The Tacoma Towing Bible

piercedtiger · 04-04-2008, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007Tacoma

That's ridiculous. I just tell them that I am towing a VW Beetle, and they don't give me any grief.

lol We told them we were towing a Ford Fiesta the second time.... Then loaded a 79 Ford Ranger at my buddy's house.

Oh, and we were over 30lbs with a Chevy Lumina.... So thus the Ford Fiesta. Doesn't help that the U-Haul auto transport weighs 2,000lbs by itself.

007Tacoma · 04-04-2008, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piercedtiger

lol We told them we were towing a Ford Fiesta the second time.... Then loaded a 79 Ford Ranger at my buddy's house.

Oh, and we were over 30lbs with a Chevy Lumina.... So thus the Ford Fiesta. Doesn't help that the U-Haul auto transport weighs 2,000lbs by itself.

Yeah. They told me that towing a Jetta would require me to use a tow dolly. I was pissed. Half the reason I was towing with a full length trailer was to avoid the wear on the Jetta!!!

I told them to get me a full length trailer, or I was going to go somewhere else.

I used the transport from Houston to Farmington, NM. Towed it behind my 05' Jeep Liberty CRD. I got 18 MPG!!! I can't wait to drop that engine in my Tacoma.

maverick491 · 04-04-2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t12i_867

Hi i have a 2002 v6 four door trd auto tranny taco..with 91k miles. i just got a hitch put on it. im going to be using it to tow my 5X8 utility trailer with a ramp. im not sure of how much it wiegh snce i bought it used.. but what im going to be towing with it is my 354 pounds gsxr crotch rocket bike. so total weight is under 800 pounds.. the trailer feels pretty light. what i need to know is do i need a tranmission cooler? and do i still use the over drive when im towing this? and what is the max weight i can tow where is would be safe on my tranmission without getting a tranny cooler. Thanks so much for your time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007Tacoma

I would think that you would be okay in Overdrive as long as you aren't pulling any big hills really fast.

You can take your trailer to a transfer station (Dump site, recycle center, etc...), and they will weigh it for you for a small fee. The other option is to go to a truck stop that is slow, but because they weigh much heavier loads it won't be as accurate (if it registers at all).

Cheers!

Technically there is NEVER a way to blanket statement that is ok to tow with an auto in overdrive.

You can tow with an auto in overdrive, but you must be constantly monitoring your truck. Listen to the truck and watch your tach.

If it starts hunting back and forth between overdrive and direct drive, you are doing transmission damage, plain and simple. Keep an eye on it, if it starts to hunt, and by hunt I mean shifting from OD, to direct, back to OD, back to direct, you'll be able to feel and see it when it starts happening. Immediately take it out of OD. 2-3 of those back and forth hunts in a 5 minute period is already building up heat that can damage the tranny. So on flat ground you will likely be fine, (You still have to pay attention to the truck)but on any kind of grade, up or down, anticipate and take it out of OD, your transmission will thank you for it.

CAPTM · 04-04-2008, 05:03 PM

I had been wondering what the deal was regarding towing in overdrive. Now I have the answer - thanks. I tow a pop up at 3500-4000 lbs.depending on the amount of firewood and booze on board, and generally have it in overdrive unless there is some other reason not to - hills, traffic, braking. Even in the towing lanes here in California the traffic can run at 70 - 80 mph anything less and you have a big rig up your tailpipe. I haven't encountered the hunting problem. I really love how the Tacoma tows.

CAPTM · 04-04-2008, 05:15 PM

Living in sunny SoCal I haven't had the need to chain up but we want to winter camp in the snow. Naturally being 4wd I chain up all 4, but what about the trailer? I was told since it has brakes it should have chains also.

piercedtiger · 04-04-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAPTM

Living in sunny SoCal I haven't had the need to chain up but we want to winter camp in the snow. Naturally being 4wd I chain up all 4, but what about the trailer? I was told since it has brakes it should have chains also.

Have you actually chained up this truck yet? Chains don't fit on the front unless you have something other than normal chains....

CAPTM · 04-04-2008, 06:59 PM

1. no
2. what's normal? we have several types on the shelves and
3. you got an answer to my question?

maverick491 · 04-04-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAPTM

Living in sunny SoCal I haven't had the need to chain up but we want to winter camp in the snow. Naturally being 4wd I chain up all 4, but what about the trailer? I was told since it has brakes it should have chains also.

I don't tow my personal trailers in the snow, in fact I winterize the RV and leave it sit from early november to mid april, however, my thoughts on chaining the trailer are as follows...

Trailer suspension is not the greatest to begin with, so the added vibration that will be created by the chains is likely to shake the hell out of your beer, and take everything out of your cabinates and put it on the floor of the rig.

That said I also do not chain the trailer tires on the semi trailer I pull for work everyday when it's snowing, so I am going to say no to chains on the trailer.

CAPTM · 04-04-2008, 07:41 PM

Thanks for the info, I did a little more checking and found out that trailers with brakes are required to have chains in Calif. I guess it's a small price to pay to be able to surf in the morning and hit the slopes in the afternoon.

CtryBoyInMT · 04-04-2008, 08:52 PM

As for RV trailers, I've never towed one. Just my car hauler and small snowmobile trailers.
On the ranch, I've towed flat beds and a gravity feed grain hauler. My old man, who taught me to drive farm trucks, said to chain one trailer axle to keep the rig from jack-knifing. But that being said, I've see big rigs in MT run without them, also.

Quote:

Originally Posted by piercedtiger

Have you actually chained up this truck yet? Chains don't fit on the front unless you have something other than normal chains....

I use alpine sports on the front axle of my 08 tacoma. They utilize a cable on the inside loop and clears the Upper Control Arm. Since I've moved to Kansas I haven't needed them too much, so maybe in a (Worst case scenario) tight turn driving down into a ditch, you may hook a v-bar (Cross link) in the wheel well plastic.
Stupid, I know... but I just figure I'll cross that river when I get there. And take my I told you so's.

piercedtiger · 04-05-2008, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAPTM

1. no
2. what's normal? we have several types on the shelves and
3. you got an answer to my question?

1. Then you haven't read the manual about not chaining the front, or looked to see there's only 1/2" clearance at most between the tires and the UCA.
2. Normal? wtf? How else can I explain it... I thought chain was chain.

You know, metal links hooked together into sections that go around the inside and outside of the tire with cross sections connecting them. Anything remotely like this:

As apposed to any cable or specialized "traction aid" that is NOT a chain.
3. No. But I thought it was more important to make you think about chaining the front before you did it and ripped a UCA off.

piercedtiger · 04-05-2008, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CtryBoyInMT

I use alpine sports on the front axle of my 08 tacoma. They utilize a cable on the inside loop and clears the Upper Control Arm. Since I've moved to Kansas I haven't needed them too much, so maybe in a (Worst case scenario) tight turn driving down into a ditch, you may hook a v-bar (Cross link) in the wheel well plastic.
Stupid, I know... but I just figure I'll cross that river when I get there. And take my I told you so's.

Got a picture of those on? I'd like to see them. I don't think I could run even them with my current tires. I have 1/4" clearance between the UCA and tire now, and they rub slightly on full lock.

Homer J · 04-09-2008, 12:53 PM

I just found this, very nice write up mav. I know who I am going to be pm'g when I get my hitch for my new truck. Its the only thing that the new truck doesnt have is the tow package.

piercedtiger · 04-09-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homer J

I just found this, very nice write up mav. I know who I am going to be pm'g when I get my hitch for my new truck. Its the only thing that the new truck doesnt have is the tow package.

oh man... good luck with that if you're trying to do the factory tow package after purchase... All the parts are so expensive you're better off living with the 3500lb tow capacity than trying to upgrade to get the 6500lb rating.

Homer J · 04-10-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piercedtiger

oh man... good luck with that if you're trying to do the factory tow package after purchase... All the parts are so expensive you're better off living with the 3500lb tow capacity than trying to upgrade to get the 6500lb rating.

Really I was thinking of getting and aftermarket hitch and bribing mav to help with the wiring. Mav my wife can cook some mean Italian food man.

piercedtiger · 04-10-2008, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homer J

Really I was thinking of getting and aftermarket hitch and bribing mav to help with the wiring. Mav my wife can cook some mean Italian food man.

That would be fine if you don't want to use the max tow capacity of 6500 for the truck.

I just read through a post on TN by Lotust where he didn't get the factory tow, and is trying to add it himself... It's looking like over $1000 worth of parts to do it on his own between the hitch, wiring, 7-pin plug, brake controller harness, oil cooler, tranny cooler, and some other odd parts. That doesn't include the bigger alternator or battery that comes with the tow package either. He's really beating his head on the wall and dropping lots of cash trying to make up for not getting it from the factory.

I'll see if I can find the thread.
Edit:
Found one: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t240841.html
That was JUST trying to add the oil cooler. $503 for a factory oil cooler (required for towing 6500lbs)!! And that doesn't include a tranny cooler or any other parts.

maverick491 · 04-10-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piercedtiger

That would be fine if you don't want to use the max tow capacity of 6500 for the truck.

Tiger's right, about using the full 6500lbs that a v6 tacoma can pull, will require quite a bit of extra work and money.

As for installing a hitch and wiring, that is a cake walk and relatively cheep. Even a tranny cooler won't be bad, to do other than making sure that we add the correct amount of the right type of tranny fluid for the increased capacity used by the cooler and the lines going to it.

The truck's towing capacity without the towing package is 3500lbs, however, that is based on using the bumper to pull with. A class III hitch, brake controller, and trans cooler will get you to 5000lbs safely. If we are talking an RV then the bigger alternator would be a good idea, if you connect the charging circuit as you'll be charging 2 batteries instead of just one, but without the charging circuit the bigger alternator will not be required either.

Quote:

04-04-2008, 05:03 PM	#84
CAPTM Junior Member Joined: Jan 2008, #4143 Location: SoCal Posts: 4 05 DBL CAB 4X4 V6 TRD SPORT L/B Debadged Black Sand Pearl 2005 Double Cab Automatic 4.0L V6 TRD Sport Pkg. #4, Grey Leather interior, running boards (black), Hood protector, Fiberglass bed lid,TSB suspension & windshield	I had been wondering what the deal was regarding towing in overdrive. Now I have the answer - thanks. I tow a pop up at 3500-4000 lbs.depending on the amount of firewood and booze on board, and generally have it in overdrive unless there is some other reason not to - hills, traffic, braking. Even in the towing lanes here in California the traffic can run at 70 - 80 mph anything less and you have a big rig up your tailpipe. I haven't encountered the hunting problem. I really love how the Tacoma tows.

04-04-2008, 05:15 PM	#85
CAPTM Junior Member Joined: Jan 2008, #4143 Location: SoCal Posts: 4 05 DBL CAB 4X4 V6 TRD SPORT L/B Debadged Black Sand Pearl 2005 Double Cab Automatic 4.0L V6 TRD Sport Pkg. #4, Grey Leather interior, running boards (black), Hood protector, Fiberglass bed lid,TSB suspension & windshield	Living in sunny SoCal I haven't had the need to chain up but we want to winter camp in the snow. Naturally being 4wd I chain up all 4, but what about the trailer? I was told since it has brakes it should have chains also.

04-04-2008, 06:59 PM	#87
CAPTM Junior Member Joined: Jan 2008, #4143 Location: SoCal Posts: 4 05 DBL CAB 4X4 V6 TRD SPORT L/B Debadged Black Sand Pearl 2005 Double Cab Automatic 4.0L V6 TRD Sport Pkg. #4, Grey Leather interior, running boards (black), Hood protector, Fiberglass bed lid,TSB suspension & windshield	1. no 2. what's normal? we have several types on the shelves and 3. you got an answer to my question?

04-04-2008, 07:41 PM	#89
CAPTM Junior Member Joined: Jan 2008, #4143 Location: SoCal Posts: 4 05 DBL CAB 4X4 V6 TRD SPORT L/B Debadged Black Sand Pearl 2005 Double Cab Automatic 4.0L V6 TRD Sport Pkg. #4, Grey Leather interior, running boards (black), Hood protector, Fiberglass bed lid,TSB suspension & windshield	Thanks for the info, I did a little more checking and found out that trailers with brakes are required to have chains in Calif. I guess it's a small price to pay to be able to surf in the morning and hit the slopes in the afternoon.