Towing after lift and larger tires?

I personally would not worry about the looks, but I tend to be a function over form sort of guy. My truck looked fine with a 2” lift and stock tires. I can’t imagine a mere .75” would make any difference in that opinion. If you don’t like the look, throw some sand begs in the bed or go on an eating frenzy. You could also take a leaf out, reduce preload, etc depending on your lift choice.

 

I've posted this photo more than a fee times. It'll do it. Towed this Ranger/trailer from Layton Utah to Blythe Ca. and that is not flat land towing. And I did not hold up any big rigs, uphill or down.

 

It’s funny because just going to 255/85/16 (basically 33x10.4) has taken a toll on power and it’s very obvious going up a steady grade.....with just my dirt bike and gear.


Walker pass is a pretty long steady grade and that’s where you can really experience the mismatched transmission gearing in action even in sport mode.
You’re ok in fourth until it starts dogging then putting it in third will put the revs screaming.

Yes regearing will help, an eight speed trans with non-Camry gear ratios from the factory would have been nice.

Going up the grapevine I take a running start and the momentum helps unless you get rat-fucked behind two semi trucks passing each other with a 2.5 mph difference.


I can’t imagine towing a trailer.

 

3rd gear is where the power band comes to life. And, you will use less fuel compared to bogging it down.

 

You mean tries.
You definitely have to get into 4k range to sort of kind of feel something....and i’m talking about a steady climb.

If approach the same pass in drive it’ll end up in third at 5-6k, at least I can see what’s coming and help it a bit.

Either way it needs gears and a way to diy change the transmission fluid.

 

@Inferno! I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind me asking.
What lift and tire are you running?
What Trailer are you towing, weight, tongue weight?
What other weight do you have on the truck, sliders, skids, bumper, bed rack etc?
What are you trans temps when pulling a long grade?
What kind of mileage are you getting on the highway, flat terrain, towing and not towing?

 

So you’ll have everyone and their brother tell you that you bought the wrong truck for towing….and they are right. But I bought what I wanted and built it for my need. I did a 2” lift, stock tires, 4.88 gears, bbk, light wheels, airbags, and aftermarket trans cooler with ultra gauge for OBD2 temp monitoring. Tows like a champ - my single axle loaded 6x12 (probably 2500 lbs loaded up), test pulled an 8.5x20 with surge brakes (over 3000 lbs heavy steel trailer but empty) no problem and have ordered an 8.5x22 Jimglo for delivery next year (3200ish empty). Will use a WDH and redarc brake controller. Front air dam definitely helped buffeting (side to side), added the Trd sport front sway bar (thicker) and adding a hellwig rear bar as well for stability next, primarily to reduce the side to side floaty feeling that I suspect is front my shock setup.

My advice is stick with the stock tire sand size - they are light. If you need better shifting or more wheel torque, get gears. My trans has never gone over 195F towing since the gears and cooler.

 

Spacer/block (6112’s sitting in garage waiting for install) and 285/70/16 nittos
1960 Platt, 12 feet 2,500 lbs, don’t know tongue weight
Only have electric steps, no other weight
Don’t know transmission temps
With OVTune I got about 16 MPG w/o towing and about 12/13 MPG towing

I now have a Magnuson supercharger and towing is improved. My mileage took a hit at about 1-2 reduction.

 

Thanks for the reply. I am running the CVC tune, sliders and skids, no lift yet, 6112s, 5160s, and Icon RXT on order, just put on 265/75R16 Goodyear Duratrac C load. Towed my trailer, Airstream Basecamp 3,500 lbs loaded, from SF Bay to South Lake Tahoe and back. Averaged 14.5 mpg towing at about 60 mph average highway speed. Trans temps at the torque converter got to 215 a couple of times when it needed 3rd gear on the steeper and longer grades on Hwy 50. I had concerns about power loss going to skinny 33s so I went only one size up to 265/75R16. So far I don’t feel any noticeable difference in power towing or not.

 

You guys might want to look into the KD pro tune, I’ll bet it would help with towing.
I had the tune done in July and it made the truck night and day perfomance wise and recently did the update to the more polished pro version.