Factory Towing Package

[gwake41]

New member, first post:
My '07 4.7L Sport; does NOT have a "FACTORY" towing package. It has aftermarket class III hitch with large aftermarket trans cooler, K&N, Magnaflow.

I tow a single axle 15 foot travel trailer, approx 3000# MAX. My Runner seems to struggle to pull it. It's very 'late' to up-shift above 2nd gear. It will rarely get into 5th on straight & level at any speed over 60 mph or incline over 1%. My mileage goes from 19 down to 10.
I think it should pull that little trailer like it's not even there!
Does anyone know what's in a "factory towing package' beyond the hitch, wiring, alternator, wiring etc?
My current theory is that "factory towing package" includes transmission mods: a modified valve body and/or TCM.
I doubt that I can find anything out thru Toyota.

 

[CXS]

Something's wrong. I have an '05 and a trailer similar to yours and the only thing I can agree on in your post is the mpg drop. I don't believe there's any different in the transmission, valve body and/or TCM. I also don't get anywhere near 19mpg's w/o the trailer.

 

[DC runner]

Something is off.
I have an 04, so no VVTI HP boost and my 4.7 pulls my 5k boat, p!us 1k trailer with no issues. Sure my mpg goes to heck, but she gets up to speed on the highway quite easily. In fact I love this engine, simply my favorite ever owned. Spritly and nimble, but can get down when needs to.

Magnaflow, aftermarket, all the classic marks of someone looking to boost performance that probably didn't have clue what they were doing. These same people their on those retarded mod chips that muck everything up.

Have you checked? To see if a mid chip is on? Otherwise, check dragging brakes. I don't see a tow hitch doing anything. A trans cooler,maybe. Might interfere with shift points. Not sure. They might have put the wrong type of trans fluid after opening the system to add the cooler.

Tons of things an inexperienced modder might mess up.

 

[CXS]

I guess you need to tell us how it drives w/o the trailer. How does it do in the same situations that it does poorly on with the trailer?

 

[MarkinWMich]

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I have not seen anything in the literature regarding a 4th Gen Toyota 4Runner "factory towing package" per se, other than the hitch and wiring harness. I am not aware of any specific transmission mods.

I know when I am thinking of a "factory towing package", as often found in full-sized trucks, it may include things like specific rear end gearing, trans cooler, HD sway bars, specific shocks, self-leveling air bag system, traction control systems, specific tires, and so on. If you are going to be doing a lot of towing with your 4Runner, then often times those are specific mods you'll have to do on your own.

So, in your case, it would seem that something is not operating as it should. I've towed light (1500-2000lb) trailers with my V6, with a lift and larger tires, and the V6 hardly sensed it. I averaged around 19mpg highway.

 

[gwake41]

I didn't loose a drop of ATF with cooler upgrade as it replaced OEM cooler which well above trans. New B&M cooler in same position as OEM cooler, only 3 times larger plate & fin. Truck performance seems little changed before/after mods. But Magnaflow is much louder.
Actually on a trip I got 20.5 mpg with roof top carrier, didn't think anyone would believe that.
Without trailer truck performs exceptionally. Shifts and accelerates quickly, no flare, no lag, just takes off and goes!
I've checked trailer brake drums after towing, they're warm but I can hold my fingers on them without pain.

The truck just doesn't want to up-shift with the trailer. I'm almost positive its the trans, but it works wonderfully without a trailer.

I used to tow a Mazda RX7 club racer tools and spares on a tandem trailer with a Mazda B2200 no problem straight and level, of course it was 5 spd manual.

 

[brian.j]

3000# is plenty to justify not towing in overdrive anyway, no?

My 4.7 is one of the most fun and capable tow vehicles I've had since my '70's Chevy 350's, but I try stay out of 5th for anything over about 1500#

That said, it SHOULD shift, so it sounds like there's an issue.

 

[ebg18t]

I tow a single axle 15 foot travel trailer, approx 3000# MAX. My Runner seems to struggle to pull it. It's very 'late' to up-shift above 2nd gear. It will rarely get into 5th on straight & level at any speed over 60 mph or incline over 1%. My mileage goes from 19 down to 10.
.

My 2 cents. It seems like the truck is protecting itself. Going back & forth between 4-5th causes a lot if heat in the tranny. Keeping it in 4th keeps the temps down. I wonder if the tranny temp sensor is linked to the shift parameters?

My mpg drops about 25-30% when towing 4,000#.

 

[DC runner]

The factory towing package doesn't tinker with the transmission or other mods. It is basically just a hitch, wiring harness and external trans cooler. There isn't a special computer chip to give it a different timing or run mode.

As for your performance, could one of your hubs be sticking? As for the heat test, that isn't super helpful on trailers. I had a old trailer hub disintegrate and I was doing the "feel" test to see if it was sticking. Turns out it had eaten every bearing in the hub. You might have a sticking hub and not know it.

 

[peebee]

Since the truck is exceptional without the trailer, I would find a buddy to tow your trailer around and judge the difference in performance. If it's complete night and day, like it is with your 4Runner, then you know the problem is related to the trailer itself.

I would also suggest a buddy who regularly tows.

 

[CXS]

Since the truck is exceptional without the trailer, I would find a buddy to tow your trailer around and judge the difference in performance. If it's complete night and day, like it is with your 4Runner, then you know the problem is related to the trailer itself.

I would also suggest a buddy who regularly tows.

Good point, too easy not to do. I'm hooking mine up tomorrow for a one week trip, bye-bye decent mpg's!

 

[wnelax04sr5]

Something is off.
I have an 04, so no VVTI HP boost and my 4.7 pulls my 5k boat, p!us 1k trailer with no issues. Sure my mpg goes to heck, but she gets up to speed on the highway quite easily. In fact I love this engine, simply my favorite ever owned. Spritly and nimble, but can get down when needs to.

Magnaflow, aftermarket, all the classic marks of someone looking to boost performance that probably didn't have clue what they were doing. These same people their on those retarded mod chips that muck everything up.

Have you checked? To see if a mid chip is on? Otherwise, check dragging brakes. I don't see a tow hitch doing anything. A trans cooler,maybe. Might interfere with shift points. Not sure. They might have put the wrong type of trans fluid after opening the system to add the cooler.

Tons of things an inexperienced modder might mess up.

what is a "retarded mod chip"

 

[peebee]

what is a "retarded mod chip"

ECU chips people install thinking it will turn their 4.0l into a 5.7l corvette. They usually cause more harm than good.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

ECU chips people install thinking it will turn their 4.0l into a 5.7l corvette. They usually cause more harm than good.

well depends what it is and who you get it from, unichip is a waste of money, but URD makes some performance electronics that actually do something