The Toyota Tacoma is the long-time sales leader among mid-size pickups — a track record built on a reputation for rock-solid reliability and off-road adventure chops rather than the latest design. But it also offers towing capability sufficient to make it both a solid workday truck and weekend warrior.

Related: Pickup Trucks 101: Why Weight Capacities Are Important

The 2023 Tacoma’s maximum tow ratings — unchanged from 2022 — range from 3,500 pounds to 6,800 pounds. That might change for 2024: The pickup was last significantly updated for the 2016 model year, and a full redesign on Toyota’s new global body-on-frame platform is expected for the 2024 model year.

Toyota boasts that the Tacoma comes in “34 flavors,” but the nearly three dozen configurations in its seven trim levels are based on two cabs — the extended Access Cab and the double cab (aka crew cab) — as well as 5- or 6-foot beds, four-cylinder or V-6 engines, and six-speed automatic or manual transmissions. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive is available. All V-6 models include a Tow Prep Package that adds a Class IV receiver hitch, a transmission fluid cooler for automatic models, an engine oil cooler, a power-steering cooler, a 130-amp alternator, a 4- and 7-pin wiring connector, and trailer sway control.

The Tacoma’s maximum tow ratings below are calculated under the SAE International J2807 standard for trailer weight ratings. The maximum ratings under the standard are for ideal conditions, and real-world maximum towing capacities will depend on passenger and cargo load, and possibly additional equipment. More details are here on how to calculate the maximum for your specific truck and load.

With that in mind, here’s a quick guide to the rated towing maximums for the 2023 Tacoma’s engine and cab configurations.

The top-end tow rating for the Tacoma is 6,800 pounds. That max rating applies to the extended Access Cab trucks with RWD, the V-6 and the automatic transmission — a configuration that is available in the lower three trim levels: SR, SR5 and TRD Sport. That rating is mid-pack for towing maximums among mid-size and compact rivals, ahead of the Nissan Frontier, Honda Ridgeline and Ford Maverick, and lagging the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator. Starting prices for the three Tacoma configurations with the 6,800-pound max tow rating range from $30,845 to $35,495 (all prices include a $1,335 destination fee).

The lowest tow rating is 3,500 pounds for the Tacoma, and that applies to all 2023 models with the four-cylinder engine and the automatic transmission. The four-cylinder is available only on the SR and SR5 trim levels configured with the Access Cab and RWD or 4WD, as well as the RWD double cab with the 5-foot short bed. The base SR Access Cab with the four-cylinder starts at $28,585.

The naturally aspirated 2.7-liter inline four-cylinder engine is available with RWD or 4WD but comes only with a six-speed automatic transmission. It is rated to tow a maximum of up to 3,500 pounds for all the three available four-cylinder configurations, including Access Cab trucks with RWD or 4WD and double cabs with RWD and the 5-foot short bed.

The 2023 Tacoma’s 3.5-liter V-6 is optional on all trim levels and standard on all but the base SR and SR5. It is offered with RWD or 4WD and a six-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual (TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro only). The maximum V-6 rating is 6,800 pounds with the RWD Access Cab trucks available in the lower three trims: SR, SR5 and TRD Sport. The next-highest maximum for the V-6 is 6,700 pounds for the RWD double cabs with the automatic and the 5-foot short bed that is available for the SR5, TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road. The third-highest rating is 6,600 pounds for the RWD double cab trucks with the automatic, which can be had in three trim-level configurations: long-bed versions of the SR5 and TRD Sport and the short-bed Limited.

The extended Access Cab, which has reverse-opening rear doors and is available only with the long bed, offers the highest Tacoma tow rating when configured with RWD, the V-6 and the automatic transmission. It also offers the lowest towing capacity at 3,500 pounds when equipped with the four-cylinder engine and RWD or 4WD. All Access Cabs with the V-6 and 4WD are rated up to 6,500 pounds. This combination is available with the automatic in the SR, SR5, TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road trim levels and with a manual transmission only in the TRD Sport.

The maximum tow rating for the double cab four-door crew cab is 6,700 pounds for a V-6 2023 Tacoma with RWD and the 5-foot bed. With RWD and the 6-foot bed, the rating is 6,600 pounds. A V-6 double cab with 4WD, available on all trim levels, is rated for 6,400 pounds with either bed length and transmission.

All four-cylinder Tacomas with 4WD are rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds regardless of cab and bed, the same as four-cylinder RWD models. Tacomas with the V-6 and 4WD are rated up to 6,500 pounds with the Access Cab and 6,400 pounds with the double cab.

The 2023 Tacoma’s off-road king is offered only as a double cab truck with the 5-foot bed, the V-6 and 4WD; however, you can choose between the six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The TRD Pro is rated to tow 6,400 pounds and starts at $48,020 for the manual and $50,725 for the automatic.

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