Brake Controller - Non-Tow Package

Not trying to hassle you but your truck without tow package has a max tow weight of 3500 lbs and with tow package a max of 6800 lbs. The 5600 lbs you refer to is not your tow weight rating it is your GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). GVWR is
the maximum loaded weight of your vehicle , as determined by the manufacturer. GVWR isn't just the weight of passengers and cargo but also the vehicle itself. The gross vehicle weight rating is all about safety. So the 5600 is the max weight which includes the truck, passengers, cargo in the bed of the truck, fuel and tongue weight of a trailer (not the weight of the trailer). So without the tow package your max trailer weight is 3500 lbs.

 

no worries, I appreciate the education. I certainly do not want to mess up my truck or haul to much. What would be the difference in me adding the proper equipment versus the truck coming with the same equipment? Again I appreciate the education on this. thanks, Justin

 

To answer on what I am towing. I am looking at pop up camper (highwall). dry weight is 3055, GVWR is 3770

 

That is a problem. No matter what you do to the truck or add to the truck you can’t change the official weight ratings assigned at the factory. Only the manufacturer can change the ratings and they don’t do that. By adding various equipment the truck may tow better, ride better and smoother, stop better but it won’t change to tow rating. Lots of people with the 3500lb rating tow heavy but you are at increased liability when doing so. Also you may experience higher tranny temps if you don’t have the tranny cooler, or engine oil cooler and experience other problems. Basically it’s exceed the ratings at your own risk.

 

Where can I find that data officially documented (on rated towing capacity)? I have seen several post about looking up vin# but I looked mine up on the toyota site and it does not show tow capacity. I just want to have all the data to make the right choice. I appreciate you informing because I had no idea.

 

You are probably ok as long as you don’t load the pop up with a lot of stuff. Split the things you plan to carry between the truck and the pop up. Enjoy.

 

Your tow rating is in the owners manual

 

I called Toyota and had them run the VIN#. You are correct its 3500#. Worse case scenario I added a trans cooler to two smaller loads and I can send the brake controller back if I decide not to use it.

 

You should be fine with the trailer you plan to get.even if you go over tow capacity a little I wouldn’t worry about. Your engine has plenty of power, no problem there. Only thing I’d do would be to add a tranny cooler (I assume you made an automatic) and it sounds like you already did that. And I’d keep and install the brake controller. You should be fine with your pop up even if you are a couple hundred pounds over. The brake controller will just make stopping a lot better. I’d much rather have a controller than not. Just tow it and enjoy it.

 

FWIW: Items like the auxiliary external transmission oil cooler and supplementary engine oil cooler (part of the tow package) are also items that increase the tow rating of the truck. That is: even if you installed a Class IV hitch yourself, without those two items, it wouldn't automatically,boost the maximum trailer rating to 6,500 lbs. I personally wouldn't tow anything (even below 3,500 lbs) without an external transmission fluid cooler on the truck and trailer brakes on the trailer itself.

 

No matter what you do to the truck you cannot officially increase the tow capacity beyond what it was designated by the manufacturer. He may be able to tow over 3500 lbs safely adding various things like tranny cooler, oil cooler, HD alternator but the truck is still rated 3500 lbs as it came from the factory. Only the manufacturer can change tow rating and that will never happen. So 3500 lbs is his max legally no matter what he does to the truck. If he exceeds the max by a couple hundred lbs no one will know and it won’t make any difference . If he obviously exceeds the limit by say 1000 lbs or more he could be in deep shit if he is involved in an accident.

 

No argument here. Just making the point that the vehicle with the factory tow package has a higher tow rating than one without it. There is a footnote in the e-brochure and I believe it's in my owner's manual as well.