The Tacoma Towing Bible

I almost always tow in "D". I have a Scan Gauge II monitor and watch trans fluid temp. Not sure if it is pre or post cooler, but towing temp usually stays in the 220-240 range. Not much different than not towing. My theory is to let the truck do what the engineers designed it to do. Hopefully that pans out for me in the long run. This is my third small Toyota truck that I bought new. 1987-200,000+ miles, 1999 50,000+miles lost in divorce, 2012 30,000 miles so far. Towed in mountains with all of them.

 

The whether to tow in D or 4 doesn't apply to a manual. It's about the torque converter and heat which a manual lacks a torque converter and heat is rarely a factory with a manual transmission. Tow in whichever gear works best for that situation and no need to worry about excessive shifting.

One member here claimed that in the Toyota owners manual it is stated to ONLY tow in 4. I didn't see that in my manual and I did ask for a page number from the member who stated such. I either never saw the reply or they never replied. Basically what was said in the above quote is correct. You should be fine in OD. You could use 4 only to be safe than sorry but it'll get worse MPGs.

 

I find this hard to believe myself, but here it is, from the 2014 Owner's Manual page 237:

● To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system performance
when using engine braking, do not use fifth gear (5-speed manual transmission),
sixth gear (6-speed manual transmission), or do not put the transmission in
D (automatic transmission).

Okay, it does say "when using engine braking", I would assume this would mean in a situation like driving down a hill or such.

 

The actual gear "D" does not apply to manuals, you're right. However, the CONCEPT of using the highest or over-drive gear while towing applies to both.

An auto will switch between gears frequently if you're towing in too high of a gear, regardless of if you're in D or 4.

A manual will lug the engine, and potentially stall if you're in too high of a gear because it can't automatically drop down a gear to prevent stalling.

Either way, you need to pay attention.

 

Is there anything special I should know about towing with a 6 speed manual tranny? I have a 20ft dual axle travel trailer with brakes. She weighs 3500lbs empty and has a tongue weight of 500lbs. We live in the Sierra Foothills about an hour west of the Rubicon Trail and Lake Tahoe so curvy country roads with steep grades are pretty much the norm around here.

We normally haul her with hubby's big ole 95 F-250 4x4 long bed automatic but between the 2, that's almost 40 feet of vehicle. I hardly ever drive his beast and because it sits so high, it's a challenge for me to back the trailer up without having to get out a million times to see what's going on back there. I do much better in my Tacoma but hubby doesn't think my Blue is big enough to tow my trailer. I do have the factory installed tow package.

 

With the factory tow package and V6 I think you would be fine. That combo is rated for 6500lbs and 650lbs tongue weight. Just remember to leave more distance between you and other cars, and pay attention to the engine. If it starts to lug/struggle, then downshift. I can tow in 6th no problem on flats or down grades. Going up I have to shift sooner, and keep the RPMs higher than when not towing.

You'll also have to swing wider than normal, and backing up just became more fun. Being a 20ft dual axle, it'll probably track better than some of the landscape trailers I've towed. You'll also need to slow down on rough roads and for bumps, and keep an eye on sway. If the trailer starts to sway and jerk the rear of the truck back and forth, just slow down until it subsides and keep your speed below that threshold.

 

maverick491: your Towing Bible is timeless, as valuable to us towing novices now as it was seven years ago. Many thanks.

 

Hi, I've never really towed anything but I'm always loading the bed up with stuff for work. Recently I've been hauling long loads and was planning on getting a Thule rack or something for putting everything on top of the cab and across the bed.

http://www.autoanything.com/truck-racks/thule-xsporter-pro-500-truck-rack

I found a trailer hitch extender that I was thinking about as well. If I was going to go this route...

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...93395030E35C25F5977645789FACB&selectedIndex=0

The weight would be Distributed inthe bed and on the extender of course. I'm just trying to figure out which would be better.. Having 500 lbs of weight up high above the cab or low and off the back of the truck.

My question is that even though I'm not towing, Would the tongue weight be the same for a trailer hitch extender? ( 650 lbs )


http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...93395030E35C25F5977645789FACB&selectedIndex=0

Thanks to anyone who can give me some info..

 

thats weird that a second gen can only tow 500 more lbs and 50 lb more tongue weight than me...I figured they would be much higher.

 

Well actually if im reading it right the gen 1 are 5000 and 500 tongue weight.

So its 1500
and 150 tongue weight more then the gen 1's

 

False,

my tow package is Factory -

and on the tow package it says
6000
and 600 tongue weight.

 

Oh, I was just going off the post by the op.

 

Yea this thread rocks. Just got back from a family trip up the Cali coast from Huntington Beach to Monterey and back. Camped in Pismo beach and Big Sur. 800 mi round trip. Pulled our Pop Up camper (about 3000 lbs loaded up down grades and tight twisties - I realize that's a light load but going up steep grades the truck works hard). Not to mention the truck has 4 people and about 300lbs of gear too. I only leave it in D on flat or slightly downhill sections. Otherwise 4 or lower depending on the terrain. I've pulled it up to Mammoth and Big bear 8000 ft Elev. No problem! Here's a few pics from the latest trip.

 

So what suspension mods would you suggest to tow with a 98 2.4l?
I was thinking air bags would do the trick to level the bed, is that correct ?

 

They are indeed ( 263k mi ) and it has had a fiberglass topper on all the while. It still sits level now with the topper and a raised bed platform in it. What springs would be good for it or would the air bags be enough?

 

Ok thanks, I'm not planning on rock climbing or off road suff so the bags would probably work out then .

 

Where does it say you can tow 6000 #s? According to the 2nd post also, 1st gens NEVER came with a towing package. Also they are rated at 5k#.... But do show where it states on your vehicle it can tow 6k#. So that way OP can update his post since apparently he is wrong.

 

Here you are douche nozzle -

 

Douche nozzle.. Lol

 

I own a 2005 V6, PreRunner. It has a 6-speed manual transmission, 2-wheel drive with access cab. Question: Can I tow this truck behind my Motorhome with all 4 wheels on the ground? I have been told that I can and I can't.
Thank you very much,
Desperately confused