Towing Capacity and GCVW

.... those rims tho ...

 

I think there's less than 40 sets world wide. What was this thread about?

 

How many horse-powers do they add?

 

Definitely make the truck faster. They operate on the same principle as a dog with shit stuck on his butt trying to run away from himself.

 

(Bold)

 

Do you have to go over the Siskiyou pass? Did I read right you’ll be going over night? (Good idea) maybe leave 9PM and can get most of the way before it gets warm and trafficy.

 

If you are honest with U haul they may not rent you the trailer.

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  • Must weigh at least 3,500 lbs. (curb weight), and must equal or exceed 80% of the combined weight of the trailer (2,210 lbs.) and the vehicle being towed (up to 5,290 lbs.).

They use the published curb weights for calculations:

Trailer: 2210
BMW: 3197 to 3560
Total: 5407 to 5770
80% of total: 4325 to 4616

Tacoma: 4425

You can't use a weight distributing hitch with a U haul auto transport due to the surge brakes, that said it (the transport) is a wonderfully designed machine, easy to load and tow.


Last month I did a 2400 mile round trip to get a car, my trailer weighs 1500 and the car weights around 3100 so 4600 pounds total. I use a weight distributing hitch & electric brakes.
The truck is completely stock down to the Firestone LE2 tires.
This was across Ohio, Indiana, Illinois & Missouri so flat for the most part.

My truck is a manual so all 1200 miles of loaded driving was done in 4th gear maximum at the posted speed limit so about 3400 RPM maximum. At this RPM the engine is well into the power band and normal grades on the highway were no problem.

Slow speed driving was a bit of a chore due to this engine having the off idle torque of a moped but ultimately workable.

Total miles -- 2412
Total gallons -- 155
Fuel cost -- $549.87

MPG no trailer -- 20.98
MPG empty trailer -- 18.23
MPG loaded trailer -- 11.39

 

I don't think he's complimenting their boldness

 

Saw a set yesterday on a Chevy with matching door handle overlays. My thought was" that's unique, you do you".
It's your mod be original!

 

This post is a good example of someone who knows the rules, the limitations, etc. and made it work.

I assume you have a 2.7L 4-cylinder based on your normal MPG ratings? Yeah 160 HP towing that size/weight trailer is going to feel a bit slow getting up to speed.

The 3.5L V6 270 HP is a massive boost in power which would feel a lot snappier when accelerating or sustaining a long moderate climb.

 

Hol' up.

You're towing someone else's car? Are you prepared to buy this car from them if you or any other crazy person on the road spills it?

Forget tow capacities. You're running some serious liability risks there, if I read that correctly and it's not your car.



That would be a hell no from me, for any compensation.

 

I wouldn't do it because you exceeded the rating

I've pulled slightly lighter (S2000 on a U-Haul trailer) with an almost empty truck (100 lbs of tools and parts) that only has 265/70R17s and yes the truck survived, but I'd only do that occasionally

 

3.5 V6, manual transmission and generally a very light foot.

The 3.5 makes that impressive 278 HP at a lofty 6000 RPM and 265 ft/lb torque at 4600 RPM.
Off idle however the ratings are more like a hopped up moped.

It works OK if you consciously keep the engine in the power band however it makes for a tiresome and fuel gobbling trip.

 

The owners manual calls out using sport mode on the automatics and leaving it in 4th when towing

 

My truck is in sport mode all the time -- manual transmission.

 

Forget everything else, your truck will PULL 5500 lbs, but the suspension may be overloaded. Find your payload, it is printed on a sticker on the drivers door jamb. Most 4X4 DC 3rd gen Tacoma's will be 900-1100 lbs. Then calculate 13% of trailer weight to determine tongue weight. A WDH will be another 50-100 lbs. A 5500 lb trailer will eat up 750-800 lbs of your payload. Then you have to account for the weight of the driver, passengers and cargo inside the truck.

You'll have to do the math for your truck, but you should be able to just make the limit as long as you are the only person in the truck. If there will be passengers and other cargo in the truck, you'll likely be overloaded.

That said, there has never been a truck that wasn't overloaded at some point. If you're borderline and drive carefully you may be OK. I wouldn't advise doing something like this on a regular basis. Done once, or rarely you should be OK. But if someone needs to pull that much regularly you'll wear out the smaller truck a lot sooner whereas a bigger truck does it with ease.

 

It will tow 8k LBs, handles really good up to 65mph, it felt okay up to 75mph but definitely felt it in corners, with the tongue weight as perfectly balanced as it can be for a rescue. Not that I would advise it, nor do I want to do it again without a weight distribution hitch of sorts if i was actually transporting.

Helps to artificially increase your curb weight by 700LBs with drawers, tools, water, chef boyardee cans of ravioli, and loose change.

Air up tires to correct tow pressure, door sill pressure is for a unloaded, non-towing, vehicle on factory tires. Can find the correct pressure needed usually on tire manufacturers website.

 

Very good point about tire pressure. Must increase to compensate for the heavier loads.

 

To the OP on the original topic, speaking as one who has towed a 3800 lb trailer with a Tacoma to Montana, 3 to Louisiana, 2 to Texas, 1 to Idaho, and 2 to Southern California....all from Maine, I have a bit of experience. My best advise to you is: Please don't. You are pulling way too much weight through some of the most godawful traffic driven by the worst idiots imaginable. I thought New York City traffic was bad...HA! California was as bad as Manila. Do what you will, you may get lucky, but as an inexperienced hauler, you are begging for a disaster. The odds are not in your favor. That's my 2 cents anyway....

 

As a resident of California. I appreciate other state's drivers that actually use the right lane instead of left lane camp. While returning to CA from Oregon, I knew immediately I was back when the traffic demeaner suddenly changed... lol

Oh and nice cat