Does anyone know what all it will take for me to equip my V6 Access cab Tundra (06') to tow (ie. hitch, wiring, etc.). It does not have the factory towing package. Most of the towing I will be doing is light duty. U-Haul trailers with under 2000 pounds of total weight. However, I will be towing from Virginia to Florida (1000 miles each way). I am a little concerned about not having the transmission oil cooler and the higher output alternater (although I think the alternater is more important when trailer brakes are involved). Will that pose any serious problems? Finally, how many miles should I have on the truck before I tow with it to Florida. It currenly has 58 miles (just got it), and I need to go to Florida next week. Is it safe to take the Toyota or should I take my Suburban instead (already 10000 miles over on the lease).
I added a hitch, a four pin plug adaptor that just connects to existing plugs both near the rear tail light and near the battery. Then added a Prodigy brake controller adding the extra couple wires for trailer brake control, trailer battery charging with another relay near the battery for powering that. And added a seven pin plug at the bumper, the seven pin plug I chose I just plug the four pin into an adaptor on it so I can easily unplug it and hook up to a four pin trailer if I need to, and added the connections for the other two wires by running 12 gauge wiring back under the truck. There is actually still an extra pin for auxilary that I don't use for anything.
I also added a trans cooler and temp gauge.
I haven't ran into an issue with the alternator.
Most all of it I found good instructions on here by searching for things such as trans cooler, brake controller etc.
While some would say it's not ideal, given that you're only talking about 2000lbs or so loaded weight, I don't think I would worry about it to much.
Get a good frame hitch and wiring harness installed. The transmission cooler would be nice additional protection, but not mandatory. There aren't many serious hills between Virginia and Florida, so as long as you keep your speed down and the transmission can stay locked up in either 4th or 5th gears, transmission temps are unlikely to be an issue. If you were towing a heavier load, through the mountains, in the summer, I'd think otherwise - but you're not.
Otherwise just vary your speed a little, try to avoid the jackrabbit starts, etc. I think you'll be fine.
Of course, all of this is just my humble opinion. Given the choice between driving the new Toyota and an already over-mileage lease vehicle, I think the choice is easy.
I paid about 270 bucks for a hitch, wiring, and a brake controller for towing a Casita 2500 dry weight trailer. It pulls like a dream with NO problems. All of the gauges are well below the limit. Your transmission cooling is just fine the way it is...bigger than our 4runner and we did add one on that vehicle. You will be amazed in how well it pulls and handles. I don't even hardly notice that I am pulling something. Oh by the way, mine is a V6 also. 4.6 liter, just like yours. I also want to add that you really don't need the 9 pin connection like I did, unless you think that you might pull a small trailer like ours....Casita, Scamp, etc.
Thank you all for your replies. The am certainly less concerned than I was. The one question I still have is how many miles I should try to put on the truck before I tow. I figure in my daily commute between now and next Tuesday, I will tack on about 500 miles. Is this enough, or should I try to tack on some more this weekend?
you don't need a oil cooler. hitch, trailer brake. thats all you need i haul my camper (6,000) all over the country for work with the v6. go to u-haul they'll get you what u need. i live in pa and i made a few trips to northern Cali with no troubles. the truck will hold up no problems
I dont think he is worried about the truck pulling the load, just that it is so close to new, as I said before, the manual asks you to wait for 1500 miles before ANY towing.
It also tells you during the 0-1500 mile period, that you not keep the engine and tranny at a set rpm for a prolonged(sp?) amount of time (i.e freeway driving, or towing.)
Thank you Gunter. I am much more familiar with the diesel side of engines. I would never push a generator much above 75% or let it run prolonged under 25% within the first 50 to 100 hours. No do gasoline engines work the same as diesel where prolonged running under very low load damages the engines?
something to consider: if you're planning to keep the tundra for the long haul, i would suggest you might consider renting a tow vehicle for the trip to florida until you can put some miles on your new truck. a lot of important things happen during the break in period and the recommendations in the manual aren't given lightly in my opinion. (i know, everybody's got one!)
for the long run, you want your engine and drivetrain to last and that is what the break-in period is all about. shoot, at 58 miles, your brake pads aren't even seated yet! now you're planning to put an extra 2,000 pounds on them? not to mention the pistons, rings, crank, tranny, ring and pinion, etc....
i know plenty of people don't even read their manuals and think they do just fine with their vehicles, but it's hard to say what could or should have not happened had they taken the time to break them in properly. of couse, if it's a lease or your just don't plan on holding on to it that long, it's not your problem, i suppose.
if this is the only major towing you have planned, you might take the money you would put into a hitch and rent a truck. that way you get a proper breakin on your tundra and your suburban doesn't kill your wallet on the lease. of course, what's an extra 2,000 when you're already 10,000 over? ha, i know they can get expensive pretty fast. you'll just have to run the numbers to see what is best. if possible i would avoid towing with the new truck until it had a proper break in.
I think I have decided to take the Suburban for this trip. I have another trip down, once again towing in the middle of February (4 times per year for business), so I can wait to try out the new truck until it has some more break in. On the over milage, it costs 0.20 per mile. It hurts, but not as much as being broken down with my brand new truck somewhere between here and Florida.
2006 V6 AC here. I plan on getting a Reese from Advance Auto to pull a bass boat. $129.00 and made for the Tundra. Easy to install.
My truck has the flat 4 pin from the factory. I would think yours did also. Bass boats are easier to tow as they don't catch as much wind as trailers. Definately wait on towing till you get more miles.
V6 Tundra Towing without Towing Package
Re: V6 Tundra Towing without Towing Package
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