First Gen towing experience

First of all, thanks to this forum for helping me get started!

I've got an 2003 Doublecab Prerunner (V6) which been the best vehicle I've ever owned. I recently started towing a travel trailer (18 foot, about 3600 pounds). My wife and I took our first trip two weeks ago. My truck does not have a tow package so I had a hitch and brake controller installed. Following Maverick's advice in the Towing Bible post, I kept the overdrive lockout on almost the entire trip. I also have a Scangauge to watch the transmission temperature.

I kept the speed to about 65 max (slower going up hills!), and transmission temp ran from 190 to 210 F. Outside air temp was mostly in 60-70 degree range.

Since the transmission temp runs around 150 when not towing, I've ordered a Hayden transmission cooler and will be installing that before the next trip. I live in New Mexico so our summers are pretty warm.

I did find that on long downhill stretches I could allow the transmission to pop into overdrive, which improved the gas milage as well as allowing the transmission to cool a bit.

Milage averaged between 12 and 13 mpg so planning our stops became a bit more important to say the least. (At our first fill up I managed to get 17.1 gallons into the tank, which is a record for me).

 

External trans cooler is a good idea. I tow a 17ft fiberglass travel trailer. It's 2400lbs. My taco is a xtra cab v6 5 speed 4x4. I also had to install a frame hitch and brake controller. I'm glad to have the manual trans taco for towing compared to my automatic v6 4runner.

 

I wish I had a manual transmission. When I bought my Tacoma they only offered the automatic with the V6 engine. I installed a Hayden transmission cooler last week. The most difficult part was finding an auto parts shop with ATF hose in stock. The cooler came with a short piece of hose, not quite long enough actually connect things.

 

Doublecabs are auto. only, don't know why. Mine is a 04 v6 extended cab so the man. trans was a option.

 

what made you chose a Hayden transmission cooler?

 

How much is that transmission cooler? What kind of temps should you see with one installed?

 

Query: what size gears do you have. I'm in a delima about dragging my 16ft trailer home over the mountains with my taco, only going about 175mi. But I'm running stock 4.10 gears and 33 tires with an automatic. Just wondering if I should not do this or if it'll be ok. I don't tow with this truck usually the wife's 4run gets this job but she's out of town.