Gen 3 Towing Thread

As displacement goes down the red line is higher speaking in general terms on gas vehicles.

 

I-20 to 49 south then I-10 into NOLA ?

What was your S4 RPM at 70mph?

 

Perhaps the defacto image for weight distribution hitches. A 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. Front wheel drive.

 

Yup, though on the way down there I didn't take 10 and went south to US90 as I was racing south of the city at NOLA Motorsport Park. The road was bumpy and not conducive to trailers so I took 10 back.

not sure for RPM's @70mph. 3200 maybe?

 

For comparison, @70mph my 2nd gen DC V6 Prerunner is at 2100rpm in fifth gear. That's pulling a 2000 pound load (trailer and ATV). When hitting an incline, it would kick to 4th gear and ~2600rpm. For large prolonged inclines it would kick to 3rd gear and jump to ~3800rpm. 13-15mpg with that load.

Measured over 1200 miles from Greensboro, NC to Dallas, TX.

 

A word of caution for guys that use a WDH and sway control, they're not a gamer once you go off the smooth roads. Once you get into roads where the truck is canted right and the trailer is canted left the WDH takes the load and they're not designed for that, you'll get some bent components which are difficult to repair unless you have a full toolbag.

If you're going off the smooth roads keep a straight hitch in the truck and trade it out from the WDH. Most trailers can handle offroad conditions with a straight hitch and the Tacoma can pull.

Tacoma actually is great without a WDH, you have to ugrade the rear suspension some but that isn't difficult. Hellwig 991 helper springs, Hellwig rear sway bar.

 

We towed our 5x8 with a couch in the bed and a sofa on the trailer. 4 adults and bunch of other containers and gear. Just did 120 miles from Glendale to Yucca Valley.

19.8 mpg after 2 very steep hills at fhe end of our trip. It shifted into 3rd at 50mph at the steepest part for about a minute.

Can't upload pictures up here. Will do later

 

It rides a bit nose high when empty. It was just a hair above flat with a love seat, boxes, and gear in the bed and a sofa on the trailer. The tongue was maybe 50 pounds in the loaded picture. I put a few strips of this reflective tape on this morning before we left. We drove home in the dark so I was happy I did.

This rattle stopper made it silent! It would rumble in the truck when the draw bar moved in the receiver before. Not anymore! It would only install on top due to the bracing on the bottom of the draw bar. Worked great

 

Never really noticed any rattle on my 2013. But they changed the hitch receiver on the 2016, right? Is the cap over the ball used when trailering? What do you normally use the trailer for? ATV?

 

From a couple of weeks ago, friends are remodeling and gave me the pick of the litter. Turned into a really long day that mostly consisted of waiting on boats:

 

I'm moving from a Gen 2 Tacoma to the Gen 3 and have a couple of questions for those using the Gen 3 for towing.

First let me say, I used my Gen 2 to pull an enclosed trailer with show car from Mississippi to Arizona, to south Florida and north as far as Chicago. My Gen 2 didn't have the tow package but the engine temperature never got above 193 dF so I didn't worry about it. I would have liked to have known the transmission fluid temperature so that is my first question.

1. Can the

$160 ScanGauge - SG2 Ultra Compact 3-in-1 Automotive Computer with Customizable Real-Time Fuel Economy Digital Gauges for OBD2 Vehicles

ScanGauge II actually measure engine and transmission fluid temperature in real time? I've been on their website but haven't really found an answer, I've written them an email and haven't received an answer so....here's hoping someone here can help me out.

The second question concerns mirrors. There is an aftermarket bolt-on mirror for the Gen 2 that I used and I loved it but it doesn't look like it will fit the Gen 3. so here's my next question.

2. What mirror are y'all using for towing? I've seen the extension types but not sure how well they work - are you happy with your choice? Is there a lot of vibration? (More than one question here but same line of thought).

Thanks in advance for your help/thoughts.

 

Edmonds-Kingston ferry?

 

The cap is to keep my legs out of the grease on the ball. Usually for wife's atv and my dirt bike

 

Yup, missed the boat by mere seconds each way on that trip too.

 

Not sure if my truck looks small or my boat looks big

 

Nice boat, you know the total weight of boat and trailer? How does it tow?

 

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Thanks, I believe it to be around 4800-5200lbs between boat, motor, trailer, gas, and fishing gear. The truck does ok with it. I have towed about 4x so far but only locally. I have only had it on the interstate for maybe a 5 mile stretch so far. Sometime in the coming months I should tow it to Louisiana and see how it does on a longer tow.

 

It really makes your bed look short!