The Tacoma Towing Bible

Will the size of it allow it to be put in the little storage area right above where you have it mounted, if not maybe with a little cutting/modding? If you could get it in there that would be an ideal location, you could just drop it down when you needed to use it then close it when you didn't and it would be out of the way and out of sight. Also would help not bump it.

 

You mean the size of the controller? I do not think so. Even if I cut it (the tray in the storage are you are talking about), there is not enough space in there... I really like it where it is.

It is rare occasion if I bump it. I did a few times at the beginning but not anymore.



I would not mind bumping the hottie on your sig...

 

tundra wont happen. dmax or cummins will. lol

 

not in our lifetime but the next one for sure. Toyo is tops for me.

 

I did this:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...ntroller-install-location-2013-prerunner.html

 

I have a 4 cylinder 2010 Tacoma. Is it possible there is no plug there? It did not come with a tow package. I have searched multiple messages and looked for a couple of hours. My back and neck are aching. Is there a wiring diagram to hook it up myself without the plug?

 

Wow! Towing Bible it is! Plan on following it to the "T." Thanks so much for the multi-subject information regarding topics I'd never would have considered. You've probably saved me from myself and provided information to keep me, and mine, SAFE. You're awesome.

 

Hey Guys/Gals quick question. I have a 2012 Toyota Tacoma TxPro with a towing package and a 7 pin plug. It came with the pig tail to hook up a brake control, but for the life of me I can't find where to plug it in. It says in the manual above the kick panel. Is it possible my remote start is plugged into this adapter? If so how do I go about plugging in my brake control? I figured I would ask before I rip my remote start out! Thanks in advance!!!!

 

I don't know about the remote start, bit I do know that mine was tucked down almost in the body panel up above the kick panel. I spent hours looking and ended up taking to a local truck accessory place to get a tech to find it.

 

it is hidden in the left side kick panel. remove that panel and you will find it.

 

Thanks guys! Ya it is really buried up there. I depressed the emergency brake and had to do it by feel instead of sight. What a pain!!! Thanks again!

 

glad you found it.

 

If your truck did not come with a tow package it will not be be wired for it. You can add aftermarket wiring and hitch. I added the wiring harness for my 05 that had a hitch but no wiring when I purchased it. If you check out etrailer.com they supplied me with everything I needed to first convert to a 4 pole wiring harness and then later to a 7 pole with brake controller.

Adding a 4 pole harness is relatively easy and pretty much plug n play. The addition of the 7 pole is a little more technical but can be done.

 

This is my experience…..I bought a 2013 PreRunner DC 4 cylinder. I wanted a 4 cylinder as I have a long daily commute and didn’t want to sacrifice the mpg for the 0.1% of towing that I do. I have a small single axle trailer with electric brakes that is about 3200 lbs. when loaded. The tow package wasn’t an available option and the truck wasn’t prewired either. Right after I got it home I started buying everything to add the factory tow package. I bought the factory hitch, the factory wiring harness, and the factory trans cooler for the V6. The factory wiring harness is a very complete kit, but it does take a lot of time to wire in the truck. It is a 4 pin connector, which I modified the harness with 1 additional wire for the brake controller and added the 7 pin connector. I mounted the brake controller in the center console (pic on page 33 of this post) and wired it from the battery . Because I had a lot of the interior apart I also added a 12V plug in the back of the console and wired it to the battery. The whole job took about a week, but the results look factory. Following the installation I then took the truck on a 5000 mile cross country trip, towing 1000 lbs. for half and 3200 lbs. for the 2nd half. The truck did a great job towing and still got reasonable mpg.

 

Thanks Maverick. The Bible is the best. I'm adding an aftermarket tow package to my 07 V6 4X4 DC LB and this is just what I needed.

So far I've picked up a Curt receiver package with T- connector, ball and draw bar and a 4 to 7 way + 4 trailer connector. Adding an activator II brake controller trying to keep costs down.

I'll be hauling a Bantam lite B19 hybrid TT at 2885#. Truck is out of warranty so too late for the suspension TSB. Has anyone used the Hellwig add-on load levelers? Looking at the EZ550's or EZ990's. Seem to be a cheaper and easier solution to the weak spring problem. Wife suggested the trailer 2 weeks after I fixed a broken wrap around spring on my 3 leaf rears. Don't want to do that again and not looking to lift the truck just control the load drop.

Thinking I should add trans and oil cooler, 130 amp alternator and larger battery as per the Bible. Suggestions on which order to add these items as funds will be stretched out over time?

My battery is the original factory battery so I'm guessing that will need a replacement this winter. Factory is 710 amps, what is the tow package amperage?

How large should the coolers be? I did find a oil filter Sandwich Adapter online that fits under the oil filter and allows you to run oil lines to a generic oil cooler cost about $100 - $150 for both depending on the oil cooler. Adapter was $30.00. Hope that may help the members looking at the factory kits.

With this weight should I also be looking for a WD hitch? Former owner towed it with a Tundra and had no problems.
Love the forum. Picked up a lot of good advice.
Wayne

 

I've got a 07 tacoma double cab with no towing package, which gives me 5000# towing capacity. for the 5000# is that the weight of the trailer sitting on a scale by itself or is that the amount sitting on the wheels of the trailer when the trailer is hooked up to my truck and WD hooked up?
also I have read that the GCWR for a tocoma with the towing package is 11100, would this be different for my truck if so does anyone know the GCWR for my truck?
as it sits with my TT loaded to go camping sitting on the scale by itself comes in at just under 5000#. that was loaded for a weekend trip, so if i were to go for longer i would most definitely be over 5000#.

If it is the weight of the trailer sitting on the scale by itself then I will be in the market for a tacoma with towing package, if it is the weight while hooked to the truck then i am good to go with my current setup

thanks

David

 

It's the Gross Trailer Weight (the total, loaded weight of the trailer, alone).

 

Unless I missed it, what are the name brand of the mirrors and do you have ordering information?
Really appreciate all your other input!

Bobbo

 

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/cipa-universal-tow-mirror/21154

That is the mirrors, there was a link that still worked for me at the top of the thread, though after 6 years of use they pissed me off for the last time last weekend. (over time the rubber pads deteriorate and the mirrors shift while in transit)

I am now a proponent of the dodge style towing mirrors made to fit the tacoma.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/group-buys/244365-proefx-towing-mirrors.html

Prices are listed in both links so if price is the concern you can make your decision based on that information as well.

 

I am looking at a Lance 2185 with a dry weight of 3850 and look to load no more than 5000 lbs. I have a 2012 double cab wiht factory towing pkg. Any experinece with the the tacoma with this much weight?