Testing towing and tongue limit

Normal rpms while pulling and the truck can handle 3k no problem. 60 to 65 would be the max with your load. I think the trailer says 55mph max but no one would tow at that speed. Have a safe trip!

 

Yea I've been keeping it slower. It's amazing how fast everybody goes just zooming by me! Thanks!

 

That's not bad mpg though, I typically leave mine in the select mode in 4th and ect on. The rpm thing shouldn't worry you , I have a 5x8 cargo trailer attached to mine for half of the 37k miles I've put on it in 11 months. You're smart at keeping at 60-65.

 

Select mode in 4th is the ticket! I just have to use the gas pedal vs cruise to keep it from shifting like crazy. Thanks!

 

Just moved my daughter about 60 miles south using the same size U-haul.

Ran 65 using ECT and stayed in S5, Florida is flat as hell. had one construction spot that instigated some sway dropped 5 or 10 mph and it smoothed out. sped back up a couple miles later everything fine. Round trip averaged about 13 or 14, normally get about 20-21. Driving full was no problem and road smooth with "no" sag. Coming back home ran about 70-75 and there was no forgetting the empty trailer was there as it could be felt bouncing on any change in pavement.

Stay in S4 through any hills/climbs I felt safe to use S5 as and overpass is about all the hills we see here. You will probably be fine using 5th on flat runs, but by all means drive in a way you feel safe.

Yes, moving sucks!! Moving your adult children OUT of the house is a bit different, kind of bitter sweet.

Good luck!!

Edit: I know I am heavy footed and run a bit faster than others, especially my age, and I know that has an impact on my MPG. I am old enough to accept it.

 

I thought I'd weight my shit. . Didn't realize it cost money. I just drove through. Yup I was that guy .... Lol

 

So I take it you never paid to get it weighed? How much would it have cost?

 

Amen.

I loaded (ie. PACKED) a 20ft u-haul on Sunday, drove it to a town 3.5 hrs away on Monday, unloaded it, then came home. Still own my condo for another 13 days, so I'm temporarily living it in off of all my camping gear. Cot, air mattress, chuck box and portable kitchen stuff, FrontRunner table and chairs, etc. And yes, it sucks big cojones.

 

I don't know. There was an intercom button and that was it. I was thinking it would just have a digital readout lol.

 

The last time I could fit all my shite in a U-haul was more years ago than I like to admit. The last time we moved, the semi driver in charge of the crew gritched all day about the estimator that came out and estimated our weight. She was about 10k pounds off by his estimate. Sorry pal, I have a signed contract but here's a $100 bill for each of your loaders to make the day go easier.

But I've moved my kids more than once with one of those. Hooked it to my FJ, dropped it in drive (minus overdrive), and just drove the crap out of it. I miss you FJ.

UHauls tend to be mechanically tough... they are built for abuse and certainly weigh it. But the wiring, bearings, and tires take the most abuse.

 

I made it and the Tacoma and trailer held up very nicely! That was a long trip!

Day 1 DFW to Nashville, 660 miles. Relatively level terrain.
Day 2 Nashville to Wheeling, WV. 550 miles. Ohio roads are absolute shit. Same with WV. The hills were challenging.
Day 3 rest of way, about 180 miles. Pennsylvania mountains we're the hardest.
The Tacoma got a hell of a workout in the last 3 days!
Approx 85 to 90 gallons of fuel.

And boy was it a joy getting my old 2nd gen out for a spin as soon as I got home!

 

I just did a similar tow with my truck 3600 miles along the alcan
Averaged 13. Truck did great!

 

When driving on the freeway, keep an eye on the DOT weigh stations. If the sign says closed (usually are late night to early morning) pull through. Sometimes they leave the scale on and it has the digital readout. If there is an officer at the station I would ask first. Play the safety card and say that you just wanted to make sure you are not overloaded. Can't think of an officer in their right mind that would fault you for it. "Trucker Path" is a great app that will show you location and status of scales, gas stations, rest areas, garages, etc.

 

I appreciate all the comments from yall! Finally got settled in from my move. I was just under 5K and went in for the Toyota Care maintenance, and I had asked them if they could change the oil because I had towed something that was super heavy across the country. The service adviser looked for a "code" in their system and said she didn't see one. I was kinda pissed because I worked the engine SUPER hard during this trip and I know it could prob use an oil change. I know the synth oil is great and 10k miles is standard for the changes. Anyway I'm sure it's fine but that pissed me off ha ha. Since it's Toyota Care part of me thinks they are super cheap and don't want to do anything out of the norm.

 

I do about 7k a year in theTacoma, so I just asked them to do the 10k service when I went in at about 5k. They didnt seem to have a problem with that. When I go in at about 10k i will ask them to do the 20k service. Then I will be out of free service (chronologically before mileage). I paid for the oil change baked into toyotacare, might as well get it even if truck doesnt need it.

 

How much did your trailer weigh?

 

Totally unrelated but sparks good conversation; I don't think I've every had a good experience with uhaul. The short version of my most recent was:

Ordered the same trailer in the above picture well in advance, online, so no excuses for snafu's right?? Go to pick it up and the wiring is bad, so no working lights (they tried blaming it on my truck...). They send me to another uhaul only to find the place (contracted tow yard) abandoned with nothing in sight but tumble weeds. Call uhaul and they send me to another contracted site (self storage). The poor attendant, no younger than 68 yrs old, was all by himself with a line of customers out the door. Finally gets to helping us, just to find that the only trailer he had for us still had some clown's pad locks on the door. The gentleman insisted on cutting it with portable grinder equipped with an abrasive cutting disk (refused to let me do it). About 60 seconds into the process he nearly cut his finger off. Blood everywhere, all over the ground, himself, everywhere. He refuses medical treatment and walks back to his desk to help others waiting for service (all while holding his finger together). I finished cutting the locks off while my buddy went to check on the attendant. Blood now all over the office, people's receipts, etc. He still insisted on no medical attention - tough SOB - so we left. Was interesting.

 

ha ha ha yes! I am lucky to have had a pretty decent experience with my pickup, equipt, and dropoff.