Towing Capacity Question

Hi, I have a 2010 Prerunner V6 SR5 Tacoma. When purchased, it did not come with the tow package. I recently just installed the Class 3 Factory Tow Hitch that Toyota offers for non tow package equipped Tacomas. I am aware that I have the Class 3 hitch and not the Class 4 hitch that the tow package equipped tacomas come with. The tow package has a maximum towing capacity of 6500 lbs but since I do not have the tow package, I am rated at 3500 lbs. However that is for bumper towing. The sticker on my class 3 hitch rates the maximum capacity at 5000 lbs but I did not know if that applied to the truck also. So even with the factory class 3 hitch installed, does my tow capacity stay at 3500 lbs or does it get bumped up to 5000 lbs now that it is a frame mounted hitch?

 

Gonna bump this back up for more lookers. I can't say for sure, but would think so.

 

Here is the way I look at it. With a class 3 receiver, hitch and ball you "can" tow 5000# technically speaking. I know with mine (1st gen, different beast I know) if I was towing a 3500# trailer the trans temp would go up into the 200's easily with a few times close to 240. All this to say yes the receiver and hitch can tow that much but you may need some supplemental cooling as I think second gens with tow package came with a trans cooler and a bigger alternator. Someone correct me on this if I am wrong.

--Dan

 

Dan - I was going to say the same thing. The OP is still missing the trans cooler and the alternator so I would think his towing capacity would remain at 3500 regardless of what the hitch is rated for.

OP - What are you looking at towing?

 

I agree with what's been posted so far. The connection between the truck and the trailer is adequate for a 5000# rating. Of course transmission is another major factor to consider. But the most important factor IMHO, is having electric brakes especially as you approach maximum load design limits. I pull a horse trailer with my Tacoma and I have had no problems doing so. But as the load gets heavy, stopping becomes the biggest factor for safety once everything else is accounted for.

 

I've been saying for years that the tow ratings on these things are made up by the MARKETING department. There is no reason why 5 lug, 6-cyl 6-lug, and everything in between, should all have the same tow ratings (3500#), except for those with "factory" installed tow hitch and a few other easy installs.

 

True, the tow package includes equipment that can be added after market. The problem with the ratings is that they are given by the manufacturer based on engineering design, and are respected and revered by all who behold them. If for any reason the limits are exceeded, and there is liability involved, a legal concept called contributory negligence is used by the insurance company to escape their responsibilities and transfer them to you. Good luck.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS

 

While it could increase the complexity of a traffic *incident*, this is actually a fairly simple situation to fight in court. Especially when you can demonstrate that your equipment is engineered to precisely the SAME specifications in all systems that could potentially have contributed to the incident. Specifically, it has the *same frame*, it has the *same brakes*, it has the same *X*, *Y*, *Z*. Which means that the difference between what you have and what is rated to the higher specification can only be contributory to the situation if THAT characteristic COULD have made a difference to the incident.

So for instance, if you lack the transmission cooler and your transmission blew up and you started rolling backwards down a mountain and killed a bunch of people. Or if your trailer has ELECTRIC trailer brakes, which failed due to insufficient power delivery to activate them, and you lack the bigger alternator.

But if you have HYDRAULIC brakes, and couldn't stop fast enough to avoid crashing the car that just cut you off, well your lack of the "towing package" didn't contribute to that at all, since in all characteristics related to stopping and steering, they are identical, and as long as you can DEMONSTRATE THAT to the court, then you are off the hook.

The main difference here isn't who is right or wrong, it is who has the burden of proof. If you decide to operate outside of the printed capacity labels on your vehicle, then you assume the burden of proof for demonstrating that the vehicle is capable of handling the load. Otherwise, the burden of proof belongs to whoever you are facing.

 

True enough but there is s lot more to than that unfortunately for a person of limited means. An insurer has a team of lawyers, and access to big time experts with name recognition that they have used successfully before in court. They will offer their opinion that only was that equipment not suitable, and never meant to work with your vehicle, but that it was improperly installed as well. The after market guys will abandon you because maybe their stuff was untested or improperly tested and they don't want to be associated with a court challenge.
At the end of the day it will be easy for a jury to see that your vehicle was modified inappropriately, and those modifications contributed to X% of the liability and damages.
The world is a heartless place when it comes to finger pointing and truth rarely enters into it.
Life is a choice, so think about the choices you are making. As long as nothing happens you can laugh at oldtoyotaguy as being ill informed. Haha

 

5000 lbs

 

We aren't even talking about modifications, so suggesting that it is modified improperly is unnecessary. Basically, the only modification is the installation of a hitch, and as long as the hitch isn't *broken*, then the failure can't be attributed to it. That means that it comes down to control systems, which means tire size, braking capacity, and steering/stability. ALL of which are exactly the same on ALL Tacomas, except for 5-lug and xrunner.

But yeah, I'm totally with you on the risk/benefit choice calculations. Way I figure it is that as long as you don't drive like a moron, and you maintain your equipment, and operate it in a sensible and controlled fashion, chances are that you'll never have any trouble over it.