Has anyone actually tried towing a uhaul behind their 4cyl?

Now before i ask this, i know that the "max towing capacity" for the 4 cylinder 2.7 is 3500 lbs. I am getting ready for a move cross country, and i have been looking at pricing for u-hauls. A 5x10 trailer(really all i need) is only $450, compared to a full size u-haul truck with vehicle trailer ($2200+), or a PODS shipping container ($2000). According to the site, i can load 1800 lbs into the u-haul 5x10 trailer before hitting 3500 lbs, and i don't even think i own 1800 lbs of stuff. My gun safe is the heaviest thing i own, at 400 lbs. Now granted my truck is a regular cab 4 cylinder, with a manual transmission. I am curious on if i could safely pull this, or better yet if anyone else with a 4 cylinder has. Anyone have any experience doing this with the 2.7? I know i wouldn't be "winning any races" or "going fast" doing this, just curious of anyone else experience. Thanks!

 

the 5 spd is everything you need to make that truck work as long as you've got enough rear suspension to handle the load. I used to freight my old '89 4cyl 22re but I beefed it up in the rear with some NWOR 750lb over HD leaf springs. Those die hard 4cyl's like their rpm's. I find my 2.7 is just starting to get into the sweet spot at around 2500 rpm's and it feels just like a 2 stroke power band that's coming together at around 3000-3200rpm.

I imagine that 2.7 would be a pig with an automatic transmission but I really have never driven one so I don't know. With that 5spd you can make it do anything you want it to do providing your suspension will take it.

Here's my '12 in need of some viagra or something for the rear suspension, I'll get to it someday. Time is not the same now as it was before we had children
Pete

 

I hauled a 1600# sail boat and trailer with no brakes 500 miles ,with a '90 reg cab 4 cyl auto . A little slow going thru the mountains of West Virginia pulled and stopped ok.
Is the trailer single or double axel? You might be able to distribute the weight better with two axels , plus an additional axel for brakes,make sure it has brakes on both axles.

 

This WAS my '02 Tacoma; 4x4 with "juice drive" It can be done my loaded Mac tool box and no space left packing maxed the trailer out...

 

I have pulled 2k worth of pellets on a trailer many times in my 09, don't k is what total weight was as the truck did it. You knew it was behind ya, I just tried to center the weight on the trailer wheels.

 

@Casper66 again

 

I just pulled a jam packed 5x8 8 hrs from Asheville, NC to northern Va. Mine is an automatic I just kept it out of OD and it did fine.

 

That's some funny stuff rt there you posted the same time I was. I'm telling you the little LCE header makes a good difference. It gives you torque rt where you need it with these motors. They don't like the mtns very much but al-in-all it did a great job.

 

@Whitetrash is your truck an automatic or manual? The reason I ask is unless you already have the towing package if it's an automatic I would suggest a trans cooler. I tow a steel 5x10 during the fall with a big heavy assed 4 wlr on it and then through out the year doing different things and it was suggested to me that a trans' cooler would be a great bennifit

 

I am dreaming of those lce header! Maybe some day

 

Have you watched the youtube install video? A guy here also installed the LCE catback. It sounded ok he said it resonated horribly until he had a resonator installed. Performance wise he didn't see much difference with the catback but with the header most deffinately. Save your pennies it's a quality product with worth while bennifits

 

The video on the white reg cab? I did haha I am trying to save for it for sure. Combine with my urd short throw it would be great! I have to shop around in local truck parts dealer to see if they have good prices since I am in Canada. And I also think I will have it installed because I am pretty sur I will break a rusted bolt in the motor head trying to take the manifold out lol

 

I own two '96 Tacos with 4 cyl /manual and pulled all kinds of trailers light and heavy.... as long as you have some weight on your truck(box) as well and a decent hitch I would have no worries loading up that trailer and go anywhere with it. Just keep in mind that you have this trailer behind when you need to slow down (if trailer has no brakes) other than that just grab those gears and go. Don't be afraid to shift down a gear, the 2.7 Liter engine has good power when you rev it up and over 3000 rpm.... never seems to hurt any of mine anyway ;-)

 

My wife ordered mine strait from LCE for christmas. Just soak your bolts with a good quality penetrating oil they're not torqued on that tight

 

Thanks for the input! Will check this out when the time comes.

 

@Kemosabe , I was down in AZ a few years ago with one of my '96 Tacomas.. bought and installed the LCE header myself right on a parking lot. They give more power especially at higher rpm. Casper66 is correct about the bolts, mine looked corroded but came off easy just as her described.

 

That may do some wear on the engine. Towing the uhaul, passenger(s), have the a/c on at certain points during the trip?.... this would be very tough on the engine.

 

It'll pull it just fine - the 2.7L is a tough little motor. I've pulled over 3K with my old 09 5 speed.

The most wear will be on the clutch when you're backing up the trailer and slipping the clutch. Try to avoid this.

 

Not answer for towing but another moving options is using ABF- https://www.upack.com/abf/abf-freight

They drop a 20' pup trailer- you load your stuff- they throw up a plywood bulk head after it and they will stuff some pallets behind that going the same way. It was the cheapest option when we moved my wifes parents. Word of caution- pack your stuff well because those trailers dont ride smooth.

 

Thanks for all the input y'all.
First-I looked into the u-pack ABF containers, but for the price i might as well just get a massive u-haul truck and pull it myself knowing that its right behind me and "safe"
@Casper66 my truck is a manual, thats the only reason i was even considering this
@Tcomaboy it will be just me in the truck, no passenger, and i rarely have the AC on. im white trash and enjoy the outside air. i hate AC honestly.
@Tacosail the u-haul 5x8 is a single rear axle, so im sure it would work okay i guess?
Anywho, thanks for everyones input, i may just try doing this. If it was an auto i more than likely wouldn't, BUT being most people who have done it had manuals, it shouldn't be an issue. The route i would be taking was from southern california to ohio, mostly the southern route to avoid the rocky mountains.