The Tacoma Towing Bible

When the TC unlocks, the pan temp stays about the same but the torque converter temp goes up a few degrees fairly quickly. Scangauge is just displaying the changes for information purposes.

 

Next time I am out and think of it, I'll grab a short vid and see if I can't make an animated .gif. Temperatures climb rapidly when the converter is unlocked and the truck is working to maintain speed. You don't even have to be towing to see the spike. I've seen mine jump 3-5 deg (F) per second while the fluid coming back from the cooler stays relatively flat or slowly increases. As soon as I shift into S4 temps leaving the converter immediately drop at a similar rate that they rose.

Why wouldn't the temp of the ATF rise? Thermal dynamics says it has to.

 

I meant instantly. The rpms will noticeably increase before the temp. I know the temp will Increase. It's literally exactly what I said. That it'd take some time.

 

My bad, by take some time I thought you meant minutes and minutes. Should have asked what you meant by some time.

In less than 25 seconds I have seen what was a cool temp out of the converter ~ 185 F get up to 220 F. Unlocked converter in 5th and a long, gradual uphill. So ya, definable not instant but you instantly start to see the temp rise a degree or several at a time when unlocked and under load. Towing is much quicker as the load is heavier.

 

I have a 2018 SX195 that I have towed with both my 2015 and now my 2018 TRDOR. both have done great.

 

I have an 04 SR5 3.4L 2WD automatic, and recently installed a class 3 receiver hitch and wiring converter, for lights only. I only wanted a hitch to pull a very light kayak trailer from time to time, and to have some "extra armor" in case I get rear-ended in traffic, lol.
I'm an auto technician, preparing to relocate my toolboxes to a new location. I plan on renting a U-Haul trailer with hydraulic "inertia brake" system. All my gear couldn't weigh more than 3k lbs, and the trip is around 30 miles or so.
Obviously I'll be disabling the overdrive, but I'm concerned about cooking the trans as I have 240k on the clock and no auxillary cooler.
Should I play it safe and make two trips? TIA, any and all replies are appreciated.

 

That depends... Are you in a hot climate? Will you be hauling uphill? If you're really concerned about it, hook up a device to monitor your trans temp or make two trips since not that far. If no hills and cool air temps, I wouldn't worry about it. Just take it slow. Don't forget about the trailer weight too. 3000 lbs of tools plus a 1000 - 2000 lb trailer? Could be pushing your max tow or tongue weight.

 

I'm in South Texas, but we're only getting highs around 80 this time of year. I'm also likely overestimating the weight of my toolboxes and equipment by a fair amount. The trailer itself is around ~800 lbs empty, and there are a half-dozen or so moderate inclines along the route, but none more than a half-mile long. I'll probably make two trips just to be safe. Thanks for the reply, buddy!

 

I missed this. How did the hauling go?
I live in Colorado where high altitudes and steep mountains overheat even diesels. When I first got my ‘03 3.4 l DC 4x4 OR I immediately added a tranny cooler. It has worked well.

 

A couple of things pop out. First you obviously don’t have the tow package. So the weight of your tools plus the trailer is going to exceed your tow capacity. You are only guessing on the weight so the tools may actually exceed 3000lbs. So yes make 2 trips to stay within tow weight capacity.
I don’t understand you are “disabling “ the overdrive. You don’t disable the overdrive, you just drive in D4 not D5, which you should do whenever you tow (per the owners manual)
You say you are an auto technician, does that mean you are a mechanic ? If so why haven’t you installed a tranny cooler already? Simple job for a mechanic and whether you tow or not it would help prolong the life of your tranny. Since you are an auto technician/mechanic you should know the answer to all your questions.
Anyway I wish you good fortune in your towing endeavors.

 

Anyone used these?

Power Stop K137-36 Front Z36 Truck & Tow Brake Kit, Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads and Drilled and Slotted Brake Rotors For Toyota 4Runner FJ Cruiser Tacoma 6 Lug

$230 Power Stop Front Truck & Tow Brake Kit For 2005-2009 Toyota 4Runner, 2004-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2016-2023 Tacoma - 6 Lug Drilled and Slotted Rotors Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads Replacement

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UB8X94

 

Those look good, I've not used those myself. I bought this EBC kit

EBC S4KF1494 Stage-4 Signature Brake Kit, BLACK

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0084L3P2C and have been happy with it. It made a considerable difference in the braking force.

 

Just picked this little guy up. It’s just over 2k lbs empty. I suspect being around 2500 once gear is loaded etc.

It seems like the sweet spot towing with the 3rd gen auto trans is around 55-60mph. Would you agree? It was a quite windy day when I picked it up and 65mph was around 4K rpm, wouldn’t shift to the next gear.

 

I occasionally tow a similar sized trailer with my 2nd Gen and I'd prefer to have the engine at 4k rpm staying in one gear than a lower rpm with the transmission hunting. Have fun camping!

 

The speed you travel will depend on the terrain and weather for each trip. I'm typically traveling between 55-65mph on the interstate with a trailer. As a general rule when towing, unless there is no wind and the road is very flat, I put the transmission in 4th gear. That keeps the trans from hunting for gears which will cause extra strain on the powertrain. In the 2nd gen auto trans, 4th gear is a 1:1 output ratio, 5th gear is a OD .71:1 ratio. In the 3rd gen you get an extra OD gear, but is still 1:1 in 4th gear. Overdrive gears were never meant to be a towing gears. On occasions when the road was flat and I had no wind or a good tail wind, I'll move the trans into overdrive. But if either of those things change I'll downshift from overdrive. I don't wait for the engine to bog down before change the gear. Assuming the trans is the same from '19 to '23, this chart should be helpful to see the different gear ratios.

 

This is awesome info. Thank you!

 

I got a 2018 w/ tow package and I installed a brake controller already. I pick up travel trailer tomorrow coming in at total length of 21 feet and 3100lbs. My question is should I be fine towing it home about 50 miles without a weight distribution hitch?
I plan on putting one on when I get home instead of the dealer charging me 800 to put one on before I leave. Thanks for anyone’s input. This is the biggest thing I have towed with the Tacoma it’s always towed my 18 foot Achilles no problem but that’s only 1500-2000lbs

 

I tow a Little Guy Max (3150 lbs) without a WDH.

I do not think they are necessary with this small of a trailer. Of course, if I was to get one, I would get an Anderson. Some WDHs put an excessive load on the trailer frame, causing failures.

YMMV

 

That’s good to know thanks for the input. I have seen some of those failure videos and that would absolutely suck.

 

I tow a 3,500 lb GVW Casita through the Rockies. I have only used a sway control and it has worked fine, but I have heavier rear springs on my lifted 2015 Tacoma OR. Winds, particularly cross winds are your swaying enemy.