For Stock Rigs Only

Morning

 

Howdy Rick.

Kinda quiet around here this morning

 

I'll try a conversation starter.

Trailering

Any o' you stalkers do a fair amount with your truck? I've got a 1000 mile trip on the horizon with Lucille (as in Ball, red head, red truck. It's a promise i made to the PO)

Lucille specs:
SR5 AC 4x4 V6 AT with Tow package

Not worried as the trailer/load is well within rating, (750# aluminum pontoon on a single axle trailer) but my trailering has only every been 'local' with a motorcycle trailer type load...minimal. This trip will be Indy to NH, so lots of elevation, and highway speeds. Would you just leave it in D, or should I consider avoiding overdrive? Any particular preventative maintenance or (gulp) mods I should consider?

I'll hang up and listen for your answer....

 

From my experience towing cars on dolleys, snowmobiles on single axle trailers, and motorcycles on utility trailers. If pulling hills, avoid overdrive just for the time you're doing the hill. The less hunting (shifting) your trans has to do while pulling a load the better. On flat ground, or downhills, just leave it in D and get the gas mileage.

Depending on your preference, maybe get the stabilizer bar hitch stuff. Personally I haven't found need for it yet with my truck, especially since I only have a bumper ball...

Oh, and a spare tire for the trailer, with a jack/jackstands capable of lifting and holding said trailer. A spare tire is no good without a way to get it on and off.

As far as preventative maintenance, some people swear by changing diff fluid/trans fluid after doing a bunch of towing due to increased pressures and temps. I can say that my family put 180k miles on our 06 tundra, towing a 25 foot bow rider every summer all over the state, and a 20 foot enclosed trailer down to RI and back fully loaded with furniture/house goods many times. We never changed the trans fluid, and only changed the fluid in the rear end when an axle seal let go at 165k. So take that for what you will.

 

Morning from the road, headed down with a dolly and a truck to get the taco. Pictures to come in a few hours. Thanks to family and friends making this happen on short notice.

 

Good stuff man, thanks! And good luck today retrieving the rig.

 

No problem, happy to help where I can. Thanks for the wishes, should go smooth, pulling the driveshaft will be the only potential hang up I hope.

 

I've don't tow extensively. But I tend to be pretty conservative when I have. I keep my speed down for a couple of reasons...#1 it's safer and #2 it allows you to keep it in 4th gear. Some people say no overdrive (5th gear) at all. If the load isn't huge using 5th down hill or for short periods of time on flat roads is probably fine.

I think there's a section in the owner's manual that talks about the do's and don’t's of towing. I would check that out.

Personally...I would change the oil and fill up with premium fuel. The added octane can help the ecu advance the timing a bit. And check your tire pressure....both truck and trailer

 

Those 14mm nuts and bolts can be really tight sometimes.

 

https://media.giphy.com/media/tU6XeiHpmBNXq/giphy.gif

 

Well I've had the driveshaft out twice in the last 6 months to do U-joints at two different times. Hopefully it comes out fine.

"No fifth gear" hahahahaha look at mister fancy over here with five gears...

 

I tow pretty frequently. 6X10 covered trailer and 6X10 utility trailer.
I drop mine in to 4 when the transmission is hunting, meaning going in and out of overdrive.

 

Haha

I'm one of those maintenance geeks that would probably do a simple DAF on the tranny and a diff oil replacement once I got back home. If it was a short trip maybe not. But a long one like this I probably would. Most people probably wouldn't and all would be fine. But I'm weird like that.

 

Yes....we drink only the finest wine and have Grey Poupon on all of our sandwiches.

Carry on peasant boy.

 

i know you are and it's one of the reasons I asked. I suspected you've got a protocol for this stuff.

The trip will be over 2000 miles, returning with no trailer, and I'll be right at 50k on the ODO, so I agree, it'll be a good time in the life of the truck to go through ALL the fluids.should be at only approx 1500 on the current Motor oil at departure, so that can be swapped as well when I'm back.

Good feedback lads.

 

Take pics and enjoy the trip when it happens.

 

Wish I could stretch it more than I will. Nearly all of my family is there. My brother bought this little pedal powered pontoon from an outfit in Kansas. Their fee to deliver it to NH is nearly equal to the cost of a second boat. I'm gonna save him several grand and he's gonna cover trip expenses, and I'll get to see everyone, my Mom and my daughter most notably, who I've not seen at all during the virus craziness. So, family, favorite part of the country, and no cost makes it a worthwhile trip. Unfortunately i'm chief wahoo at my plant, and this isn't a time for extended absence, so it'll be fairly brief.

Other non-mods:

- I've sprung for a new sound system with touchscreen navigation. It goes in next week. I actually bought it a while back and never got around to the install. This trip is finally kicking my butt into gear.

- thinking about a shell for the bed for sleeping on the deck.

 

Well, it's on the dolly, and the driveshaft is out. Damn my common sense making me put loctite on those bolts when I put it back together last... what a pain that was.

 

Safe travels back home