The Tacoma Towing Bible

Anyone switch out the leaf springs for a better leaf pack to help with sag when towing?

 

I installed an Icon RXT leaf pack for this purpose. It is on Stage 1 now. I need to go out to our storage place and hook up the trailer and see how it sits. Will move to Stage 2 if needed.

I will report back once I am able to try it out with the trailer.

 

Awesome thanks! I was also looking into icon rxt

 

What hitch are you using? Is it adjusted correctly?

 

I was wondering how this would go. I have a BMW I need to tow with mine.

 

I did the following:

• @ARCHIVE Hammer Hangers -- big rear end improvement on stock leaf and block setup. The thread has dozens and dozens of testimonials on the driver/owners feedback in terms of improvement. Highly recommend this early on especially hauling weight. Stock hangers are flimsy.
• Dobinsons -- Heavy Leaf Spring Pack (111R). I added a hardshell and the sag and lack of normal truck rake was painfully obvious. I netted about 2.75" of lift...granted the Heavy Pack is rated somewhere around 500 - 880 lbs of static weight in/on bed (I'm typically running with ~350 including the hardshell).
• Lets Go Aero -- anti-rattle hitch pin just found these and immediately after install, I did the normal trash run with the utility trailer on my B&W hitch, instantly impressed with the hitch/receiver rattle/rocking. Not technically on the subject you're looking for, I was going to post about these either way!

Outside of the trash runs, I also haul firewood rounds and logs home, typically 45mins to an 1.5hrs. of highway driving...then onto the fun rut/crater dirt and gravel roads.

One of the biggest improvement of upgraded leaf spring is not being flashed at night due to the excessive carolina squat...that and not hitting bumpstops on interstate overpasses!

Hope that helps, here's a few shots
Stock+blocks


Post Dobinsons Leaf Springs and Hammer Hanger comparison:



Semi-recent photo

 

That's badass with the slicks. Id love to do that to my 335 but I need it streetable for now. That thing has to be light so no problem towing that on a trailer. Is that a 325?

Thats a stout set of springs! I see you cutoff the tailpipe. I just put on a 3 leaf aal and its been good, same benefits you mentioned and I load it up and tow also. I'm sure yours can handle more weight. How do like the GY ultraterrains? I think thats my next tire. What do you have for front shocks?

 

So I've got just over 31k on the GY, 97% road/interstate driving along with the daily dirt and gravel roads we live off. I've done some field type paths and trails and the like. I've done a few "mountain trails" out here in Virginia, so really nothing comparable to Out West. They're great on road in terms of wet handling, snow and sound. I'm running a 5 tire rotation every 5k and they're all down to about 12/32nds if I recall correctly from last rotation. They're also a bit lighter weight than comparable AT tires since they're only running a 2 ply sidewall...so depending on the off-road terrains, might be of concern.

They don't do great in mud/virginia orange clay, but they're not MT tires.​

I've got Elka 2.5 DSC coilovers from @HeadStrong Off-Road in the 2-3" option and running the same setup shocks in the rear with 1-2" lift.

 

Yes, 325. It is around 2,050 lbs with half a tank

 

Can some please advise me if I need a transmission cooler?
I've got a 2017 SR5 V6 Tacoma without the factory towing package.
Do I need a transmission cooler in order to tow 2500 to 3000 LBS trailer?
I'll be towing possibly in the summer heat of Maine for around 350 miles.

Or should I have an after market transmission cooler and fan installed?

 

Yes get a aftermarket cooler and a scanguage. I sold my Tacoma because I was towing a travel trailer with the dry weight of 3600lbs and it would get to 230 degrees in hot weather. Went with a tundra instead

 

Is there any reason for me to get the factory tow package? Doesn't it also have an additional oil cooler? I guess what I'm asking for is confirmation that the aftermarket transmission cooler and temperature gauge is sufficient.

I'm a little confused as to why any Tacoma wouldn't just come with sufficient cooling for the transmission oil given that they do come with a tow hitch but I suppose for a short trip with a light tow load it would be "okay" to not have the transmission cooler.

 

my Tacoma had the factory tow and small cooler but it wasn’t enough for my liking.... small load and small trips you will be fine with the factory tow hitch and cooler. If you go bigger and longer get a after market cooler

 

My old 4runner pulled 4k through the mountains with no cooler. I think your fine. If you keep it on the floor for all those miles maybe you'll have an issue but I bet you could drive that 100 times and not have an issue.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cMg42sW6NU&t=35s Dodge intrepid?

 

Looks like that is a thing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FsRXjI8W6o

 

I just found out that my gen 3 tacoma is an SR5 and therefore comes with the tow package which consists of:
Class-IV-towing hitch receiver, ATF cooler (not available on manual transmission), engine oil cooler, power steering cooler, 130-amp alternator, 4- and 7-pin connector with converter, and Trailer-Sway Control (TSC) (V6 only).
My towing capacity on this specific SR5 tacoma is 6,200lbs.

So I think I'm going to be just fine on this upcoming towing trip from central New York to Maine. However I am planning on purchasing one of those aftermarket gauges so I can monitor the ATF temperature and other metrics.
The one I was thinking of getting is known as the UltraGauge MX: https://ultra-gauge.com/ZC/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=224

While I monitor the ATF temperature I should be able to determine if the factory ATF cooler is sufficient. If it's not I'll see about getting a larger aftermarket ATF cooler.

 

@windfall ,
Might I recommend a

$52 Hayden 679 Universal 11” Rapid-Cool Add-On Transmission Cooler to Enhance Cooling (not for direct replacement of the factory unit)

Hayden 679 Transmission cooler for you? I installed them in both of My FJ's for our off-road towing. Drops the tranny temps down to a much lower level while towing. They won't break the bank and are easy to install for the average mechanic.

 

What's the max rear axle weight for the 3rd gen? Have you guys ever run through a CAT scale? I was 160 pounds from my max rear axle rating. I was full of water and ready to camp.

I setup an account at https://weighmytruck.com/ I added a a debit card at the time.
I ran into a cat scale at a fuel stop and used the app. It was super easy and cost $12.50.

 

Mine is 3285 GRAWR, a 4x4 OR. I have a CAT Scale account and weigh at the start of the season. The same day re-weigh is gratis.