Towing help

I got an 05 taco with the tow bar but it doesn't have a transmission cooler. So, I'm assuming it didn't come this way stock. My question is, if I want to tow a little 5x10 dump trailer, do I need to add a cooler? Is there anything else I need to upgrade to make sure she can handle the tow?

 

Dump trailers are inherently heavy.
How far are you towing it? Will you be towing up long hills?
How often do you plan to tow it?

Just this one time?
If so, I wouldn’t worry about it.
Keep the truck un 4th gear and get it done. Remember, anything over 3,500-4,000 lbs is no fun at all to tow with the Tacoma.

 

I would be towing often. I own a roofing company and I want to eventually buy something bigger to tow the trailer. But for right now I just want to do upgrades(if there are any) that would make towing it full, easier on my truck.

 

1st off, automatic transmission, right?

So yeah, a 5x10 full with roofing materials would likely be over tow capacity even with the towing package. If you’re doing this often, Tacoma is too small. Until you can get a bigger truck, add a trans cooler, brake controller, and airbags

 

Check this out for my experience

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...usiness-bay-area-hauling-junk-removal.715700/

I would recommend getting a used 6.0 or 7.3 f250/f350 etc

 

Yeah I more than likely won't fill it over filling full to compacity but just want my truck to be able to tow with no issues if there happens to be a little more weight in it one day than another. Definitely not gonna put 10k lbs in it and bomb down a hill or nothing.

 

No, it's a 6 speed manual

 

The manual doesn't have a transmission cooler, even with the tow package.

 

That makes sense. So is there a need to add one?

 

No. No need at all.
All the heat is generated at the clutch disk. You definitely need trailer brakes.
The only other upgrade you might look into is an engine oil cooler.

Does your truck have the factory 7-way trailer connector? If so, you might already have the oil cooler.

 

It has one yes, but I don't know if it came from the factory that way. Is there any way to tell if it did come that way?

 

Your clutch is gonna hate this. Especially backing it up full in reverse. If you have 4x4 maybe look into the 2lo mod.

 

Yeah, send us pics of the hitch/connector, your oil filter, and fuse box. If it has the factory towing package you are fully pre-wired to plug in a brake controller

 

Yeah, looks factory to me. You should then also have the sandwich plate with coolant lines under your oil filter.

there’s a plug taped up under the dash (somewhere by left shin) for a brake controller to plug in.

Edit: I would seriously consider airbags too. So you don’t ride on the bumps stops while towing with nose high which also diminishes traction on front axle some (thinking steering/braking)

 

Yes, it's there. Actually just ordered a wireless break controller couple days ago. Really appreciate your help. Also, max load capacity on the trailer is only 5500. Tacoma should be 6500 with the package right? Just wanted to make having to tow easier on my truck. Don't really want to tow with it, but until I can get a shitty f150, I just wanted to make sure I was even able to tow to begin with. So thank you

 

Max load is usually the max the trailer can haul.
You need to see how much the trailer weighs, then add that to the “max load”.
Trailer+load=total you will be hauling.

 

5x10 dump trailers gotta be ~2.5k lbs empty

 

I agree with adding airbags if he wants his rear suspension to last (and work under that load), but they make no difference to weight on front axle. You are only lifting the rear. You would need a weight distribution hitch if you want to shift weight to the front axle.

 

Shingles are heavy won't take much to over load it. It doesn't have a trans cooler but it does have a oil cooler with the manual and tow package. When I backup with mine with a trailer I just shift into low range, no people before you jump on that it will not damage the drive line, if it fights you your turning too tight.