Who has towed a 3000 pound plus trailer with their 5 spd V6 third gen? Preferably those of you who are lifted with bigger tires. I have the 3.4 V6 with a 5spd and 4.30 gears on 33" tires and today I tried to tow a 3000 pound camper. It was fine until I tried to start on a hill from a stop-then I smoked the hell out of the clutch and didn't move. This was a pretty steep hill. I am wanting to know if I could tow 3000 to 3500 pounds reliably with 4.88 gears in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, so:

Please tell me what you have towed with your specs on your vehicle and your gear ratio and tire size. Tacoma guys please respond too.

 

bact to top, come on guys

 

I have a friend that towed a Boat that weighed 6000 lbs., with a T-100 truck. Same engine, tranny, 4.10:1 axle ratio, and stock size tires with no problems.

And 6000 lbs., is over that trucks rated towing capacity.

I don't know if that helps at all, but at least you know that heavy weights have been towed successfully.

 

I've towed a loaded down U-haul trailor, not quite sure how heavy it was but it was definetely heavy. I have 4.10's and it seemed to pull fine up and down hills (I mean as well as expected) but I never started on a hill so I couldn't really tell you. I'm sure the 4.88's would help drastically going from 4.30's. I would love to at least re-gear to 4.56's.

 

i tow about 4500lbs with my v6 taco frequently and have worried about having to replace my clutch sooner than i'd like. i have put it in 4lo a few times when starting out on a steep hill then switching back to 2hi after i get going.

 

You can switch from 4lo to 2hi while moving?

 

Yeah you can. I think you might have to be going 5mph or under to do it but it can be done. We have this one hill on campus that I have to put my truck in 4lo so i don't waste my clutch if I have to start on it, but I always switch back out before I get going too fast.

 

Huh, I'll have to try that. The Marlin twin stick might help me out.

 

I've towed about 6500 lbs with my 96 with loaded down U-haul, No starting on hills, but it did OK on towing it up the hills.

You can shift from 4 lo to 4hi and then into 2hi if you want, but Marlin's twinstick would be better suited for that.

 

actually you can go from 4lo to 2hi anytime, i think im usually going about 20 when i switch. you can't go into 4lo unless you're almost stopped.


dragr1: yea that will come in handy, i want to get a twin stick

 

if you have the pushbutton 4 wheel drive you can unplug a plug to the transfer case to have 2-lo

 

get a better aftermarket clutch such as centerforce

 

Actually the Toyota factory clutch is about the strongest out there and isn't too much different from the Centerforce.

 

When I replaced the clutch on my '95 2nd gen, I went with a TRD Kit that had a heavy duty clutch and a 5lb heavier flywheel. I notice that there is a kit for 3rd gens, but I can't find a description of it. The heavier flywheel on the 3.0 made it MUCH easier on takeoffs. I'd love to have a heavier flywheel on my '99.

 

my buddy was having a similar problem on his 02' taco with 15,000 miles on it when pulling his 21' proline center console out of the water. he dropped in a centerforce dual friction clutch, and problem solved.

 

I have looked for info on the TRD clutch and there is none out there. I thought maybe the flywheel for a second gen would work, but according to Marlins site, the 2nd gen clutch is slightly smaller.

Know anyone that knows what they're talking about at TRD that I can talk to and ask?

A heavier flywheel would be great and a stronger clutch (maybe Marlin or TRD?), but I would like the pedal pressure to stay light so I don't get a workout when I'm offroad and pushing the clutch a lot.

 

I emailed TRD. We'll see what they have to say.

 

Thanks, there is also a clutch discussion going on over on TTORA.

 

FWIW i have a clutch masters stage 4 on my car and it feels almost stock....no workout here. i think they just changed the pivot point to reduce the pedal pressure needed

 

Dragr1,

PM Albequerque Jim- I know he was purchased some sort of racing clutch friction plate, just don't remember the name, where, or how much.