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Help ASAP. Tow Package

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by InfamousTonyTaco7714, Aug 20, 2013.

  1. Aug 20, 2013 at 1:54 PM
    #1
    InfamousTonyTaco7714

    InfamousTonyTaco7714 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Borla Catback, 6 inch Pro Comp Stage 1 17x9 Matte Black XD Revolvers, 285/70/17 Radar Renegade R7, Pioneer Double Din, Iron Cross Side Steps, Tactical Armor Group Front Bumper, ARE MX series camper shell, Geared 4.10
  2. Aug 20, 2013 at 1:56 PM
    #2
    TrdSurgie

    TrdSurgie revised

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    Its fine.
     
  3. Aug 20, 2013 at 1:58 PM
    #3
    InfamousTonyTaco7714

    InfamousTonyTaco7714 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Borla Catback, 6 inch Pro Comp Stage 1 17x9 Matte Black XD Revolvers, 285/70/17 Radar Renegade R7, Pioneer Double Din, Iron Cross Side Steps, Tactical Armor Group Front Bumper, ARE MX series camper shell, Geared 4.10
    Will i have to hook up electrical to it or how does that work? Im not sure what the deal with all that is.
     
  4. Aug 20, 2013 at 2:02 PM
    #4
    08TacoTrD

    08TacoTrD Well-Known Member

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    5100's and 883 OME Coils TRD Exhaust Deaver 1.5" AAL Rear Differential Breather Extension, 4WD Light, Tailgate Pipe clamp, Fog lights on while High Beams on, Carrier Bearing flip
    The factory tow package includes more than a hitch. It includes an oil and tranny cooler and a 7 pin round electrical connector. What are you using it for? The factory hitch is a class IV and the link is a class III.
     
  5. Aug 20, 2013 at 2:04 PM
    #5
    InfamousTonyTaco7714

    InfamousTonyTaco7714 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Borla Catback, 6 inch Pro Comp Stage 1 17x9 Matte Black XD Revolvers, 285/70/17 Radar Renegade R7, Pioneer Double Din, Iron Cross Side Steps, Tactical Armor Group Front Bumper, ARE MX series camper shell, Geared 4.10
    Ill just be towing a small trailer with a lawn mower on it. Nothing heavy. Dont plan to tow anything heavy ever. Will be moving out of town soon so might tow a enclosed uhaul trailer with my things in it. Nothing real heavy like i said. Will i need an electrical connector for this?
     
  6. Aug 20, 2013 at 2:10 PM
    #6
    jake72

    jake72 Well-Known Member

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    if your talking about the bundel package for 184 that would be everything you need
     
  7. Aug 20, 2013 at 2:10 PM
    #7
    InfamousTonyTaco7714

    InfamousTonyTaco7714 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Borla Catback, 6 inch Pro Comp Stage 1 17x9 Matte Black XD Revolvers, 285/70/17 Radar Renegade R7, Pioneer Double Din, Iron Cross Side Steps, Tactical Armor Group Front Bumper, ARE MX series camper shell, Geared 4.10
    Do you know the link for the bundel package
     
  8. Aug 20, 2013 at 2:12 PM
    #8
    Nfurtado77

    Nfurtado77 Well-Known Member

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    I thought all Tacomas came with tow package I guess that's just Canada.
     
  9. Aug 20, 2013 at 2:12 PM
    #9
    jake72

    jake72 Well-Known Member

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    look on the bottom of the link you posted, shows the 3 things and price 184.96
     
  10. Aug 20, 2013 at 2:13 PM
    #10
    InfamousTonyTaco7714

    InfamousTonyTaco7714 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Borla Catback, 6 inch Pro Comp Stage 1 17x9 Matte Black XD Revolvers, 285/70/17 Radar Renegade R7, Pioneer Double Din, Iron Cross Side Steps, Tactical Armor Group Front Bumper, ARE MX series camper shell, Geared 4.10
    Thanks. How do you hook up the wiring harness on these things?
     
  11. Aug 20, 2013 at 2:14 PM
    #11
    jake72

    jake72 Well-Known Member

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    plugs into your wiring harness under rear bumper, real quick and easy
     
  12. Aug 20, 2013 at 2:15 PM
    #12
    InfamousTonyTaco7714

    InfamousTonyTaco7714 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Borla Catback, 6 inch Pro Comp Stage 1 17x9 Matte Black XD Revolvers, 285/70/17 Radar Renegade R7, Pioneer Double Din, Iron Cross Side Steps, Tactical Armor Group Front Bumper, ARE MX series camper shell, Geared 4.10
  13. Aug 20, 2013 at 2:17 PM
    #13
    jake72

    jake72 Well-Known Member

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    no problem, your instructions will make it easier too understand.
     
  14. Aug 20, 2013 at 4:34 PM
    #14
    Elmosaurus

    Elmosaurus Well-Known Member

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    I just went through this myself. Here's what I learned from searching all over here, plus other sites.

    The receiver:
    Basically, you have three common choices. OEM, Curt, or Drawtite/HiddenHitch.

    OEM is the strongest, but costs the most; It is class IV. To defray the costs, you may buy someone's take off. But it will need a full refinish most times to get rid of the rust; this can offset whatever savings you get if you cannot do the work yourself.

    Curt is class III. Made well, respected, etc. The draw tube is end welded to the bracket plates. Some find this less desirable compared to the Drawtite/HiddenHitch

    Drawtite/HiddenHitch are made by the same company. Also made well, well respected,etc. I and many others suspect that they literally just slap a different sticker on it at the factory and ship it out. It is a class III as well. As opposed to the Curt, the draw tube goes through the bracket plate on each end, and is then welded in place. Some believe this is more desirable.

    Whichever you get, expect to apply paint. Unless you pay for a brand new OEM hitch, the others generally are shipped on a pallet in bulk to the vendor before it is shipped to you. (obviously an OEM take off will need work as mentioned above) This means in freight, there will be scuffs and damage. To maintain rust protection, you will have to apply some kind of paint to the affected areas. Go with a reputable hitch dealer; I tried Amazon, and amidst much frustration from them shipping the hitch to me with NO packing matieral, (shipping tag was zip tied to the hitch... no wrap, no bubble, no cardboard. NOTHING.) I returned the dinged and scratched to heck Drawtite they sent me. I then ordered a Hidden Hitch from etrailer.com, and they packaged it far better; it still arrived with a few scuffs, but it was clear that it was not because of their packing, but rather the pallet freight issue. With the free shipping promo, no sales tax, and a discount code, it worked out to be basically the same price anyhow. For paint, I chose a Krylon product. (ACE hardware uses them as an OEM) Epoxy Enamel in gloss black. Matched perfectly, and I expect it to be quite durable. It sprayed on easy and smooth after I hit the damaged areas with some 220 grit; one can turned out to be plenty.

    Wiring:
    You will need at least a 4 wire trailer hookup for smaller trailers. This sends turn signals, nighttime running lights, plus brake signal to the trailer lights accordingly. Most of the 'T' convertor harnesses work fine for this. They average about $35 or so. These basically plug into your existing wiring harness and piggy back off the signals/voltage on those wires. Very easy to install.

    If you want to tow bigger, then you will need a 7 pin hookup. To do this, requires more parts and work; you will use a T harness, plus you need to run a fused/breakered 12V+ from the battery, brake controller signal from inside the cab, and reverse signal to the 7 pin receptacle in addition. This will allow for travel trailer and larger boat trailer functionality. To make this complete, you'll need an electronic brake controller in the cab. YMMV, but I selected the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 due to rave reviews and their reputation.

    Everything mentioned above is for 3500lb rating. If you want to push your tow ratings out to the full 6500 lb rating, expect to spend huge gobs of money. As mentioned above, the only hitch receiver that is capable of that is the OEM; the most common aftermarket receivers are only class III; that limits them to 5000 lb rating! You will need to upgrade your truck with a stronger alternator, an oil cooler for the engine, and a transmission oil cooler if you have an automatic, on top of all the items listed above. (this is what makes the factory tow package what it is; more than just a hitch and some wires)

    Read the towing bible as posted above. It's a great start. But expect to learn a lot about towing if you want to do it right and safely.

    Hope that helps,

    E.
     
  15. Aug 20, 2013 at 4:52 PM
    #15
    TaKoToy

    TaKoToy Well-Known Member

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    I put a curt hitch and wire harness bought from Amazon on my 2013 about 10 months ago. No problems so far towing a 1800lb boat.
     
  16. Aug 20, 2013 at 5:20 PM
    #16
    jake72

    jake72 Well-Known Member

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    this guy summed it all up nice.
     
  17. Aug 20, 2013 at 5:37 PM
    #17
    InfamousTonyTaco7714

    InfamousTonyTaco7714 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Borla Catback, 6 inch Pro Comp Stage 1 17x9 Matte Black XD Revolvers, 285/70/17 Radar Renegade R7, Pioneer Double Din, Iron Cross Side Steps, Tactical Armor Group Front Bumper, ARE MX series camper shell, Geared 4.10
    Thanks for all this. Helped a lot. I ended up ordering the Curt bundle that was on the link I originally posted. I wont be towing anything heavy at all. Just need enough to tow a very small trailer with a lawn mower on it and possibly small enclosed uhaul like I mentioned above. I haven't ever really needed to tow, but it helps a lot when to have the option to if needed, as opposed to borrowing someone elses pickup that has towing. I thank everyone for the help they provided. Gotta love all the Tacoma World buddies, helped me with everything ive ever needed with my Taco! Thanks everyone!
     
  18. Aug 20, 2013 at 5:50 PM
    #18
    Elmosaurus

    Elmosaurus Well-Known Member

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    Glad to have helped.

    You may end up needing a different hitch (ball mount) though; depending upon the final height of your Curt receiver, you may need more or less drop than the 2" drop hitch they include in the bundle.

    You will determine that at the point when the receiver is installed; measure the height of the receiver's tube top, and then measure how high the bottom of the trailer tongue's ball receiver is from the ground when the tongue is level. That difference is your final goal for 'drop', to have the trailer tongue level during hook up, or slightly downward. You do NOT want it pointed upwards as this will contribute to increased sway during towing. (not a good thing)

    Things to remember as someone new to towing; trailer tires are rated based on 55 mph speeds, and should never be taken to their max of 65 mph. (though many do it; but they're rolling the dice) The faster you go, the more gas you burn; wind resistance is the biggest factor here on enclosed trailers or very non aerodynamic open trailers. Stopping distances are always increased when towing, even if you have a trailer with electrically operated or hydraulic surge brakes; plan accordingly as the results of stomping on the brake pedal will typically result in a jack-knife situation that is just plain bad for everyone and everything.


    E.
     
  19. Aug 20, 2013 at 7:53 PM
    #19
    InfamousTonyTaco7714

    InfamousTonyTaco7714 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Borla Catback, 6 inch Pro Comp Stage 1 17x9 Matte Black XD Revolvers, 285/70/17 Radar Renegade R7, Pioneer Double Din, Iron Cross Side Steps, Tactical Armor Group Front Bumper, ARE MX series camper shell, Geared 4.10
    Thanks for the information. Im not sure of the trailer height compared to the ball because of course, i dont have the hitch yet lol. I thought i might as well get the ball and what not with it, because hey, it might be the right fit for a trailer i will pull sometime.
     
  20. Aug 20, 2013 at 8:15 PM
    #20
    egres

    egres Well-Known Member

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    About month ago i installed this curt receiver, i got it from Amazon too. Took about 3 hours to install, i remember small spacer that came with receiver was pain to install. Had to tighten and loosen bolts because i had no one to hold other side.

    My buddy has 4X8 trailer with rating right under 3000 lb so he doesn't have to register it in PA. I borrowed it to get some concrete from H.D. Guy at store fork-lifted 40 bags plus pallet to the trailer. 40 gags X 60lb. = 2400. plus 50 lb pallet so 2450. And i don't remember how much trailer weights. And i had some more tools in the bed, maybe 500 lb.

    Pulled about 10 miles, had some hills, had no problem with power and no problem with breaking even down the hill.

    That was my first time towing with taco.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMoUS3Lkous
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2013

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