The Tacoma Towing Bible

Great (long) thread.

Question about a first gen hitch I pulled from my 2000 TRD Pre-runner after it was wrecked.

I planned on putting it on my 2002 non-trd 4x4, but the frame ends seem different. The used draw-tite I have has 4 horizontal mounting points and does not interface with the bumper mounting brackets at all. I haven't seen a new model that attaches this way. It looks like I will need a backing plate for the mounting points closest to the rear of the truck (the 2000 didn't need plates). It also looks like I will need to remove one bolt from each side of the cross member to share as mounting point for the back mounts.

I recall that the mounting / unmounting on the 2000 was pretty intuitive, but putting it on my 2002 makes me question if something changed in 2001 or maybe there is a difference in frame rails (both were extra cabs). Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

 

Question about 2nd-gen. I have a 2006 non-tow PreRunner and got a stock later model (2014?) tow bumper bar. I figured I would put it on my truck instead of other non-stock solutions (I totally realize this will not increase my non-tow capacity). However, it seems that either the frame rail ends are different or I am missing some frame end brackets. (It's possible the later year frame rail ends are different but the fact that the workshop manual for 2006 show the tow frame rail shape as different seems to disprove this theory).

So is it indeed possible that the frame rails are different between tow and non-tow? I took some pics and compiled them into an image. Hope it's not too confusing. It shows pics from the workshop manual indicating the different shapes and also pics of the different brackets AND my straight frame rail ends. What I am missing is frame mount holes for the GREEN tow bumper bracket holes. There are holes that could hold a bracket on but I don't understand why that would be the case unless it was cheaper to manufacture.

If someone with a tow package could at least look under their truck and see if their frame rails are straight with or not that would help. I can't find part numbers for any kind of bracket anywhere. Thanks.

wes

 

outside of right hand factory thing on my 2008 4x4,


inside of RH

 

Awesome thanks for the quick reply and pics! so there is a bracket. now, to find some sort of PN for that...... hmmm...

 

Wow a bit over whelming I have a 2014 Toyota Tacoma double cab sr5. I joined to find towing recommendations. I have a 1973 boiler travel trailer 1000 lbs no breaks. Only trailer I have ever owned. How ever I am looking at buy a new trailer that weighs just under 4300 lbs and I'm a bit nervous. I will need to install a break controller and maybe a swap bar but have no idea about those kind of things. I was hoping to not have to modify my truck in any way what do you guys think any one here tow that much weight what kind of break controller did you used? I never used a sway control either. Thoughts ? Recommendations is that too much weight for a taco?

 

I am assuming you have the factory tow package. In that case, the brake controller should be plug & play. If you dot want to add to/modify your truck, the only thing that would be a modification would be airbags. The sway control will be incorporated into the weight distributing hitch. All the modifications to accept that will be done on the trailer. You can look down on the bottom of the page and look through the "Products discussed in this thread" section. There are a couple WD hitches that can give you an idea.

 

Ive been reading this thread and other threads, including toyotanation on how to install transcooler on a non tow package v6. Does anyone havea definitive answer to which lines coming of the transmission are in and out, and which ones off the radiator?

 

I didnt pull one off the radiator. I went to the hard lines that are below the radiator. It has soft lines that go to/from the tranny attached to it. I pulled one soft line off, ran it to an aftermarket cooler, then hooked another soft line to the hard line. I'll see if I can find the pictures.
Edit: I couldn't find the picture of the lines. I'll get one when I get the truck back from the body shop. Here is how the cooler sits, obviously the lines go straight down.

 

Thanks I may give it a try again this weekend when I have more time.

Does anyone think it will be ok to tow a 1500lb empty flat bed trailer (tandem axle) 200 miles on relatively flatvroad

 

don't use overdrive, manually downshift early, take it real easy, you'll be fine.

 

Why would you need to take it easy towing only 1500 lbs?

 

with an automatic without tranny cooler? go for it!

 

So you think it will be a bit hard on the tranny because it has no cooler

 

I have a automatic
I have the tow package with a cooler
I drive in D when pulling my trailer 1000 lbs unless going up super big hills do you think any time I'm on the highway I should shift to 4?
What happens when I tow more weight should I not be in D when on the highway or even in the city?

 

at steady highway speeds, its wind resistance more than weight. trailers are rarely aerodynamic. but he'll be fine going 200 miles of mostly flat with a light trailer if he takes it easy.

whats your owners manual say ? mine says to shift down one gear, never use top (6th, its a manual) when towing. every automatic I've had said to not use D or OD or whatever the top gear was.

 

Thanks. Looks like with the hitch and lighting I can tow 3500 safely using proper methods as you mention

 

so i have a 2005 prerunner dblcb, 6 cyl. base model, no towing pkg, automatic trans. would the truck safely handle a Trail lite 21' travel trailer at 2950 lbs. i have no towing pkg. and my concern is about the transmission. would it handle this no problem ?

i would install the 7 pin wiring harness and e-brake control system.

 

Also add a tranny cooler, and you should be fine.

 

I have a '17 TRD 4X4 Offroad. I went to a local RV place to check in to renting a camper for a weekend. I understand what an equalization hitch is; it transfers weight evenly between the truck and the camper axles. (Puts more weight on the axle of the trailer to help keep the ride level.). The camper is 5,300 lbs empty....I'm towing it dry. It is a 28' with a slide out. I'm thinking OK I've got 1,500 lbs safety zone.

This is what I don't get. The guy tells me, "Oh yeah! You're more than fine to pull that much and can actually town about 8k to 9k lb trailer with this equalization hitch.". WHAT!?!?!? I siad no! My towing capacity is 6,800 lbs. I'm not about to pull that much weight. Weight is weight to me! This guy totally insisted I could and another guy told me the same thing last year before I bought my truck and I was looking at campers to determine how much truck I need.

I'm very curious to see what some of you think. I have no plans to towing anything heavier than 5300- 5500 lbs. After all, its my tranny not theirs.

 

just remember to subtract the tongue weight from your vehicles payload capacity. 5300 lb trailer, tongue weight is 10-15% so thats 500-750 lbs... a double cab has about 1000 lbs payload, I believe, so you can safely carry 500-250 lbs including passengers and driver when you're towing that empty trailer :-/