Cross Country Towing

[pdubs4runner]

What's up everyone....I wanted to ask a question and figured this would be the best way.

Im a couple weeks possibly, I will be towing my mom's 97 Pontiac Grand Am from VA to CO with an auto transport. I have a 06 V6 runner with ~ 121,400. I have kept up with all the regular scheduled maintenance.

I have made this trip before, but not towing. WV does have some hill on I-66W.

Any recommendations? Thanks for the help!!

 

[HiVel-JR]

What's up everyone....I wanted to ask a question and figured this would be the best way.

Im a couple weeks possibly, I will be towing my mom's 97 Pontiac Grand Am from VA to CO with an auto transport. I have a 06 V6 runner with ~ 121,400. I have kept up with all the regular scheduled maintenance.

I have made this trip before, but not towing. WV does have some hill on I-66W.

Any recommendations? Thanks for the help!!

I towed my wife's Volkswagen Passast or "passout" from Sierra Vista, Arizona to Alabama and I never had any issues. I did however have to carefully plan out my fuel stops. I think I was getting 10 miles to the gallon or less. Lots of drag/wind resistance. I had close to 800lbs of crap loaded in her car as well. Not one hiccup along the way.

You probably already know this, but just remember when towing something its more important to be able to STOP what your towing rather than pull what your towing.

Have a safe trip!

 

[Tommy4Runner]

I would highly recommend a transmission cooler, I have a V8 that comes factory with them, but I know this was the biggest concern with my 3rd Gen with towing my ski boat and the v6 did not come with them. Agree with the comment above that stopping the load is most crucial, does the trailer your pulling have electric or surge brakes?

 

[pdubs4runner]

Im not sure what kind of brakes the auto transport will have- I would assume electric. I have had thoughts about getting a tranny cooler added. That is def something to consider knowing the mountains passes I might encounter.

 

[Tommy4Runner]

You need to be wired up for a brake controller to actually utilize the electric brakes on the trailer.

 

[nevada]

You need to be wired up for a brake controller to actually utilize the electric brakes on the trailer.

correct.
this is very important, and often overlooked.

ive seen many people just hook up a trailer, and expect it to work. since its got the "tow package" and already has a 7 pin wired in from the factory, they think it ALSO has the brake controller built in.

that can be a very dangerous way of thinking.

 

[Jeremy556]

A 97 Grand Am? Just buy another one when you get to CO with the gas money you saved.

 

[NJshadow93]

In addition to a transmission cooler, do not tow in overdrive.

 

[macoyle]

Plus 1 for a trans cooler, I also have a fan switch on mine.

As far as towing in overdrive, its a little bit of a myth. Yes you CAN tow in overdrive as long as your on a flat surface with constant speed or even small hills as long as your trans is not searching for the right gear constantly.

When NOT to use overdrive while towing-In the mountains or large hills, lots of speed changes, or ANYTIME the trans is not staying in gear and switching between gears often.

Also I use a scan gauge to monitor the temps, I would HIGHLY recommend one. The nominal price of the gauge is worth its weight in gold while towing! I tow often and normally with one of our trucks but this torquey little V6 does pretty good actually.

 

[DC runner]

A 97 Grand Am? Just buy another one when you get to CO with the gas money you saved.

I just want to second this. I pulled the kbb value, and it is only worth about 1k if not less.

Have you strongly considered just selling, adding to that the money saved on gas, wear and tear, and outfitting you truck to tow and just buying a car out there?

Figure gas milage will be 20-40% worse while towing a heavy load (3 to 5k) I am fguessing. Not sure if you are using a trailer or what.

Outfitting, increased wear asndvtear and I say factor about 1k in "cost" to transport. I will admit, kind of a made up number but if you figure gas for the 2kish mile drive will be 100 to 200 more, a extra trans cooler and brake booster plus factoring in that towing counts as severe use and will shorten the intrevals for some maint and warrant some extra then I think 1k is a fair estimate.

So, you have a car worth 1k and are going to spend around 1k when all is said and done.

Take that 2k, add 1k more and buy an older 4wd or a civoc or something. Not sure I would consider it worth it.

 

[Sungod]

You are asking a lot out of your v6, but I am sure you can make it. I wouldn't sink the money into a Trans cooler unless you were planning on going in the middle of summer. It wouldn't hurt, but you will never see a return on that investment unless you think that you might tow something on a more regular basis.

You may also want to get a map. 66 runs from DC to Front Royal VA, not WV. I think you mean 64. Once you do get past WV and through KY it will flatten out and towing will be much easier.

 

[anotherrunner83]

i hate to say this, read your owners manual. i know mine tells me that towing in anything but "D" is just an impact to gas mileage. i'd feel comfortable taking off with the hauler in tow as is. i've towed all kinds of stuff with all 3 of mine and done just fine. just take your time and keep plenty of distance in front of you as stopping does take a significantly longer distance.

 

[pdubs4runner]

You are asking a lot out of your v6, but I am sure you can make it. I wouldn't sink the money into a Trans cooler unless you were planning on going in the middle of summer. It wouldn't hurt, but you will never see a return on that investment unless you think that you might tow something on a more regular basis.

You may also want to get a map. 66 runs from DC to Front Royal VA, not WV. I think you mean 64. Once you do get past WV and through KY it will flatten out and towing will be much easier.

Yes, I meant 64- thanks!

 

[WXman]

I-64 through WV is terrible. Worst stretch of interstate I've ever been on. Last time I made that trip I saw multiple vehicle crashes, truck run-aways that burst into flames, etc. It's like a windy, hilly, curvy little country road, except it's got multiple lanes and people are driving 70. I would strongly consider what they said...sell the Grand Am and buy another when you get to CO. If you overheat that head-gasket failure prone V6 it's going to end up costing you a lot more than the Grand Am is worth.

 

[Doozi]

I would agree that the best thing to do is to sell the Grand Am before you leave and get something out here... it's 17 years old and not worth the hassle. Money from the sale plus the money you'll save by not towing it will get you a decent Colorado car. Are you moving out here or just delivering the car?

 

[pdubs4runner]

i hate to say this, read your owners manual. i know mine tells me that towing in anything but "D" is just an impact to gas mileage. i'd feel comfortable taking off with the hauler in tow as is. i've towed all kinds of stuff with all 3 of mine and done just fine. just take your time and keep plenty of distance in front of you as stopping does take a significantly longer distance.

You are asking a lot out of your v6, but I am sure you can make it. I wouldn't sink the money into a Trans cooler unless you were planning on going in the middle of summer. It wouldn't hurt, but you will never see a return on that investment unless you think that you might tow something on a more regular basis.

You may also want to get a map. 66 runs from DC to Front Royal VA, not WV. I think you mean 64. Once you do get past WV and through KY it will flatten out and towing will be much easier.

I just want to second this. I pulled the kbb value, and it is only worth about 1k if not less.

Have you strongly considered just selling, adding to that the money saved on gas, wear and tear, and outfitting you truck to tow and just buying a car out there?

Figure gas milage will be 20-40% worse while towing a heavy load (3 to 5k) I am fguessing. Not sure if you are using a trailer or what.

Outfitting, increased wear asndvtear and I say factor about 1k in "cost" to transport. I will admit, kind of a made up number but if you figure gas for the 2kish mile drive will be 100 to 200 more, a extra trans cooler and brake booster plus factoring in that towing counts as severe use and will shorten the intrevals for some maint and warrant some extra then I think 1k is a fair estimate.

So, you have a car worth 1k and are going to spend around 1k when all is said and done.

Take that 2k, add 1k more and buy an older 4wd or a civoc or something. Not sure I would consider it worth it.

Plus 1 for a trans cooler, I also have a fan switch on mine.

As far as towing in overdrive, its a little bit of a myth. Yes you CAN tow in overdrive as long as your on a flat surface with constant speed or even small hills as long as your trans is not searching for the right gear constantly.

When NOT to use overdrive while towing-In the mountains or large hills, lots of speed changes, or ANYTIME the trans is not staying in gear and switching between gears often.

Also I use a scan gauge to monitor the temps, I would HIGHLY recommend one. The nominal price of the gauge is worth its weight in gold while towing! I tow often and normally with one of our trucks but this torquey little V6 does pretty good actually.

In addition to a transmission cooler, do not tow in overdrive.

A 97 Grand Am? Just buy another one when you get to CO with the gas money you saved.

correct.
this is very important, and often overlooked.

ive seen many people just hook up a trailer, and expect it to work. since its got the "tow package" and already has a 7 pin wired in from the factory, they think it ALSO has the brake controller built in.

that can be a very dangerous way of thinking.

You need to be wired up for a brake controller to actually utilize the electric brakes on the trailer.

I would agree that the best thing to do is to sell the Grand Am before you leave and get something out here... it's 17 years old and not worth the hassle. Money from the sale plus the money you'll save by not towing it will get you a decent Colorado car. Are you moving out here or just delivering the car?

I used to live in the springs, but work brought me out to VA- well opportunities have come back for me to move back- I am originally from CO since 88. The car belongs to my mom and she would be moving back with me.