First time towing…ever. 19 OR MT

I know, another towing thread.

As you can tell by the title this’ll be my first time towing anything myself ever, just picked up my stock 19 OR MT a couple months ago and want to make sure I’m totally squared away before the trip.
Picking up a full queen sized bed set from 2 1/2hrs north this weekend so I opted with the 6x12 U-haul cargo trailer to fit the mattress comfortably. Probably going to be getting a coffee table and larger leather office chair, too. Now, a few facts and questions:
1) borrowing my buddies 2” ball hitch w a 2” drop, good to go or do i need to buy a different one? Rated for 5k#
2) going to try to avoid backing up as much as possible
3) i don’t have a scale to measure tongue wait so will ball-parking a 60/40 weight split work out alright?
4) not sure if i could have fit a queen in the 5x8 but worrying i reserved too much trailer, thoughts?
5) anything different about towing in a manual? I’m always reading about ECT+S4 in the auto’s but does that mean i shouldn’t leave 4th too?
6) max speed? Limits vary from 55-70 on the trip

Anything else I’m missing would be greatly appreciated. Just looking to make a safe 340mi round trip.
Thanks guys!

 

Queen bed is 5ft wide so it should stand up in there fine.
Just remember when you tow that it will take you more time to speed up and more importantly to slow down and stop. Allow yourself more room in traffic.

 

Go slow and take it easy. Turn wide and think a mile ahead. you’ll be totally fine.

 

I am a novice tower too, only done it a few times now, varying loads, so I know I have a lot more to learn that will come with time. What I will tell is:

1. You will be fine. You are doing your homework, you have common sense, and Im sure you dont plan to do anything stupid. Follow that, and you will be fine.
2. The ball you are borrowing should be fine. U-Hauls tend to ride low, so the arm will likely be at an angle, but just be conscious of it and try to avoid scrapping.
3. This is a good plan! Good news is, U-Haul trailers are light enough to where you get your self in a jam and have trouble getting it out, and so long as its not loaded, you can un hook, move it around by hand, and re-hook it in the direction you wanna go. This plan of attach can be used when you show up to your destination to load, make sure the trailer is pointing in the direction you wanna go when you leave, before you start loading. When you get to your destination, pull in best you can, un-load, un hook, flip it around, and you are done. No need to try and prove to yourself you can back up a trailer on your first shot. Lol
4. You are not going to get even close to the weight limit, so just dont worry about it. Try and keep the heavier stuff on the front of the trailer between the back axle of your truck and the back axle of the trailer. This will help avoid sway and keep it balanced going down the road.
5. You will be fine with either size trailer. You probably could have made the 5x8 work, but no big deal. Biggest thing again is common sense. Make sure everything is tied down tight and doesnt move. Last thing you want is weight shifting around while you are driving. When you are done loading, shake something you loaded. If the whole truck and trailer dont move with it, its not tight enough.
6. I dont know the gear ratio's well on a manual to tell you, but keep it above 2.5-3K RPM in whatever gear, and that will give you the confidence to do what you need. I would stay out of 6 and doubtful you'll use 5th
7. Again, you probably are going to be a bit nervous to do 70 your first time towing. Keep it around 60 and you'll be fine

Other things:
1. When you hook up your connections, make sure your electrical connections work. Brake, turn, ect.
2. Make sure your trailer chains dont drag. Last thing you wanna do is be starting a fire
3. If you think the trailer is all the way on the ball, double check it. Good chance it might not be. Make sure it really clicks in and is on there.

 

You gonna be fine with that. Double check everything before taking off... hitch, hitch locked, chains, are chains draggin? ( don't twist 'em to take up slack ),
if no brake controller is in play just be sure to slow down and stop in slow motion.

I wouldn't do more than 60 mph. Think of as a marathon not a sprint.

After 10 minutes you'll be like yea I'm good to go.

Regardless of how many times I've hooked up my small camper I ALWAYS do a quick-stop after a mile or so and do a quick walk-around to make sure
everything is cool... the peace of mind is worth it.

As far as backing up goes - it's not that difficult, make teeny-tiny turns of the steering wheel and be ready to play-it-back as you can over-steer whatever
you are towing. Once the 'towee' starts in the direction you want then quickly reverse your steering move otherwise it will go 45 degrees on you pretty quick.

Let us know how it all goes.

 

I’ve towed this guy for about 45 mins. City and highway. Also had stuff in my bed. About 3800-4000#. No issues at all, honestly barely even felt it there. 2WD low mod was amazing when backing up.

Be careful taking off on hills with that load, the clutch does not like it one bit. Turn wide and leave lots of space in front of you, you will be just fine. I was in 6th on the highway doing like 60, no worries there.

 

I did not go over 3k when towing that uhaul, only on hills I had to get in those higher rpms. On flat roads plenty of power below 3k, this is not a 4 banger. I also have used 6th on the highway and it felt perfectly fine.

 

Best advice I can give you is do not rush when towing and plan your route down to what lane you're gonna be in.

 

When backing up if you see the trailer in a side mirror on the truck turn the top of the steering wheel in that direction to get the trailer back behind the truck.

 

With that trailer, you won't have enough weight in it to matter.
If this is your first time, DO NOT PULL SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU WILL BE FORCED TO BACK UP! Seriously, you know how tall reverse gear is, now combine that with the fact you can't back up a trailer worth a shit and you have all the ingredients for a toasted pressure plate.
Only other advice is to check, double check and triple check your mirrors when passing or merging and don't twist your safety chains.

 

Yeah you will be fine. Backing up is really the hardest part of towing. Some people get it right way some need much practice. Me I've towed popup campers for 10 years but only 3-5 trips a year. I never really mastered it but eventually either get it or give up and push it by hand.. I really need some help with learning it better.

 

I have a 6x12 utility trailer and it's no sweat for the V6. Just remember to use your mirrors when making any turns or changing lanes, give yourself plenty of room, you'll be fine.

 

I can’t thank everyone enough that have chimed in and calmed my nerves! Picking up the trailer tomorrow after work and going to be driving it dry one way so hopefully that’ll be a good practice run, too, but I’m gonna write down a list of everything here and keep it on hand during the drive!

 

Well, wish me luck! Felt alright dry driving back home in town, little jumpy but double triple checked everything.
Taco looks good leveled out!

 

If you get the chance stop by an empty parking lot and spend some time backing it up in and out of spots. All it takes is a little practice and you'll get the hang of it pretty quick.

 

Double axle will be easier to backup if you need to. It won't react as quick and get you into trouble. Looks good.

 

When backing up put your hands on the bottom of the steering wheel at approx 4 and 8. The when you turn the wheel so yours hands are moving to the right, the back of the trailer will also start to point right. Conversely, when moving the steering wheel so your hands move left will make the back of the trailer move left.

 

Yep, so much easier. My dads 17 ft aluminum boat on a single axle is so much harder to back up. I got a hang of it though.

 

But easy and quick to crank around a tight corner once you get the hang of it or to move around the shop/garage by hand.

 

Made it in one piece!
Definitely got a hang of it once i was out on the highway for 10mins, cruised the whole way at 60-65mph in 5th at 2500rpm. Not the most exciting drive and man did that thing bounce around dry over the shite IL roads but looking forward to adding some weight.
~14mpg, better than i expected