Advice on making towing upgrades on a 1st gen.

i am confused about whether or not 1st gen have tow packages. After reading the tow bible i have learned that 1st gen do not come with tow packages. When i look at my 2003 manual under capacity for towing and cargo weight it shows my engine 5VZ-FE GCWR 7500. then under that it is with tow package 10,000.
So what type of truck has a 5VZ-FE engine with tow package that my manual is describing?

I want to tow a travel trailer with my truck but have determined that i need a truck with a greater GCWR (10,000 would be perfect) I am really stuck on 1st gen trucks and think they are just simply built better than newer gen.. and i am stubborn and really want to stick with 1st gen... Are there 1st gens with a higher tow capacity other than 3500?

If not then does anyone have experience with making upgrades to there truck and care to share their story?
(bigger battery, alternator, tundra brakes, suspension, trans cooler) I know the simple answer is to buy a tundra but i really dont want a V8.

Im stuck on thinking 1st gen are the best toyotas on the market and nothing else compares..

 

Transmission cooler, Tundra brakes, and AAL to start.

It's a light truck so make sure you load balance your trailers very carefully.

Assuming your an auto, turn OD off. It will lock up your torque converter in 3rd gear.

 

Thanks! im pretty aware of most of the upgrades that i would need to make, was wondering if anyone has had first hand experience and would recommend it (those who are stubborn like me a refuse to own anything other than a 1st gen)

 

Keep in mind that additions and upgrades do not increase your official tow capacity or gross vehicle weight rating that your truck left the factory with. After market additions may increase safety, and improve the towing experience but they don’t increase the weight ratings. Your factory weight ratings remain the same regardless of upgrades.

 

anyone care to answer my question about any 1st gen with a tow capacity higher than 3,500? If you google 2003 tow capacity it says between 3,500 and 5,000.. what is the model that offers 5,000. i cant seem to figure this out... if i had that model than i would feel better about towing.

 

I've never towed with my 1st gen but I've hauled a ton. One thing I recomend is an oversized trans cooler and just connect it prior to you stock cooler to keep from over cooling your fluid in colder climates.

Also, a scan gauge tool or app to monitor trans temps as your trans fluid change intervals are predicated on how hot you fluid gets.

Another fluid that will need more changing would be your rear diff fluid, all depending on how much you are towing.

 

I I think
I think you have to go by what you posted. If green you can tow 5000lbs, if not 3500.

 

I definitely dont have a tow package. My question is what type of tacoma has this tow package that can tow 6,000? is it a 2003?

 

Thank you this is good advise! i have a manual trans so i dont need to worry about any cooler or gauge right?

 

The tow package comes with pink style fan clutch, hitch and that is rated at 5K. A extern transmission cooler if an auto would be recommended.

 

Yes and no. There is manual trans fluid but there isnt anyway to cool it really however there isnt much need to. I'd just change it about every 75-100k miles but I'm not an expert on it. I dont know how much more work that fluid will have to do when towing.

But you may need to worry about your clutch. A heavy duty clutch may be in order depending on your drive style, towing load, etc... If you start smelling burning clutch, considering upgrading. This will also help with engine braking.