questions about towing with a 2.7

I have a 2013 2.7 access cab automatic 4x4. My truck has more than enough power for everyday use, but I am not sure about towing with it. I have to help my aunt move from South Carolina to Pennsylvania. It would be cheaper for her to put a hitch on my truck than to rent a uhaul. I have never towed before and have heard from a few people it would not be a good idea to tow with my truck.

I will be driving about 600 miles, many of which are through the mountains of NC, VA, WV, and PA. I have driven this route before and there are a lot of steep grades and elevation changes.

I am not sure which Uhaul trailer I will be going with. One weighs 900 pounds, and the other weighs 1250 pounds. She doesn't have a lot of things, so I am guessing 1000 pounds MAX. So all in all I will be around 2000 pounds with loaded trailer, plus me and another passenger.

Will the 4 cyl be able to handle this, and maintain the speed limit? More importantly is this going to be hard on my truck, and tranny? If I got a transmission cooler would that help? What are your suggestions?

 

Your towing capacity is 3500 lbs. Sounds like you'll be safely under that.

So don't worry about it.

Just don't be in a hurry; allow distance to get moving and to get stopped.

My 2.7 4x4 towed a 6x12 U-Haul stuffed with stuff from sea level 6000 ft.

 

You have a 5 speed though. I am mainly concerned with my transmission. I am also running 265/75/16s and have bilstien shocks. Not sure if that makes a difference or not. I have never had to tow anything before.

Would a tranny cooler help, and is it a good idea to put one on even if I don't normally tow anything? What should I expect to pay labor wise to have one put on?

 

If I were in your shoes - I'd still do it without a second thought.

I've done a fair amount of towing, and towing doesn't make me nervous.

If it'll make you feel better - put a transmission cooler on. Probably cost a few hundred bucks including install BUT - make sure there isn't one there already first!

As you point out - I have the stick, so I have no idea under which the 4sp gets a tranny cooler from the factory or not.

 

Keep in mind also that if you plan to rent a trailer from UHaul you will be very limited in what trailer they will let you get. You will probably be limited to like the smallest one maybe the next up from it. UHaul is real picky about the tow vehicle when they rent their equipment. Just something to think about.

One thing I have done before is borrowed my buddy's Dodge Ram to swing by and pick up a trailer they wouldnt let me get with my Taco. Went back to his house hooked it to my Taco and away I went.

 

For 10 years I towed with my 4 banger, a fairly lightweight boat in the summer (1500lbs) but in the winter a snowmobile trailer that probably ran 2500 lbs. I had the basic SR5 package with an auto transmission. But I towed a lot, like easily 1000 miles a month on average, in some pretty rugged country. I'm a big fisherman, so I go all over the Northeast and in the winter fish with snowmobiles every weekend. Anyway, my stock transmission was still fine when I sold it with 230,000 miles on it. I wouldn't worry about a thing with that weight. Do not bother with a cooler, you won't need it. You will however be in the slow, slow lane in the mountains!

 

I traved from Florida to Wyoming (sea level to 7220) towing a uhaul that was 4x4x8. That was the biggest they would let me take. Did great.