Bumper Capacity and Parts Needed to Tow Trailer with 2010 Toyota Tacoma

Question:

For 2010 Toyota Tacoma 4 cylinder 2.7 L Towing 17 ft travel trailer, approx 2500 lb GWgt Can I use the bumper hitch, or does it have to be mounted hitch Do I need brake controller Do I need sway control bar system Is my vehicle ok for this

asked by: Francis M

Expert Reply:

I took a look at the online version of the owner's manual for your 2010 Toyota Tacoma and it does list a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds when using a hitch ball inside the factory hole at the rear bumper. Since your trailer will only weigh around 2,500 pounds it can be safely towed by the bumper.

I recommend checking local laws where you live that may dictate whether or not the trailer you're pulling needs to have brakes based on its weight. In general though if the trailer you plan on towing is equipped with electric brake assemblies I recommend utilizing them via a brake controller. Whether it's "required" or not this is going to greatly reduce the stress put on your Tacoma since you won't have to rely on it to stop both itself and the trailer.

If your trailer is equipped with electric brakes and the truck is equipped with the factory 7-Way I highly recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Brake Controller # 90885 along with the Plug-In Adapter # 3040-P, which allows for a simple plug-and-play install using the factory port behind the dash. This is an excellent brake controller that features an easy-to-read digital display, continuous diagnostics to alert you to any potential issues, and 3 boost levels that let you fine tune your braking. Its proportional nature means it will send power back to the trailer brakes in correspondence with the truck's deceleration (the harder you brake the more power it sends back).

If your truck doesn't already have the factory 7-Way then I still recommend the Prodigy P2 but you will need to add some additional wiring for the install process. You will need to start with a 4-Way connector (this would be needed to power the trailer's lights even if it isn't equipped with brakes) using the Tekonsha T-One # 118496. This custom harness simply plugs into existing ports behind the driver and passenger side tail lights.

Then with the 4-Way in place you will use the Wiring Kit # ETBC7 to convert it to a fully functional 7-Way. This kit includes all the components needed to do this and install the Prodigy P2.

A sway bar or weight distribution system might be beneficial but with a smaller trailer like this it's probably worth it to see how it handles on the road before adding something like this. You will be towing well under the truck's limits and it's not an overly long camper so I don't foresee too much issue with sway or sag during travel.

I have attached a few short video reviews along with some articles on weight distribution and brake controllers that you might also find helpful.