Just traded my 2004 Tacoma 4 cyl (rated at 3500 pds towing) for a 2014 Tacoma 6 cyl with tow pkg (rated at 6500 towing). I hauled the R Pod 171 (2200 pds) from Buffalo to Virginia in December with the 4 cyl, and took it camping in January to Pennsylvania. The 4 cyl was fine at 65 on the open road but was doggy on a long hill. It would take 4300 rpm to keep up on a long or steep hill which can be noisy. But it did the job. However, I'm looking forward to towing with the new 6 cyl. and expect it will not break a sweat given its 6500 pd towing capacity.
I got 10 mpg towing the R Pod with the 4 cyl. The 4 cyl averaged about 20 mph unhooked. Interestingly, the 6 cyl is rated at 19 mph unhooked. So, although not tested yet, I think my gas mileage will be similar with the 6 cyl and it is 5" longer, 8" wider and weighs 700 pounds more than the 4 cyl. I attribute this to advances in engine technology in the past ten years.
By the way, the back up camera on the new 6 cyl is awesome. It is wide angle located on the tailgate handle area and looks down on the ball. I now back right under the hitch first time. What a pleasure not to have to get out several times or have hand and voice signals from your sidekick.
And the Bluetooth technology allows me to stream Pandora from my cell phone. And the truck phone is all voice activated… no pushing buttons. And finally, check out the iOttie cell phone mount for your dash. I have had it on the dash for a week and the suction has held solidly. It does a great job of holding the cell phone which is particularly useful for goodle maps navigation. I bought it after a rave review in Consumer Reports.