First Truck for a Tractorman

[Wheeldog]

<font color=blue>I think I'd like to ask Wheeldog and Kerr about Toyota Tacomas, since they seem to have them or know about them.</font color=blue>.

Glenn,

I don't own a Tacoma - I have a 1995 pickup (predecessor to the Tacoma) and a 1990 4Runner. They are used to haul people, a dog, some bikes, and whatever else will fit, but I don't tow with either (don't have a trailer). I'm hoping to buy a Tacoma or Tundra in about two years.

I don't know how much your B2910, FEL, bush hog, and trailer will weigh, but I think it is close to or just over 5000 lb. If you can convince yourself that you are right around the 5000 lb max. rating, then my answer is no - I would not worry about towing with the V6 Tacoma for 300 miles/year. A higher load or if towing more often I might worry a little about wear and tear on the drivetrain, and want to go to something bigger. If you're going to be towing only 2-3% of the time, and if your primary goals for the vehicle are elsewhere, I don't see the need to be tooling around in an F-350 diesel, etc.

By the way, I tried shooting a 'Send Private' note to you yesterday, but it seemed to hang up. If you got it but haven't had time to respond, that's fine - just wanted to know whether it went through OK or not.

Rob

 

[kerr]

Mac.You have gotten more advice than there are stars in the sky.And I am proud as a member of T.B.N. as to the quality of the advice other members have shared on this issue.For myself i would pull the load using back roads taking my sweet ol time.Its fairley flat in texoma land . my 4 cyl taco would pull the load good enough but not in traffic or congested areas.A trl.can take control of a smaller trk or full size vessel for that matter before you can do a darn thing about it.I have 17 yrs exp.over the road flatbed trucking .Never a scratch,not luckey just damn good teachers.You have admitted your lack of exp.with a trk.and trl. im guessing.You were honest and i think you want to be a safe and responsable motorist.Here goes,is the tacoma a good trk.?You bet yer bippy!Could it pull a trl. with a tractor on it?You bet cha!Would i tell you load up and hammer down through town,over hill and dell with your rig in tow?Not on a bet!You would be flirting with disaster fer sure.My honest advise is get yourself a used 3/4 ton pickup,4 speed granny trans.Any motor you want and get ta work safely.Your gonna put this dude through the ringer working the place.Kinda like when ya got your tractor,HEY-i wonder if?!!!!!!Take 3K and get a work truck.My very honest opinion,KERR

 

[DVerbarg]

Glenn,

If you are expecting to only pull a trailer for 300 miles a year then a Tacoma should be ok. You'll need to take it easy but it should be ok. My brother has a Toyota T100 (I think it was the predecessor to the Tacoma) which he used to pull my parent's largest hay rack quite a few times. The hay rack weighs about ... lets see, it holds 250+ bales@60 to 65 lbs each for a total of 15,000+ lbs in payload, plus the wagon. Now he normally only do this in 4wd, max speed 30mph for 10 or so miles. A couple times he actually pulled 2 wagons that had about 350 total bales. He did have to replace the clutch a little earlier than he anticipated but that was after loaning the truck to someone who rode their foot on the clutch.

I realize that hay wagons are not the best comparison because they do not have any "tongue weight" to speak of, just the momentum issue. But if the trailer is properly balanced to give the proper tongue weight and you have a good braking system on the trailer then I would think you would be ok.

DaveV

 

[glennmac]

Thanks, everyone, for the replies. Indeedy, I would be inexperienced and nervous no matter what truck I had to pull a trailer. The braking issue is the one that causes me the greatest concern. (I mean its not going to kill me if I end up burning a transmission or clutch.) If I ever get a trailer I'll be back asking what is the super-duperest trailer brakes.

 

[Wheeldog]

The T100 preceded the Tundra. It was about the size of a Dakota and only offered with the V6 (same as in Tacoma and in base Tundra) - not too well-received. The "Hi-Lux" or no-name compact Toyota truck made up to 1995 preceded the Tacoma.

 

[pdxman]

Cowboydoc, you mentioned you had problems with the 4r100 tranny in your Ford. Before giving up on it, if you haven't already, take it to the Ford dealer...this TSB sounds like what you are experiencing:

2001 Excursion, F-series Extended 1-2/3-4 Upshifts:
Some vehicles built prior to 9-24-00 with the 4R100 and 7.3 PowerStroke engine may exhibit slightly extended 1-2 or 3-4 upshifts during cold startup conditions. This may be caused by the computer calibration. If the condition is verified, and normal diagnosis does not result in a repair, the computer will need to be reprogrammed. Affected vehicles have tear tag numbers PMT2, BKA2, KRK2, NMC2, EBM2.
TSB 01-2-4

Also, if you have ever experienced a tranny failure requiring repair:

E40D/4R100 Auto transmission tip, Fluid in-line filter kit:
Due to repeted failures of these transmissions, Ford now requires that an external transmission fluid filter be installed on the cooler return line any time either of these transmission are repaired or replaced. Concerns stem from the possibility of debris from a failed transmission not being completely flushed from the cooler. This debris may become dislodged and enter the lubrication circuit, which is fed by the cooler return, and result in the remanufactured or repaired transmission failing. Ford Quality Renewal transmission warrenty may be declined if this is not done, and a filter kit is provided with FQR transmissions. For transmissions being repaired, this kit--XC3Z-7B155-AA--must be ordered seperately. The cooler must be flushed and back flushed and a flow check performed prior to installation. This filter should be replaced every 30,000 miles with P/N XC3Z-7B155-BA. From my experience with the amount of metal debris found on the magnet while servicing E4OD transmissions, installing an external filter may act as a safeguard against premature transmission failure.

Here's another website by a mechanic/engineer specifically for ford diesels: www.intellidog.com/dieselmann

 

[cowboydoc]

Thanks pdxman. We have now done all of that and more on it. My friend is the service manager at the local Ford store and we pulled every tsb that there was on the transmission and did it all. He put the newest tranny, heavy duty torque converter and cooler, put in the inline filter and we added a magnetic filter and put the auxillary cooler on it as well. Truck was flushed before it was even ran to get any filings out of the new transmission and system. I then drove it for 200 miles and he flushed it again for me. I don't think there's much more that I can do on it. I still have alot left on the 36/36 warranty so we are going to see how it does. If it keeps up I'm just going to trade him for a stick.

 

[cowboydoc]

Pdxman and Dr. Dan,
Well after doing all of the add-ons and new transmission I finally had a chance to try it out this weekend. We went to a couple of rodeos with a sundowner 4 horse living quarters, 4 horses, all our gear. Traveled 175 miles to one and 124 to the other one and then home. Transmission never got above 180 degrees. Most of the time it was around 160 except pulling hills. This transmission is much firmer than the old one. It's not hunting gears near as bas as it used to. I put the superchip in coming home to see the difference and that firmed it up even more but temps stayed about the same. All in all it looks like this beefier transmission may do the job, fingers crossed. Still miss my manual transmission though, but wife loves the auto.

 

[DrDan]

That sounds great Richard...

I've learned - If there's a will there's a way. Hope you found the way - those are great tranny temps. If I were you I'd put Amsoil in the tranny and torque converter also. It's pretty darn good stuff and should drop temps another 10 degrees.

Dr Dan

 

[cowboydoc]

Dan,
We put in the heavy duty torque converter already. I'm not going to put in Amsoil yet as it's still under warranty and I really don't want there to be any question if this thing goes again. I agree it may be better but it's a no win situation when you try and fight Ford.