Getting my new '06 Tundra outfitted for towing

[Jbayless]

Hi folks,

I'm the new owner of a 2006 Toyota Tundra 4.7L Access Cab with 12500 miles on her ... just picked up the truck yesterday for a really good price. :-)

It has the SR5 package but no other extras ... no tow hitch or transmission cooler (as far as I can see). I need to outfit this truck to tow an 18-foot center console boat, with a tongue weight of less than 250 pounds (I can lift it, so I suspect it is much less) and a trailer weight (boat, motor, trailer and fuel) of up to 2600 lbs.

My questions are these:

Do I need a transmission cooler? Most of my trips will be 80 miles one way at the most, and usually 45 miles one way. I do live in San Antonio, so conditions are hot. It's almost 100 here right now. Any recommendations on style or type? I am leaning toward having one installed at the Toyota dealership, to be sure it is covered under warranty. I recently had a nightmarish issue with a tranny cooler that I allowed U-Haul to install on my S10 Blazer, so I am definitely not going back to them.

What hitch would you recommend?

Are there any other concerns that I should be addressing when prepping the truck to tow?

Thanks -- sorry for the flurry of questions. I am really happy with my truck, just want to make sure I take care of my Tundra right.

John

[vernneal]

I don't think you need a trans cooler with that load. Just buy a new heavy duty hitch with proper height to go in the receiver. It should pull your boat like "butter"

[Jbayless]

Thanks -- I just want to be sure I protect my truck as much as I can. I suppose adding the tranny cooler might be overkill. Especially the stock one from the towing package -- I just priced it and the parts for it are $553 alone. Ouch.

I guess as long as I stay under 5,000 pounds towing they cannot say it's my fault if the transmission fails. I am not planning to tow anything but this boat, and it will mostly be on short trips, with maybe one 200-mile trip a year.