Hi guys, I'm looking for some feedback. My boat is a 1992 ranger 481v with a 150. I have never gotten it weighed with trailer but my guess is at least 4,000 lbs. My current daily/tow vehicle is a 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with a 5.7l V8. I am looking into getting a 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma V6 4x4 double cab shortbed with towing package. I'm only a couple miles away from a Lake Worth boat ramp, which is where I normally fish. I live near lake worth and would like this truck to be able to make treks to different lakes as well. The reasoning behind wanting a smaller truck is because it will mostly be my daily. I park in a tight parking garage for work 5 days a week and I want to fit the truck in my home garage. My silverado fits in the home garage if I park a few inches away from the wall and it barely fits.

So my question is, do I have too much boat for a Tacoma? Does anyone have a Tacoma they use to tow their boat? On paper, the Tacoma's towing capacity is 6,500 lbs and my Silverado's is 7,000 lbs.

Lol... the Tacoma is rated higher than a full size v-8, yeah your not going to be happy with that.

Sure the Tacoma will do the job fine, keep it out of overdrive, keep up with your maintenance and don't drive 100 miles and hour and you will be fine. I would want to make sure you have the tow package with the oil and tranny coolers.

On paper the Tacoma may be rated higher, but go ahead and hook something big up to it and the 1/2 ton will whip its azz. Everything on the 1/2 ton is bigger strong and will give you better control and even though that vortec v-8 is old and probably tired its probably still got a considerable amount more torque than the Tacoma ever will and that will be noticeable. If the vortec was fresh it would walk all over the 6 in the Tacoma.

It'll tow your Ranger fine. Wouldn't worry about it at all.

I towed a couple Ranger boats that were one sized smaller than your 481v. A Ranger 350 and R80. I pulled the 350 all over Texas and the R80 took trips as long as 560 miles one way, Lake of the Ozarks.
Yours will be fine. Just realize its a lighter vehicle. Get brakes if you don't already have them. They make a big difference.

Mine was an '86 Toyota one ton. A regular long bed truck with heavier springs and a slightly lower geared transmission than the normal 5 speed. It pulled just fine with the little 4 banger. Your six should do much better.
I put 240k miles and 13 years on it before I traded it for my current Dodge diesel.

Be very careful backing down slick ramps. My only experience with that truck and size boat is that the boat will pull the truck down the ramp until it hits the water. Kinda scary, but the owner warned me before I backed him in. He also said if he towed over 65 it often fish tailed.

+1 towed my 375V for 8 years with 2 different Tacomas. Traded both with almost 100k on them and never had an issue of any kind. Ranger 375V is heavy for an 18' boat. Not sure what length of a 481 is but probably not 4000 lbs. I weighed the boat in the pic and it scaled at 4600 with 50 gallons of gas. Towed the Champ from LaFayette to Rockwall doing 70-75 on hwy. I bought a Tundra because it was time for a new truck and just wanted back in to a full size. Also did not want to have to fill up gas tank as often on longer trips. Definitely want tow package. It has tranny and engine oil coolers.

It will do just fine. I have pulled a 21' Saltwater rig with a 250 four stroke all over the place with a 2016 tacoma 4x4 with tow package and have had no issues whatsoever.

I'm the biggest GM guy there is, but I'll say this.

You can't kill a Toyota no matter how hard you try. I'd yank that boat around with that truck with confidence 7 days a week. Go for it!

Thanks for the advice, guys!

I have a 203 champion with a 225 optimax that I tow with a 2007 4runner (V6). It tows fine. You're not going to win any races, but it will get up to speed fine and keep up with freeway traffic no problem at 65. I was more concerned with stopping, but the trailer surge breaks help a lot. I had an old 80s Chevy K5 blazer that I towed a ranger 481 with. That K5 isn't the ideal towing vehicle, but it did have a 350 in it. I'll say that my 4runner tows much better than the K5 did. That may not be a fair comparison though. A newer 1/2 ton truck will do better than the tacoma, but it's not a deal breaker. I wouldn't go out and buy a new 1/2 ton because of the weekly trips towing the boat is all I'm saying.

I will say one thing about going from a Tacoma to a Tundra. The power to pass on 2 lane roads with 5000 lbs behind you is amazing in the Tundra. I passed an 18 wheeler (tractor only) on 69 headed to Texoma last week like he was doing 20 mph.