Towing set up, 4.88s and a heavy load. How can I make it a successfully?

Hi All!

I wanted pick your brains on any potential problems, experience and suggestions about towing with my set up.

So, I will potentially be towing a 5'x10' tandem axel dump trailer with electric brakes about 2,000 miles on highway. The trailer dry is about 2,250 and loaded will be no more than 6,500 pounds. I am planning on adding a load distribution hitch with sway control to the trailer and hitch as well. The load will be very pretty hardwood taken from my grandmother's tree that was recently dropped.

I have a 2013 Tacoma 4x4 access cab with automatic transmission and the 6' bed. It came with the tow package as well. I have added ARB's OME Medium load package to the front and rear suspension (adding 2.5" front and rear), regard at 4.88 with nitro's, AFE Air Intake, and am running 285/75R/16 Duratracks. The brakes are stock but in good shape. The truck has 120K miles and has been cared for well over the span of her young life. I also only get 15mph on average, have a leer shell on it that I plan on removing before towing and cutting weight on the truck were I can.

Besides adding the load distribution hitch with sway control and a brake controller, what other pre trip maintenance should I preform? What problems do you foresee? Is this feasible? How is towing that load with 4.88s and how does the 4.88 gearing change towing? How is driving with the load and suggestions on how to take it easy on the transmission? What kind of speeds can I expect on flat and uphill? And ANY information or things to think about that would be insightful, helpful and that you guys think I haven't thought of yet.

Thank you in advance for all of your knowledge and wisdom!

Also, the towing bible has been of great help, now I just have specific questions to my set up.

 

How often are you intending on using the trailer? Every week load, dump repeat?

That’s roughly a 2-4 yard trailer depending on material, and side height, the higher the sides the more likely you are going to overload the truck and trailer.

With any frequency over 1-2 times a year I would suggest considering a larger truck. Full sized at least 3/4-1 ton more likely.

Your 4.88 will help with acceleration if you haven’t also oversized your tires, also you need to consider load rated tires for your truck, LT at least load range C

 

The initial trip would be a cross country 2k mile with the 6,500 pound total load of trailer and wood. After that, I'd use it for very short trips in town for personal landscaping. Maybe a rare 200+ mile trip a couple times a year at full capacity. But not going over the 6500 pound towing capacity. The trailer is rated for 7500 pounds.

The side height of the trailer walls are 18", so approximately 3 1/2' from the ground.

I'm trying to not think about a new truck for a while, the lack of car payments has grown on me.

The duratracs are load range E / 10 ply.

 

I would consider a scan.gauge 2 or 3 or similar OBDII reader application programmed to read your transmission temp sensors since you drive an automatic. Loaded expect to be in 4th gear a lot and only use your overdrive gears in down hill situations. When your torque converter is unlocked and under load you will generate massive amounts of heat in the torque converter which is why you want to stay locked in 4th at speed and only using your OD gears when you are coasting downhill. With an OBDII app you can see your temps in real time and adjust your driving as conditions change.

My $0.02

 

You'll need a brake controller. I highly recommend the RedArc Liberty Tow Pro. (RedArc Elite if you plan to off road pulling a trailer)

You'll likely want a WDH that is easily adjustable since it sounds like your load will vary and you also may be empty going one way and full going the other. I don't know for certain but the WDH with the chains may be easy to adjust the load but I think sway control will have to be separate. WDH with chains don't seem to be very desirable but they might be in your case.... not sure.