Towing 5,000 lb TT with TRD Pro Taco

Has anyone that's towed something heavy (3,000lbs +) tried the OV Tune or Shift Sense Pro (SSP)? If yes, did you notice a substantial improvement while towing? What did you notice the most?

 

Curious about this also. I just picked up a TT and it will be around 5K when normally loaded. I'm really curious the difference the OVTune makes? I'm also running 33's which doesn't help. I'll re-gear later this year but I'm trying to get an idea if this will help?

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but you really shouldn't have to regear with just 33s, 35s+ yes, but not 33s. Again, that is what I have heard, could be wrong.

 

I don't NEED to, but the truck is already underpowered in my opinion so anything I can do to help will be nice. Hence why I'm curious if the OVTune will help and make a big enough difference to be worth it.

 

On a third gen, 5th is still OD. On a second gen, only 5th was OD, hence the 4th recommendation from posters. I tow frequently and find it much more pleasant in 4th, but will use 5th when appropriate. ETC on of course.

 

They did mention 6k. Watch the entire video.
2nd Gen was maxed at 5k + in the same test. You are forgetting that 3rd beat 2nd by almost a minute!!! So run the 3rd down to a tad over 5k rpm like the 2nd and you probably tie the 2nd. In other words 3rd Gen engine wouldnt be at full out load like the 2nd but extra power (18% more hp than 2nd !!! ) is there if you need it. My 3rd is better towing and has more power than my 2nd dud.
They commented on 2nd gen "trucky " interior showing its age which couldn't even read current mpg lol.
It's acceptable because of today's engineering. Just like some people can't believe a 15k oil.

 

Well I tried towing it home 20 miles in Drive with ECT on and the truck hated it lol. It would not shift out of 3rd gear at 65mph which was like 4400rpm. The only way I could get it to upshift was to either hit a large decline in the road or take my foot completely off the throttle.

Even in S4 the truck downshifts to 3rd on any kind of incline to maintain 65mph, even sometimes on flat roads it has to downshift to 3rd.

 

I have a TRDOR with a manual trans and I have a 19 foot travel trailer weighing aprox 5200 lbs. I just got back from a trip to the beach 230 miles each way. No issues towing. Usually tow in 5 gear, RPMs run around 2500 at 65 mph. truck is lifted with 265/70/17. I use a weight distribution hitch, equalizer 4 way, and good break controller.

I picked the trailer up in Michigan and drove it home to North Carolina 800 miles having to go through Appalachian mountains, I had to drop into 4th and 3rd on some of the hills, but had no problem going up them at 55-65 mph. FYI I usually average 9-10 mpg.

I had the same concerns about towing with my Tacoma, specially after lifting. If you take some time and learn how to set up a good weight distribution hitch correctly and how to set up a break controller it makes a big difference in how your trailer will tow. I have had no issues in puling the trailer, stopping with the trailer or had any issue with trailer sway, even towing in 30mph winds.

 

I love these 3rd Gen towing threads. Half the responses report that the truck can tow 5,000 effortlessly and the other half report the truck red lines in 3rd trying to pull a pop up trailer . I think I'm going to check into renting a heavy ass U Haul trailer and loading it up to 4,500 to see for myself.

 

I have a 3 rail motorcycle trailer(which weighs no more than 200lbs). I had a 2002 BMW R1150R(525lbs), and a 2017 BMW F800GSA(505lbs) on it. So not even 1500lbs and the thing was dropping into 3rd trying to maintain 65mph on some very minor hills- like an overpass.... The slightest of bump/hill/whatever and the truck was downshifting, and revving up. I don't recall the RPM's, but it was enough that a friend of mine questioned it.
MPG dropped from 18mpg to 11. I really was quite astonished that such a minor trailer/weight had such an effect on the truck. I know my truck is rated for 6800 but I cannot even think about trying that much.

 

Is there that much difference between the auto trans and manual trans in the Tacoma? I have a manual trans and have pulled a utility trailer loaded to 1500 lbs and could barely tell it was there.

 

It could be that your more experienced.

 

I was thinking the same thing about a uhaul trailer.

 

Some people probably haven’t towed much so they don’t know what to expect. Can’t just set the cruise and go. Pre planning some hills and using gears, it’s not a dually diesel.

 

I tow my Summerland Mini that’s 3,200lbs dry (probably 3,700lbs loaded) and added a sway/weight distribution bar to my setup and never had any issues.

 

I tow my boat (approximately 3.5k lbs.) every weekend to and from the lake (40 miles 1 way). Combination of 2 lane highway, city, and Interstate. I am running on 285/75s, and I have no concerns while towing. Is it ideal? No, but the truck does just fine. Gas mileage stinks, it does downshift and rev a lot, but I have never been worried about being stranded on the side of the road, or worse. If you are trying to compare this truck with a full size/V8 combo, then you are going to be grossly disappointed. Be safe, keep the shiny side up, and have fun!

 

I towed a 12x8 Uhaul trailer when we moved last year from SC to NC and it was loaded down plus the truck bed also and maybe 3-4 thousand pounds in the trailer of tools and garage equipment, it struggled, even though the weight of the trailer was not completely distributed evenly, and the traveling was only about 240 miles and very flat, it got about 13-15 mpg and rarely was out of the 3-4 rpm range... so i agree, these are not really meant to pull anything probably over 3000 pounds

 

So you were doing it wrong, I tow a 5200lbs camper trailer with no problems. Inflate your tires(camper and tacoma) to 50lbs, ECT on don't go up the 4th gear.

The 3rd gen tacoma tow surprisingly well for an intermediate truck.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gen-3-towing-thread.413026/page-51#post-15732510

 

Great looking truck!

 

Did you know a 12x8 uhaul trailer is just shy 1 ton empty weight?