2015 Toyota Tacoma Towing Capacity and What it Can Tow

Understanding the towing capacity of your 2015 Toyota Tacoma will allow you to safely be able to tow your travel trailer or a boat to your destination. This number determines how much weight your truck and its configuration can safely handle, and matching it up to the trailer weight makes it easy to determine this.

The maximum towing capacity of the 2015 Toyota Tacoma is 6,500 lbs. when ordered with a V6 engine and a tow package. Models equipped with the 4-cylinder engine will be able to tow a maximum of 3,400 lbs.

If you want to see how all the Toyota Tacoma year models compare in the towing department, read the Can Toyota Tacoma Tow? article I wrote earlier about all the Toyota Tacoma years. You can see all the years listed where you can easily compare them. You will also find out that years 2016 and up have the highest towing capacity and the years 2001 through 2003 have the lowest.

This one is in the same towing group as the following year trucks:

• 2004 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity
• 2005 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity
• 2006 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity
• 2007 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity
• 2008 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity
• 2009 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity
• 2010 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity
• 2011 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity
• 2012 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity
• 2013 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity
• 2014 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity

About the 2015 Toyota Tacoma

The 2015 Toyota Tacoma came in 5 trims; Base, PreRunner, TRD Sport, TRD Pro and Limited. Although different in comfort options, all but the Base trim could have the option of a 4-cylinder or V6 engine. These are the main factors that determined if yout truck was going to have a 3,400 lbs. towing capacity or the 6,500 lbs. The V6 obviously got the later.

This 2015 year model continued to be a reliable and capable little mid-size Toyota truck that people expect and love. The interior continues to be straightforward and easy to use without too much bling. It is known for being a practical and dependable truck with ability to go off-road if needed to.

Towing something common, like a couple ATVs on a flat bed trailer or a fishing boat is no challenge for this truck. Even the 4-cylinder version can take that on without a problem.

What Does Towing Capacity Mean?

Towing capacity refers to the amount of weight that your vehicle can pull safely. For instance, if your truck had a towing capacity of 1,000 lbs., you could safely pull a trailer weighing up to this limit. However, if you started to tow a trailer over 1,000 lbs., you would run the risk of your trailer swinging uncontrollably, or causing your truck to lose control. The brakes will likewise also be compromised.

What Determines Towing Capacity?

Towing capacity is affected by a number of factors. For instance, the more horsepower and torque your engine has, the more you’ll be able to pull. This generally means that a truck with a bigger engine will be able to tow more than a truck with a smaller one.

Other factors that affect the towing capacity of a vehicle include the vehicle’s overall weight and braking power. Again, this makes a lot of sense- if your truck is extremely heavy, the engine will be preoccupied with pulling the truck itself, and won’t have much power left for anything else. And if your brakes are terrible, you won’t legally be able to tow very much, as your stopping distance will become extremely poor.

This truck comes with a standard six-speed automatic transmission but for those that want more control, especially while towing, there is a manual transmission option available. The transmission type does not affect the towing capacity but the difference between a truck with a four-wheel drive or not will. The 2 WD Tacomas will be able to tow more than the 4 WD models because these systems make the truck heavier taking away from the capacity.

The difference between Access Cab models and Double Cab models will affect the maximum trailer weight ratings. The same story goes for the longer truck bed, the longer the bed length, the more weight it adds to the truck and takes away from the tow capacity.

It’s important that you understand the factors that determine towing capacity, so you can ensure that you are always acting responsibly and safely. Your vehicle handbook might say that your towing capacity is 3,500 lbs., but if the brakes are worn or you already have 500 lbs. worth of gear in the bed, your towing capacity isn’t going to be as high.

2015 Toyota Tacoma Capacity by Trim Level

There are five different trim levels for the 2015 Toyota Tacoma models. The main factor affecting the Tacoma towing capacity is the engine. But, the trims sporting the V6 engine do have slightly different towing capacities due to different suspension and transmission configurations. Selecting a bigger cab or adding a 4WD system will take away from the tow ratings.

2015 Toyota Tacoma Base Towing Capacity

The base Tacoma trim is a comfortable truck that does the job even though it’s the basic version, and it comes with a 3,400 lbs. towing capacity. Perfect if you’re on a budget.

2015 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Towing Capacity

The PreRunner trim is the perfect mix of comfort and affordability. It is the ideal mid-size truck without all the fluff. The standard PreRunner comes with a 4-cylinder engine and a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The V6 engine version has the towing capacity of 6,500 lbs.

2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport Towing Capacity

If you want the kick of a sports car coupled with the practicality of a pickup, the TRD Sport has its powerful V6 engine and with that, the truck’s towing capacity is 6,500 lbs.

2015 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Towing Capacity

The TRD Off-Road is perfect for anyone who wants to take their pickup off the beaten path. With a V6 under the hood and various suspension upgrades, it can tow maximum trailer weights of 6,500 lbs.

2015 Toyota Tacoma Limited Towing Capacity

The Tacoma Limited trim comes with all the driver comforts you could ever want, from a plush hickory leather interior to dual-zone climate control. Under the hood you’ll find a 3.5L V6 engine, giving the rear-wheel drive 2021 Toyota Tacoma Limited a towing capacity of 6,500 lbs.

What the 2015 Toyota Tacoma with 3,400 lbs. of Towing Capacity Can Tow

If your 2015 Toyota Tacoma towing capacity is 3,400 lbs., you will be able to tow the following:

• Small to Medium Trailers: Small utility trailers, pop-up campers, teardrop trailers, or even some smaller travel trailers often weigh under 3,400 lbs when fully loaded. Be sure to check the specific weight of any trailer you plan to tow.
• Jet Skis: Depending on the model and make, a jet ski can weigh anywhere from 300 to 1,000 lbs. Even with a trailer, two jet skis would likely fall well within the Tacoma’s towing capacity.
• Small Boats: The Tacoma can tow small to medium-sized boats, such as a small fishing boat, a small sailboat, or a lightweight speedboat, provided the combined weight of the boat and the trailer does not exceed 3,400 lbs.
• ATVs and Snowmobiles: Many ATVs and snowmobiles weigh between 400 and 600 lbs. Depending on the trailer, you should be able to tow multiple ATVs or snowmobiles with a 3,400 lbs towing capacity.
• Motorcycles: Even larger motorcycles generally weigh less than 1,000 lbs, so towing one or two should be no problem.

What the 2015 Toyota Tacoma with 6,500 lbs. of Towing Capacity Can Tow

With 6,500 lbs. of towing capacity, you can pull the following:

• Medium to Large Trailers: The Tacoma can handle most medium-sized travel trailers, and even some larger ones, as long as the total weight (including cargo) doesn’t exceed 6,500 lbs. This makes it a good option for family camping trips or moving heavy equipment.
• Large Boats: With this towing capacity, you can tow larger boats including sizable fishing boats, sailboats, or speedboats. Be sure to include the weight of the boat, motor, fuel, trailer, and any additional equipment when calculating the total weight.
• Horse Trailers: A small, one-horse trailer usually weighs between 2,000 to 3,000 lbs empty, so a Tacoma with a 6,500 lbs towing capacity should be able to handle one horse plus the trailer. For larger trailers or multiple horses, be sure to check the total weight.
• Car Trailers: The Tacoma can tow another car on a trailer, as long as the combined weight of the car and trailer doesn’t exceed 6,500 lbs. This can be useful for moving or transporting vintage or specialty vehicles.
• Multiple ATVs or Snowmobiles: You could transport several ATVs or snowmobiles on a single trailer with this towing capacity.

The Takeaway

So, for most people, the 4-cylinder trim options are going to be more than enough, and you can tow most things without having to worry. But, if you want a bit more power and practicality, there are plenty of trim levels sporting the V6 to choose from that won’t break the bank.