getting ready for the long haul

[technodrive]

so i leave my current "job" this coming friday, and i will be driving my ~210k mile '99 4wd v6 5spd with a 7x12 dual axle trailer (should weigh about 3500-4000 loaded) 1300 miles from southern californa to east texas.

this post will be a chronicling of notes(problems?) i experience in this endeavor. ive been reading up on people towing and such, and while this shouldnt be unreasonable, i may be pushing it. fortunately there is less than 3% grade along my route.

currently, the engine is good.

around 200k i did the timing belt and water pump with a new radiator. im going to change the oil again (royal purple) and do the transmission, tcase, and diffs hopefully tomorrow, as well as drive shaft lube and install the trailer brake controller.

plan is to let it sit for half an hour or so every fill up (which will have to be every hundred miles roughly) and in the cold weather im hoping that will help keep my gears from a melt-down

hope to supercharge before doing the trip from texas to montana in a few more months

words of advice or confidence welcome.

 

[Twisted Sid]

Taking the 10 or 40?
I've only been on the 10 out that way but, once you are past El Paso, there isn't crap for a LOOOOONG time. If you have to stop for gas every 100 miles, take a gas can or two.
When you are going through New Mexico, you should stop and see IT. You'll know IT, when you see IT.

 

[A.Wilson013]

When you are going through New Mexico, you should stop and see IT. You'll know IT, when you see IT.

I'll bite... What is it?

 

[NoVA_T4R]

so i leave my current "job" this coming friday, and i will be driving my ~210k mile '99 4wd v6 5spd with a 7x12 dual axle trailer (should weigh about 3500-4000 loaded) 1300 miles from southern californa to east texas.

this post will be a chronicling of notes(problems?) i experience in this endeavor. ive been reading up on people towing and such, and while this shouldnt be unreasonable, i may be pushing it. fortunately there is less than 3% grade along my route.

currently, the engine is good.

around 200k i did the timing belt and water pump with a new radiator. im going to change the oil again (royal purple) and do the transmission, tcase, and diffs hopefully tomorrow, as well as drive shaft lube and install the trailer brake controller.

plan is to let it sit for half an hour or so every fill up (which will have to be every hundred miles roughly) and in the cold weather im hoping that will help keep my gears from a melt-down

hope to supercharge before doing the trip from texas to montana in a few more months

words of advice or confidence welcome.

I've driven both I-10 and 40 leaving SoCal while towing a trailer.
IMHO, the most demanding stretch is that long uphill in the center of the state. That's where the real stress test is at.
The area east of Tuscon has those hills and valleys that you just need to build up a head of steam in order to avoid slowing to a crawl. Same on I-40.
Second the suggestion to top off the gas east of El Paso at least every 100 miles or so. Northern route is not as sparse on roadside gas stations.

 

[4Runner4TW]

I have done a move similar twice recently. First I moved from AZ to WA with a 6x12 trailer. Read here for that adventure. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/158046-6x12-trailer-phx-seattle-12-28-a.html

Then 11 months later I moved back. Both times had no issues expect bad spark plugs which caused a misfire on large hills.

The 4Runner does great on flat ground. I found I could cruise at 70'mph with the OD on but if your in the hills click the OD off! Many will say keep the OD off the entire tow but it seemed pretty harsh to me with the RPMs screaming. On large hills I would select 2nd and just crawl to keep the tranny from shifting. That's me with these trucks is to keep momentum and control the shifts. Don't allow it to shift a lot.

I've also driven both the I-40 and I-10. I would recommend the 10 this time of year. You wouldn't want to hit a snow storm like the one right now. Also I feel it is much flatter.

Best of luck! Keep us posted. We are always interested to see how these tow even though I would say the majority of the time they are fine. They just don't like it.

 

[tx_shooter]

I did the route between DFW, Tx and San Diego more than a few times while I was in the Marine Corps. The biggest issue to watch out for will be gas IMO. Take the speeds easy and just stay on the road to make good time; but running out of gas in the middle of nowhere is really easy to do if you are not watching the gauge and mileage.

I now live south of Ft Worth; if you get over this way and in trouble feel free to PM me. Or if you want to just send me a PM and I will send you my cell number. Texas is a large area to get broke down in.

What area of East Tx are you going to?

 

[Unner]

I-10 from El Paso to Dallas has to be the longest straightest road in the world... I used to live in El Paso, it seems to take an eternity to get all the way across Texas. I'd say you'll be fine as long as she is maintained. Just don't run out of gas.

 

[98WhiteT4R]

Just take it slow and don't push it with gas (I ran out once towing a trailer because of how inaccurate 3rd gen gauges are)

 

[technodrive]

Taking the 10 or 40?
I've only been on the 10 out that way but, once you are past El Paso, there isn't crap for a LOOOOONG time. If you have to stop for gas every 100 miles, take a gas can or two.
When you are going through New Mexico, you should stop and see IT. You'll know IT, when you see IT.

i take the 10 to the 20, done this drive about half a dozen times and im also curious what "it" is?
i am going to be bringing an extra fuel can for sure, and ive go a couple motorcycles in the trailer in case of emergency.

I have done a move similar twice recently. First I moved from AZ to WA with a 6x12 trailer. Read here for that adventure. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/158046-6x12-trailer-phx-seattle-12-28-a.html

Then 11 months later I moved back. Both times had no issues expect bad spark plugs which caused a misfire on large hills.

The 4Runner does great on flat ground. I found I could cruise at 70'mph with the OD on but if your in the hills click the OD off! Many will say keep the OD off the entire tow but it seemed pretty harsh to me with the RPMs screaming. On large hills I would select 2nd and just crawl to keep the tranny from shifting. That's me with these trucks is to keep momentum and control the shifts. Don't allow it to shift a lot.

I've also driven both the I-40 and I-10. I would recommend the 10 this time of year. You wouldn't want to hit a snow storm like the one right now. Also I feel it is much flatter.

Best of luck! Keep us posted. We are always interested to see how these tow even though I would say the majority of the time they are fine. They just don't like it.

ill be reading your posts thanks for the link! fortunately i have the manual transmission so i wont have to worry quite as much there

I did the route between DFW, Tx and San Diego more than a few times while I was in the Marine Corps. The biggest issue to watch out for will be gas IMO. Take the speeds easy and just stay on the road to make good time; but running out of gas in the middle of nowhere is really easy to do if you are not watching the gauge and mileage.

I now live south of Ft Worth; if you get over this way and in trouble feel free to PM me. Or if you want to just send me a PM and I will send you my cell number. Texas is a large area to get broke down in.

What area of East Tx are you going to?

thanks for the offer, im actually heading to east fort worth (from the stumps) hahaah
im sure ill see you around

 

[Unner]

i take the 10 to the 20, done this drive about half a dozen times and im also curious what "it" is?
i am going to be bringing an extra fuel can for sure, and ive go a couple motorcycles in the trailer in case of emergency.

I remember someone telling me about "it" a while ago. It's some attraction on the side of the road where you stop and there's something there, but I think people who stop there and look at it aren't supposed to tell others what it is so you have to stop and find out what it is for yourself.

At least that's what I was told by whoever told me about this. I don't remember who it was, or all the details though. Of course a google search doesn't work for "it" because of it only being two letters.

 

[tx_shooter]

thanks for the offer, im actually heading to east fort worth (from the stumps) hahaah
im sure ill see you around

Well you will like the change in scenery from 29 Palms to Ft Worth. There are quiet a few active Toyota people in that area. Just say the word and we'll have some help. Make sure to get In-n-Out one last time in CA; it isn't the same in Tx.

 

[technodrive]

I remember someone telling me about "it" a while ago. It's some attraction on the side of the road where you stop and there's something there, but I think people who stop there and look at it aren't supposed to tell others what it is so you have to stop and find out what it is for yourself.

At least that's what I was told by whoever told me about this. I don't remember who it was, or all the details though. Of course a google search doesn't work for "it" because of it only being two letters.

you know now that i think about it i may have seen some billboards... hm. just might have to since this should be my last time

Well you will like the change in scenery from 29 Palms to Ft Worth. There are quiet a few active Toyota people in that area. Just say the word and we'll have some help. Make sure to get In-n-Out one last time in CA; it isn't the same in Tx.

yeah i generally like the desert, but for the past 6 years ive moved from desert to desert to desert and im done with that. grew up in fort worth and cant wait to have at least 3 seasons again

 

[Twisted Sid]

lol
Yeah all IT is, is just a little road side attraction/gift shop. However the place was a good spot to get out and stretch our legs and grab an ice cream at the dairy queen thats also there as well as fill up with gas as we were getting low.

 

[tx_shooter]

you know now that i think about it i may have seen some billboards... hm. just might have to since this should be my last time



yeah i generally like the desert, but for the past 6 years ive moved from desert to desert to desert and im done with that. grew up in fort worth and cant wait to have at least 3 seasons again

Nothing like coming home that last time. I left CPen around noon and didn't stop except for gas until I got back home. Nothing like seeing IT though... always a good feeling. When you get back home and settled in; let me know when you get thirsty. I'll buy you a pint at T&P in Ft Worth.

 

[NoVA_T4R]

Well you will like the change in scenery from 29 Palms to Ft Worth. There are quiet a few active Toyota people in that area. Just say the word and we'll have some help. Make sure to get In-n-Out one last time in CA; it isn't the same in Tx.

+1 on the In-N-Out fix before you leave SoCal. It's the only thing that's on my Must Do list when I have to go to the Golden State. Animal style!:clap2:

 

[technodrive]

Well I didn't get a full weight due to excessive wait times while trying to leave, but I estimate about 4000lbs total for the trailer, with minimal weight in the 4runner(driver, passenger, tool bag, personal effects bags). 400 miles in, average temperature between 40-60f, load as read by 'torque' for android is around 60% flat @60mph, coolant between 195-203. Knock on wood, it's going well.

 

[tx_shooter]

Sounds like things are going good. Enjoy the views but I know the feeling. Ironically I am getting my 4R ready for a week in Big Bend after Christmas; hopefully I do not see you on the road still.

 

[technodrive]

Sounds like things are going good. Enjoy the views but I know the feeling. Ironically I am getting my 4R ready for a week in Big Bend after Christmas; hopefully I do not see you on the road still.

sounds fun, hope the weather stays pleasant for you!

we arrived last night, 4runner pulled like a champ the whole way, no issues even across the davis mountains(or davis slight hills as some might say)

the last 500 miles or so i got ambitious and started easing it up to around 65, sometimes 70 on the downhills. temps didnt change, no problems at all.

average mpg was 13 for the total distance (1300miles) 99% highway with minimal driving around towns looking for food or a hotel. this was considerably better than i had expected

final verdict, anyone considering a similar haul, in cool weather, have no fear. these trucks wont disappoint.

 

[tx_shooter]

Good to hear you got here safely. Good luck unpacking - I would offer to help but I am packing to leave.