Toyota Tacoma FAQs

What Are the Toyota Tacoma’s Towing & Payload Capacities?

A truck is designed to handle all sorts of tasks, whether you’re hauling heavy furniture or towing a camper to the campsite. As you research your new truck, the towing and payload capacities may be the first numbers you look into.

When properly equipped, the Toyota Tacoma offers the following capabilities:

• Maximum towing capacity: 6,800 pounds
• Maximum payload capacity: 1,685 pounds

The maximum towing capacity is achieved with the help of the available V6 engine, which produces up to 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. You can find the maximum payload capacity with either the V6 engine or the standard 4-cylinder engine. The latter option produces up to 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque.

What Bed Lengths Does the Tacoma Offer?

While payload capacity plays an important role in how much you can carry, so too does the bed length of your truck. The Tacoma has both a standard bed and a long bed to accommodate your gear. The total length comes out to the following:

• Standard bed: 5 feet
• Long bed: 6 feet

The bed choice goes hand-in-hand with the cab style. An Access Cab, for example, can be paired with the long bed and seats four people. A Double Cab Tacoma works with either the 5-foot or 6-foot bed and seats up to five people.

Is There a Manual Transmission for the Tacoma?

Yes, on the following trim levels of the Tacoma, you’ll find an available 6-speed manual transmission:

• TRD Sport
• TRD Off-Road
• TRD Pro

You could also opt for the 6-speed automatic transmission with any of these trim levels. That’s the transmission you’ll find on all other levels, which is paired to the standard 4-cylinder engine.

What’s the Best Tacoma Trim for Off-Roading?

As the name implies, the Tacoma TRD Off-Road trim has some impressive features that are ready to take you across some diverse surfaces. It’s equipped with a special TRD Off-Road tuned suspension with Bilstein® shocks. It’s the only truck to offer Crawl Control, which assists during those bumpy rides.

Other trims also have their own unique strengths. For example, TRD Pro has the highest approach angle at 36.4 degrees as well as the highest departure angle of 24.7 degrees. This trim also comes standard with its own skid plate and the Multi-Terrain Monitor to give you a better idea of what’s ahead of your truck before you move forward.

What Safety Systems Are on the Toyota Tacoma?

The Tacoma comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense™ P suite. These features combine to provide a smoother driving experience for you and passengers. The features of this suite include the following:

• Lane Departure Alert
• Automatic High Beams
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
• Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

You’ll also get assistance from the Star Safety System™, which offers Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control to handle slick surfaces. Plus, with standard Trailer-Sway Control, you can feel more secure about towing your gear.