won't be towing it any great distances either - no more than 40 miles away.

Am I crazy just thinking about trying to pull this off?

If it's just not possible, I may try to pick up an old F250 for cheap just for hauling the boat around.

Posted by: IROC_ZO6

that boat is heavy, the tacoma is going to be dangerous with it. it will pull it, but brakes and suspension arent there. when you have a load rating on a truck, it will pull 3/4 of that rated load nicely, anything more is pushing it. i would get a beater fullsize if possible. you can even leave the big truck hooked to the boat.

Posted by: Slow Nova

Thanks a bunch. That's kinda what I figured, but I don't know too much about towing....obviously.

Posted by: Slow Nova

Well, I ended up trading my tacoma in for a '98 Explorer XLT 5.0 AWD. Max towing on this is just under 6500, so I don't think I'll have any problems. I pick it up on Monday/Tuesday. My wife's all excited because she's always wanted an SUV. I wanted another truck with 5 speed manual - but sometimes we've got to compromise...I still got my tow vehicle.

I never thought I'd own an exploder----er explorer.

Posted by: IROC_ZO6

oh shit. at least you have something that will stop with the boat on it, LOL. good luck man.

Posted by: GMR

Very cool! Wasnt that the last year they put a 5.0 into anything production wise?

LS

Posted by: Slow Nova

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMR


	Very cool! Wasnt that the last year they put a 5.0 into anything production wise? LS

The 5.0 (4.9) was available in the Explorer until 2001.

Posted by: Grape Ape

Beware of towing the boat with the Exploder. Not for rollover or reasons like that, but the suspension needs to be carefully watched. I was amazed at how badly two looked recently with trailers attached. I'm thinking of it though, remembering my V8 Dakota woes. "3/4 ton tow package" seemed to mean, tow no more than 1,500 lbs with that one. Well, the 21.5' boat was a nightmare for it after about 6 months. I prefer the F-250 or 350, but that's because I've had them. Consider a load leveler too. Otherwise, I think you'll have people guessing it's a Chevy at night, when your headlights point to the stars.

Posted by: Slow Nova

I pulled the boat home last night. It lowered the rear of the Exploder only about 1 - 1.5 inches. Freeway, narrow downtown roads, very narrow side streets with nasty potholes & dips. It was an adventure getting it up here. It was a real pain to get it on my driveway...my street is already pretty narrow, and it made it even more difficult with cars parallel parked on both sides of the street.

I had never parked or towed a trailer before, so it was quite an ordeal for me...good thing I had my brother and neighbor guiding me into the driveway with this behemoth.

(No, that's not my house)

Back to the Forums