Towing my TT for the 1st time!
- Thread starter Ti-Ben
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paquitox
New member
First long trip, perfect except for the 8-9 mpg
Wooww, have fun and safe trip!
Ti-Ben
New member
It is 25 feet long, weighs 5k lbs loaded. There is no lack of power, but you can feel it's there. It is more the wind resistance that makes it work hard.
In city driving it is like nothing was there, and it easily climbs up the hills. But I can't help you for the power, it's a V8.
Most important thing: buy a good WDH and take your time, not worth the risk for the safety or reliability to save 15 minutes. I keep it between 55-60 on the highway and use an Equalizer hitch.
In city driving it is like nothing was there, and it easily climbs up the hills. But I can't help you for the power, it's a V8.
Most important thing: buy a good WDH and take your time, not worth the risk for the safety or reliability to save 15 minutes. I keep it between 55-60 on the highway and use an Equalizer hitch.
NJshadow93
New member
Nice, every lifted 4Runner I have seen towing on here look awesome.
Ti-Ben
New member
I towed a 29 feet TT two years ago with a 2005 GMC sierra v8 long bed ext cab. I don't feel like I am abusing the 4r more than I did with the sierra. I am so used to drive the runner empty that i feels funny to actually see it working!
I'm sure stock it would handle it pretty well, but for peace of mind I bought a Scangauge 2, which is really great to watch all the fluid temp (trans and engine) and engine load, changed brake fluid and pads for heavy duty. Added SS brake lines, rear air bags and new tires.
I'm sure stock it would handle it pretty well, but for peace of mind I bought a Scangauge 2, which is really great to watch all the fluid temp (trans and engine) and engine load, changed brake fluid and pads for heavy duty. Added SS brake lines, rear air bags and new tires.
stanleybb50
New member
I didn't think the ScanGuage could show the trans temps for our 4th gens. Am I wrong on this?
Great pic by the way. Me and my wife just wussed out on buying a used TT (Travel Trailer). Big investment and maintenance, etc. We might just try to find a used pop up we can store at the house.
stanleybb50
New member
I didn't think the ScanGuage could show the trans temps for our 4th gens. Am I wrong on this?
Great pic by the way. Me and my wife just wussed out on buying a used TT (Travel Trailer). Big investment and maintenance, etc. We might just try to find a used pop up we can store at the house.
Wow - edit again, as u just realized you were talking about the op's subject of the thread...
stanleybb50
New member
I'm going to need to look into this. Thx!
Dougtoms01
New member
I just made my 1st trip this weekend also.
I have a small pop-up that weighs about 1500-1600lbs loaded.
Everything seemed to pull nicely, plenty of power with the V6 in 4th gear.
I do notice if I hit a stretch of highway with a certain frequency of bumps, I'll get a little wave action going. The Bilstein 5100's are a little stiff, but dampen things out nicely.
I was thinking of talking with my trailer place to see if a WDH would settle me down completely even though it's over kill for this weight.
I am planning a trip to California next year and want it to ride nice.
Anyone running a pop up with WDH?
Best regards,
Doug
I have a small pop-up that weighs about 1500-1600lbs loaded.
Everything seemed to pull nicely, plenty of power with the V6 in 4th gear.
I do notice if I hit a stretch of highway with a certain frequency of bumps, I'll get a little wave action going. The Bilstein 5100's are a little stiff, but dampen things out nicely.
I was thinking of talking with my trailer place to see if a WDH would settle me down completely even though it's over kill for this weight.
I am planning a trip to California next year and want it to ride nice.
Anyone running a pop up with WDH?
Best regards,
Doug
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Ti-Ben
New member
Those are the gauges I use when towing:
TFT : transmission fluid temperature.
FWT : coolant temperature.
LOD: load of the engine in % relative to available power at rpm and gear. Good indication of when to downshift before the trans does it on its own, making life easier to the tranny.
AVG : average mpg, this one I change depending how I feel. Today I had fun using FIA (inlet air temp) and was thinking it would be a wonderful tool to test cold air intakes!
Ti-Ben
New member
Friend of mine had one and he told me it made the ride more comfortable. He had a smaller truck though, an Escape v6.
The WDH will spread the force when you hit a bump and reduce the bouncing effect. No need to buy a fancy product, you can probably find one used on the web for less than 200$.
Hope you had fun over the weekend!
stanleybb50
New member
Those are the gauges I use when towing:
TFT : transmission fluid temperature.
FWT : coolant temperature.
LOD: load of the engine in % relative to available power at rpm and gear. Good indication of when to downshift before the trans does it on its own, making life easier to the tranny.
AVG : average mpg, this one I change depending how I feel. Today I had fun using IFT (inlet air temp) and was thinking it would be a wonderful tool to test cold air intakes!
Very nice. I have been using an Android app (''Torque'') via a bluetooth OBD2. To the best of my knowledge, its not possible with this setup.
I'll have to look into the ScanGuage. Pretty cool to have it mounted like you do as well.
I have a question for you.
While towing our popup my son tells me that he is bouncing around some in the back seat. I dont notice it in the drivers seat. The wife swapped with him once and she said he was right you notice it more in the back seat.
Its a Niagara pop up so I think its a 16 foot box 19 foot over all. I swapped out all the springs and stuff from a FJ and it sill does it. Weight issue?
While towing our popup my son tells me that he is bouncing around some in the back seat. I dont notice it in the drivers seat. The wife swapped with him once and she said he was right you notice it more in the back seat.
Its a Niagara pop up so I think its a 16 foot box 19 foot over all. I swapped out all the springs and stuff from a FJ and it sill does it. Weight issue?
NJshadow93
New member
I would think with the added load it would be a softer ride actually. Unless there is too much weight in the back, then stiffer springs would fix that.
Dougtoms01
New member
I called my towing place today, they have been in business 50 years and have always been right on the money.
They are saying we will try to lower the tongue by about 2" below level to add tongue weight. Hopefully that will help with the bounce. I did that with the same trailer on my Tacoma and it helps a lot.
I could only find a 5 1/4' drop at Wally Mart. That put me about level with my lift.
He has a 6" and 8" drop bar I will try hopefully this week.
The problem with pop-up campers is that you don't have enough tongue weight to get any benefit from a WDH. You have to have at least 400lbs of tongue weight for a WDH to work and then you have to have the strength in your pop up to apply the WDH.
Loading gear towards the front of the camper will also add tongue weight. Need to measure loaded as if you were going on a trip.
Anyways, try running the tongue below level by 1-2 inches and see if that helps. You can google how to measure tongue weight using a bathroom scale and devide by 3. Once I get mine set up, I'll post about where we came out with tongue weight. I am guessing I'll need around 300lbs.
Best regards,
Doug
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