Towing with 3 leaf

Anyone done any towing with the 3 leaf (non TSB) suspension? I need to do some towing in the next few months and I'm trying to gauge how well the truck will handle it. Looking at towing a box trailer at about 4000lbs total and I have added a hitch but no aftermarket cooler.

 

Run a weight distrubution hitch and you won't have any worries, otherwise it's gonna squat quite a bit.

 

Just watch the tongue weight and it will be fine. I have hauled a John Deere 4120 with a front end loader and box blade no problem before I had the TSB done. Probably was about 5000-5500lbs.

 

You should be fine - just keep the tongue weight less than 400lbs. I tow my boat around 4500 lbs and 350 tongue weight. Dont lug the motor, remember more RPM's = more cooling throught the motor and more flow through the tranny. If you don't have the tow package and plan on towing often I would recomend a tranny cooler.

 

I tow dollied a CRV several hundred miles, a 3500lb motorcycle and 2500lb boats all with the 3 leaf. No issues at all. It didn't sag out too bad at all.

Plan on trying to get the TSB done next service interval. But can live with it the way it is.

 

Try to see if you can add a trans temp guage to monitor high temps if they happen. If they seem to get high , (is 205degrees still high??) , definitely get the trans cooler. (can you add toyotas stock cooler??)

My concerns would be going uphill w/o a cooler, other then that i doubt you would have a problem , as for 3 leaf i dunno , but distribution hitch is the way to go. My dad's Expedition has one for his trailer even though the weight deosnt require it , just smoother n safer.

 

Towed a '91 toyota MR2 on an 18' car trailer down to enterprise AL from North GA this weekend about 240 miles one way. I have towed a few vehicles before but not as far. If I had to guess it was about a 4,500 lb load. I have an aftermarket Valley class IV hitch on mine. Squats a little bit in the back just have to get the tongue weight right. Probably 2.5-3" from the bump stops.

Just make sure you keep the revs up like someone already said. Once you get rolling its fine, just a little slow going up big hills.

Sorry the pic is small but this gives you an idea of the sag. It still drove fine.

 

Holy smokes, that's one heck of a bike

 

I tow my dual rail Kendon trailer, racebike, scooter with no problems. Squats about an 1" in the rear even with race supply box, bike stands, race fuel can, chairs, tool box all in the back of the truck. I also have my canopy and cooler on the trailer. Trailer is light at 400# all total me wife and all the stuff is about 1600# I still have the 3 leaf springs. Truck is a 2010. I have the towing package and can tow in OD most of the time with no problems. Maintain 70 mph and it will get 17~18 mpg. With a head wind or going faster than 70 it drops to 15~16 mpg.

 

Originally Posted by 09TRDSpt
a 3500lb motorcycle

yes i want to see some pics of this beast. Boss Hoss are for toddlers

 

Thanks for the info, guys. Sounds like my main concern is going to be tongue weight. I've towed with other vehicles, just not this one and it's been a while.

 

You should be able to balance the tongue weight a little better with a tandem axle trailer vs single. I would imagine with that weight its probably a tandem axle trailer.

 

LOL it was a trailer with two Ultra Classics inside .

 

Yes, correct, a Uhaul rental. I didn't even think of that but of course you're right.