Tow Package

Ok, now i'm regretting not getting a tow package for my prerunner. I want to avoid going to the dealer at all costs and do it myself. Anyone know where I can get the package aftermarket and install it myself?

 

I've heard much debate about this but maybe you know. What exactly is in a tow package? Personally I bought and installed the hitch myself from Toyota. I paid about $140 2 yrs ago.

 

You can get most of it on ebay.
I am not sure about the transmission cooler though.

 

I assume the $140 from the dealer is a chassis hitch correct? I've heard to avoid the bumper hitches. I'm sure that my 4cyl will not need the transmission cooler, but I do want the electrical brake light hookups.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2004...012QQitemZ220166417763QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

Yea it is a chassis mount very simple to install. As far as the elec. hook-up I bought a harness that is vehicle specific that plugs in to the rear brake light and goes to a standard 4 flat plug. Whole install elec. and hitch took 30 min.
I got the harness at Wally World rollback $29.97.

 

Good deal, I'll look into it. I'm sure I can find a compatible aftermarket chassis hitch for less than $140. Thanks.

 

hitch
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOYO...017QQitemZ270183831152QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

The reason i went OEM was the other ones i looked at i either had to drill the frame or move the tire. But again i didn't look to hard.

 

Sooner or later I am going to write the be-all and end-all FAQ about anything to do with Tacoma's and towing and have tcBob sticky it to the top of all the forums.

First question. What are you intending to tow, what's it's frontal area, what's it's weight, does it have trailer brakes, what distances and under what conditions are you planning to tow. etc. I need a little more information before I can tell you exactly what parts of the towing package you will need.

Second statement. An I4 could not have been optioned with a true factory installed towing package. A true towing package (with everything needed to safely tow a trailer before the gen 1 guys start argueing with me again) has only ever been offered on the gen 2 v6 trucks.

That said, you can get a receiver hitch, for about $120 or so I think, (I have not priced them recently), you can get a plug and play 4-flat harness for about $30.00, and a heavy duty trans cooler for about $60.00 so there you are ready to tow your small boat, jet-ski, or yard and garden utility trailer for $210.00.

Now if you are looking at an enclosed motorcycle, or car hauler with brakes, or an RV, then you are going to need a brake controler, the bigger battery and alternator (not sure if the alternator will even be possible on the 2.7).

Let me know more about your intended application and I'll break it all down a little bit more.

The gen2 v6 trucks can come with what is known as a "full" towing package. That includes: Larger battery and alternator, extra engine oil cooler, extra trans cooler (auto only), class 4 receiver hitch, and functional seven pin round harness, and it is pre-wired for a brake controler.

140 is not too bad for a receiver hitch, but I suspect that you could get a drawtite or hidden hitch for about 100-120.

A trans cooler can be added aftermarket. I would not bother with ordering one from Toyota and I would go straight to after market and I would only reccomend B&M. Something like this http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10002_31948_-1. It is pretty simple to install if you are a fair shade tree mechanic Cut the line to the initiall cooler (in the bottom of the radiator) splice in the trans cooler. Essentially so the the coolant goes from trans to primary cooler (in the bottom of the radiator) into the supplimental cooler (the one you are installing), and then back to the transmission. That is a very rudimentary set of instructions, but if you want to do this then let me know, and I'll try to get a lot more detailed about it.

 

Thanks for the reply, I'm sure I will not need anything more than a chassis mount hitch and a brake light electrical hookup. With my 4cyl, im sure i won't be pulling any large boats or anything like that to even need the trans cooler. If i wanted that I should have gone with the V6. Now I just need to find one that matches up with the hole in the chassis so that I dont have to do any drilling.

 

As long as it is a reputable company (Reese, Drawtite, Hidden Hitch) it will mount to factory holes.

I personally have used Hidden Hitch products on vehicles in the past that did not have factory tow packages, and was very happy with their products. By happy I mean all you see after install is the 2x2 square so they are very sleek and not obtrusive, and the 2x2 receiver is flush with the edge of the bumper or even recessed under the truck a bit. Nothing is worse then walking around the back of your truck the way you are used to and walking too close to the bumper and nailing your shin on receiver. Trust me. (read as valley and layton hitches here)

 

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

I have towed up to 4000+ lbs with my 2.7L, but I don't really recommend it. The tow package that I got from the dealer was a dealer install (2" receiver + 4-wire light hookup). If you are towing an average 3000 lb trailer, this setup is really all you need.

I got this because I intend to tow a 2700 lb Catalina 23' (sailboat) + trailer on rare occasions, but I also need the best fuel economy possible (so far 26K miles in 10 months).

Like Adam said, go with a reputable company. I have had great dealings with Hidden Hitch (98 Jetta TDI) and DrawTite (89 Honda Accord and 93 Subaru Legacy).

 

Mav491 Tell them like it is. Always put a tranny cooler in when towing, never tow anything that is going to be beyone what you Taco can handle. When you buy a hitch from Drawtight or any good manufacturer talk to the guys who install them about what your doing and listen to them.
Nothing is worse than towing something and having "it" be in control.

Jeff
06,V6,SR5, 4x4, 6spd, Brilliant Red

 

Hi Guys –
My first post on this board – Nice site you have here.
Question – I have a new sr5 DC 4x4 – No tow package. The bumper can supposedly handle 3500lbs with just the addition of a ball and a lights wiring harness– Is this true?
I’ll be getting a duck boat next season and the biggest one I have looked at weighs about 2500 lbs with the motor and trailer. Most of the others are a good bight lighter than this. Would I need anything like a transmission cooler and a frame mounted hitch to pull this much weight 100 miles - say 10 to 15 time a year??? – I already added a Detroit truetrac rear-end that will help in the icy ramps. I’m also looking at a 16/17 foot Lund that would weigh in at around 1900lbs for fishing.
Thanks
JJK

 

A trans cooler is relatively cheep, say 80 bucks for the part, and it is something that you could do yourself, or probably aboutt another 50-75 for a mechanic to put it in. Heat is what kills automatic transmissions, so there is no such thing as too cool.

As for sticking a ball on the bumper, the problem you'll run into is the angle of the trailer. A receiver will enable you to use the correct size drop down draw bar so that the trailer sits completely level or in a slightly nose down position for your most stable and safest towing position.

I have decided to put all of my considerable towing experience into one post, which will cover everything I can think of about the right and wrong ways to tow and the safe and un-safe things you can do while towing.

It should be finished this weekend.

I'll link it in all towing related threads.

 

That has to be the fastest answer in the history of the Internet – Thanks for the extremely fast reply!
JJK

 

Right on the money, Mav491 Take heed all newbie towing enthusiast's.

Jeff
06,V6,6spd, SR5, Brilliant Red

 

Wow - lots of great info here. I bought my 07 used about 3 months ago and am unsure what towing package it has. It does have the chassis mounted hitch with the square receiver and the round plug and has the 110v AC source in the bed.

My truck is a TRD SPORT with the 4.0 V6 and the only thing I had planned to tow with it would be my Seadoo jetboat. However, I am looking at a vintage musclecar some 350 miles from home and may need to tow it back. I plan to rent a trailer from Uhaul. The car probably weighs in around 3500lbs?

What do I need to check to be sure my truck is up to the task here?