Towing 515 miles '03 V8

[davefisher]

Well, I'm departing on a 500+ mile trip on Thursday morning pulling a cargo trailer from Ohio to Michigan. Have towed this tandem axle trailer (14x6.5) around town, but not distances longer than 50 miles usually. I'm looking forward to the trip and think the V8 will do well. Any suggestions on the dreaded OD on / off discussion. This trailer is approx 2,000lb empty and I expect we'll put about 1,500lb of cargo inside. Not a heavy load by any means. I'd be up for towing in 4th gear, but at 70mph I run 3,000 rpms. Ohio to Michigan is very flat.

I'll be drafting behind another family member pulling a 27 foot boat on a tandem axle, weighing in at 5,800lb with an 09 Escalade. I have to say, this thing is sad for 4 season traction compared to the 4R... but it tows quite well w/ the 6.2 liter.

Thoughts? Pictures to come after I get back...

 

[Bamaskeet]

I tow a 22' boat in overdrive. I down shift for the hills. I try to stay around 65 mph (2000 rpm). The truck does a great job.

Make sure you check your tire pressure (max inflation) and lug nuts on the trailer.

 

[12guns]

Personally I would try towing your trailer in regular o/d position. If you notice the engine shifting frequently to keep up your speed, slap it over into 4th. Depending on how flat the road is, you might save a truck load of gas if the 4.7 can keep up speed w/o excessive shifting. Worth a try. Don't forget you have a transmission cooler already, so even the excessive shifting shouldn't hurt anything, but better safe than sorry.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I would just put it in 4th and not let it shift to 5th. You are not going that far. Its not so much that the trans shifts from 5th to 4th to much but that the lock up torque converter is consantly locking and unlocking when pulling loads in 5th.

 

[Barefoot]

Does the trailer have brakes?

Even if it does, don't draft too closely...

 

[jetboy1975]

It is recommended to stay out of O/D while towing but I have occassionally dropped it into 5th on the flats with a tailwind with my 3800lb tt. It pulled it fine but the mileage actually got worse. Lower RPMs yes, but more strain on engine/ tranny etc. To save gas and wear leave it in 4th.

On a side note towing at 70mph is dangerous, most trailer tires are only rated for 60-65mph and many states (not sure exactly which) have laws restricting towing to 55mph.

 

[progress4m]

I tow my boat in 5-th(around 3500 Lbs). I down shift to 4th for the hills.
It will be very easy for your V8.

 

[davefisher]

We will see how it goes, I think I'll stick with towing out of OD for the first leg and see how it goes. The trailer does have brakes and I have a brake controller installed- it works well and makes towing much more enjoyable.

 

[jetboy1975]

Towing a boat is much different than towing a cargo or travel trailer. A boat is aerodynamic and has a low centre of gravity etc. Other trailers are like brick walls and have a lot of drag resistance. You could easily pull a boat in O/D but don't assume the same for a travel trailer.

 

[charlier180]

Timely topic as I just towed my enclosed car trailer 8.5' x 20' around 5,300 lbs almost 500 miles yesterday.
Out of curiosity I tried keeping it in OD on flat areas. Just like jetboy1975 I too got WORSE gas mileage.
Interesting how I got 9.64 mpg in 4th with some steep hills vs 9.19 mpg on flat highways in OD.
Both mpg figures are hand calculated and are some of the best mpgs I have gotten towing my "brick".

On a side note towing at 70mph is dangerous, most trailer tires are only rated for 60-65mph and many states (not sure exactly which) have laws restricting towing to 55mph.

Many newbies and even some old time trailer owners don't realize this.
At least not until they blow out some tires or are given tickets for exceeding the speed limit for trailers.

Towing a boat is much different than towing a cargo or travel trailer. A boat is aerodynamic and has a low centre of gravity etc. Other trailers are like brick walls and have a lot of drag resistance. You could easily pull a boat in O/D but don't assume the same for a travel trailer.

QFT.... boats, cargo, car and travel trailers are all QUITE DIFFERENT beasts when it comes to towing.

BTW, on my trip yesterday I had occasion to use the Cheaspeake Bridge/Tunnel to cross the Cheaspeake Bay at Norfolk, VA.
Sure glad I have my WD hitch and Dual Cam Sway Control. The 20-25 mph cross winds on the 18+ mile bridge would have been a PITA without the WDH & DCSC.

In the boonies of Virginia I ran on two of the most narrow roads I have ever towed on. You know the road is narrow when the curbside tires of your 102" trailer are on the white line and the street side tires are 1.5-2" over the center line. Made for some interesting encounters with vehicles coming the other direction.

 

[ladywolf]

do you have a brake controller in your T4R??

For that amount of weight I would suggest getting one.