The Tacoma Towing Bible

What weight distribution hitch would you recommend?

 

Probably lack of tow package features such as a engine oil cooler, power steering cooler, transmission cooler (AT Only), frame mounted hitch, larger alternator. Just these at the top of my head.

 

2nd gen with tow package here. Plan on hauling around a 2,500lbs trailer and 3,500lbs car. Will be taking it from San Diego to Sacramento.

When driving on flat roads, 5th or "D" is good or do I need to stay in 4th?

4th going uphill?

4th going downhill?

Thank guys!

 

I would use 4 and drive 55-65mph. Better torque advantage and less chance of gear hunting. Drive no more than 65mph to keep your engine from screaming and decrease drag.

 

So this would apply regardless going uphill, downhill or on flat roads?

If it matters, it's a supercharged taco with 285s.

 

For all possible scenarios. 4th gear will also help keep your RPMs high enough to allow your water pump to spin fast enough for better cooling, aswell as provide better engine braking and battery charging advantages.

 

Agreed on both accounts. I tow our camper, about 5200# loaded. I added a second trans cooler and highly recommend it. While watching temps after, to make sure everything was up to par, 4th was the only way to go. In 5th/OD, the temps climb significantly and quickly, regardless of terrain.

 

Awesome, I appreciate you guys giving me these pointers. First time hauling something this big and far. Hopefully I can borrow the work truck but if not, the taco is going to be the work horse.

 

Wow, this site and you members are so helpful and knowledgeable. It’s awesome! I belong to an Airstream group and the amount of knowledge and help people offer is incredible. Thank you!

My situation is...
I have 2013 prerunner, 2wd, without factory tow. I am adding a tow hitch and will be using a weight distribution hitch to tow a loaded 1957 airstream from one side of Mexico to another. I don’t know the empty weight of the airstream, since I gutted it, I’m guessing 1500-1900lbs; but I want to load 1000-1500lbs in it, and pull it with my Tacoma. I will be adding leaf stiffeners and a trans cooler, but that’s it.
Can you guys tell me how this might go for me? FYI, the trailer does not have brakes installed.

 

you need brakes installed other than that you should be fine. I tow around 5k

 

2014 TRD Offroad, V6, 4X2
Factory Tow package
Truck is Stock w/a 6500# tow capacity

Towing
2019 Key West 239
Dual Axle Trailer w/ surge brakes

I am picking the boat up from the dealership in a week. I figure the boat and trailer, empty, will be at or just under 6000#. I told the dealer not to put any fuel in it.

I'm considering a set of helper Hellwig or Sumo springs to adjust the ride attitude. Will those increase the safety of the tow, or am I wasting money with them?

 

You can do what you want to beef up the springs, but you're going to feel that load back there. Hopefully you're not towing far, you'll notice that weight at any real speeds

 

I am going to be towing a 4400 lb (wet) TT with my 2018 Taco TRD off road with tow package. I have a WD hitch with built in sway control and will be adding Firestone airbags soon. I also have a scan gauge 2 for trans temp monitoring. I am hoping that the OEM trans cooler is enough to keep the trans in range. Although it looks awfully small, Toyota thinks I can tow 6800 lbs with it. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

So, your saying that some helper springs won't turn my Tacoma into an F-250?

 

I wouldn't want an F250, Found on the Road Dead. Have you looked at some of the big ass TT's some of these guys are towing with a Taco? I think my TT at 4400 lbs loaded is very conservative. That is the GVWR for the trailer I haven't weighed it yet but when I load it I think it will be closer to 4000 lbs. Check out the show me what you tow thread.

 

Excellent post. I need to have it weighed sometime. Can you just pull into any truck scale on the hwy? I've been away from this site for a while. As far as towing in OD I do it whenever I can but I'm watching the rpm's and listening / feeling hows she's running. BUT our trailer is basically a glorified popup (Trailmanor 2720 FTW) and comes in around 3000 to 3200 lbs loaded. It's does okay on flat if there's no headwind but the slightest uphill and I'm in 5th or lower accordingly and always manually shifting when towing. I've gotten 17mpg towing that baby.

 

That thread reassured me that I am not the only lunatic on the road! Thanks.

 

I plan on getting my rig weighed. My TT's sticker says GVWR is 4400 lbs, I will be under that. It's a single axle with a hitch weight of 440 lbs. My Taco has a load capacity of 1294 lbs. I will be adding some airbags just to prevent any porpoising.

 

Scales like the ones at a truck-stop are the ones you'll want to hit up.

 

Hauled my M3 from San Diego to Sacramento for a track day at Thunderhill. Was worried about transmission fluid temp so I got a bluetooth OBD2 reader. Trailer was 1,500lbs and car was 3,500lbs plus about 500lbs of tools, gear and etc.

Even going up 6%, the temp never got passed 215°F. Pretty happy with how the truck hauled the car and trailer.