Towing 6k TT / suspension option and Transmission mods

Hi everyone,

Just bought a tundra dc limited 4x4.


The photo attached to this thread is as shows, a 2”+ drop and I was afraid my tongue would skid the floor if any dips were to arise. I am literally only 8” away from contact to the ground.

husky wdh used to handle 1000 tongue and 10,000 tow capacity.

Debating a RAS, airbags or shocks. Currently want to avoid leaf packs to avoid added weight.

Added a scangauge and trans temp hit 230 and fluctuating. It maintains it well. But not liking this number. Want to keep it under 200. Ambient temp 100, up hills at 6% grade. My transmission is pinned open.

Let me know what you guys do for combat the sag and transmission temps.

 

WDH is not set up correctly

 

These are both bang on.

1 - Your WDH hitch is not setup properly. Airbags are nice to level things out the final bit, but it's clear your WDH needs tuning. Do that first.
2 - I see high 230's regularly while towing and your 2018 has a cooler. There is no reason to try and lower the temps - it's fine.

 

Agree completely

 

if trans temps are driving you nuts pretty easy and cheap to install an external cooler, you already have the steel lines and thermostat. take a look at the package they sale for the 2019 and newer all you need is the exchanger, mounting bracket and some rubber hose.

 

Does this truck have a towing package? I ask because 230 is what I see on my 2021 without a transmission cooler. If the OP's 2018 is seeing 230, it makes me wonder if it also does not have the transmission oil cooler.

Agree with the other comments about adjusting the WDH.

 

Dobinson's HD leaf packs help a whole bunch. Also use RAS HD kit. Sumo springs for bump stops. This truck easily carries plenty of weight and the headlights stay in focus.

 

2018 already has one stock on that truck.

 

Only if it has the towing package, right?

 

At 100F ambient I see 230+ with my stock cooler. It’s normal.

 

Pretty sure the tow package was standard on all Limited 4WD models in 2018.

 

That's crazy and makes me feel better about not having a cooler on mine. When towing in 100 degree heat without a cooler, the highest I hit was 234 deg F (then it settled back down to the low 220s). Maybe I don't need a cooler after all...

 

Ah yes, you are correct. Thanks for that.

 

I see spikes to 236F when it’s hot outside and towing over a mountain pass on occasions but similarly it drops into the 205-220 range.

 

I knew someone who pinned AND also bypassed the ATF/Coolant heat exchanger MAINLY for towing in the summer time ... He left the company so I never got any real data regarding the bypass. Pinning data is available everywhere since its more common ...

I am not so positive about the impact of bypassing the heat exchanger. You would think if or I should say when the atf temp goes above the coolant, having the heat exchanger would be very beneficial ... Also in cold winter days, the heat exchanger will do you fine.

Does anyone here have a bypass data?

 

Bypassing and pinning are both results of overthinking and trying to reinvent the wheel. The warmer helps efficiency by getting up to operating temp, so bypassing it is pointless when there is a cooler. Pinning the thermostat is pointless as well. Once the temp gets up it will open and cool as designed, so pinning it is not needed.

 

Post side view pics of your WDH and your TT hooked up. You should have no more than a 1 inch drop when the wdh is set up correctly. Your torsion bars should be parallel to the ground. The first pic is wrong, the 2nd one is correct.

 

How much is in the bed of your truck in that picture?

 

Can a WDH handle any tongue weight?

how much does that trailer weigh?

 

The bars can be purchased with different ratings, such as 600, 750, 1000 lbs. Stiffer bars simply carry a heavier tongue weight.

 

Thanks all for the input.

Bed loaded with 100 lb raft, 150lbs of bikes total.

TT weights 5800 dry. Loaded 6500 lbs (overestimated).

170 driver, 120 passenger, 40lbs x 2 rear passenger,

I have attached a close up of the same OP. Ill get a clean one side view shortly once I hook up to head home.



I have this husky wdh

$382 Center Line TS Weight Distribution Hitch - 2-5/16" Ball - 12000lbs

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W919FL8?_encoding=UTF8 that doesnt use chains. I was told the front suspension must stay as its original height to avoid steering issues. Hitch is adjusted to keep it that way. The sag is the rear. I invested in airbags. Coming soon. Hopefully this will help with the sag.

 

It's hard to determine much from that picture. Who set up the hitch? First thing you need to measure the ball height with just the hitch in the receiver. Then level the trailer and measure the height of the coupler on the trailer, You want the hitch about 1in. to 2in. higher. then you can start to make adjustments from there. We need to see a side view of the hitch as it sits now.

Setting these up can be a pain at times buy when you're done it makes towing so much better. I have the same hitch they are a good hitch when set up properly.

-Jason

 

Just left the campsite. This is the profile of the hitch attached.

Im thinking airbags will help as I noticed raising the tongue jack up by 2” helps remedy the issue which tells me it just needs a 2” lift in the rear.

Also my scangauge reading while going up the 15hwy from san diego over a 6% grade pass for 5 miles. Pinning the thermostat defijitly helps slow the climb of the temp to stay under 200 very well. But this is sub 90 ambient temp. Heading over to arizona in a couple weeks, I’d like to keep my temps at this range while at over 100 ambient.

How are you guys towing with trans temps at over 100 ambient temp with perhaps additional coolers? (Those with 3rd gens 2018 and below since 2019-2021 dont have trans cooler).

 

Thats a heavy trailer, we have super soft springs. Air bags, RAS, or sumo will help out a lot here. Wdh can only do so much to help when the springs are jelly

 

I really think your hitch needs some work. This is a 6500lb (dry weight) 32ft camper behind my 2019. It literally barely squats when I hook up.

 

Airbags will level the truck but it doesn’t effectively transfer weight to the front axle and trailer. Your WDH isn’t setup properly to do that.

Correct the WDH issues first otherwise you will just be loading the truck rear axle in order to make it “look” level. It won’t help steering. Once that is done to the best of the WDH, look at airbags.

Suggested watching:

 

Get a scale, and weight your tongue weight on the trailer fully loaded, water, propane, batteries, etc. To me it looks as if your WDH is not setup right. With 1000 lbs bars your truck should be level. But if your tongue weight is over 750 lbs air bags will help. My 24ft travel trailer dry hitch weight is 500 Lbs, fully loaded it is 750 lbs, so I added air bags, works great.

 

What he said. Airbags will only transfer that extra weight directly to the rear axle. You’ll look level, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have stability issues. Check the WDH. Airbags are really only good for helping out when hauling close to max payload.