I recently purchased a 2006 13' Scamp, and my first trip will be to NC Colorado (Rocky Mountain National Park). I am a little concerned about the inclines - here in New Mexico I have encountered some steep climbs (over Organ Mountains into Las Cruces) when I am at 30 mph by the time I reach the peak. I am usually in 3rd gear. I do not have trailer brakes, but this does not seem to be a problem. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Tue, 05/24/2016 - 09:12
#1
towing 13' Scamp with 6 cyl/5 speed Toyota Tacoma
I just traded in a 2007 Frontier with 130K miles on it. I guess 80-90K miles it was either towing fiberglass campers or a 6x12 cargo trailer loaded with tools. The front brake shoes lasted about 60 K miles but three sets of front rotors were replaced on the truck. Two sets were replaced due to steep long downhill runs in the WV mountains towing with campers with brakes. I highly recommend your trailer brakes be serviceable. A 6 cyl. TACO should have enough power to drag any Scamp up mountains. You need to research the power curve of your truck and downshift to keep your RPM's in the power curve. My Frontier had 265 HP with an automatic and I could pass any vehicle I wanted to going up mountains towing a S-16 or S19 Scamp.
Eddie
I pull a 16 std. Scamp with a V6 Tacoma. I never run it in Over Dive (5th gear) when towing. If the transmission is searching for a lower or higher gear it could overheat. 4th gear at 60 mph is perfect for me, plenty of power and about 16 mpg.
Great advice! My problem, I am sure, is that I wait too long to downshift and loose all power. Also, you don't even use 5th gear on straight hauls? I always shift into 5th when I am at around 60mph - maybe I shouldn't be going that fast, huh? Keep all this good advice coming!
Laurie Ford
I've done that too, putting it in 5th when flat or down a long grade, but just leave it in 4th and you will be fine. The 13 is quite a bit lighter and I would be tempted to up shift. But my experience with the 16 is stay in 4th. You can go to Tacoma World website and get every bit of info on towing you could ever want to know. BTW I live in Ohio and it is just rolling hills.
FordL
Here you go...... www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/
KVJ
I see no problem with using 5th gear while towing a Scamp. If the engine can accelerate when you push the gas peddle down you're not lugging it. Using 5th gear should improve your fuel millage. If your TV has the proper trans coolers for towing overheating should not happen. I would use 4th or even 3rd gear when descending long or steep grades. We have put many miles on our 4 cylinder Frontier in 5th gear without a problem (pulling a 13s Scamp). We average about 20 MPG.