Towing a teardrop or A frame travel trailer

Hello, New to forums, I have a 3.5 Auto, dual cab short bed. I've been reading a lot about towing and see where people (and several youtube videos) have said not to tow anything over 3000 lbs, and to use S-4 with ECT on.

I'm looking at trailers that are less than 2000 lbs and I wonder if I would still need to do the S-4 think. I just drove several miles (with no trailer) at 60 MPH in S4 with ECT on and frankly the higher revs (bout 2500) was annoying.

Does anyone tow trailers this size ? do you have to deal with revving ? I'm really debating just sticking with a tent over wear and tear on truck.

Thanks all

 

Welcome. The truck can stay in 4th at 60 all day long. It does just fine. I wouldn't recommend doing that empty, though.

I run a heavier trailer than that, a 3200 pound popup. At that weight I read the terrain and select accordingly. If it's flat and no wind I'll put it in S5. Basically anywhere where it can stay in 5th for more than 5 minutes without downshifting, I figure it's safe. Hills or wind, I keep it in 4.

 

The 3.5 is an over square engine, meaning the stroke is very short. It is a high revving engine and it is designed like that. It makes most of it power at higher rpms. You will not hurt anything if you tow in s4 for long periods of time. Also, 5th and 6th are overdrive gears, you should not tow in those gears, unless its very flat and no wind. Might get away with 5th, but 6th, no way. 4th gear is 1:1 ratio. Cant comment on the weight as i dont tow heavy, just an aluminum boat.

Jusy my $.05 (can)

 

yea, but 2500rpms under load is different. When I tow my 3300lb trailer that's what I see at about 60mph. If you're thinking of one of those smaller pop-up style trailers, they're hardly noticeable when towing. I had a small one(1500lb) I pulled with my 2nd Gen and family of 4. Nothing to it. I'd probably still use ECT and S5 for a small trailer though.

 

I had switched to S5 and it was a different world to me,,I've got hearing loss from military and for some weird reason vibration really bothers me. I guess I was hoping to hear that S5 would mainly be ok and wouldn't ruin the tranny. If S5 is bad for it I will likely just stick with tent camping.

 

I did all the homework with pulling a trailer and how much weight I could pull without compromising the truck. I found a 25' trailer that weights 4000 LBS dry and about 4800 to 4900 LBS with my gear and family loaded up. At first the transmission was in learning mode and was constantly revving up down and it didn't help I was driving into a head wind about 45km. On our way home from camping the rpm's stayed at 2900-3000 rpm's all the way home. I was in S4 ECT on. It was a big difference after the learning transmission figure it out. I live on the prairie's where it is flat and have trailer sway bars on. We camped about 4 times since we got it in mid summer. I keep it at 100km and I have no issue's.

 

I had a t@b teardrop and I loathed pulling it. Any kind of breeze or grade and you were lucky to go 60mph.

We replaced it with an Aliner Ranger 12 and I couldn't be happier. It tows a dream. Because it folds flat, I can run freeway speeds and what's more, the A Liner is much nicer to stay in. More room, more practical and more comfortable. Win/win.

Photo Tax:


I just said this in another thread, but towing capacity is marketing horeshit. Your tongue weight and payload are what you need to pay attention to. The payload capacity on a tacoma is around 900lbs. That means your passengers, your crap and the tongue weight of the trailer should never exceed that.

Most people will exceed payload long before they get anywhere near towing capacity.

 

I had considered an Aliner, do you have to tow in S4 or can you go to a higher gear with it ? I actually looked at the Ranger too

 

My gen2 was an AT, i was in 4th most the time. If it was downhill I could slip it into 5th. But towing in overdrive is risky, so I did it only in perfect situations.

 

Also,.modern motors are not like old V8s. They make power with RPM. It's okay to let them spin up to 4-4.5k.

Lugging a modern motor is really hard in them. You gotta let them spin up.

 

Found some photos of the Tab. The only thing I liked about it was the outside kitchen, but I also hated that when it came to making coffee on a cold morning.

But mostly it towed like ass. We took a bath on it, but I was delighted to be rid of it.

 

I have a 1999 Aliner, have only towed it a couple times but it towed in 5 no problem. It weighs about 1500 pounds maybe 1800 fully loaded.

 

This was about 5k loaded, did 17 states 7400 miles in 2 months.

 

So just to clarify,, do you still have to do S4 witj the Aliner ?

QUOTE="canyonchaser, post: 24438171, member: 49496"]Found some photos of the Tab. The only thing I liked about it was the outside kitchen, but I also hated that when it came to making coffee on a cold morning.

But mostly it towed like ass. We took a bath on it, but I was delighted to be rid of it.

[/QUOTE]

 

Similar tow characteristics as an A-liner ^^

Mostly yes. Also, the vibrations you hear unloaded are way, way different than the ones you hear when loaded. I would not judge based on how the truck performs empty. My personal recommendation - there are numerous sites where you can rent a camper for a weekend. Try that first to see how it suits you.

 

New truck is an MT, so yeah, 5th gear. Manual says not to tow in 6th on the MT. Honestly, haven't towed with the new truck yet.

 

Thanks again guys, I love the rental idea. I will probably camp maybe 4-5 times a year (at most) but being off the ground sure is nice. I also looked at roof mounted tents but not sure I wanted to drop the tent if I needed to use the truck