Towing with a 3.0
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Spokane Washington
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Towing with a 3.0
Anybody doing much towing out there with their 3.0's. I just completely restored a 17yr old 5x8 trailer and plan on using it mainly to haul camping/hunting gear around. The trailer weighs approx. 600lbs. I was wondering if I should add or change anything to my '90 4runner. I have towed it to the dump and around town and it tow's just fine. I plan to have anywhere from 3-800lbs inside of it.
Thanks
Thanks
#2
Engine oil cooler and transmission cooler (auto only) are recommended upgrades for towing. If you plan on doing a lot of towing i'd also suggest running an electric fan. Other than the heat issue you should be good to go.
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 1,475
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
If it's only maximum 1000 pounds I think you'll be fine with just regular maintenance type stuff. Perhaps consider switching your oil, and driveline (transfercase, transmission, Front/rear Diffs) over to synthetic fluids to help reduce heat and such.
#7
Registered User
My 4runner has the oil cooler and tranny cooler and it had no issues pulling our 1700lb double axle trailer. Well other than going from slow to, "omg bicycles are passing me!" lol
Trending Topics
#10
Registered User
my 4runner tows ok... slow as crap because of the auto...
my truck tows very nice. Its a pleasure to tow with up to 2500lbs. It tows my popup fine. Yanks the 5x10 utility trailer around like nothing.
my truck tows very nice. Its a pleasure to tow with up to 2500lbs. It tows my popup fine. Yanks the 5x10 utility trailer around like nothing.
#11
Registered User
This is what happened to my 3.slow towing a uhaul 6x12 parachute to Nashville & back (360 each way.)
Truck was staying with the fast traffic, but she had her toung hanging out and was workin her lil arse off the whole way.
Pulled into the driveway, she gasped, burped, farted a big cloud of smoke and stalled. My girlfriend who was sitting on the porch said "oh, that doesn't sound happy." She's so smart
Yes, that's a big hole thru the piston and the crack runs nearly all the way accross.
Truck was staying with the fast traffic, but she had her toung hanging out and was workin her lil arse off the whole way.
Pulled into the driveway, she gasped, burped, farted a big cloud of smoke and stalled. My girlfriend who was sitting on the porch said "oh, that doesn't sound happy." She's so smart
Yes, that's a big hole thru the piston and the crack runs nearly all the way accross.
Last edited by MonsterMaxx; 10-04-2006 at 06:19 AM.
#12
Taller gears would not be the way to go. Shorter gears are. It's counterintuitive, but shorter gears means a higher gear ratio. So 4.88 gears are shorter than 4.10.
I've got 4.88 gears in my 4x4 PU. The heaviest load I towed was with the bed completely full of wood, towing a 6x8 trailer loaded with wood 3 feet deep (call it a cord of wood). I made it across a farm field and creek with no problem. I didn't drive fast, but never had a problem. On the roads, I did just fine, though acceleration was deliberately slow. I'm estimating I was towing about 5,000 lbs. Overloaded for sure.
So 1,000 or 2,000 lbs will be just fine with any gear ratio.
MadCityRich
I've got 4.88 gears in my 4x4 PU. The heaviest load I towed was with the bed completely full of wood, towing a 6x8 trailer loaded with wood 3 feet deep (call it a cord of wood). I made it across a farm field and creek with no problem. I didn't drive fast, but never had a problem. On the roads, I did just fine, though acceleration was deliberately slow. I'm estimating I was towing about 5,000 lbs. Overloaded for sure.
So 1,000 or 2,000 lbs will be just fine with any gear ratio.
MadCityRich
#13
Registered User
no the oil cooler is on the side of the block and uses engine coolant to keep the oil cool. Its on the block's left hand side (drivers side) and about 4" behind the Oilfilter. (Behind being closer to the firewall) IIRC the coolant line going to the oil cooler comes off of the thermostat housing.
#14
Registered User
no the oil cooler is on the side of the block and uses engine coolant to keep the oil cool. Its on the block's left hand side (drivers side) and about 4" behind the Oilfilter. (Behind being closer to the firewall) IIRC the coolant line going to the oil cooler comes off of the thermostat housing.
#16
#17
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Spokane Washington
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all the input. I think I will be fine too, but you can never go wrong with more information. Yeah I asked a friend and he said stay away from a e-fan. My runner is totally stock except for my new springs in the rear. oh and running stock 31's with the 5 speed
#18
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Spokane Washington
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the oil cooler is a great idea. With the trailer and camping gear in it and hopefully my new quad I think I won't have trouble. I do intend on taking it up some pretty rough and steep forest service roads to get to the good camping spots.
#20
Registered User
I think this is what I'm looking for. My radiator appears to also be for the auto trans, since I have a manual I could use the cooler in it as an aux cooler.
So, where can I get one of these adaptors? I really want to add more cooling for the next round of the 3VZE.
I'll tell you this, my truck pulled that uhaul 6x12 parachute just as fast as all the other traffic, thru several passes and all. It was working it's little azz off the whole way (picture it's tounge hanging out, panting the whole way.) It did well until that piston let go.
Last edited by MonsterMaxx; 10-05-2006 at 05:37 AM.