Tacoma Hill Towing

I have a 2004 Tacoma Prerunner (V6 - auto) that struggles pulling a 3700 lb. travel trailer up hills. The best I can do is about 30 - 40 mph up 6% inclines. The speed drops to about 25 to 30 mph on 8% grades. What would you expect from a newer Tacoma under the same conditions.

 

The 4.0L would do well.

 

Well did you have the Towing package?
if not You might want to upgrade a few parts.

1. Tranny cooler
2. tranny flued
3. Fan Clutch
4. Possible headers and better exhuast
5. Deck plate mod. Search
6. Super Charger.

 

Any ideas on how much better the 4.0L would be over the 3.4L? I know it's subjective and hard to answer but how much more speed can I expect up the mentioned grades?

 

My 2004 has the factory hitch and fan clutch for towing. The Toyota dealer changed the transmission fluid to a synthetic. Not other coolers besides what the factory provides, in other words no supplemental coolers. I don't want to modify the truck. That's why I was asking for a comparison with 2nd generation Tacoma. If that doesn't deliver the performance needed I'll probably moved over to a Tundra.

 

There are some 7%-8% hills here also.But I'm pulling half your lbs.Maverick491 is the keeper of the towing bible.Much better info from him. I can only guess what your mph would be w/that load. Hope this helps.

 

The 4.0 won't disappoint you! I've towed 2 ford full size pickups on UHaul auto transports up and over mountains on 100 mile trips. Down into city traffic and back up the other side. I have a manual and had no problems meeting the 30mph limit and accelerating after the speed limit jumped to 45 and then 55. If the speed limit was 55 then I had no problem maintaining speed and was after to keep it in 6th on the flats. I figure those trucks and transport weighed around 6,000lbs since the auto transport was 2,000lbs alone.

 

My travel trailer is 3750 wet and ready to camp, and On a 6-8 % grade I do have to dump 6th gear, but can hold 55-60 in 5th. One of our favorite campgrounds is on a mountain top in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, and there are some grades on that climb that require 2nd or even 1st gear, Not sure what the grade is on the last part of that climb, but I always wind up getting to the campsite with only 3/4 of my freshwater tank remaining, the other 1/4 having run out of the overflow durring the climb if that helps to classify them at all. I'd be concerned about them in a vehicle with less power on tap.

Regards,

Adam

 

Hell I'd get the Tundra if you're towing 2 tons regularly for the engine AND the brakes. Plus I bet you would actually get better gas mileage on the loaded rig.

They are GIVING Tundras (and Silverados and F-150's) away right now.

 

You're probably right about the Tundra. It's just that I like the Tacoma for the size and gas mileage while not towing. I was hoping that the 2nd generation Tacoma towed significantly better up grades over the 2004.

 

It is and the Tundra is ugly as hell. You would do fine with a gen 2 truck. Don't worry about it. The gen 2 truck does fin on all but the steepest grades, gets good mileage, and doesn't look like ass on wheels.

 

Do you have any lift or bigger tires on it?

What's the stock gearing in the 3.4L Auto pre-runner?

You might wanna put some higher (numerical) gears in the diff. That might get you back in the power band up those hills.

 

I haul a high wall pop up with our 2006 Access Cab with automatic and tow package. The dry weight of the Pop Up is around 3200 pounds, the GVWR is just under 4,000 pounds which is probably close to where the weight really is. I can pull the 8% grade up to Boone, NC and maintain the speed limit of 55 mph comfortably, it has shifted down to third gear, but I don't have to floor it and the engine is not wound up unduly. I am totally satisfied with my Tacoma's pulling power.

 

The true test is how is does on the road into Blowing Rock. That is one steep sucker.

 

We take highway 421 up to Boone which is the long 8% grade I referred to. Boone, NC and Blowing Rock, NC are fairly close together and our route to Blowing Rock is through Boone. There is a route 321 that heads directly up to Blowing Rock from the highways to the south, we've not taken that road. We have hauled 194 up to the Boone KOA with no problems. The Tacoma has exceeded my expectations with our camper on the mountain roads we've been on.

In fact, I worry more about coming down some of these roads far more than going up. I go slower towing down than I do towing up those grades.

 

That's the road I am talking about. It is one steep sucker.