Towing Questions

My rig is 4500 lbs max fully loaded up. I do have a the factory tow package including the transmission cooler. Question is will that little cooler be sufficient or should I replace with a larger one.

Other question is with proper WD hitch set up would Sumosprings still be helpful or beneficial.

Thanks all.

 

What year?

 

Sumosprings will only level out the truck. Not increase payload or towing ability.

 

OEM cooler should be adequate, but you can monitor your transmission temperatures (2) to confirm. Do a search here for ScanGauge II, and how to set up and use.

Need for Sumosprings will depend on how much you load onto the truck. You should maintain your payload, including tongue weight, below the truck rating. See the tire placard on the driver door jamb. That's how much you can load onto your truck total including passengers, luggage, gear, and trailer tongue weight. If Sumosprings are needed, then you're probably exceeding your payload rating. A WDH should be used regardless, and will redistribute payload to the front axle for safety.

 

Sorry it’s 2018 5.7L SR5

I have capacity for 1425lbs. Tongue weight around 560 lbs (12.5%). I plan to purchase a TW scale to verify that. This is the main reason I moved up from Tacoma as it had only 1150 lbs payload. I was maxed after loading family and gear.

 

4.6L or 5.7L?

 

5.7

 

You do understand that your auxiliary transmission fluid cooler is built into the top of the AC condenser, right?

Replacing the existing cooler with a larger free-standing exchanger will be complicated and expensive. You have a smaller trailer, and I would confirm the need before spending the cash. Terrain and climate can increase your cooling requirement. Some owners needing more cooling capacity have successfully installed another heat exchanger in series with the AC condenser cooler.

Keep in mind that you don't need to sub-cool the transmission fluid below engine coolant temperature. The transmission thermostat is designed keep the fluid temp between about 185-200 degrees. The truck wasn't designed to run with 165 degree fluid; it's asking for trouble to sub-cool transmission fluid IMO.

 

I wasn’t aware the cooler was built into the AC. I hadn’t pulled the front apart to look but assumed there was a little dedicated cooler like on the Tacoma. I appreciate the info. I’ll see how the tranny temps go this summer and will go from there. Thanks again.

 

Factory cooler is enough for that size trailer. Toyota claimed the fluid is good or normal (forgot their exact wording) up to 270/280. The atf overheat light supposedly doesn’t come on until 302. This was all during the 19+ no cooler debate, but I’m pretty sure it’s the exact same fluid in your 18, only difference is Toyota supposedly made changes to shift mapping but no one has confirmed that.

 

I tow a 5000 lbs trailer with 550 lbs of tongue weight, 2-people, a 125 lbs dog, and a couple hundred lbs of gear in the bed with a 2016 Tundra with factory tow package (includes transmission cooler) and have not experienced any issues with overheating.

I would definitely recommend a WDH. I didn't have one last year and got 3" of squat and a fair amount of bounce. I just bought one over the winter and will be using it this year. I also just purchased Roadmaster active suspension spring helper just to be sure.

 

Lies.

The closer your AT fluid approaches zero Kelvin the longer your transmission will last. Moar horsepower too.

 

You shoulda' explained what zero degrees Kelvin means, so that those technically-challenged can understand the extreme depth of your sarcasm.