What do YOU use to tow your track car?
06-19-2016, 06:50 PM
#524
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Sierra Vista, AZ
Posts: 1,191
Total Cats: 294
Finally got my WD hitch and Macs tie downs in, so I got the hitch put together and adjusted with our NC in the trailer. This is the first time I've had everything together and loaded up for a test drive... finally good to go! 
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06-19-2016, 10:42 PM
#525
I bought an 06 Frontier V6 6sp a few months ago for daily driving and towing duties. Started noticing a rear end howl a few weeks after buying it, then last week while out of town for work, I started hearing the timing chain rattle that some of those trucks are known for. I was kinda thinking about buying a new truck with a warranty before buying the frontier, and the imminent repair bills pushed me over the edge. Traded the Frontier on this last week.
20160617_165113_zpsic7618fd.jpg?
I've never been much of a Dodge guy but the coil spring rear sealed the deal for me. I hate driving anything with leaf springs. Went in planning to buy a V6 work truck with nothing but the power windows/locks package, which can be had for a touch over $20k right now, but I ended up going for this one with Hemi, 8 speed, limited slip, backup camera, factory trailer brake controller, and a few other options. I stuck with the standard cab short bed since I hate trying to maneuver full size trucks in parking lots, and since this truck already has way more interior and bed space than I had in the Frontier. I didn't want the chrome rimz but they couldn't locate another truck with the exact same option package minus chrome. It's definite overkill for my current open trailer, but now I have a reason to start watching for a cheap used enclosed. Still on the first tank but so far I'm averaging over 20mpg in mixed driving.
20160617_165113_zpsic7618fd.jpg?
I've never been much of a Dodge guy but the coil spring rear sealed the deal for me. I hate driving anything with leaf springs. Went in planning to buy a V6 work truck with nothing but the power windows/locks package, which can be had for a touch over $20k right now, but I ended up going for this one with Hemi, 8 speed, limited slip, backup camera, factory trailer brake controller, and a few other options. I stuck with the standard cab short bed since I hate trying to maneuver full size trucks in parking lots, and since this truck already has way more interior and bed space than I had in the Frontier. I didn't want the chrome rimz but they couldn't locate another truck with the exact same option package minus chrome. It's definite overkill for my current open trailer, but now I have a reason to start watching for a cheap used enclosed. Still on the first tank but so far I'm averaging over 20mpg in mixed driving.
Last edited by jpreston; 06-19-2016 at 11:18 PM.
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07-19-2016, 09:29 AM
#530
Newb
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Sioux Falls SD
Posts: 39
Total Cats: 3
My wife and I have an Arctic Fox 990 that we haul around in our F350. A super hitch with an extension lets us pull a flat bed trailer. We are looking for a 2WD DRW so we have a little more stability. How do you like your current set up? Do you have air bags on the rear to help out?
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07-19-2016, 11:31 AM
#531
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Sierra Vista, AZ
Posts: 1,191
Total Cats: 294
My wife and I have an Arctic Fox 990 that we haul around in our F350. A super hitch with an extension lets us pull a flat bed trailer. We are looking for a 2WD DRW so we have a little more stability. How do you like your current set up? Do you have air bags on the rear to help out?
The camper on the stock dodge, even with the DRW, was pretty bad. I didn't want to deal with airbags, so I went with Torklift Stableloads. Basically, it's a wedge that engages the override springs full time, but pivot out of the way when you're running empty. They work on the lower overrides on the Dodge, and I fabricated some spacers so the upper overrides are always engaged as well. That reduced the sag from over 4" to ~1". I also added a Hellwig sway bar, and overall, it now handles very well for what it is. It's no longer a white knuckle ride. I can't imagine hauling a camper this heavy with a SRW truck...
Haven't hauled the trailer any distance yet, but we're pulling it to Flyin' Miata in a couple weeks, which is about 550 miles. I'm also using a Superhitch/extension... was the only extension setup that would handle the trailer we have. Great gear, but not cheap!
This is pretty useful for calculating camper stuff:
Can I Haul That Camper On This Truck?
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07-19-2016, 03:51 PM
#532
Newb
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Sioux Falls SD
Posts: 39
Total Cats: 3
Thanks man, I'll look into that. There have been a couple of oh **** moments but as long as I take it slow and look down the road I'm ok. The air bags helped a lot to steady things and I'll move them over to the new rig when we get it.
The biggest issue I have had when pulling a trailer had to do with the alignment of the trailer itself. It was so far out of whack that it was dragging down hard on the truck. Once I got that straight it pulled like a dream.
The biggest issue I have had when pulling a trailer had to do with the alignment of the trailer itself. It was so far out of whack that it was dragging down hard on the truck. Once I got that straight it pulled like a dream.
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08-08-2016, 12:52 AM
#537
As long as you're talking 04+ with the 4.0L, it'll do fine. My 07 Xterra with 4.0L did really well with my miata on an open trailer. A couple of my friends have towed with 4.0L FJ Cruisers and 4runners and had zero complaints. The 3.4L in the first gen Tacoma looks pretty weak on paper, but should be acceptable as long as you don't go too heavy on the trailer.
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08-08-2016, 12:55 AM
#538
Newb
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: South Central TN
Posts: 15
Total Cats: 0
The 2004+ tacomas with the V6 all have a 6500 pound tow rating. I do not know how much an open trailer weighs, plus what I have read is that nobody tow the max rating. The other option is a V8 tundra 00-06. Very reliable, more torque, but slightly larger. I do not like big trucks.
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08-08-2016, 02:39 PM
#539
I tow with a 2011 4.0l v6 Frontier, which has similar tow ratings as the Tacoma, and it works great. Steel trailer with wooden deck that weighs somewhere around 1800-2000 lbs, electric brakes, and a weight distribution hitch. Also made 2 trips with a UHaul trailer and even that heavy pig towed fine behind the Frontier. Electric trailer brakes, and a good controller, are a must. Would also recommend the weight distribution hitch, although I never had any issues towing without it, to help keep the truck level and weight on your front tires.
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08-08-2016, 02:43 PM
#540
As stated, miata + open wood deck trailer shouldn't exceed 4500lbs. You certainly can tow that with a V6 tacoma. That engine is actually pretty good, nice flat torque curve.
That said, to me it depends on how often and how far you're towing. Across town, no sweat. Long distances up some of the mountains we have in my neck of the woods? It'll _work_ but I suspect you'd be downshifting and winding it up higher in the RPM range for longer periods than I'd really enjoy, personally. For this reason, I'm glad I have an F-150 with a V8; it can handle a light load like that all day, which is good, because I typically tow 4-6 hours for HPDEs.
I see your location is "south central TN". If that's meaning south of Nashville, and you're heading to NCM and Barber and so forth, you'll probably be fine. If you're in Chattanooga and are towing it up and down steep grades, it'll do it, but I bet you'll really know the load is there.
That said, to me it depends on how often and how far you're towing. Across town, no sweat. Long distances up some of the mountains we have in my neck of the woods? It'll _work_ but I suspect you'd be downshifting and winding it up higher in the RPM range for longer periods than I'd really enjoy, personally. For this reason, I'm glad I have an F-150 with a V8; it can handle a light load like that all day, which is good, because I typically tow 4-6 hours for HPDEs.
I see your location is "south central TN". If that's meaning south of Nashville, and you're heading to NCM and Barber and so forth, you'll probably be fine. If you're in Chattanooga and are towing it up and down steep grades, it'll do it, but I bet you'll really know the load is there.
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