1600 mile tow through 104+ deg

Hi Everyone,

Just finished a tow from San Jose, CA to Phoenix, AZ and back. My trailer was the same one I used before, a 6x10 enclosed cargo trailer. There was 200# in the bed and 400# with me my wife and 2 dogs. The trip to Phoenix the trailer was maybe 2000#, the way back, probably more like 1400#. Despite the heat the taco operated normally, very similar to my 3110 tow in May from MD-CA. The trip down we went San Jose - I5 near Los Banos, CA to LA to San Bernardino (caught a hotel) and then continued to Phoenix. Ill be honest leaving San Jose on the Friday before July 4th, was awful took us 10 hours to get from San Jose to San Bernardino. We ended up getting there at 3:00 am. Then slept for a couple hours and headed to AZ around 6:30 AM. Heading east out of LA the temps quickly rose to 90, 95, 100, 105, 108 within about and hour or so leaving the LA area. I was worried about the taco but it seemed to do pretty good. After our time in Phoenix, we left on 7/4 at 6 AM for the long 12 hour hike. Leaving Phoenix the temp was 99 and went to 105 to 108 before we were out of the city haha. I was really worried about the trans but kept it easy and consistent. We got to LA a short while after and the temp dropped to 99 but only temporarily because by the time we crossed the mountains heading north on I5 it was back up to 104/105. Of that 12 hour trip at least 10.5 hours were in 100+ deg. My MPG stayed consistent at 12-13, even with the light load. There was PLENTY of gas on that route so I didnt have any issues. I was mainly worried about the trans temp, I have since purchased a scan guage and will sent it up this weekend to monitor on future trips. Hopefully this helps anyone interested in towing in the hot desert.

 

That's quite the haul! Hope those Sumo Springs helped ya!

 

I just got the scan guage and live that thing. I was surprised that my tranny temps were higher than I thought so now putting a cooler in.

 

Next year in July we will be heading out to California from Tennessee and will be on that road on the way out. Will cut north to kings Canyon from there. Thanks for the write up.

 

We regularly travel from San Diego to Bishop and further up the 395. Just set up the scan gauge for both transmission temps and learning to use all the other options. My trailer is only 1100 pounds but I put 500+ in the truck bed. Never had an issue other than trying to keep it slow. Heading up the grapevine from Bakersfield, looked down and I was doing 75mph. The MPG kinda sucked on that trip....

 

Yeah! that hill between bakers field and LA is a doozy. I hit 75 a few times but tried to back off when that happened I also hung around with the big rigs during those parts. I would pass them but only when they are going 25 haha. The desert was flat just hot. I will actually be doing this trip again with the taco 7/29 one way. No more san jose. If you havent also check out my 3110 mile move in May from MD to CA!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3-110-mile-3rd-gen-tow-md-to-ca-completed.490177/#post-15550929

 

Yep, left the Bay Area in 2010. Commute from Concord to Milpenis was crap, then to Palo Alto, then to San Mateo. Do not miss it. Leaving the border to anywhere is the pits but moving to the eastern Sierras soon.

Leaving that Saturday too, heading north....
Wave if you see something like this..

 

Haha! looks great. I love those trailers. Il be looking into one eventually. gotta save a little money first. I will be on the lookout! Im a 2017 white with a 6x10 black cargo trailer. (Ill be in the right lane lol)

 

Op, I'm guessing you weren't using your ac ?.. that would stress the truck even more .

 

Nope only when it was unbearable, and here and there for the dogs. Hills I shut it down all together hot or cold. Then used only when driving wasnt too demanding.

 

That's pretty brutal heat to put a truck throu . I think thou the truck is pretty solid thou and can take it if you up on all your maint.

 

I haven't towed yet with my truck so that's why I'm curious here . I wonder what your trans temp would of been ? What's acceptable working (i.e. Towing a trailer ) temp of the trans, and what's 'over heating it'

 

Yeah I know its brutal. In AZ summers I wont be doing any towing. I paid for a trans flush after I drove MD-CA 3110 miles because I was worried. but Im sure it wouldve been fine to wait until this winter.

For your second question: I was curious as well about my trans temps. Thats why I bought the scanguage. I ve been scouting a little here on the forum and ppl say that over 210 starts to diminish the life of the fluid. Ill see how this goes on the 29th and may upgrade to a beefier cooler like I have seen others do (if I want to continue to tow). Check out the towing section. A lot of good info there too.

 

I'll post my temps but they could be misleading. The tear drop DMV weight is 870 LB, add batteries, water, cooking gear, food, tool box and generator and it still is under 1100 lb. Truck loaded with two people, dog, propane, smoker, misc camping stuff and we are still under 900 LB so well under the GVW.

 

Def post. I will do the same. I'm getting 170s no trailer around town. Interesting also to compare between our gens. My weight may be slightly little higher (as I'm moving) but we will be driving the same route but opposite lol. I'll post my weight prior to the tow. Looking forward to it!!

 

I started to bench mark my temps around town.
2015 4.0l V6 DCSB Sport - factory tow package, stock except for a Century Shell (Leer clone - made in same factory)

3 mile trip surface street, lots of stop signs a couple lights - pan 118, converter 123
return trip, stuck at train crossing for a few minutes - pan 118, converter 127
6 mile trip, stuck at a 6 way light, drop off skunk at a homeless encampment - pan 118, converter 127
return trip in driveway and in park - pan 123, converter 131

I would think the pan would be the consist reading since it is the output of the cooler, when on a long haul I would think it will hit a spot and stay there except for climbing a hill or a long grade and then calm back down. As long as I don't hit the 200 mark.....

Edit note - Since I took pictures of it I just noticed the water temp was 186 every time.

 

Interesting notes. What is the air temp you are driving around in? Its been 90s-100s here in San Jose, CA. I see my trans temps driving around town in the 160s and 170s (no trailer or load)

 

That made me laugh

 

Trying to trap feral cats to have them spayed or neutered. Caught 2 skunks and a possum this weekend. Animal control doesn't treat skunks as a rabies vector in SoCal and won't bother with them so I relocate them to a more hospitable area with amble food and water available...
Possums have too low a temperature for the rabies virus to survive so I just release them and these are so 'cityfide' and opportunity feeders they wonder off.

 

Humid as heck but been in the high 70's to low 80's. I'll keep an eye on the side temps next trip.