adding trans cooler to V6

[beeper]

I am thinking of adding a trans cooler to my 05 SE V6. I want to pull a car and trailer about 5300 lbs ..trailer has surge brakes...I know its over the recommended limit for the V6 but with the cooler thought it might be okay. Anybody pulled a load like that and anybody got any info on adding that cooler. Want to go 500mi.

 

[TranceKrayz]

The transmission is only one factor when pulling a heavy load. Have you thought about the stress it would put on your frame and hitch?

It's dangerous to go over the specified tow rating, and 500 miles is a long way to do that. If you get into an accident, it would be negligence on your part, and insurance might not even cover you.

I've towed a uhaul trailer that weighed about 3000# loaded for 200 miles each way. The V6 engine and tranny worked beautifully. The only times I felt the trailer was while braking and going over bumps.

With that said, I think towing 5000# would be pushing the V6 to its limits.

 

[beeper]

TranceKrayz
Thanks for your input...yes I realize its over the limit....and 500mi is a ggod ride. I was just looking for advise and yours is worth noting. I am not committed to this pull with the 4runner at this time but it sure would save me a big hassle and a lot of money. This is the time the V8 would be worth its while. Hadn;t considered this tow when I bought the V6...oh well.

 

[Spider5]

Be careful. I have a friend push over the limit on his Jeep when he got into an accident. The insurance would not cover him when they found that the trailer was over weight for the truck, and the Police change the blame to him, even though it would not have been his fault if it had not been for the trailer issue.

 

[boston_kevin]

You can change the hitch on the V6 to the same hitch on the V8 (has been done by many dealers).. V6 with the V8 hitch will pull about 6300 lbs. I would highly recommend getting a tranny cooler if you are towing anything over 3500 lbs and replace the stock class III hitch if you are towing over the weight limit for that hitch.

The stress on the frame is the same for the V8 and the V6 (you think there would be two frames for the same truck??). That being said, the stress for anything over 5000 lbs might be too much for the V6 if you are doing lots of hills.

 

[beeper]

Thanks guys
I know I am on the edge with the hitch and tranny for that matter...guess the V6 too. Very marginal vehicle for what I want to do. So there you have, didn't think I needed the V8 six months ago and if I had it now it would save me a lot of time, ,money and aggrivation. Just wanted to get a feel from the forum of anybody else's experience. Even just at 5000# ,it would be a stretch for the V6.
Might have to come up with plan B.....

 

[Hank]

You can change the hitch on the V6 to the same hitch on the V8 (has been done by many dealers).. V6 with the V8 hitch will pull about 6300 lbs. I would highly recommend getting a tranny cooler if you are towing anything over 3500 lbs and replace the stock class III hitch if you are towing over the weight limit for that hitch.

The stress on the frame is the same for the V8 and the V6 (you think there would be two frames for the same truck??). That being said, the stress for anything over 5000 lbs might be too much for the V6 if you are doing lots of hills.

:iagree:

The frame & V6 are not an issue. However, the absent tranny cooler & wd hitch are highly recommended. The new Taco is rated to tow 6300-6500lbs. Same 4.0L V6 and tranny, so how can 5000lbs be too much? The '03-'04 4spd tranny is another matter

 

[Koz]

The 4.0 V6 Tacoma is rated to pull more weight because the vehicle itself weighs less. Changing to a class IV hitch does NOT raise the tow rating. Do yourself a favor and don't gamble pulling over the tow rating.

Koz