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Weight Limits

Originally Published in Trailer Life Magazine

Q: I bought a new 2012 Evolution 20-foot travel trailer with a dry weight rated at 4,300 pounds. Loaded, it weighs 6,100 pounds. I’m towing it with a 2010 Toyota Tacoma 4WD four-door long bed TRD pickup with a tow package. It has the 4.0-liter V-6 engine rated at 236 horsepower, a 3.90:1 rear end and six-speed automatic transmission. Loaded the truck weighs 4,870 pounds, and has a maximum gross vehicle weight rating of 5,400 pounds. Its maximum tow rating is 6,500 pounds. Is this vehicle adequate for this trailer?
James Levandoski, Via Internet

A: If the manufacturer’s maximum tow rating is 6,500 pounds and the trailer weighs 6,100 pounds loaded, then technically it’s within factory limits. However, you’ll probably find performance to be pretty marginal, since it’s so close to the maximum tow rating, not allowing much room for additional cargo and passengers in the tow vehicle, high-altitude operation, high temperatures, steep climbs and other factors.
– Ken Freund


Side by side images of two men posing near trucks To send your questions to RV Clinic, write to 2575 Vista Del Mar, Ventura, Calif., 93001; or email [email protected]. Also, check out TrailerLife.TV for our expert RV how-to videos.

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