Question about towing a U-Haul

Hey guys I have only owned this truck since July. I got a good job offer and looking to move from Artesia NM to Lexington Kentucky. I am not sure which trailer yet I will need. How will the truck handle a 6x12 trailer? I might be able to make the 5x8 work but would be a tight squeeze. Do I need to add additional transmission cooler or will stock be okay? It's a long 2 day drive and I rather not over heat any thing.

I know U-Haul says 55 but when I pulled one on my old full sized truck it felt comfortable around 65 maybe 70. I know once I got above 70 the trailer started to sway a bit.

 

It’ll pull it, just not happily. In the Midwest winds I couldn’t drive by a gas station. Be prepared for high revs the entire drive, bring hearing protection.

(the handling of the trailer itself is fine behind the truck)

 

It's not the length you need to be worried about, it's the weight. Depending on what Tacoma & towing package you have, your towing is limited to 3500lbs or as much as 6800lbs. Also, before you do tow, carefully inspect the trailer wheels. Having one blow out can cause a major accident.

 

It's rated for 6500 pounds I believe.

 

Packing the trailer properly will also ensure safe traveling:

 

I pulled the 6x12 from NJ to FL. Got MPGs ranging from 12-15 depending on the terrain (the route we took ended up being very hilly). Pulled well! Stopped fine. Felt like I had to really work the M/T clutch. Not sure your specs so not sure if that's a factor.

I basically towed in 4th/5th the whole time to keep some power. The truck was completely happy screaming away over 3k RPMs at 65/70MPH in 4th/5th.

 

ALSO YES THIS! I had to repack the trailer because I was getting some tail wagging the dog syndrome. Long story short it was because I had to pack additional things later in the trip, which ended up putting too much weight in the back of the trailer.

 

Congratulations on the new job! If your Tacoma has the tow package then you have the basics required to safely tow a UHaul 6x12. Are you loading this trailer with household goods or are you carrying a 50 gun safe and a couple Harley motorcycles? Like @Borracho Loco mentioned above.. weight makes a big difference. Be kind and patient with your truck while traveling over the mountains. If you're just loading your household items in there then you should be good to go. If you're loading it up with 3,500 lbs of equipment then I'd recommend you check into having a transmission cooler installed.

Some of those Uhaul trailers track straight and spin like a dream. Others absolutely suck. Unsure how to make sure you get a good one but it might be worth researching.

 

It’ll pull a 6x12 just fine

 

Mine is the automatic Trd Off-road package. The automatic is a clunky at shifting some times better with ECT power on. Ugh I figured that gas mileage would be bad.

 

Definitely leave ECT on, as that will basically tell the computer to hold its shift points more. Use the gear selector to lock out top gear and you'll be golden. Yes gas mileage wasn't great. You might do better with an auto and if the trip is mostly flat (like I said - my trip was very much not flat).

 

Make sure you air up your tires to a proper level for the tow.

There are tons of threads on TW on it.

Safe travels.

 

Yup lucky I have more experience loading trailers than pulling them. Use to work in a agricultural place that sold pipes and big pumps ECT...

Will the Tacoma be able to maintain 65 for the most part? As to what I am loading it is just regular house hold stuff nothing to crazy heavy. Depending on if I sell my love seat and recliner than I can probably just get the smaller trailer. Just hard to say for sure.

 

You can drive 65MPH safely. Just so you know, towing will impact your MPG's. Whatever you're getting now, cut it in half when towing. Good luck in Kentucky. Hopefully you'll meet a nice girl who has more than 3 teeth and isn't already fucking her brother/cousin.

 

Definitely can maintain speed...but like I said lock out that top gear to do so. I only hit 6th gear a handful of times and it didn't take much to slow me down when I did. Mine was also mostly household stuff. With the heaviest things being my bedroom furniture which I loaded towards the front-middle, and a gun cabinet. I'd guestimate that I was pulling about 4-5k pounds with trailer included. It felt like it was a bit more weight than the one time that I pulled a Honda Civic using a car dolly (~3k lbs).

 

Yes, quite easily. Check out the towing bible thread for tips, or wait 5 posts since theyll be repeated here anyway.

For UHaul, do a hard walk around and check the tires for cracks and heavy wear. Be ready to reject the trailer if the wheels are in bad shape. Most UHaul techs just care about whether they can hook it and get the lights to work. Up to you to make sure its roadworthy. Also, either bring a cheap temperature gun or use the back of your hand to feel each trailer hub, every time you stop for gas. If one or more wheels is too hot to touch, stop.

 

Common quotes you hear when towing heavy loads with a Tacoma or any vehicle for that matter.
"Had to put it to the floor up every hill"
"Engine was screaming all the time"
"Transmission temps. were really high"
"Had to keep it in 3rd and 4th gear all the time"
"Got horrendous gas mileage"
"Trailer was swaying bad"
Most or all of these can be alleviated by slowing down and driving at a reasonable speed.
Your truck and Credit Card will thank you for it!

 

Hey, keep my mother/wife out of this......

 

Consider ABF. They drop a trailer, you load it, you lock it, they deliver it, you unload it. No muss no fuss might be a few dollars more but it's a great service.

Don't need the entire trailer? - no problem they supply a bulk-head that locks and you use whatever amount of space you need.

I've moved across the country 3 times using them.

Saves you on gas, wear and tear, makes your drive a snap.

 

Funny this post showed up. I'm heading from CT to Norfolk, VA Saturday morning to trailer back a Classic Mini on a U-Haul car carrier. Car carrier is 2,200 pounds and the Mini is 1,600 pound. I know the fuel economy will suck but the Taco should work well.