Show us what you tow.

No wheeling for the Runner as of now. The engine had over 200,000 miles on it and the timing chain decided to break on the freeway. This was me taking it in to get a completely rebuilt engine. She runs great now!!

The Uhaul trailer worked great actually! It was just a bitch trying to get in on the trailer with only 1 person, 1 truck, and facing up a hill

 

I'm modifying a trailer to be my dedicated wheeler trailer right now. I've done some comparisons of the Uhaul trailers and I think I'm going to be stealing some ideas from them.

 

how is a 2 axle easier to back up?


Its the tire resistance and with a 2 axle trailer its usually longer. so when you start backing up with 2 axle its easier to see and quicker to correct, and with 4 tires the trailer need more of a "push" for the truck to get out of line, and single axle trailer sort of have a mind of their own when it comes to backing up, and while its not just a steady hand, its trickier with a single in gravel, or sand, hell packing up in a parking lot and your doing fine and one tire runs over rock and that can cause it so swing out.

 

I've found over the years that dual axle trailers are just less "twitchy" when backing. As you said, single axle trailers seem to get off line easier & want to jack knife - while a dual axle seems to hold the line better.
I wasn't talking physics - just my experience, maybe it's just me that feels that way?

 

I'm new here and eager to join in on the fun....

Here's about all I ever tow, a 6x10 trailer with 3 dirtbikes.
Trailers dry weight 1300lbs + 1000lbs of 3 bikes and supplies.
If needed, I'll add a 4th and 5th inside the bed to get as many people to the park as I can.
With the big brake kit and V6, it's no problem.

 

Tongue looks low? Maybe just the camera angle?
I would try for better weight distrobution. Maybe load it backwards next time? Or don't drive as far forward as you did with the 4runner?

 

Moving the 4Runner about 1.5' back would of made a big difference I bet. Also, if the Tacoma doesn't have the TSB leafs then it is going to bottom out pretty easy also. That is why I got the leafs and Firestone bags for my truck.

 

Yeah I've never towed anything before and don't know much about it so the 4'' drop ball is what I was recommended by a local towing shop for that Uhaul trailer. He said I would need cause of my truck...??

You can't really move the runner back any because of the design of the trailer. The way it holds the cars on are straps in the front that force you to pull it all the way forward.

 

The drop hitch is probably fine; the issue was leafs. Since your truck is 4x4 you probably don't want the towing leafs.

 

I am going to say that the lower the drop, the more weight you have on the tongue, which means more weight on the springs. (Think leverage) but this might play as big a part as I imagine because you have two axles, but it should still play a part.

4 inches seems excessive. There is a calculation that can/should be done, I just don't know it. And loading the 4runner backwards puts weight of the motor on the rear of the trailer, away from the tongue.

Edit- found my old thread:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/133399-do-i-drop-my-ball-how-far.html
and more precisely, this from a member: http://www.etrailer.com/faq-ballmount.aspx

 

my uncle used to tell me that with a 2 axle trailer, when loaded right the equilazers should be about leval.

 

First pic is towing my 12 foot trailer with 2 Grizzly 600 ATV's. Second pic is 3 yards of bark in a 1900 pound dump trailer. Nothing too serious, about what this truck is meant to do.

 

Crap like this:

 

where did you get your mirrors?

 

Just search for dodge mirrors. Here is the link-

http://www.speedycarparts.com/sku/Do...01_DG49EL.html

 

^^^^ Bad link

 

Try this one.

http://www.speedycarparts.com/catal...ar_txt=2000&make_txt=Dodge&model_txt=Ram+2500

 

I packed up most of my belongings (sold off the bigger stuff) into a 10' x 6' trailer and towed it 4000km across Canada. Not sure what the total weight ended up being but the trailer itself is 1100lbs and there was a big difference once the trailer was loaded. Still pulled nice though. For the small fortune I spent on gas I could have bought new rims and tires that I desperately want.

 

Just picked up a 1973 Apache Ramada yesterday.

 

Nice....classic Apache !!! ,Dude She's a Beast! Flip the axel and get bigger wheels or make a skid plate cuz if your gonna be taken her off the grid the back of her is gonna take a shit kickn!