Gen 3 Towing Thread

I might wanna go back, looks like the front of your passenger fell off!.

Looks like a cool project and a good looking taco.

 

I'm on 13 inch wheels and I drive 55-60 when towing. I once hit 65 to pass a truck who accelerated when we started going down a hill... I slowed to 60 right after. But our maximum auto-with-trailer speed is 55 here in California

But hey, this is America. They are free to stay ignorant about it. And they are free to disobey all stated safety guidelines and be stupid, as well.

 

My '11 used to tow very well, my '16 won't even pull a 3000 pound enclosed trailer without having the trans temp light come on, I use s4 and it still tries to shift constantly and gets hot.

 

Has it been back to the dealer?

 

that's not normal. Have you had it checked it out?

 

odd? (based on other applications by users)

did a 2011 even come with a tranny temp light? i know there were AM options but maybe it was being cooked and you didn't know? its still worth a dealer visit requirement on your 3g to be 100pct sure.

 

It's been to the dealer 6 times, 3 directly related to trans temp. They said since they can't duplicate the issue in a test drive that it's normal and to deal with it.
As far as the '11 goes the transmission never gave me any reason to question if it was getting hot or not because it rarely ever shifted. I believe they had an idiot light that would come on but I never saw mine.
The '16 will be someone else's lemon to deal with after next week

 

that sucks.

as a courtesy, post the last 8 of the vin so nobody here buys it..

 

Is anyone using a air bag rear helper springs set up such as Firestone's Ride-Rite air bag suspension kit when towing? I'm considering a travel trailer in the 3000lbs range to be towing and was wondering if there is a distinct advantage of using some type or rear air bag helper spring along with a weight distribution/anti sway hitch set up? Anybody have any experience or insight to enlighten this novice? I'll be towing with my 4x4 Access Cab with the V6 an automatic transmission and it sounds like from the posts on this tread I'll be putting the transmission in the manual shifting mode a lot. Almost makes me wish now I had bought the manual transmission anyways I'm trying to get ahead of the game with figuring out what is the best set up to have to tow as easily and safely as possible....thanks!

 

what's the tongue weight? The Super Springs look like a better idea and deal than any airbag system

 

I've been towing a 18 foot io boat for years with my 2003 double cab 3.4l auto Tacoma trd offroad. I usually lock out overdrive and run with ECT. I just picked up the 2016 equivalent, but I see no od lock out button. I'm assuming I do the "s" drive thing and manually shift it up to s4? Is this correct?

 

You will go to S mode and leave it in 4th

 

I am assuming when you speak of tongue weight it is the same as hitch weight? The travel trailers were looking at hitch weight run from low of 250 lbs to a high of 440 lbs. with the most likely weight being in the 300 lbs range. I thought about Super Springs or adding a leaf to the springs both would work but the trouble I see with that is when your not towing you will experience a harsher ride. Where as with an air bag system all you have to do when you tow is add air and when you don't let air out for a stock or better ride. It can be a bit pricey if you go with the on board compressor and such but the simple air bag system from Firestone that you manually add or let out air is affordable. So I was just wondering who if anyone has tried them and their impressions but I do thank you Z50king for your input.

 

I figured something out. It was interesting. I have a slight hill I climb every morning on the freeway. I get on at fhe base and accelerate with my foot. If gets to speed and holds fifth gear. If I click cruise control on, it shifts to 6th, lugs, shifts to fifth and then can't hold it and revs up in 4th gear. Pisses me off because it only goes into 4th becau

The Super Springs do not touch the axle when you aren't loaded. That's why they don't affect normal ride quality. I think the 300 pounds on the tongue will probably drop the rear end around 1 inch and the rear end is 1 inch taller for that reason. Putting more stuff in the bed, though, will drop it more. I have a bunch of crap and a love seat in the bed and a sofa on the trailer with about 50 pound tongue weight and it didn't even drop 1 inch.

 

That is what my understand has been push on ECT then put it into "s" drive and shift manually. I would also think if conditions warrant you can shift to s5 though someone who has already done extensive towing with the automatic transmission would know better then I at this point.

 

I have the timbren system which is similar to the sumo spring...ride quality with no load is the same or even better. The reason why I say better is that lean in corners is drastically reduced. I have 700 lbs + on the tongue and I have about 1/4" squat and that's it. I don't have to worry about airing up, airing down, leaking bags, no full extension when wheeling, etc. My dad had air bags on his last truck and I was going to go that route...decided to give timbren a shot...so glad I did and I would never do a bag system again. Just my .05 cents worth.

 

I'll definitely take another look at the Super Springs..... thanks!

 

After looking at the Sumo Super springs and the Timbren system I think both Z50king and justintackitt are onto something that just fills the ticket for me. Thanks guys for pointing me in that direction!

 

Pulling my Triton bass boat. Lowers the mileage 2 miles per gallon. Not bad.

 

Saw this while I was out driving at work today, looks like a limited trim model. I have been seeing a ton of 3rd gens on the road lately.