Tacoma mods to improve towing.

Questions for Tacoma modifications for towing.

After numerous Corollas I got a Tacoma as my “retirement” vehicle. If I had done more research on towing I would have probably gotten a Tundra. But I like my Tacoma

Any way getting it ready for towing in several months. It is a 2015 4.0L Access Cab with tow package.

Below is a list of things I am planning/thinking/asking about of doing to the truck:

Tranny Cooler -- Long Tru-Cool LPD Transmission Oil Cooler 4454

Brake Controller -- Tekonsha brake controller

HD slotted front brake rotors – Saw a couple of pairs that were only 250-400’ish plus installation… Has anyone else opted for hd &/or slotted rotors?

Regearing – got a quote for $1700 installed… This will only be if I end up getting a heavier trailer (4,100lbs dry… estimate 4,800-5,300 wet). It is my understanding will lose top end speed, which I never come close to using, but also understand would make towing a heavy trailer easier. Have anyone here regeared for towing?

I saw the Truck Guy take a Tacoma towing 5,700lbs up Ike’s gauntlet (I think a long incline on interstate in CO). He was running at 4,500-5,000 rpm to hold a speed of 60’ish going up. If I regeared do you think I would cap out at 50’ish doing same, or would it do 60 with a few lower rpms?


Thanks, any insight would be great.

 

Bump

 

Since you are going to replace the tranny cooler why don't you get the biggest cooler Tru-Cool makes. I did and my tranny temps run about 140 degrees in 90 degree temps. It holds .84 of a quart so you get the benny of having nearly a quart more in your system. Also you may want to pick up a scanguageII to monitor transmission temps. That is a great little item to have too.

 

Your temp is that temp when you tow a heavy load or not towing? Also, I agree on monitoring trans temp. I picked up a OBD2 bluetooth for $25 and use Torque Pro. I love it!

 

Thanks

Already have the Scanguage II. I wanted to get a base line on tranny temps before adding a cooler... On a 90 degree day will run about 150-160 with peaks near 200 when going up small hills &/or in traffic.

 

I have a 2009 DCSB TRD Sport with TRD S/C that I regularly tow 5,200lbs all over central and eastern U.S. The truck is totally stock except for the S/C and an electronic brake controller. The trailer is a Featherlite. I tow in OD on the flat, and 4th when it gets hilly and the tranny starts hunting. Zero issues with anything! I can drive 70mph at about 3,000 rpm in 4th, and it's got to be a really steep and long hill for it to drop to 3rd. I run on cruise control most of the time. I've got plenty of brakes with the stock setup. The tranny fluid gets changed every 30k and it never smells burned. The truck has about 132k miles now (128k with S/C), and at least 50,000 miles of towing. I do not baby this truck! Run it stock and save your money, the truck will handle it fine. I'll bump a post I made a while back with more details

 

Thanks

I initially thought about doing a S/C instead of the regear, but figured it might make life more difficult by requiring premium and putting a big strain on a still fairly young engine (45k miles). Also, a bit more money, but in possible budget.

 

I got my S/C installed at 4,000 miles. Zero issues. The motor and drive train are obviously up to it, since it doesn't affect the Toyota warranty, or the lifetime warranty that came with the truck. There's a couple of local trucks with S/C's and way over 200k miles on them.

 

Sorry, a little new, but what is S/C?

 

S/C = supercharger

 

A supercharger isn't going to damage a healthy engine.

 

Buy a tundra.
I know you don't want to but......

 

I tow about 3k lbs every other month. More so in the winter. Even with the 33s i have no complaints and no issues. 55k miles and counting. Factory oil cooler, factory gears. I think the biggest issue isnt power or cooling but brakes. Stock brakes with that weight behind it is sketchy. And id upgrade the rear suspension. Thats my next step, finding somethinf that can "do-it-all"

 

Air bags...

 

I tow the same loaded
I drive a manual though. No complaint here....
Over100k on my rig

 

Auto or manual transmission?

 

Auto. I saw several manuals bite it when towing in the upper end of max towing capacity.
Indy is dead-on. Adding a S/C to a healthy engine won't hurt it.

 

I think he did a repeat video with the 3rd Gen's too. Good luck with that traffic half the time. I don't think I'd want to pull 5,700 up it with my 2015 3.5 or the 4.0 in our 4Runner in any sort of Saturday morning / Sunday mid-day back.

 

My HPDE track days (in other marquees) show those won't do much, if anything.

Bigger brakes (I think there is a Tundra upgrade/mod/swap that might work) are the only way to dissipate more heat. Assuming that's even needed. I'd do nothing until you test it out.

Remember, you have a tow package. The truck is designed to pull it's rated load safely with the brakes it has. And like all things engineered for use by the public, it's likely to be an underrated number. Margin of error and all that.

Your trailer brakes are the big deal. Having those in good working order, having those antisway stabilizer things (forget the name) for the trailer, having the trailer balanced so the tongue weight is proper are all much more important.

Rather than making your daily ride more rigid with spring packs, air bags as @windsor suggested are a good option to keep the rear from sagging too much. Tacomas do have lousy leaf springs when you ask them to do real work.

 

Thanks for info on brakes.... though I may have to replace rotors anyway as I notice a wobble when I first hit the brakes, which sometimes indicates that the rotors are warping. I will be disappointed if that is the case as only have 45k'ish easy miles... we will find out soon.

I have similar mindset that truck was engineered for 6500 with a reasonable margin of topside error.

I plan on having a weight distribution hitch w/anti sway bars.
Also, found a fairly inexpensive scale for checking tongue weights as I understand that forward/rear balance is critical with heavier loads.

Was still evaluating between TSB an air bags. Currently thinking TSB as that is what F-125Racer uses for similar loads...

At present I am thinking that once I retire my DD'ing will be a lot less... but maybe not.