Towing in my 6th gen (16' foot Airstream trailer). What's your tow experience been?

[Roysleight]

Thank you. I'm hoping CIPA will come out with some for our THs. I really liked the way they fit and looked on my Dodge PU. I will have to make a choice between these other brands in the meantime.

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[kinetic262]

I'll be towing our travel trailer with the 2025 TH Hybrid at about 5K loaded and definitely using a WD hitch and sway bar. What kind of extended mirrors are you using and your opinions please.

Personally, I'm not using any extended mirrors towing a 4k pound 16.5 ft trailer. My trailer does have a camera on the back though, and a little monitor for that which attaches to the windshield in my 4runner.

 

[BDuane007]

So far I have towed my 16 foot Airstream (approximately 4000 pounds) around 1600 miles or so with my 6th gen off road premium. For comparison purposes, my previous vehicle was a 5th gen TRD Pro which I had for 9 years.

The additional power at the lower RPM's has been great, and the tow tech package with straight path assist is super useful when maneuvering in tight campgrounds and trying to back into a tough spot. It's still a bit of a rough and loud ride on the highway; Using Tow Haul mode and shifting into S5 will keep the RPM's north of 3000 at standard cruising speed on most highways.

RPM's stayed relatively high as I drove through the mountains, helping to regulate speed going downhill and giving me more than enough power to easily pull the trailer up long winding inclines in the Appalachians.

I think I have averaged around 11 or 12 mpg overall when towing.

Wondering if other folks have had similar experiences or have any other thoughts on the 6th gen as a tow vehicle.

I have a 3,500# BassTracker and towed it 550 miles one way to TN to fish recently. Interstate most of the way, 70-75 MPH average. I got between 11-12 MPG and turbo ran non-stop. With small gas tank, after 150 miles, I have to look for gas. This is a royal pain trust me. it towed ok but I question whether I made a good choice for this towing. I plan to do this a lot now that I am retired. Wondering how long this small 4 banger can take this. I’m open to any suggestions!

 

[Underground25]

So far I have towed my 16 foot Airstream (approximately 4000 pounds) around 1600 miles or so with my 6th gen off road premium. For comparison purposes, my previous vehicle was a 5th gen TRD Pro which I had for 9 years.

The additional power at the lower RPM's has been great, and the tow tech package with straight path assist is super useful when maneuvering in tight campgrounds and trying to back into a tough spot. It's still a bit of a rough and loud ride on the highway; Using Tow Haul mode and shifting into S5 will keep the RPM's north of 3000 at standard cruising speed on most highways.

RPM's stayed relatively high as I drove through the mountains, helping to regulate speed going downhill and giving me more than enough power to easily pull the trailer up long winding inclines in the Appalachians.

I think I have averaged around 11 or 12 mpg overall when towing.

Wondering if other folks have had similar experiences or have any other thoughts on the 6th gen as a tow vehicle.

Towed 4500 lb Uhaul trailer and contents 1200 miles with ORP hybrid. 15 mpg, didn’t even seem to break a sweat. I started with around 1900 miles on it, ended with 3100 miles on odometer and now have 7500 miles with zero complaints or issues. (EDIT: with Tow Tech package)

 

[T4RAZ]

Those with 2-3k lb trailers towing around the mountains, are any of you watching your transmission temps? What kind of numbers are you seeing?
I had an aux cooler on my 3rd gen Tacoma that kept me at or under 200F while towing. I haven't been out with my trailer yet since I want to get further passed break-in but a little worried about temps going into summer here in AZ


ETA.. I did see this with transmission and coolant lines running through in the engine bay near the air filter housing, I did trace the lines to the transmission and radiator, is this a mini transmission cooler?

 

[Nodak]

the biggest issue i see with trans temps is off roading since they dont have enough airflow over the radiator to cool the fluid vs towing highway/city speeds that can maintain a positive airflow over the radiator

 

[spyder40]

Towed my SxS (~4000lbs) through eastern KY/TN at 70+ and Trans temp was normal. Gas mileage was about the same as my 21 but power was much better. Handled it no problem vs 21 would be in 4th or 3rd gear screaming to try and keep speed up the hills

 

[CMill4Runner]

Those with 2-3k lb trailers towing around the mountains, are any of you watching your transmission temps? What kind of numbers are you seeing?
I had an aux cooler on my 3rd gen Tacoma that kept me at or under 200F while towing. I haven't been out with my trailer yet since I want to get further passed break-in but a little worried about temps going into summer here in AZ


ETA.. I did see this with transmission and coolant lines running through in the engine bay near the air filter housing, I did trace the lines to the transmission and radiator, is this a mini transmission cooler?

I put a trans cooler on my 25' Tacoma Hybrid and we tow with that in the mountains as it did go into a reduced power mode going up the mountains the 1st time I towed up I70. We do use the 4Runner to tow when not in the mountains without any heat issues, but I won't try it in the mountains after the Tacoma heated up without a cooler. We did a 2000+ mile trip from CO to northern CA last year with a lot of mountains and it heated up several times but I simply switched the cooler on and it was fine. I tried to figure out when it would heat up but there really wasn't a pattern.

 

[kinetic262]

Those with 2-3k lb trailers towing around the mountains, are any of you watching your transmission temps? What kind of numbers are you seeing?
I had an aux cooler on my 3rd gen Tacoma that kept me at or under 200F while towing. I haven't been out with my trailer yet since I want to get further passed break-in but a little worried about temps going into summer here in AZ


ETA.. I did see this with transmission and coolant lines running through in the engine bay near the air filter housing, I did trace the lines to the transmission and radiator, is this a mini transmission cooler?

For what it's worth, I've got about 7,000 miles of towing a 4000 lb trailer on my 6th gen so far and I've never seen an elevated transmission temp (or had any other issues, for that matter). Plenty of time up and down in the mountains, but haven't had to deal with the hot Arizona temps.

 

[T4RAZ]

For what it's worth, I've got about 7,000 miles of towing a 4000 lb trailer on my 6th gen so far and I've never seen an elevated transmission temp (or had any other issues, for that matter). Plenty of time up and down in the mountains, but haven't had to deal with the hot Arizona temps.

Good to know! Are you watching temps with something like a scan gauge?

As a follow up to my previous post if anyone was wondering, I did find that part I pictured is in fact a transmission cooler, very small though.

 

[spyder40]

Good to know! Are you watching temps with something like a scan gauge?

As a follow up to my previous post if anyone was wondering, I did find that part I pictured is in fact a transmission cooler, very small though.

The transmission temp is a gauge option on the stock dash display

 

[T4RAZ]

The transmission temp is a gauge option on the stock dash display

Never messed with it since I have the scanguage. Is it just a bar gauge or does it give a number?

 

[spyder40]

Never messed with it since I have the scanguage. Is it just a bar gauge or does it give a number?

Bar gauge. I just monitor for higher than normal

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