Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

R

RatFish

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 29, 2003
Messages
647
I posted this on another forum and felt it would also be useful here. It's long but...<br /><br />I also have a 2002 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner V6. <br /><br />It took me awhile but after talking to several Toyota Dealers and calling Toyota national customer service, I think I got it straight. EMS5 and Strangdj pretty much hit the nail on the head. It seems that the "official" towing package for the 2002 Tacoma consists of a modified fan coupler (which in the old days we called a fan clutch), Class III hitch and wiring for the trailer lights. The addition of this package gets you to the 5000lb. tow capacity rating (My owners manual says 6000lbs. but Toyota said that this is a misprint.). My advice is that you only tow about 75% of your rated capacity to leave a margin of safety. You have to be able to stop as well as start. Also, read the section of your owners manual that covers towing.<br /><br />Draw-Tite makes a good trailer hitch. I bought and installed a Draw-Tite class III Hitch, Drawbar and 2" Ball for about $160 from a local hitch shop (www.1800hitchit.com). Forget about splicing wires for the trailer lights. Get a T-Connector. I got a T-One, T-Connector from the hitch shop for $33.<br /><br />I also ordered and installed the fan coupler. The stock fan coupler has an orange base and the towing fan coupler has a green base. If memory serves me, the fan coupler cost about $125 from my Toyota Dealer. By the way, EMS5 is correct. The sole purpose of the modified fan coupler is to increase air flow through the radiator. Remember that the stock transmission cooler runs through the radiator. The transmission will run hotter with additional trailer weight over the standard 3500lbs. <br /><br />TRD offers a transmission cooler that you SHOULD INSTALL if you are towing but it is not officially part of the towing package. The TRD transmission cooler is stacked-plate unit made by Hayden. The Hayden coolers are sold at auto parts stores (I paid $65 at Pep Boys vs. $190 for the TRD unit). I had to make some custom brackets when I installed the transmission cooler but that was not to hard, I just copied from pictures of the brackets in the TRD kit. <br /><br />I'm going to be pulling a boat up a wet (and possibly slimy) boat ramp so I am going to install a TRD Limited-Slip Differential. The TRD Limited-Slip Differential is made by Eaton and seems to be a very good unit. A local Toyota Dealer has the TRD unit on sale for $260 (www.partznet.com). The Eaton unit (which is basically the same) would cost me about $345. <br /><br />Last but not least I am following UtahDave's advice and switching to all synthetic lubes. That includes motor oil, transmission fluid and gear oil. I'll be using AMSOIL branded synthetics.<br /><br />Now, I'm ready to tow! Total cost? Approximately $643.
 
L

lepper

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
May 27, 2002
Messages
94
Re: Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

I did pretty much the same thing when I was towing with my toyota tacoma.. But one thing I did that I didn't see on your list, I added a leaf in the back to beef up the rear suspension.. really helped a lot.<br />d
 
R

RatFish

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 29, 2003
Messages
647
Re: Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

Thanks lepper. Most of the time I will be using the truck without the boat attached. How did the addition of another leaf affect your "unloaded" ride? Where did you get the part? Did you do it yourself or have someone else do it? Was it expensive? Sorry for so many questions, I'm really considering adding the additional leaf.
 
N

notinbig

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 26, 2003
Messages
384
Re: Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

BUY A SUBURBAN, how much money are you going to spend on that JAP crap?
 
R

RatFish

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 29, 2003
Messages
647
Re: Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

Take it easy notinbig. I'm working with what I have here. I'd rather put a little cash into my current tow vehicle and get a boat rather than buy a new or used tow vehicle and no boat. Don't be so hostile.
 
C

Crabapple Cove

Recruit
Joined
Jun 25, 2003
Messages
3
Re: Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

Let's see- Suburban=$30K,10MPG,stays in shop for repairs, bet you're a UAW member! I'll keep my Toyoto thanks! :p
 
Boomyal

Boomyal

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 16, 2003
Messages
12,072
Re: Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

Ratfish:<br />When you convert to Amsoil motor oil be sure to include Amsoils by-pass filter kit. I have a 97 ford e-150 cargo van with 160k miles on it. It has the 4.6 L overhead cam v-8. I constantly run between 1000 and 1400 lbs over Gross vehicle rate. I run Amsoil's 5w-30 wght oil with the amsoil brand motor filter plus amsoil's by-pass filter. I have NEVER changed the oil in it. Every 20 to 25k miles I change both filters and top it off with 2 qts fresh oil. Todate, I use one half quart of oil every 4-5000 miles. That little V-8 just runs like a swiss watch. Your synthetic oils beat petroleum in probably every catagory of measurement of the effectiveness of oil. I run the same oil and filter set-up in my wifes 88 grand marquis and my '94 454 suburban. All you have to do is to keep the dirt out of the oil and change it if you suspect any engine problems that would cause fuel dilution of the oil. This is not, of course, recommended by Amsoil but I hate changing oil on all of the vehicles I have and my habit has never let me down.
 
R

RatFish

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 29, 2003
Messages
647
Re: Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

Thanks Boomyal,<br /><br />Since I'm still under the manufacturers warranty, I have to change the oil every 7500 miles as Toyota requires (I change dino juice every 3000 miles.). I don't think I need the extra filtration unless you have a compelling reason. In your case, I think you are correct in using the bypass filter.
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

Be careful folks about the personal insults. The Mod's will get ya.<br /><br />Anyway, having worked as a Service Manager in a large domestic and import (dual) dealership, I can tell you this.<br /><br />Import owners are MUCH more likely to:<br /><br />1. Read the owners manual.<br /><br />2. Perform the regualr maintenance using only OEM parts.<br /><br />3. Have the dealer do the service(s).<br /><br />4. Consult the OEM or have the dealer make modifications (OEM approved).<br /><br />5. Pay for any repairs. <br /><br />6. Not ask for after warranty assistance.<br /><br />It's actually quite amazing to see the maintenance attitude differences between import and domestic car/truck owners.<br /><br />Domestic owners are MORE likely to:<br /><br />1. Not believe a word the dealer or OEM says.<br /><br />2. Never have a dealer do maintenance work.<br /><br />3. Believe their NEW vehicle is no different than the 1971 C-10 they owned.<br /><br />4. Modify the vehicle using the advice of the counterperson at PepBoys.<br /><br />5. Not do any maintenance and cry "warranty" when a catastrophic" failure occurs.<br /><br />6. Ask for after warranty assistance for everything.<br /><br />Again, having worked with both. The only difference today between the perceptions of quality is what is between the steering wheel and the seat.<br /><br />Ratfish,<br /><br />Glad to see you went to the trouble to find out and make the mod's necessary to pull your load comfortably and safely.
 
Boomyal

Boomyal

Supreme Mariner
Joined
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Messages
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Re: Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

Ratfish:<br />Even if you stay with petroleum oil and frequent oil changes a quality by-pass filter (such as Amsoil's) will filter out particles that are about 4 times smaller than any OEM system filter. At any given time about 10 % of the oil is re-routed thru the by-pass filter and if the filter plugs up oil just stops flowing thru it. If OEM system filters tried to filter that fine the filter would plug up rapidly and go into internal by-pass giving the engine totally unfiltered oil. <br /><br />Unfortunately synthetic oil, which no one disputes the vast superiority of, is expensive and does not lend itself to frequent oil changes. Also, unfortunately, if you wait till you are out of warranty, to switch to synthetic oil with extended oil changes, you have run shovels full of unnecessary dirt thru your motor. I think that Amsoil recommends about 20k oil change intervals when using the additional filtration. <br />After the motor is broken in and not using any oil, I would definitely switch over and follow Amsoil's recommendation. While under warranty, keep a log book and record that you changed the oil at Toyota's interval. They would never even look at your record unless they could plainly see that any motor problem was caused by dirty oil. I know, I ran the #1 and the #7 largest <br />Toyota Parts Departments in the country.<br /><br />Even Corvettes are being shipped from the factory with Synthetic oil.
 
S

Skinsk

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 31, 2003
Messages
128
Re: Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

Heh.. I don't remember shoveling dirt into my motor..<br /><br />Hey ratfish, with that limited slip diff, is it still lockable. I know it's pretty much the same, but the lockable gives immediate off-road hookup...<br /><br />Scott..
 
R

RatFish

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 29, 2003
Messages
647
Re: Elusive Toyota Tacoma Towing Package

djohns19,<br /><br />Thanks for your support. <br /><br />Some people just don't get it. This is a performance and safety issue. The last thing I want to do is T-Bone a minivan full of people because I could not control my rig. Your right, I just want to tow comfortably and safely with what I currently own.<br /><br />Boomyal,<br /><br />Thanks for the advice. I just got my Amsoil today. I'll be switching over this weekend. As per your suggestion, I am going to get the bypass filter. Thanks again.<br /><br />Skinsk,<br /><br />There is a wide variety of differentials available. Limited-slip differentials will not lock up 100%. A locking differential (automatic or manual) will lock 100%. There are automatic locking differentials available for the Tacoma but for all around use I prefer a good limited-slip. You can get a manual locking differential as a Toyota factory option on some Tacoma's<br /><br />If your asking about using a limited-slip differential with Toyota's manual locking differential, I doubt it. I think Toyota's manual locking differential acts like a open carrier when the locker is not engaged. <br /><br />Here is a good link that talks about the various types of differentials.<br /><br /> Differentials Explained
 
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