How to know if a 2009 Tacoma has the Tow Package?

Hello, I'm John in the Annapolis Valley of New Scotland; aka Nova Scotia. I'm about to purchase a really good looking 2009 Tacoma 4WD, automatic, that is not an SR5 or a TRD. The owner says it has the TP.

• How do we know for sure?
• Can a Toyota dealer look up the VIN and tell for certain?
• Would there be a reference in the Owner Manual, if he has that?
• What 'bout a sticker on the driver's side door post?

I know of the different accessories that came with that package. I wish to pull a vintage Bigfoot trailer, so we need the 6500 lb TP. The Sasquatch weighs in dry at 2850 lbs.

 

Easy way is look up by the radiator and if you see anothe small radiator there you most likley have tow package along with a factory hitch in rear. With all that make sure you take a hammer to the frame to make sure it's not a rust bucket. Do youself a favor and look up about the frame rust issues and how to check for a good frame.
Good luck.

 

Towing package includes:

27F battery (non Tow Package has 24F)
130 Amp Alternator (Non Tow Package has 100 amp)
Engine Oil Cooler (mounted under the engine oil filter)
HD fan clutch (pink in color)
Auxiliary Transmission Cooler in front of radiator (A/T only)
Class IV Receiver Hitch
7 Pin Trailer Connector with Trailer Brake Control Harness in Cab (Brake controller not included)
2012 and up models added Trailer Sway Control Programming in the VSC System

Anyone with a TIS subscription (including dealers) can put your VIN in and see everything that was factory and port installed on the truck.

 

You can absolutely look it up with the vin IF it was installed at factory. DM93 lays out what’s included in great detail.

look up the vin here
https://www.toyota.com/owners/vehicle-specification/

 

Unless they changed it back recently Toyota removed most of the detailed vehicle information from the public Toyota Owners site, as of about a year ago it only gives you basic information about the vehicle.

 

Here are pictures to help identify if it had the full tow package.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/passenger-side-blinker-problems.735173/#post-26176678

 

Get a full-sized pickup if you're towing over 6k regularly

 

Still works for me using that link

 

Yea it still shows some stuff, I wasn't sure if it still listed that or not. It used to be alot more detailed kind of like how TIS still is.
This is what TIS gives you.

 

Interesting that looks helpful. Mind sharing a link to whatever that website is?

 

You have to have a subscription but it has all the factory service info.

https://techinfo.toyota.com

 

Thanks so much to all who have responded to my plea for info! This Tacoma Acess cab has only 145,000 km or 90,000 miles. The price is excellent for me, being a senior on a fixed income. I like the extra rad cooler in front of the main rad idea. I'm aware of rust issues having owned many vehicles over my nearly 60 years of driving. While we use salt on the road here in NS, being very near the ole Atlantic, from what I can see of the images, this one looks like a honey. I've have asked for the VIN and will attempt to indulge someone who has access to the TIS. Many thanks to DM93 for the details of what is included in the TP.

One further query, we purchased this 1987 B-17 Bigfoot and with it came an equalization hitch with arms for both sides of the tongue as well as a large ball mount with multiple holes for leveling the load. At 6500 capacity, we are well within the pull of the dry weight. I also feel no hesitation in the stopping ability with the Tacoma as the B-17 has excellent e-brakes. I had the drums turned, installing new inner and outer bearings with new BT tires.