towing question
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Supra725
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about 2 weeks ago, I towed an open trailer.. it was an 5x10..
Make sure you check your trailer brakes..
When making a turn, go a little bit more wide.. Since the length of the vechile will be longer. It needs more room to turn..
Don't go over the speed limit, but give it some more room to brake too...
Other than that, have fun, drive safe and no speeding...
How big is the trailer and what are you carrying?
I went to pick up my buddy's bike when I towed.
Make sure you check your trailer brakes..
When making a turn, go a little bit more wide.. Since the length of the vechile will be longer. It needs more room to turn..
Don't go over the speed limit, but give it some more room to brake too...
Other than that, have fun, drive safe and no speeding...
How big is the trailer and what are you carrying?
I went to pick up my buddy's bike when I towed.
peter78
Super Moderator
If your trailer has brakes, it will be more involved. They will have to install the brake controller in the car and maybe get a weight distribution hitch.
When I drive with a trailer I put the ECT button on, turn off the overdrive and drive slower, especially in town. If you drive a long distance, synthetic oil would be a good idea. The reason for driving with the overdrive off is because you don't want the transmission to over heat and using overdrive is the best way to heat up the transmission.
Also, pay attention to how U-haul tells you to load the trailer and be mindful of trailer swaying. I take a lot of breaks to cool the rig down, but I think you should do fine.
When I drive with a trailer I put the ECT button on, turn off the overdrive and drive slower, especially in town. If you drive a long distance, synthetic oil would be a good idea. The reason for driving with the overdrive off is because you don't want the transmission to over heat and using overdrive is the best way to heat up the transmission.
Also, pay attention to how U-haul tells you to load the trailer and be mindful of trailer swaying. I take a lot of breaks to cool the rig down, but I think you should do fine.
Basic's...
make sure you have a towing light harness (mine is hidden in the storage compartment). Double check fluids and tire pressure. Drive carefully. If your pulling under 2,000lbs its really not much difference. I didn't notice the car I towed (2100lbs). But I drive like a old man anyways. Automatic NO OVERDRIVE USEAGE. 5 speed keep it in 4th. Normally you can get away with a empty trailer in overdrive or 5th as long as it doesn't have significant drag (a enclosed trailer creates significant drag.
Don't go too fast on the highway. depending on all of the variables you might be able to cruise at 70 but do not assume so. I've felt sway on trucks at 60 and others never swayed. If you feel the trailer start to sway behind you let of the gas petal and maintain control. Make sure not to go that fast from there forward or adjust load position if needed.
I searched youtube for helpful info but there was none, all kinds of info videos with poor guidance. The most important thing to me is the safety chains. They MUST be crossed, I have demonstrated this to a friend of mine that did not believe me. If you have the safety chains on with the correct slack and they are crossed if the trailer comes unhitched somehow the cross chains will catch the tongue and prevent it from dragging on the ground. If you hook the chains up straight and the tongue comes unhitched it will drag the ground and possibly destroy the tongue lock mechanism, wiring or more. If you do cross them and the hitch comes unhooked never use your brakes, coast to the side of the road to prevent the tongue from hitting your vehicle.
I have used Uhaul tow dollies and trailers often, they always have 5ft chains for 2 ft required length. I normally twist them (counting the twist) until I get my desired length and match the same twist for the other chain, making the cross pattern. The desired length is hard to say without experience, I like to keep my chain close and tight, 3 inches off the ground or so gives me plenty of room to make a U turn with my friends 22ft trailer. Don't assume you can do the same with the Uhaul, however. Connect the chains and turn your wheels to full lock in the parking lot and slowly get the trailer closer to your bumper. You can repeat that until you can see if its going to hit during a U turn and how far you can take it, it also shows you if you have enough chain slack.
Uhaul trailer checklist, lugnuts and pull on the wheels, make sure theres not a lot of slack. I've herd of lots of people losing wheels due to poor repair work and lack of required parts to keep the hub and wheel assembly on the spindle.
make sure you have a towing light harness (mine is hidden in the storage compartment). Double check fluids and tire pressure. Drive carefully. If your pulling under 2,000lbs its really not much difference. I didn't notice the car I towed (2100lbs). But I drive like a old man anyways. Automatic NO OVERDRIVE USEAGE. 5 speed keep it in 4th. Normally you can get away with a empty trailer in overdrive or 5th as long as it doesn't have significant drag (a enclosed trailer creates significant drag.
Don't go too fast on the highway. depending on all of the variables you might be able to cruise at 70 but do not assume so. I've felt sway on trucks at 60 and others never swayed. If you feel the trailer start to sway behind you let of the gas petal and maintain control. Make sure not to go that fast from there forward or adjust load position if needed.
I searched youtube for helpful info but there was none, all kinds of info videos with poor guidance. The most important thing to me is the safety chains. They MUST be crossed, I have demonstrated this to a friend of mine that did not believe me. If you have the safety chains on with the correct slack and they are crossed if the trailer comes unhitched somehow the cross chains will catch the tongue and prevent it from dragging on the ground. If you hook the chains up straight and the tongue comes unhitched it will drag the ground and possibly destroy the tongue lock mechanism, wiring or more. If you do cross them and the hitch comes unhooked never use your brakes, coast to the side of the road to prevent the tongue from hitting your vehicle.
I have used Uhaul tow dollies and trailers often, they always have 5ft chains for 2 ft required length. I normally twist them (counting the twist) until I get my desired length and match the same twist for the other chain, making the cross pattern. The desired length is hard to say without experience, I like to keep my chain close and tight, 3 inches off the ground or so gives me plenty of room to make a U turn with my friends 22ft trailer. Don't assume you can do the same with the Uhaul, however. Connect the chains and turn your wheels to full lock in the parking lot and slowly get the trailer closer to your bumper. You can repeat that until you can see if its going to hit during a U turn and how far you can take it, it also shows you if you have enough chain slack.
Uhaul trailer checklist, lugnuts and pull on the wheels, make sure theres not a lot of slack. I've herd of lots of people losing wheels due to poor repair work and lack of required parts to keep the hub and wheel assembly on the spindle.
Thought I would throw my two cents in here considering I just went from Western New York to Outerbanks NC with my 6x10 enclosed full to the top with furniture this weekend. I had installed an external tranny cooler, and went to a synthetic motor oil. I usually use valvoline max life syn blend but went full syn for such a haul. Couple things I noticed, plan stay in the 60-65 mph range on the expressway, what I did was to keep the engine under 3000rpms with overdrive off. Brake early and be prepared for about 14 mpg. Enjoy the drive and be safe.
200 miles should be a breeze for the 4runner. I changed my oil because I had a 750 miles one way. One thing I forgot to add was to turn on the ect power button. I think it does help when towing. It just allows the engine to get that little more rpm to get going and if you hit a hill the tranny doesnt begin searching like crazy. :driving:
Last edited:
peter78
Super Moderator
Yeah, 200 miles is fine. When you use the ECT button, you shouldn't notice much of a difference. It just makes the shift points slightly higher. When your towing, you will have 2 lights on your dash, one for the overdrive and one for the ECT, kind of looks like a Christmas tree. On my 2004, it does not have the ECT button and it does fine. If you tow arond 2,000 pounds or so, you may be tempted to drive with the overdrive. That should be OK, if you use it sparingly. When I tow my camper, I use the overdrive maybe 1/3 of the time and it seems to do fine. Just remember leaving the overdrive on a long time builds up the heat.
peter78
Super Moderator
On the 4 speed transmission the third gear is 1:1 and on the 5 speed, the fourth gerar is 1:1. The last gear is the overdrive and yes, the overdrive works for towing lighter weights, but even in level ground it tends to build up heat. That is why some people who tow get a transmission cooler, the transmission builds up heat when you tow. My feeling is to use the overdrive when it is flat or downhill and you are going pass 60 MPH and even then, turn it off for awhile, just to cool the transmission down. My parents had a GMC truck and the transmission went out when towing. The dealer said, they should of towed with the overdrive off.
The transmission is built pretty tough in a 4Runner, but be mindfull of what it is doing.
So 5th gear on a manual transmission should only be used on 1,000lb or less loads,