Do I need a factory tow package?

I am shopping for a new ('09) Tacoma, one that I am looking at does not have the tow package. What would I need to install to get it tow ready? Approx. how much am I looking at to get this done? I will be towing a pop-up camper.

 

The benefits with the factory tow package (atleast, on my 07) is....
If you get an AUTOMATIC - the factory tow package comes with a tranny & oil cooler and a 6500lb tow rating.

How much does the pop-up weigh?

 

I tow a small fishing boat. The truck I was looking at had no tow package. I asked the dealer if they would install an aftermarket hitch for me as part of the deal and they did. They sent the truck to a local shop and had a Draw-Tite hitch installed and trailer lights installed. They did it as part of the deal, no charge.

 

How much does the prospective pop-up camper weigh? Does the pop-up camper use a 4-flat, 5-flat, or 7 round plug? Are you always connected to shore power when you camp or do you use the battery system of the trailer? Are you pretty much set with the pop-up you have or are you going to be upgrading to a larger pop-up or a hard side within the lifespan of this truck? Are you looking at a v6 or a 4-cyl? If you are looking at a 4-cyl then the point is moot since the 4-cyl does not have the tow package as an option.

I need the answers to those questions before I can accurately advise you. Long story short. The tow package provides larger alternator and battery (to support the charging system of trailer batteries), it provides a supplimental engine oil cooler, and a supplimental tranny cooler (Automatic only), as well as a class IV hitch rated to 6500lbs (650 tongue weight), and a fully connected 7-round trailer plug, with a plug and play harness for the brake controller.

You can add a class III hitch yourself (rated to 5000 lbs 500 tongue weight) as well as a tranny cooler (if automatic) and fully functional wiring, for less than 500 bucks, the bigger alternator and battery will be a pain in the ass, and the engine oil cooler borders on a nightmare both for cost and difficulty of install.

To sum-up the tow package costs something like 600 bucks, in my oppinion that is money well spent if you are going to do any kind of towing at all just for the lack of agravation in having to assemeble 7/10ths of it yourself, and in the piece of mind in knowing that the tow rating is there if you need it.

Have the dealer work out a trade with another dealer or order the one you want and get it with the tow package.

Give me a little more infor on the prospective truck and the pop-up in question and I'll try to answer more specifically.

Regards,

 

the real cost of anything is the difference between what you spend for it and the price you can sell it for. I would suspect the presence of the tow package will add value to the Tacoma.

One tends to upgrade trailers, by the way. I started with this Tacoma and a 2800 GVWR pop up. Well, now it's a 4,000 GVWR pop up! And, didn't need to do anything to the Tacoma, as Maverick said, it's fully wired to a 7 wire round connector (you get a 7 pin adaptor) and adding the brake controller was, as I remember, two pigtails to a Toyota supplied adaptor and connector in the dash.

Include your possible future plans in your thinking!

 

I don't tow often but I wanted a truck with the towing package just for peace of mind.

 

Same here....

 

I bought a reg cab no tow package the dealer wanted like 500-600 hundred I dont remember it was way to much so I just went to JCwhitney.com and bought a curt class 3 hitch and the trailer light harness for a 05 + tacoma it plugs right in no cutting wires and put the hitch on myself it was not difficult no drilling no wire cutting it bolts right up the hardest part was bolting the bumper back on by myself ! very happy with it ,tows whatever I have needed to tow often boats up to 21 + feet ! Oh I think I may have spent $225.00 on the whole deal and it took me about 1.5 hours taking my time at it !

 

I think the list price on the towing package was something like $650. As has been posted in a number of places, in addition to the factory installed hitch carrier, all wiring to a mounted 7 pin connector and a plug in place and adaptor under the dash for a brake controller, it includes a heavier alternator, bigger battery, transmission oil cooler and engine oil cooler. All added up to a towing capacity of 6500 pounds. To me, the factory package was a better deal and I feel more comfortable towing with the extra 'other' items that come with the package.