Help better towing?

I definitely undersrand your conundrum. I tow a 3500 lb loaded travel trailer fairly frequently and don't have any desire to own a full-size pickup truck. If I did I'd have to get a bigger trailer / toy hauler and carry around and RZR for the trails and probably end up with a diesel pavement princess tow rig easily tripling the cost of my current setup.

Right now my tow rig / trail rig is a 2016 TRD OR. I'm running icon suspension with Firestone Ride-Rite air bags and Daystar floating airbag cradles. I'm also only running 265 75r16s with 4.88 gears and a monster ATF cooler and always tow with weight distribution hitch and sway control. The truck will go just about anywhere and does a pretty damn good job of towing the trailer too. It could use a little more juice it's still able to maintain the speed limit going up a 9% grade while keeping the transmission temps reasonable. Depending on your budget I hear Magnuson will be releasing a third gen supercharger soon.

 

I might trade my pro in to get a tundra...I was planning to upgrade my boat to 30ft

 

You will not be disappointed with the 5.7L towing power.

 

Except - you are completely incorrect . In fact I felt and the other driver felt the 3rd gen towed better and more confidently. How do I know this? oooo Consumer rating or shee magazine - NO I know this from towing with a 2014/2015 (can't remember) and my truck tow with EXACT same boat, EXACT same trailer with the EXACT same load here in NH. Mine is a 2017 DCSB MT vs a DCLB AT. My truck towed much smoother, easier from yanking a boat from the water, pulling hills, stopping etc.. I am not sure your issue on 3rd vs 2nd tacos, but your spreading incorrect info. This truck tows fine and so does the 2nd gen, believe me. I have towed hundred of miles - you know real life not consumer magazine or you tube videos.

 

THIS. Together they will run you less than $3K...which is much less than the $ it will cost to upgrade your truck AND it will make it a much more enjoyable truck to DD.

 

Where can I get a good brand 4.88 gear? Can I regear for towing?

 

I don't know where you are but I got a quote for a install of 4.88 gears from ECGS for $1700. If you are nowhere near them, you can buy the gears from them (or someone else) and have a local shop experienced with gear installs do it for you. Just make sure you research the shop thoroughly.

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-2...-ratio-nitro-front-rear-gear-package-kit.html

Going with 4.88s will be the best single thing you can do for towing. These AT-Tacoma's are geared so ridiculously high that not only will it help with towing, but it will be better for DD. Even with 4.88s, an AT Tacoma STILL has higher gearing that the MT with an OEM 4.30 rear-end.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...gears-from-toyota.470088/page-5#post-14186501

If you were towing ALOT I'd say go with 5.29s in the rear...but to my knowledge, nobody is making 5.29s for the 3rd Gen Tacomas yet.

 

I wouldnt go that far if you're going to move to a larger boat that may be completely out of the tacoma's tow capacity. Tundra or other full size may be you best bet then.

 

Agreed on this....if you are going to go any bigger boat wise, save your money and apply it to 1/2 ton or bigger truck...

 

Don't be silly, get a smaller boat!

 

Gears, gears, gears. Shorter gears will give you the power you need, but you're gonna lose your MPGs. Intake and an exhaust will make a small difference too. Plus it'll sound awesome. I have the latter and I enjoy a small improvement.

 

This!

 

I won’t upgrade the boat till 2yrs from now

 

Two years isn't that long. Personally I would not regularly tow a boat bigger than what you have with a Tacoma...regardless of the gearing...YMMV.

 

Well sounds like you're gonna be out some money either way. You will need a bigger truck for a bigger boat for sure. May just want to bite the bullet now and grab a Tundra.

 

Just tow your damned trailer

 

Someone may have mentioned this in the comments, but I just read that the Tacoma Pro doesn't have the towing capacity of the other trim models because of the Fox shocks, etc. This may explain why you aren't getting good towing capabilities.

 

I think you really need a half ton. don't drop a bunch of money into a Tacoma just to find out it still cant tow shit especially if your going to get a bigger boat later on.

 

doesn't matter if you change gears ov tune yadda yadda your towing cap is still limited by the chassis axles transmission engine ect. its not going to magically be able to tow more weight.