Towing from FL to NE

I'm setting up a move from the panhandle of Florida to Omaha, NE (yes in the middle of winter). I haven't towed anything with my TRD OR DC 4G(5.5 ft bed) yet. I'm looking at my options at uhaul. We don't plan on loading it with anything heavy (no appliances just very minimal furniture, i.e. writing desk, kitchen table, tv stand, decompressed memory foam mattress, and the rest would be regular 1 bedroom apartment belongings). I will put the lighter stuff like clothing and kitchen stuff in the bed of the truck. In your experience, what is the best option available between the 5x8 or 6x12. The 6x12 seems to be the best as it holds more weight but can the Taco comfortably tow? I remember the service manager at toyota telling me I had a class III hitch, I've yet to confirm this.

Question is, can I safely tow the 6x12 uhaul vs the 5x8. I'd like to have just a little more room if necessary. The manual says GCWR is 11280 lbs and the TWR is 6400 lbs IF I have the tow package. I'm only 90% sure I have the tow package (there is a hitch and wired plug for lights). I'm going to put my VIN into toyota's site to double check.

Anyone with any experience, tips, etc I would really appreciate!



Thanks!
-Jason

 

That double axle trailer will handle well with your truck. Since it appears that you may have a tow package, it will be fine with either trailer, and the truck can handle them especially since you won’t be towing in summer heat if you did not get the full tow package (extra tranny and oil cooler, etc.).

Your biggest concern will be how to mount the side mirrors, good luck with that! I ended up going with a wireless rear view camera at the rear of my trailer because I have never found a good mirror set that stays on the OEM plastic mirrors securely enough.

 

most TRDs come with the tow package standard. I have towed my boat (~2000#s) over 300 miles with 0 issues and it did fine even up some pretty good grades and stopped pretty quick. I wouldnt hesitate to tow more. Obviously try and go with the smallest trailer that will fit your stuff and remember S4 to keep it out of overdrive and use ECT per the manual. Dont expect great mileage.

 

Okay I do have the tow package installed

 

Thanks! I figured mileage would be terrible, but luckily my job is funding up my gas, and some other expenses up to a certain amount. We will be driving approx 6 hours a day for three days. Is there anything else I should make sure that I do besides S4 and ECT all the time? I really appreciate the advice.

 

i agree with onhartung too that you should figure out the mirror situation. Box trailers can cut down visibility pretty good, although the larger one looks to be about the same width as the truck or even narrower so you may be ok if your mirrors are adjusted properly

 

Emergency gas can!

 

Even the 6x12 is just a little trailer, you'll be fine. I'm guessing from the post you've never towed anything before. This forum in general vastly overthinks towing, so don't feel overwhelmed. S4 or ECT will hold lower gears longer, but you don't need to mess with those to tow unless you really want to. Longer mirrors will help, but I've never used them.

I've towed a lot for work and for fun. Just go a bit slower, the speed limit instead of the 80mph everyone usually goes. Leave extra room for braking. Expect much longer to accelerate. The bottom line is, if you don't hurry, you won't have any trouble.

One more thing, backing up is not intuitive and requires practice, so research that if this is your first time towing.

 

I actually rented the 6x12 this past weekend and towed about 200 miles round trip. We had a few hundred pounds of stuff in it and then towed it empty on the return trip. The taco was fine. I usually average around 20-22 on my commute and averaged about 17-18 with the trailer. It handled accelerated and braked fine.

I previously had a 2006 F350 Crew cab and 8 foot bed with the 6.0 diesel. I towed muhc larger and heavier things with that. That thing could two your house down the street. The taco didn't tow as effortlessly, but had no issues and never felt like it was struggling.

I kept speeds around 60 max since the trailer says not to go above 55.

I have a 2017 double cab short bed sport with tow package. The 6x12 uses the 4 pin connector.

Zero issues.

 

I just towed my 7x14 ATV trailer loaded with my motorcycle HD Roadglide and the bed loaded. I moved from Texas to California on Friday the 10th. I got 14 mpg towing. I used the ECT mode and it towed but these trucks are not meant for towing anything with any weight IMO. Mine is still stock and I was on the bump stops.

 

Yeah its been a while, I towed AC 130 Gunship radar parts while I was in the military around a flight line slowly(ish...) And back in my hay-day I played in a band and towed a 5x8 trailer with our band equipment with a 6 pack van. Nothing in the taco yet!

 

If you look carefully at the owner's manual you might find that ECT is recommended and S4 is optional. My take is that S4 is more for controlling downhill speed. Let me know if I am wrong.

 

did you try something like this when you had issues with the mirror?
https://www.amazon.com/Fit-System-3..._1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1510773695&sr=1-1

 

Yes, they hold ok- the best I’ve found so far, but they can slip off by themselves too. Keep rechecking though and tie on a string leash in case they slip off while you are driving.

 

That looks pretty weak. thats really not that much weight, maybe just needed to even the load better on the trailer?

 

I like that set up. I have the trip fold tonneau cover on my bed and I'd like to do something similar with a case on top. Did you drill into your cover to mount that? Are there bed rails that work with tonneau?

 

s4 is to keep it out of overdrive. With a smaller trailer it is probably no big deal but definitely a must if you do any heavy loads. Also will help with gear hunting if you have a headwind/slope

 

or if you want run a Bluetooth odb2 adapter and a app on your phone to track trans temp if you don't want to run in s4 all the time. I will be pulling a 6x12 uhaul trailer from Georgia to north Dakota again (did this back in march-2002) and ran torque app to keep an eye on the temp in the 4runner. the width of the 6x12 trailer isn't wider than the 4runner so I didn't run extended mirrors. but then again I didn't run 70-75mph pulling the trailer so everyone was passing me. I averaged around 12mpg pulling the 6x12 for 1700 miles.

 

When you get loaded try an find a highway and go for a 6-10mile ride. Just to make sure it’s going to track well. You’ll find out quick if you loaded it correctly. This way when you leave your all set and not rearranging everything on the interstate!

 

Pulling my 7x14 aluminum haulmark I averaged about 10-12 mpg. I’d recommend a jerry can or two just incase. Doesn’t take long to run out of fuel with the size of tank in the Tacoma.

Otherwise, pulled great. S4 w/ etc.