Backing uphill with a trailer

2017 Tacoma V6 Manual: Has anyone experienced backup up hill with a load?

August 21 2017 I was pulling my little single axle RV with an estimated CGVW of about 9000 lb, maybe a little more. The CGVWR is 11360 lb.
I wanted to back into a driveway. I looked it up and I was pointing down an 8.5% grade.
When I was young my dad had an International pickup where reverse was the same ratio as first. That pickup could push or pull the same. So I just assumed reverse was a strong as first.
Twice I attempted to start backing up. After the second failed attempt I started to smell the clutch.

To get off the main road I changed plans and drove down until I could turn around. Then I backed in from the uphill direction, no problem.

In hindsight it appears the Tacoma manual clutch is biased in the forward direction where more than 95% of the action happens. I can only conclude that Toyota chose to enhance forward performance at the expense of reverse.

What I was trying to do happens very rarely but next time I will be more careful. This is yet another reason I installed a front hitch mount so if needed I could hook up to the front and push with first gear.

 

Welcome aboard

 

I have a similar issue, but I have a gravel driveway. I just throw it in 4L, and back up no problem. With a lighter trailer, 4H is enough, and with a totally empty one, still manage it in 2 wheel drive.

 

You'll want this. It allows you to go into low range, but without being in 4wd. This is convenient for dry pavement so you don't get any binding of the driveline,

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-2wd-low-range-for-the-3rd-gen-tacoma.614743/

 

The reverse gearing on these trucks, both the AT and MT, is not as good as going forward. Get a back up camera for the trailer, you can even buy an inexpensive magnet one that has a wireless video transmitter for temporary use, and push it into the driveway using your front hitch. It is so much easier to do it that way, I’m glad to hear you got a hitch up there. Those are useful as well if you get a winch on a receiver tray, that way you can winch from either end of your truck.

 

THIS THIS THIS

 

With clutches forward or reverse shouldn’t matter. The pressure plate will have the same force holding it against the flywheel.


Diff Gears are made to be stronger going forward.

 

Welcome to The Forum!

I see you are getting to know your truck. Good for you!

 

excessively tall R gearing.. ?

 

When you pull or push in reverse your putting the load on the coast side of the ring and pinion which is weaker than the drive side

And the reverse gearing sucks in Tacomas of all gens tbh...the 2lo mod is probably the best thing to do in this situation where you need to back up a hill pushing a heavy load.

 

so two different discussions here, one about integrity and one about efficiency. i was talking to the efficiency, not the integrity. sorry if that was confusing. I'm confused now myself.

 

I would not recommend what you are doing in the slightest.

Recipe for a short clutch life and diff failure.

 

Ar15 "what you are doing"
It happen once for less than a minute a few years ago. I immediately stopped. I have never done it again.

Thanks everyone for the advice! Not bad for my first post ever.

 

I’ve had to back a trailer up a steep hill before. It sucks. The reverse gear is geared real high, and you have to feather the clutch with some high rpms to get going.

 

ha, didn't even notice that. welcome to the TWs btw.

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome to TW!