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Can Toyota Tacoma Be Flat Towed? (Quick Answers)

Would you like to tow your Toyota Tacoma? You might be interested in flat towing if so. Furthermore, flat towing can save time and money on transportation costs.

Although it might come as a surprise to some, Toyota Tacoma trucks cannot always be towed using a flatbed tow truck. Here’s what we need to find out about flat towing Toyota Tacoma.

Can Toyota Tacoma be flat towed?

Toyota Tacoma trucks cannot be towed by flatbed tow trucks. Due to the suspension design of Toyota Tacoma trucks, they are not typically able to be towed by a flatbed tow truck. Tow trucks with flatbeds are very difficult to handle and may cause damage to the frame or engine of the Toyota Tacoma.

The Toyota Tacoma can be towed with a standard tractor-trailer, but flat towing might not be worth the trouble if it’s too difficult. Exceptions to this rule do exist, but they usually require modifications to the truck to make them work.

The rear end of most Toyota Tacoma trucks can be removed and replaced with a “Go-Kart” trailer hitch that allows them to be towed using a flatbed tow truck.

The suspension and handling of the vehicle can be adversely affected by this type of modification, so it is not usually recommended.

It is possible to damage the suspension of a Toyota Tacoma by towing it in this manner. Consider using a pickup truck or SUV as your primary towing vehicle. Towing is a special feature of these Toyota Tacoma.

Due to their high center of gravity and lack of stability, Tacoma is not the best option for flat towing. There have been recent changes to Toyota’s models that should improve these qualities in future models, but they would not make an ideal choice until then.

Toyota Tacoma ModelCan be flat towed
2016 Toyota TacomaNo
2017 Toyota TacomaNo
2019 Toyota TacomaNo
2020 Toyota TacomaNo
2021 Toyota TacomaNo

Can you tow a Toyota Tacoma behind a motorhome?

Towing a Toyota Tacoma truck behind a motorhome is possible if the following conditions are met. The truck has been modified to tow a motorhome.

In most cases, this involves removing the rear end of the truck and installing a go-kart-style trailer hitch.

The truck’s suspension has been strengthened to handle the added weight and G forces. With a flatbed tow vehicle such as this, the Tacoma can be pulled safely behind the vehicle.

However, the Tacoma isn’t designed to be towed in this manner. Due to its high center of gravity and lack of stability, it is a risky proposition.

Although most Tacoma models have improved recently, they are still not the best choice for flat towing. It’s probably not a good idea to tow a motorhome behind a Tacoma unless you’re sure it can handle the extra weight and G forces.

Can you flat tow a Toyota Tacoma with a manual transmission?

Manual transmission Toyota Tacoma cannot be flat towed. Towing a truck requires the shift lever to be in the “P” position for the truck to be towable.

The center of gravity of a Toyota Tacoma is so high, it could easily become uncontrollable if the truck were to be towed in this manner due to the truck’s high center of gravity.

Additionally, the manual transmission makes it difficult for the truck to be towed without a lot of effort being put into it.

If you wish to flat tow a Tacoma, you would have to use a transmission with an automatic shift mode, which would negate one of the benefits of using a Tacoma in this manner.

In any case, if you are looking to tow a Toyota Tacoma behind a motorhome with an automatic transmission, there are plenty of options available to you.

5 reasons why you cannot flat tow Toyota Tacoma

Tow trucks use flat tows to pull vehicles uphill by attaching the trailer directly to the back of the truck.

Typically, Toyota Tacoma are not designed for this type of towing configuration and may experience problems. There are five reasons why you cannot flat tow a Toyota Tacoma:

Suspension is not designed for heavy towing:

In the first place, Tacoma’s suspension isn’t designed for towing. A truck with a dedicated flat tow setup, such as an HD or diesel model, has better capabilities.

When towed behind another vehicle, this can make the ride quite uncomfortable and unsafe.

High center of gravity:

Second, Toyota Tacoma have a very high center of gravity, which makes towing them in this manner without proper planning and pull off very risky.

Without proper handling, a truck could easily become uncontrollable, causing serious damage or even injury.

Difficult to tow: 

Getting the Tacoma towed will be a lot of work. When operated incorrectly, the manual transmission could cause damage or injury.

Flat towed vehicles aren’t as common as other types of towed vehicles, so finding a tow truck willing to take on such an unusual job might be more difficult.

Dangerous driving conditions:

Although flat towed vehicles have some advantages under certain conditions (see below), driving them in harsh weather conditions or while intoxicated is never a good idea.

Due to the added risk of hitting obstacles or other vehicles, flat tows are often much more dangerous than traditional towed setups.

Difficult to control:

Last but not least, flat-towed trucks are notoriously difficult to park and control.

They’re prone to rolling when parked unexpectedly or bumped accidentally due to their height and center of gravity, making them potentially harmful to both the driver and anyone else nearby.

How to flat tow a Toyota Tacoma?

In some cases, flat towing a Toyota Tacoma can be done safely and with minimal risk. When towing flat towed vehicles using the manual transmission, make sure the truck is in first gear instead of the reverse.

A guide to flat-towing a Toyota Tacoma with a minimum risk is provided below.

Use the right tow vehicle for the job:

The first thing you need to ensure is that the flat towed vehicle you are planning to use is compatible with your Tacoma.

The majority of tow trucks are equipped with specific winches and ballasts that are designed for flat towing, so be sure to check before you get on the road.

Locate the winch:

The second thing you need to do is locate the winch on the towed vehicle. As the majority of flat tow trucks use a cable system to tow, then look for a cover on the side of the truck which conceals the winch, usually hinged or sliding.

Locate the tow bar:

There will be a need to locate the tow bar. There will usually be a flat towed truck’s hitch on the top of the truck near the winch when the truck is flat towed.

It is important to note, however, that on some trucks, the tow bar is integrated directly into the vehicle that is being towed.

Connect the tow bar to the winch:

Connect the tow bar to the winch of the towed vehicle. Unlike other ways to do this, most of the time you will have to use a cable connection or a ratchet and socket set to accomplish this.

You should make sure that you take the appropriate safety precautions when connecting these systems – such as wearing gloves and avoiding getting electrocuted if possible.

Start your flat towed truck:

Turn on your Toyota Tacoma’s headlights and engine lights before driving off – the tow vehicle behind should beep when hooked up successfully.

Flat-towed Toyotas are not recommended for long-term use because they are much harder to control than traditional trucks.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Toyota Tacoma cannot be flat towed. The suspension is not designed to handle heavy towing and the center of gravity is high. The Toyota Tacoma truck can be towed behind a motorhome. However, even with a manual transmission, a Toyota Tacoma cannot be flat towed.