U-Haul towing

I’m planning on towing either a 4x8 or 5x8 U-Haul trailer about 1200 miles. They weigh 780 and 900 pounds respectively. The owners manual says maximum unbraked trailer weight is 1000 pounds and both of these trailers do not have any braking system as far as I can tell.

This would only leave 100-220 pounds for cargo capacity which makes no sense. Is this accurate or am I missing something? I’ve also seen several posts about people towing trailers like these with around 1000 pounds of cargo.

Also, any general advice on towing these for that distance? I’ve seen varying opinions on driving in s4/s5/not limiting gears at all and ect/no ect. Any additional equipment I should have?

Access cab V6 4x4

 

I just pulled a similar sized trailer approx 300 miles with lots of hills with no problem and it was loaded

 

The actual weight the truck is supporting should only be 10-15% of the trailer weight. Check with U-haul, empty trailer weight is around 800-900lbs and the allowable cargo will probably be 1400-1600lbs I’m guessing. Put all your cargo in the trailer. If you leave stuff in the truck the. You are wasting trailer tow capacity.

 

Those trailers have surge brakes. So you don’t need a brake controller but the trailer still has brakes.

use ect. I usually manually shifted.

 

The last 5x8's I towed did not have surge brakes (or any others), you have to move up to a 6x12 to get them. Pulled a fully loaded 5x8 from Iowa to Texas with no issue in the Taco.

I wouldn't worry about it, but understand that everything you do will take longer - stopping and starting in particular.

 

I moved from Texas to Tennessee last month. I pulled a new 5x8 UHaul trailer. It did not have any type of braking system. Make sure most of your weight is forward and the trailer will not fishtail. I'm not sure how much weight I had, but it was full. In the flatlands of Texas I was getting a little better than 16 mpg. When I got into hilly area I started getting 14.5 mpg. Use the ECT button for sure. In Texas I would let it go into 6th gear. When it started getting hilly, I stayed in 5th. 15 hour drive, no issues.

 

Any chance that’s on I-20?

 

Nope, not that trip. I35 in Oklahoma.


They do look pretty similar though.

 

"....The owners manual says maximum unbraked trailer weight is 1000 pounds a..." Where did this come from ??? A med size boat motor and trailer goes around 2K ??? My manual has tow weights much much higher (I4).

 

Yeah, U-Haul website says 1650lbs for the 4x8 and 1800 for the 5x8 when I put in my vehicle info. I was just confused by the owners manual witch states 1000lbs max trailer weight rating for unbraked trailers, which is indicated as the gross trailer weight.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. It looks like I should be fine from your experiences and others I have read. I was just worried about the weight rating in the owners manual with these trailers not having brakes.

I will only be loading a dresser, tv stand, futon frame, a couple chairs, small tables and possibly some boxes. I’m estimating the weight to be around 800lbs.

I’ll try with and without ect power and just keep the shift selector on s and “shift” as needed.

 

Use the ECT. That's what it's there for.

 

State laws vary on the weight limit of unbraked trailers. Maybe that is why the 1000.lb limit in the owner's manual.

 

I towed a fully loaded 6x12 I-haul trailer from Washington state to Wisconsin. The whole thing was probably close to 5500lbs. That trailer was easier to stop for me than an unbraked 5x8 even though it is much heavier.

I don’t know if the price difference is very big but I would advise you to get 6x12 or 5x10. Those are the only U-Haul trailers with surge breaks.

 

Op, correct in the 4x8 and 5x10 don’t have surge brakes. The larger trailers do. As others have said, trailer brake requirements laws vary upon state.

 

The U-Haul 6x12 tandem axle enclosed trailer has hydraulic surge brakes. I did my last move with one, just two trips, 50 miles each way. It towed fine, and it was super cheap. Be aware that reversing may activate the surge brakes.

Now I have a single axle 6x12 of my own that tows fine too. No brakes. My wife's Pilot tows it well too.

 

https://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/trailer-brakes/

Edit: Note these are the "laws" per state NOT the safe non braked TWR per Vehicle Manufacturer.

 

Okay, will do.

 

Apparently .... Until I can prove otherwise, Yota_Yoda is very correct. Simply Stated There is a difference between "towing capacity" and "breaking Capacity" (Stopping Capacity). Otherwise Stated, Anyone towing a trailer without brakes is limited to Gross weight of 1000 Lbs. So .... Toyota has hidden/buried a limitation within it's specs? Anyone towing even a small single axle trailer without brakes is limited to 1K - or - 1/2 Ton . Disappointing at best - major issue if an accident happens at you are sued for exceeding Vehicle capacity. All the smaller boats w trailers I've pulled (all without trailer brakes) will exceed my Tacoma's TWR rating.