Am I safe to tow 1500 miles with a recent front end growl?

I recently discovered my 2008 Tacoma has the front end growl when I took it up hunting towing my quad trailer. It's undetectable at speed below 40mph, but anything over it gets louder. It goes away on right hand corners. We are leaving for a family reunion in 4 days towing a small travel trailer weighing in at 1200 pounds. I need to know if I'm going to have a catastrophic failure on the highway. We'll be in some remote areas. I plan one getting it fixed when we get back with new hub and bearing assemblies from one of the members on this site. Please give me some advice on whether we can take the truck? Thanks

 

Sounds like wheels bearings.
I had the exact problem. Replaced both froth hub assemblies in about 2 hours total, in my driveway. Cost about $330 for both hub/bearing assemblies.

It's only safe until the wheel(s) fall off! Lol

 

Sounds very symptomatic of bad wheel bearings, super easy to replace.

 

thats a lot of miles to drive a bad wheel bearing...

I'm picturing the bearings heating up and seizing?

you have four days to change them...its not that hard.

 

My first front wheel bearing went out at 70k mi. Made the howling sound for a few days then ground itself to death pretty quickly. The other bearing started to make the howling sound at 200k mi and I have driven on it for 30k mi. Its starting to get bad so I need to change it soon. Its a crap shoot how long you can drive on it before it will totaly fail. Do you feel lucky?

 

Yeah definitely sounds like bearings. Do you turn to the left and it gets louder? Its your right bearing. In the right turn the weight of the truck transfers to the left side taking some pressure off the bearing, in the left turn the weight transfers to the right which will make the bearing howl louder. If you want to replaced what is needed but I've always done pairs because kind of like light bulbs, when one goes likely the other is close. Just my opinion. I have replaced too many bearings in my general motors cars. haven't done it to a Toyota yet

 

Yup, Sounds like a bearing to me.

Anyway I'd suggest your think of this scenario. What's the cost of having the truck go down on the road, the repair at an unknown shop and especially the entire trip worrying about the truck. Dollar wise alone this is pretty high. I'd either get it fixed before the trip and enjoy the trip - or rent a vehicle with a hitch - I'd check the rental cost - and make the decision. Perhaps you can rent a nice new vehicle you can really enjoy with the trip! Perhaps when you rent you can drop off the truck to a buddy/mechanic have the bearing s changed and the truck will be done when you return.
JMHO

 

Thanks for the advice guys. You just changed my wife and I's plans to drive the truck and trailer. I'll order up both sides of hub and bearings. If I turn to the right at highway speed and the noise stops, is that indicative of the left front wheel bearing going out? I'll replace the bad side first.

 

No... I don't think you understand what I typed. If it goes away when you turn right it's your right...

 

The proper way to diagnose this only tales 5 minutes, is to jack up the front end and grab your wheel at 12 & 6 o'clock and try to move the wheel ( not turn the turn ) to see if you have any free play at all. Free play at 12&6 = bad wheel bearing! free play at 3&9 = steering rack or rack bushings.

 

True, but they don't always have play at 12&6.
I just changed both of mine last week, passenger side was fine, driverside was destroyed. Both side felt identical. Have had other cars in the past do the same.

Either way, its a good check to do, no matter what!

 

Thx I'll do as suggested. We're taking the car and hotelling it and leaving the truck parked. I've got the parts on order and will do both sides. Thanks for the help.

 

If its growling, its probably just hungry. Feed it a Prius or something of a similar species.

 

Without a crystal ball or the ability to predict the future it is impossible to know. If you are going alone and not putting anyone else in danger you might try it, but if you are taking anyone else I suggest you get it fixed.

 

Yeah it's a family trip. Wife, 8 month old and dog. Wouldn't want to be stranded. We'll all be packed into our civic. Tight, but it's better to be safe than sorry.