How can you tell if you have the tow package?

My 96 T100 SR5 has a frame mounted hitch. How can I tell if I have the tow package, or is that implied by the frame-mounted hitch? In addition, can anyone tell me what all is included with the tow package and whether it increases the towing capacity? thanks

Tow package is usually the light hookups and the hitch. Sometimes some added mirrors... ;)

No...it doesn't increase the towing capacity.

if you're not the original owner, quite possibly the frame-mounted hitch is an add on. A tow package does not increase the tow weight rating of the vehicles for ANY toyota. I have observed on tundras, the tow package includes an auxiliary oil cooler. This is not the case with the t100 as far as I know.

If you have an auto trans and are considering towing with the T100 an aux cooler may be a good idea. You should also consider bilstein shocks and perhaps a rear sway bar. An add-a-leaf or some rear air may also be in your future depending on the load.

I tow a 2700lb trailer + 1200lb horse with my T regularly with no issues, a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 brake controller being the most critical safety addition, before the others I mentioned.

A tow package does not increase the tow weight rating of the vehicles for ANY toyota.

In the Owner's Manual for my '02 Tacoma says 3500# without, & 6000# with the Tow Package Option. So yes indeed, a Tow Package Option does increase one's towing ability rating. At least it does on my truck. Now who knows what all is included in the tow package option. On the new Tacoma's you can't get the locking diff if you get the Tow Package option. What else is in the package? beefier springs, different gearing, possibly oil cooler for automatic trans? bigger brakes?

+1 on the Prodigy!!!

In the Owner's Manual for my '02 Tacoma says 3500# without, & 6000# with the Tow Package Option. So yes indeed, a Tow Package Option does increase one's towing ability rating. At least it does on my truck. Now who knows what all is included in the tow package option. On the new Tacoma's you can't get the locking diff if you get the Tow Package option. What else is in the package? beefier springs, different gearing, possibly oil cooler for automatic trans? bigger brakes?

+1 on the Prodigy!!!

The tow package on Toyota usually consists of a class III hitch, some wiring, and maybe a transmission cooler. My guess is with your Tacoma the bumper is only rated for 3500Lbs, whereas the class III hitch which is part of the tow package is rated for 6000Lbs.

The things that you suggest are possible but unlikely. I won't make a universal statement about it because I don't know everything about every Toyota, but what I have said is the case for T100s and gen 1 tundras with certainty.

As an aside, I read somewhere that the ford superduty's which come with a brake controller built in use a modified Prodigy!. It's Prodigy electronics with an additional sensor that measures pressure in the hydraulic braking system, so the proportional braking is also proportional to pedal pressure. They need to add this as an option to their aftermarket line!

Hensley (http://www.brake-controller.com/brake_controller/trucontrol_gold_features.html) TruControl Gold Electric Trailer Brake controller will trump that Prodigy... ;)

Hensley (http://www.brake-controller.com/brake_controller/trucontrol_gold_features.html) TruControl Gold Electric Trailer Brake controller will trump that Prodigy... ;)

It took some reading, but I absolutely agree with you. I've driven with maybe 5 different brake controllers (horses, blame my wife), and the prodigy has been better than any of them. But... I've never seen one of these TruControl's. The gen 3 prodigy behaves differently for hydraulic and electric brakes, has pretty sophisticated proportional braking mechanism, and a lot of control over gain and lockup prevention limits. Looks like the TruControl does all of that and has some other features too. And, it's a panel design instead of a cartridge... Better mounting options.

I don't see the classic "throw lever" that lets you manually control the braking on the fly. This can be helpful if you ever encounter a sway problem. Braking on the trailer without applying brakes on the truck will kill sway almost imediately.

Some day when I get a truck that can take a gooseneck I'll be upgrading...

P.S. I'll add to that that I have seen aftermarket controllers that tie into the car's hydraulics to determine braking pressure like I described. They all seem to be $500+. That seems like a good deal on the Hensley you posted though, down to $200. When I bought the first Prodigy in 2003 I got it for $110. When I bought the gen 3 prodigy I picked it up for $110 too in summer 2008. I guess you should be able to get any brake controller for half off...

I don't see the classic "throw lever" that lets you manually control the braking on the fly. This can be helpful if you ever encounter a sway problem. Braking on the trailer without applying brakes on the truck will kill sway almost imediately.

That's the red capped white stick you see on the left. You just push that in to the right and you git manual override. BTW...the TruControl has a 60 day money back guarantee...you could always give it a try. ;)

Hensley also has a trailer hitch that will virtually eliminate sway. It's called the Hensley Arrow. The originator went and formed a new company and he's made a new design that's supposed to be even better. You can check it out and see if it might meet yer needs.

Just ordered a B&M trans cooler from SummitRacing.com. SummitRacing number BMM-70264...about 14,400 BTUs of cooling power fer about $60. :D

Still have to find my extra trailer wiring and install it on the new truck. If not, I'll just move the current wiring over instead... ;)

Just ordered a B&M trans cooler from SummitRacing.com. SummitRacing number BMM-70264...about 14,400 BTUs of cooling power fer about $60. :D

Still have to find my extra trailer wiring and install it on the new truck. If not, I'll just move the current wiring over instead... ;)

Did you go with the supercooler?

This is the one I installed (had to find the amazon order in my email...)
yours is bigger than mine! Oh No!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CIGE9G

"SuperCooler low pressure drop coolers reduce the risk of lube system failure. A controlled amount of ATF is allowed to bypass the stacked plate core, passing through a self-regulating orifice which monitors resistance to flow."

They use the term "monitor" quite liberally. It's really just a hole that viscous (cold) oil flows through... But design IMO

B&M Transmission SuperCoolers (http://www.bmracing.com/PRODUCTS/Automatic-Transmission-SuperCoolers)... :D

Yes...it's a little thicker but slightly smaller. I'm looking to drop the valence on this truck as well and put the cooler in the same spot as the 1993 T-100...which is right where the front license plate goes. I'll flip the plate up so it's more on the bumper and allow the air to pass into the cooler. :D

OK so I phoned Toyota USA today & found that the '02 Tacoma Tow Package option consists of these extra's:
-130 amp alternator
-engine oil cooler
-transmission oil cooler(auto)
-trailer hitch & wiring
apparently no suspension upgrades

I also found out that if you check the spacer/hub right behind the cooling fan and if it's green then you have the tow package option, but if it's orange then no tow package option.
I'll be hunting the wreckering yards to find a engine oil cooler, as I should have one anyways with the supercharger.

$170 oil cooler (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350148340564)... ;)

Someone's (http://www.yotatech.com/f160/3-4-swap-started-82145/index23.html#post50583169) work on an external air cooled oil cooler.

BTW...what oil temps are you seeing now?

In that same thread...here's an interesting thought (http://www.yotatech.com/50606545-post622.html)...

Use the union bolt to add an oil plate adapter to the stock oil cooling port. I think running it from the oil filter position could make it too cramped in that area.

From ToyotaPartSales.com
Item Number MSRP Core Price Price
9040419013 $7.06 $0.00 $5.30
Engine - Engine parts - Oil filter - Union
Union - 3.4 liter 2000 - 2004

So about $6 to make that stock oil cooling port into secondary oil access port. :D

I think the OEM of most of the stacked plates is Long Mfg - buy here - www.bulkpart.com - Tru-cool ATF cooler