Cross Country Move

Hey all. I'm a brand new owner of a 09 DCLB Tacoma TRD SPORT with tow package. Turns out it was a good buy because I just found out I'm transferring with my job from the east coast out to Arizona. It is a 2600 mile trip and I need to do it in 4 days. I have never towed anything before but plan to take a uhaul enclosed trailer with me. The largest one I would possibly be towing is a 6x12 double axle. The weight won't be an issue as I am only moving a one bedroom apartment with maybe a few book shelves and a dresser.

Is it possible to do this in 4 days without putting too much stress on my truck and are there any suggestions for someone new to towing?

 

You'll be just fine.

 

Remember that making it in 4 days isn't worth crashing - So take your time and be careful to make it there in one piece.
To learn up on towing : Click here lotta people smarter than me have made suggestions and tips in there.
I wouldn't worry if I was you tho- It'll be fine.

 

Welcome! Only tip I'd give you is if you've never maneuvered with a trailer before go practice a bit before the trip. Sucks getting in somewhere you gotta back out and learn on the spot haha

 

well, make sure your truck has been serviced. everything! make sure your tires are in good shape and proper inflation.
plan out your route.
do it day by day, and pick a simple route.
when you stop at hotels, try to pick good ones, they tend to have security at night. ie like hampton inn
don't get frustrated. take your times.
taking off fast and stopping hard is what puts the stress on the truck.
don't let other drivers bother you, i have had to wait on plenty of gray hairs so if i hold up people to badd.

 

I tend to stay at quality inns or one of their sister hotels (free hot breakfast!!!!)


on a drive note, not sure where on the east coast, but if at all possible, avoid I-40 arkansas/oklahoma border and east. buddy drove through there last weekend and said it was one lane of road for most of his trip through arkansas, added an extra 5 hours because of it.

 

repaving right?

they did that shit in ohio in the 1990's on 77 and it was a pain in the ass, why dont they just do one section at a time?

 

Welcome to TW and AZ

 

Thanks! Anxious to get out there. Crashing with a friend for a week but he's already cramped for space so finding an apartment is priority one.

 

LOTS of places to choose from out here. Maybe look into renting a house so you can get a garage too!

 

that right there is a pure win idea. passing it on to my bud out there so he can scour the ads for me

 

Hey guys, I'm new here and I'm pretty much doing the same thing that Desert is, but I'm going from PA to TX and doing it in 2 days. I have an 03 SR5, TRD. I've been doing as much research as I can, lurking around the forum here trying to learn but I see from the towing bible that the 2nd gen tacoma's like mine may not have actually come with the tow package that's on it. I bought mine used so I don't know. I rented a 6x12 trailer from U-Haul. I should be good, I'm hoping? What do you all think?

 

I was looking at renting the same 6 by 12 trailer, but decided to sell off my furniture and go with the 5 by 8. Good thing too because when I went to uhaul yesterday i saw the 6 by 12. They are mammoth AND include a brake system. You will likely need a brake controller in order to rent it. (I could be misinformed on this but you will want to get a solid answer on it before trying to tow one)

 

The braking system on the 6x12 trailers is a hydraulic system that when you slow down, it engages the brakes. It's not an electric braking system.

 

my main advise is to first make sure your truck is compt. serviced.
that includes everything.
summer heat is hard enough, then put a full load in the truck, and then towing something and that call lead to problems.