Towing newb about to go cross country - do your worst, TW.

I’m a complete newb to towing - never had to trailer anything before. But I have a cross-country/international move coming up, and I’m going to need to trailer items from Massachusetts to South Carolina. Looking for info on what I need to do this safely. I went through the towing bible, but the amount of info is kinda overwhelming…

I have a 2013 DC V6 TRD Offroad with the tow package. A good friend is selling a nice USC716A2 US Cargo trailer (http://www.cws-canadiandemo.com/new_vehicle_detail.asp?veh=249318&CatDesc=&=#detail) for a good price - complete brake replacement, electric brakes, torsion axle, never had anything with a motor stored in it, etc. It makes sense to buy it, because I can sell it in SC and I’ll save money vs renting a trailer in the long run. Plus, we could end up using the trailer itself for storage and not need to rent a unit.

I’m actually moving out of the country (Costa Rica), so this is pretty much a one way trip with the Taco. I’ll keep the truck in SC for a little while, but eventually it’ll be sold - so I’m not trying to dump a ton of money into a WDH/etc.

Trailer is 7000 GVWR, and I won't have it nearly full - a few pieces of furniture (only two with significant weight), handful of tools, some boxes of books/fishing gear/clothes/kitchen stuff etc, and a queen bed/boxspring. We've been paring our extra "stuff" down heavy in anticipation of this move. It's more trailer than I need, but it makes sense financially.

What do I need to do this safely? The trailer has electronic brakes, so I’m assuming installing a brake control is a great idea, and they aren’t too bad in cost. I’ll also need a WDH due to the weight of the trailer - but they run ~$450, a bit expensive for a one-use item. Anywhere I can rent one?

Some cheap tow mirrors from Amazon, and a ball hitch… What else am I forgetting?

Thanks for any info, or any references you can provide.

 

Sounds like you are on the right track.

Brake controller is, in my mind, a must.

Don't forget to check and make sure that your tires are up to the job as well. If they are the P-metric rated tires that come on some of the Tacomas, you'll have to make sure that they are not overloaded once you add the tongue weight of the loaded trailer into the equation. Also keep in mind that you should increase air pressure in the rear tires to compensate for the additional load.

Be cognizant of how you load the trailer. Put heavier items towards the front and make sure they are adequately secured. There's plenty of literature about how to properly load a trailer, you might want to do a bit of light reading to familiarize yourself with the principles.

Check out Craigslist for a WDH hitch. You can often find them in the $200 range and I'd imagine you can get rid of it for the same once you get to SC.

If you can get some time in with the trailer take it to a parking lot and figure out how it all handles. See how quickly you can stop. Check out your turning radius. Practice backing up; this can be a very challenging activity if you have never towed a trailer before.

If you have an automatic transmission make sure to use it to your advantage. Don't tow in D, use 4 for regular driving and downshift as necessary to engage engine braking for longer downhills.

Towing mirrors are definitely helpful as well. The one time I towed my travel trailer without them I couldn't see a damned thing and lane changes were challenging.

Take it slow and don't worry about hanging out doing 55 mph in the slow lane. Going too fast just exposes you to increased chances of something bad happening.

Good luck and don't forget to be more vigilant behind the wheel and drive defensively. The majority of drivers don't take your trailer into account and have no qualms about cutting into the safe space you've established.

 

Take your turns wide. Keep it a 55 mph maximum...that way you arrive alive. When backing up straight turn the top of the steering wheel toward the trailer in the side mirror.

 

Or, you can hold on to the bottom of the wheel and move your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go.

 

WD hitch from Harbor Freight <$200 with coupon.

 

Nothing to contribute...

But here for how and why you're moving to Costa Rica. I'm jealous

 

Thanks for all of the great info. It's an exciting move - will have it's challenges, highs and lows - but should be wild! Heading down to work with some fishing outfits, try and get some conservation projects going, and some food businesses on the side. Diverse revenue streams, haha.

Funny, all my coworkers are trying to buy my taco... not getting rid of her just yet!

I found a Reese Strait-line on Craigslist for 200. RP66082 (https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Reese/RP66082.html). Tongue weight is only 600 lb - some posts here on TW seem to think that's a little low, although it depends on how the trailer is loaded. Worth looking into? It's a pretty big trailer, just want to make sure I'm making the right purchase.

 

They are right, it will depend on how the trailer is loaded. The goal is to achieve somewhere between 10-15% of the total weight of the trailer on the tongue. If you have it loaded up to say, 4,500lbs, 15% of that would be 675 lbs. So it could work for you I suppose if the load in there was decently light. But you'll also have to be cognizant of the matter, WD hitches are great when setup properly, but they can also be a detriment if setup poorly.

 

Can I borrow your place in Costa Rica this winter???

Love visiting that place!

 

I’m in a similar boat as you. I will be pulling a 6000# twin axle trailer 4,500 miles this Dec with my 06 AC on 35s with 4.88 gears.
Don’t skimp on a WDH. It can easily be sold at your destination for a small loss. I got a Husky that’s adjustable from 800-1,200 lbs of assist depending on the chain ring you use. It also came with sway control. A WDH usually comes with a ball so that’s covered.
I picked up a couple $15 extendable clamp on mirrors so I won’t have any issues changing lanes.
A brake controller is not negotiable at the weight you’re pulling. Make sure you read the instructions and set the brakes correctly before you head out or you could find yourself in trouble.
I test drove the setup a few weeks back and it accelerates like a pig but pulls fine and stops great.



Good luck and take it slow!

 

It's a beautiful country. Looking forward to trying something new, although I will miss the seasons in New England.

Found another hitch - Equalizer 1000/10000 - seems like the better choice, gives me some more leeway. Now to find a brake controller...

 

The thing about a WDH is to make sure you are at those weight ranges. If you are at the very bottom of the range or just under it could hurt you more than help. It can be a slippery slope. Good thing is that you know the weights of the trailer you are going to buy. Otherwise, you should wait on a WDH until you know exactly what trailer you will be purchasing.