Hauling U-Haul 6x12 trailer

[slimboiphat]

Any experienced folks want to share their experience hauling u-haul 6x12 trailer? I'm moving from bay area to la which is about 400 miles. I suspect my trailer will be full and will be carrying 3 adults. What do i need to prepare for this trip? Is this safe? What are my alternative to move my stuff on a budget?any inputs are appreciated.

 

[daninmissouri]

I've never pulled anything with the t4r but I have pulled a 6x12 uhaul and I can tell you they can be very heavy. I would be concerned with that much weight behind the Toyota. I pulled once with a 1/2 ton p/u and once with a 3/4 ton. It really depends on how much all your stuff weighs, but the trailer empty is 2000lbs. Could you rent a box truck and pull the 4Runner behind it? It would be more expensive but safer I think

 

[txbonds]

My 6x12 tandem open trailer weighs about 1200 lbs empty and I can feel it back there. An enclosed trailer of similar size loaded and 3 people in the cab would probably be pushing it.

 

[shadow247]

I've never pulled anything with the t4r but I have pulled a 6x12 uhaul and I can tell you they can be very heavy. I would be concerned with that much weight behind the Toyota. I pulled once with a 1/2 ton p/u and once with a 3/4 ton. It really depends on how much all your stuff weighs, but the trailer empty is 2000lbs. Could you rent a box truck and pull the 4Runner behind it? It would be more expensive but safer I think

Like he said, the trailer is very heavy. You will only be able to get about a 1 bedroom apartment's worth of stuff in there too. I would rent a box truck and trailer.

 

[Doc2012]

Did it twice.

Once from Worcester, Ma to Hickory, NC; and the other from Vincennes, In to Hickory, Nc.

(The reason I told you this is so you can look at the routes. Mountains both times.)

The 3.4 did great. Obviously, you'll feel it back there. You're not going to be setting any off the line records.

Once you get going, the truck does great.

Remember, it's all about how you LOAD the trailer. HEAVY STUFF UP FRONT.

I made the mistake of driving all night to Mass, and let the girl and her brother I was moving load the trailer. That thing handled like crap at anything over 60.

I loaded the trailer from IN to NC, and was doing 90 going down the Indiana roads(flat, no real hills). Was that smart, hell no, but it surprised the shit out of me when I looked at the speedo and the trailer was still tracking straight. Lol.

Hills and such are going to be a fun time. I would floor it going from Mass to NC, and by the time i got to the top of the other hill, I'd be doing 45.

Going up the mtns in NC, I took it slow anyway.

Don't gun it up the hills. Good way to blow the motor and/or trans.

 

[shootmymime]

Don't gun it up the hills. Good way to blow the motor and/or trans.

I have a big hill going to salt lake i did this on (i was empty of course, no trailer and 1 passenger) and it did fine. had it floored cranking about 4K rpm for a good 30-45 seconds climbing this hill. Temps on ultra gauge went from 194-208 in that span but coming back down dropped again in a matter of seconds.

I myself didnt have a problem doing it but it does not mean it wasnt good for it.

:focus:

 

[Doc2012]

I have a big hill going to salt lake i did this on (i was empty of course, no trailer and 1 passenger) and it did fine. had it floored cranking about 4K rpm for a good 30-45 seconds climbing this hill. Temps on ultra gauge went from 194-208 in that span but coming back down dropped again in a matter of seconds.



I myself didnt have a problem doing it but it does not mean it wasnt good for it.



:focus:

Yeah. But you had one passenger. Not a 6x12 trailer loaded down trying to keep the speed limit(65?).

I was saying not to do it with the trailer.

 

[Shanegpoe]

Any experienced folks want to share their experience hauling u-haul 6x12 trailer? I'm moving from bay area to la which is about 400 miles. I suspect my trailer will be full and will be carrying 3 adults. What do i need to prepare for this trip? Is this safe? What are my alternative to move my stuff on a budget?any inputs are appreciated.

I moved about 450 miles this last weekend with a 8'x 12' trailer this last weekend loaded down with only about a one bedroom apartments amount of stuff, and the truck loaded down from behind drivers seat all the way to the rear hatch.

I averaged about 9mpg the whole way there. And definitely felt it behind me. I was also on the oklahoma turnpike doing 75-82 mph the entire time.

It pulled fine just a heavy ass load. Be careful but you can do it!

 

[Shanegpoe]

Here's the rest of the pictures.

 

[shootmymime]

Yeah. But you had one passenger. Not a 6x12 trailer loaded down trying to keep the speed limit(65?).

I was saying not to do it with the trailer.

speed limit was 80, so i was trying to keep 80 but started the hill at 84-85 and dropped to 76-78 at the top.

yeah i agree i wouldnt have floored it that long if i had a trailer.

 

[BrianSD_42]

The U-Haul 6x12 has built in brakes and if you load the weight PROPERLY then it will be no big deal at all to tow.

I've towed with that exact trailer multiple times and no issues.

 

[541joseph]

I tow a 3500 lbs boat regularly with my 97 hills are slow. Turn od off and just take it slow. I'd do a trans drain and fill. And make sure my springs and shocks are good. Oil change if needed and just set off with extra time. Expect it to take several hours more and lots more gas than empty

 

[xcmtb83]

Just about a month ago I pulled that same trailer you are asking about. I have a V6 auto and even empty it was quite noticable for the 4Runner. Loaded I didn't feel safe playing in heavy traffic or speeding at all. The most important thing to think about when towing is not "what mpg am I going to be getting?", "how will it accelerate?", "what gear should I use?", it is "how quickly can you stop in an emergency situation and are you putting others at risk?". Be sure to be aware of your surroundings, give yourself plenty of extra room between you and the vehicle in front of you and always assume people are going to pull out in front of you. As far as brakes on the trailer I think they are emergency brakes only as in they do not function under normal braking. They only engage should the trailer come unhitched from tow vehicle.

 

[Drcoffee]

Put on a diaper.

Last year I rented a 6x12 covered trailer and it wasn't overloaded by any means. When I hit 65mph on the highway, the trailer started to whipsaw. At that moment I thought I was dead. The amateur driver would think of braking and that would be a disaster. You need to accelerate just slightly until you get the trailer under control then allow the truck to decel without braking. I was lucky this time as the lane to my left was empty and I could use both lanes to safely get it under control. Otherwise it would have been a disaster.

Nows a good time for you to upgrade the front brakes to the tundra calipers. I had zero problems braking.

 

[ben550]

I towed a 6x12 from GA to Upstate NY in my 2001 SR5. It was fine but just take is slow. The hills were slow.

 

[mtvp]

Does the old girl have a lot of miles on her? I am moving as well and the U-Haul dealer wanted to hook up a 6x12. I was told it was 1800 lbs. and could use it for as many trips as I could refill it in 4 days. My 4 Runner is a 98 with 170K on the clock and all stock . At almost 17 model yrs. old I decided to forego the chance of a major life killing engine / trans. issue. I have always felt that the 4 Runner was under powered and had weak brakes.
I'll rent a Penske box truck for 7 or 8 hundred and have a friend follow me to the move sight. Just to up grade the brakes would be half that amount.
Your truck your call.

 

[Deezil]

I towed my 6x12 enclosed trailer many times with my old '90 v6 4runner, and Im going to do the same with my '97, I dont pack it full of heavy stuff though, but towing the trailer should be zero problems depending on how much stuff you put in it..

balance the load out

 

[JohnMc]

U-Haul said the full car trailer was 1800 lbs. Internet says the 1999 Ford Taurus wagon weighs in at 3450 (less than I would have thought really). So 5250 lbs total?

It def. felt ponderous. It was not dangerously slow or anything though. Just try to drive gently, obv. avoid fast stops. You might want to keep max speed down on the highway too.

I'd run your tires up to the max pressure on the sidewall, minimize the sidewall squirm.

 

[jgue467]

Any experienced folks want to share their experience hauling u-haul 6x12 trailer? I'm moving from bay area to la which is about 400 miles. I suspect my trailer will be full and will be carrying 3 adults. What do i need to prepare for this trip? Is this safe? What are my alternative to move my stuff on a budget?any inputs are appreciated.

So you're gonna use your T4R to pull with right? As someone else said, do a drain/fill on the trans fluid before (and maybe after) not to mention engine oil/filter. If you don't already, get a way to monitor the trans temps. I use torque and Definetly use the OD override on any serious/moderate hills (drops trans temps tremendously), though you'll probably avoid the most super serious hills with I-5.

I love most of Cali. especially SF, Stockton and Lodi. Luck!

 

[slimboiphat]

So you're gonna use your T4R to pull with right? As someone else said, do a drain/fill on the trans fluid before (and maybe after) not to mention engine oil/filter. If you don't already, get a way to monitor the trans temps. I use torque and Definetly use the OD override on any serious/moderate hills (drops trans temps tremendously), though you'll probably avoid the most super serious hills with I-5.

I love most of Cali. especially SF, Stockton and Lodi. Luck!

My truck currently has 215k. I actually just bought it so I plan on doing major service like water pump, timing belt, drive belts, replacing all fluids, and spark plugs this week before I take it anywhere for a long drive. But based on everyone's feedback - I'm re-considering hauling and just renting a box truck to haul all my belongings instead. Thnks for your feedback!