Tacoma add towing package or not

[motoboss2002]

Still trying to go out the first time and need some advice. We have a 2005 Fleetwood Bayside. Specs are GAWR 3,320 and GVWR 3,770 lbs.

I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma 3.4l V6 Xtracab PreRunner TRD. I've been googling a bit and the fan clutch is orange which tells me the offical towing capacity is 3,500 lbs.  An OEM towing package would add a heavy duty fan clutch + tranmission cooler (and stronger alternator) giving me a towing capacity of 5000 lbs.  
Appropriate hitch and wiring harness has been taken care off by my Fleetwood dealer when I picked up the (new to us) pup.

Question is, should I bite the bullet and upgrade to the heavy duty fan and tranny cooler? The numbers kinda tell me I am on the limit.

Tnx, Christian.
P.S.: Not looking to do the work myself, I'd take it to the Toyota dealership. Might cost a few pennies though ...

[wavery]

Still trying to go out the first time and need some advice. We have a 2005 Fleetwood Bayside. Specs are GAWR 3,320 and GVWR 3,770 lbs.

I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma 3.4l V6 Xtracab PreRunner TRD. I've been googling a bit and the fan clutch is orange which tells me the offical towing capacity is 3,500 lbs.  An OEM towing package would add a heavy duty fan clutch + tranmission cooler (and stronger alternator) giving me a towing capacity of 5000 lbs.  
Appropriate hitch and wiring harness has been taken care off by my Fleetwood dealer when I picked up the (new to us) pup.

Question is, should I bite the bullet and upgrade to the heavy duty fan and tranny cooler? The numbers kinda tell me I am on the limit.

Tnx, Christian.
P.S.: Not looking to do the work myself, I'd take it to the Toyota dealership. Might cost a few pennies though ...

I would definitely go with the biggest tranny cooler that you can get.

If you really want to know what you are able to tow, you need to know what the GCVWR (Gross combined vehicle weight rating) is. Start with the GCVWR, subtract you GVWR and that will tell you what your real tow rating is. The tow rating doesn't really tell you anything, especially when you are talking about camping with gear and family in the TV. Often, the tow rating on some vehicles only tells you the maximum that your vehicle can tow with only the driver and no cargo.

[austinado16]

Don't even think twice about it. Got get the big, bad, towing package installed.  The last thing you want to be when out with the family, towing a big camper, on vacation.....is on the margins.  Guarranteed you'll be on the side of the road somewhere, on a holiday weekend, 230mi from anywhere, out of cell phone service!

The big alternator will allow you to run the camper's fridge on 12v, and run the A/C in your Toyota and still have some juice left over for keeping your battery and the camper battery charging.

The fan clutch and cooler will save your a$$ when it gets hot and you're stuck in traffic, or climbing a grade somewhere.....or if you're just out on the road and it's near or above 100F

Consider having a mechanical transmission temp gauge installed.  Also, take a look online at places like B&M and SummitRacing.com and see if an extra capacity cast aluminum finned transmission pan is available (they usually come bunged for the mechanical temp gauges too).  If it is, get it.  Same goes for the rear differential cover (if yours isn't already a finned aluminum one)

[harleywolf]

If you

[motoboss2002]

Hi,
 
Tnx all of you for your good advice. Toyota TRD parts are on order with my local dealershiph -they agreed it was the right thing to do and have never tried to sell me something I didn't need.  The  Tacoma will be up to the task with peace of mind soon.

-Christian.