Question on towing a light trailer

2020 Tacoma OR, set up with towing package. Automatic, all stock.

I've towed some trailers around town on short distances, but not on a long haul. In a couple of weeks I need to tow a small Uhaul trailer, 5x10, to my new house which is about 825 miles away.

You folks that tow trailers more often, do you let the transmission do all the work or do you drive in a certain gear? Do you use ECT?

I would look in the manual and see what Toyota recommends, but the book is packed away somewhere.

 

Weight not listed, Definitely use the ECT button.
If your transmission has to keep downshifting, go one or two more gears down until it holds.
If you're really heavy, be sure to get a brake controller!

 

Weight unknown right now, but it will only be around 300 lbs or so. Just boxes and pictures we don't want the movers to take.

Thanks for the information.

 

Oh shoot only 300 lbs, say plus a 1k for the trailer (on the high side)= 1,300 total. I'd just hit the ECT button and roll! If you hit wind/hills, maybe drop it in S5 or S4, to keep the transmission heat down.

 

The UHaul 5x10's are equipped with surge brakes. But absolutely correct on using the ECT button, and typically I hold it in S4 and go slow-ish on the freeway (65 mph for a rental trailer with an unknown maintenance history).

Speaking of rentals: Do a careful walk around when you rent. The uhaul employee is supposed to check your lights, and that's pretty much it for them. Look especially for new vs worn or dry rotted tires, and take it for a quick spin around town to see if any of the wheel hubs noticeably feel hotter than the others. Don't leave town with a sketchy trailer.

 

The manual recommends ECT Mode plus S4 for towing in the 3rd gen.

 

Good point on inspection!
Years ago my friend and former boss had to take a job a local U-Haul when the economy shit the bed. I stopped by to see him and jokingly said I know where to get a deal, he said "I'll tell you what I told everyone else. I've got a deal for you, if you're traveling more than an hour, don't rent this shit. You can thank me later"

 

Usually a good idea to stay out of the overdrive gears when towing. Constant gear searching is hard on a tranny.

 

Trailer tires are only rated for 65 mph. By law, that is your max speed. Your truck will tow that trailer in direct drive just fine. The higher RPM's hurt nothing. Running in 4th gear will use more gas, but engine and transmission will run cooler.

 

The manual states S5 and ETC mode when towing. The truck will run in 4th most of the time probably depending on the front of the trailer, wind speed, and ground speed.

Your mileage will suck, probably 10-12 MPG at a reasonable MPH.

Truck will handle pretty normally due to light weight, but watch braking of course. Truck will do it easily.

 

Make sure you load it heavier toward the front. A trailer loaded wrong, even a light one, can push your tail around and give you a really bad day. If it starts to oscillate on you, its loaded wrong.

Remember that with a trailer, everything takes longer - stopping and going especially. If you don't try to rush it and keep your foot out of it, you can still attain pretty reasonable gas milage. I managed anywhere between 13 and 19 mpg pulling a full 5x8 uhaul depending on conditions (wind especially).