Towing Questions

[Maxil]

I have recently purchased a small Travel trailer that weighs about 3000lbs. I have thus far changed out tranny fluid to synthetic amsoil for lower temps and about to hook up tranny cooler. I wanted to bypass the stock cooler but I fear I need that extra cooling power in the stock one.

The suspension didn't seem to sag all that much when towing it home, about 250 miles. I could sure feel the weight but it pulled better than I figured it would.

I also added a brake controller and all hookups that the factory towing package lacked.

Is there any easy/not so expensive upgrades that I could do to assist pulling such a load,or possibly a heavier one in the future?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[RunninOnBlue]

I have recently purchased a small Travel trailer that weighs about 3000lbs. I have thus far changed out tranny fluid to synthetic amsoil for lower temps and about to hook up tranny cooler. I wanted to bypass the stock cooler but I fear I need that extra cooling power in the stock one.

The suspension didn't seem to sag all that much when towing it home, about 250 miles. I could sure feel the weight but it pulled better than I figured it would.

I also added a brake controller and all hookups that the factory towing package lacked.

Is there any easy/not so expensive upgrades that I could do to assist pulling such a load,or possibly a heavier one in the future?

Thanks a bunch!

A lot of people have done the Tundra Brake mod. (If you search for it, there are some step by step write-ups.) It will give you more stopping power and prevent the thinner stock rotors from warping under heavy heat. I would say if done yourself it is a relatively cheap way to make towing safer and easier on your rig.

 

[Maxil]

A lot of people have done the Tundra Brake mod. (If you search for it, there are some step by step write-ups.) It will give you more stopping power and prevent the thinner stock rotors from warping under heavy heat. I would say if done yourself it is a relatively cheap way to make towing safer and easier on your rig.

I appreciate the response, I may give that a go in the future. Is there a way to beef up the rear suspension if I am towing near the 500lb limit?

Thanks

 

[KeatonMP]

I wouldn't necessarily think about beefing up the suspension. As long as your within the limits of the towing capacity or right around it, you should be fine. If your worried about sagging you could throw some 1" spacers in the rear to make it sit more level when loaded.

 

[midibias]

or add airbags to your rear springs...

 

[LittleCaesar]

Just make sure to mount the tranny cooler right up against the condensor.

Airbags are the way to go. Use the search engine here for past posts.

 

[brian2sun]

I wouldn't run the stock tranny cooler along with your external cooler. Yes, it'll cool it even more efficiently, but it's not worth the chance of getting the "strawberry milkshake". If you do run both coolers, at least replace your radiator. Using your stock '98 radiator (if it's original) is taking your chances. You can get a Koyo radiator with the internal tranny cooler for ~$130.