Towing Advice 1300 miles

Hi all,

I don't have much experience towing and I have never towed with my truck. I'm a lil nervous but at the same time confident I can do this. I'm not sure if I have the towing package or if that's even relevant for my situation. I am relocating and moving myself and belongings 1300 miles down the road. Will be pretty much all highway/insterstate and I plan on spending at least two nights in motels along the way. I have traveled all over the country throughout the years, and not so much concerned about the actual driving/logistics but do need advice on the towing aspect of it.

I'm looking into getting a small Uhaul trailer to tow stuff that won't fit in the bed (I have a cap on my truck, 6ft bed).

First off, the heaviest stuff I'm moving are tools, a few small bins of books, and some music eq (amp, speakers, etc). I figure that stuff should go in the bed. Then the mattress I can roll up with ratcheting straps and a few lighter pieces of furniture that should probably go in the trailer. Does that sound about right?

Secondly, how do I know if I even have the towing package, and that's just for extra towing capacity right? I have a tow hitch reciever on the truck already. Just I guess it would be peace of mind that I'm not overloading anything.

Is there anyway I can check that the lighting will work prior to hooking up a trailer? I'm thinking I could find the connector and make sure there's voltage there with a voltmeter? Last thing I need is to be all ready to go and the lights don't work or something dumb like that, so any other stuff I should check?? I don't know what buttons/stuff need to be on to tow properly.

Any comments/suggestions are much appreciated. I'm leaving around mid-March. Thanks!

 

Heavy stuff should go in the trailer. But you should also know approx weight of trailer and cargo so you don't overload. If you have the trd offroad, i believe you have the tow package. Look in front of the radiator on the driver side for a smaller radiator maybe 8" x 8". That is the a dead giveaway of tow package.

 

Rent a Uhaul or similar truck and a trailer that can accommodate your Toyota. The truck will be easier to load and unload. You will also save your truck from 1300 miles of towing.

 

OK, thanks! That makes sense to put heavy stuff so the trailer stays put huh.
We got like 3" of ice storm yesterday and didn't clean off the truck yet so popping the hood just now, totally did not work!!
Lol, I will try again later when the temps warm up a bit and hopefully can break up the dumb ice.
Suffice to say, I am moving someplace much, much warmer

 

Tow package will have a hitch and lighting outlet.

 

Check on the tire decal on the inside of the door for the payload capacity, payload = fuel (126lb), cap (200lb), passengers ?, cargo ?, tongue weight ?.

Also does the trailer have brakes? Do you need a brake controller or a weight distribution hitch or sway control?

Good luck with the move!

 

It might cost a few grand but it could save you in the long run.

A moving pod- https://www.move.org/cheapest-moving-container-companies/

Won’t have to worry about your truck or security, well at least they have a fiduciary responsibility to keep your stuff safe.

How would you keep your stuff safe on those two overnights?

Good luck with whatever you decide and welcome to TW

 

Difference would be if it was installed at factory or aftermarket… transmission cooler will be the decider.

 

Renting a truck isn't a realistic option and otherwise cost prohibitive for my situation. The quote for uhaul is over $2k for my trip, not to mention gas cost for a 1300 mile trip in a uhaul truck by next month gas prices... Thanks for your suggestion tho but I already eliminated that option. My stuff isn't worth that much
::edited post after re-reading the suggestion, thanks

 

I'm nearly positive there is a trans cooler, but like I said 3" of ice on my truck rn, will update when I can. Got to take into account for weight that I do have a cap on my truck.

 

If you have 2 lines coming from oil
Filter housing. You have tow package

 

1150lb payload is pretty good, mine is only 940lb.
Basically subtract fuel, cargo, passengers, cap, bedmat etc from the 1150 to make sure you stay within. The tongue weight is how much weight the trailer pushes on the hitch usually you want 12/15% of trailer weight on the hitch. Have to subtract tongue weight from payload too.

Good article here… https://www.weigh-safe.com/towing-safety/proper-tongue-weight/

 

2k to rent a pull behind trailer?! Or are you renting a uhaul truck?

 

Your truck will be fine, knowing how to properly load it will help a lot. Make sure you have the right ball and probably around a 2” drop receiver. Driving wise, slow and steady.

 

Sounds like the truck price

 

I'd put everything in the trailer, leave the truck empty other than the clothes and stuff you'll need on the trip. The truck will have no problem doing the trip but expect to get about 12mpg and be stopping fairly frequently for gas. You don't need to worry about a brake controller since the Uhaul trailers use surge brakes which is one less thing to buy and deal with. A 1300 mile tow is nothing for the truck and can be done in two easy days if you want to save on hotel costs.

 

@Lady42 depending on how much crap you got getting a low profile trailer like a 4x8 or 5x8 will help lots.
Buy this for peace of mind whilst loading, unloading and over night….

$42 REESE Towpower 7014700 Trailer Hitch and Coupler Combo Lock Set, Fits 1-1/4" & 2" Square Receivers, 1/2" & 5/8" Pin Diameter

https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpow...5889867&sprefix=hitch+lock+set,aps,147&sr=8-4

 

The 1140 lbs of payload is your limiting factor. If the trailer is loaded properly 10-15% of the trailer weight is going to be on your hitch, about 13% is your goal. So take a rough estimate of 4000 lbs total for the empty trailer plus what you put in it you'll have 400-600 lbs of weight on your truck. The reason you want to put most of the heavy stuff in the trailer is that for every 100 lbs you take out of the truck and put in the trailer you reduce the weight on your truck by 85-90 lbs.

A 4000 lb loaded trailer will leave you 540-740 lbs for passengers and cargo in your truck which is realistic. I wouldn't suggest a loaded trailer weight over about 4000 lbs. You need to find the empty trailer weigth and get a pretty good idea of how much the other gear will weigh. If possible pull the loaded trailer to some scales before you depart on the 1300 mile trip.

Depending on where you live you may not need trailer brakes. Most places don't require them on trailers over 3500 lbs. And it sounds like you may not have that much weight.

Basically, I think you'll be OK, but that is just a guess. If the total weight of everything you're wanting to tow is going to get up much past 4000 lbs then it is a no-go with your truck.

1150 lbs isn't good, 940 lbs is a joke for a truck. The new Ford Ranger is 1500-1700 lbs. My old Honda Fit had 800 lbs payload and our new Explorer has nearly 1600.

 

So a couple of tidbits from a frequent UHaul renter

• They should go through a trailer inspection (including light check) when they hook it up for you. Pay close attention to the tires. If one looks bald or there's visible fray, reject the trailer. You want good tires for a long distance.
• It's still a good idea to turn on lights and hazards every morning and do a walk around. Check lights, turn signal functions, and note the general conditions of each tire.
• Every time you stop for gas, feel the trailer hubs with the back of your hand. If one is too hot to touch, call the number on your rental ticket and have the trailer replaced. Let the hub cool and limp it to the nearest rental, if you can. (It beats being stranded roadside or worse, having a rollover accident.)
• Keep it at UHauls recommendation of 65 mph. Use the opportunity to explore back roads
• Pay attention to parking lots before you pull in. Don't get stuck. Make sure you know the exit route before you enter.
• Each trailer has a big sticker with an arrow inside. Load all your heavy stuff forward of that sticker and tie it down. Then tie it down some more.

That's the gist of it. Follow the basics of trailer towing and it becomes a breeze.