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Don't ignore the 60-65 MPH maximum towing speed limit ... if the trailer starts wagging, things can go catastrophic in a flash.
Thumbs-up on changing all fluids prior to the trip ... and check tires pressure, including the spare and bump up to 36 psi if running non-E Rated tires.
What is the starting city? Will you be going over any mountains?
What is the trailer weight?
Are you up to date on your maintenance (All fluids, driveshaft torque etc.)?
Uhauls usually have surge brakes, so no trailer brake to check on.
Using an OBD2 monitor to check transmission temps and staying in Sport gears 4 and 5 the while towing is recommended.
Starting in Houston, ending in Seattle so I will be encountering mountains towards Washington. Maintenance is up to date as per the service guide, the car is at 146k miles all fluids were exchanged at 120k, diff fluid again at 130k. Oil change was also done about 1k miles ago. Trailer weight should be under 2k pounds MAX. Thanks for the tip on trans temp monitoring, thats what I am most worried about but I am hoping doing this in the winter will help.
Don't ignore the 60-65 MPH maximum towing speed limit ... if the trailer starts wagging, things can go catastrophic in a flash.
Thumbs-up on changing all fluids prior to the trip ... and check tires pressure, including the spare and bump up to 36 psi if running non-E Rated tires.
Thanks for the tip, I will definitely keep that in mind, I will check the tires, and possibly do differential, transfer case, transmission fluid. Any others I am forgetting?
Starting in Houston, ending in Seattle so I will be encountering mountains towards Washington. Maintenance is up to date as per the service guide, the car is at 146k miles all fluids were exchanged at 120k, diff fluid again at 130k. Oil change was also done about 1k miles ago. Trailer weight should be under 2k pounds MAX. Thanks for the tip on trans temp monitoring, thats what I am most worried about but I am hoping doing this in the winter will help.
With a trailer that light you should be good, even without the external trans cooler. Keep track of temps when you hit the mountains and keep it out of overdrive.
Check the trailer tire pressure as well, including the spare tire of the tire trailer. Do it each day of your trip. Low trailer tire pressure builds up a ton of heat at highway speeds and causes most trailer tire flats. Should be a sticker on the front of the trailer or the hitch area with the target cold pressure - usually 50 or 65 lbs but not sure on a trailer that size.
Make sure you know how to change it and have the right equipment (right size socket, etc) to do it. (Or maybe uhaul just expects you to call them if you get a flat and there isn't a spare)
Get a cheap hitch pin lock set if you are parking at random hotel, etc overnight and a good lock for the trailer door. A place like Northern tool has a bunch of these if you want buy local and test.
example
If you can try to keep in AT Lockup that will keep the temps down as well. You can add a gauge to OBD Link that shows whether transmission is locked up or not.
I monitor lockup with OBD Fusion or Link (same app - one comes with their adapter). Then through manual gear selection and gas pedal modulation can often keep in lockup which keeps the temps down.
TC Lockup gauge assuming you have the model/year expansion pack loaded
You have been given good advice. I tow thousands of miles a year towing a 19', 4200 lb travel trailer. My key points are make sure the tire pressures are at the max for the tires (as mentioned on a trailer usually between 50-65 psi), Check & recheck the trailer lug nuts, most are 1/2" and should be torqued to 100 lb/ft. And finally as mentioned watch your speed, I tow at a maximum of 60 mph (100 kph).
When I tow a u-haul trailer long distance, I always stay at motor lodge motels so I can park right outside my room door. If in a typical 3-4 story hotel, leaving in the parking lot ... even with locks on everything ... is an easy target. At these places at least park right across from the main load-unload entrance for high visibility.
If all your fluids are up to snuff and your tire pressures are to your liking (beyond the other spare tire advise), the only other item I would make sure you have are new or relatively new brakes, at a minimum new brake pads.
A trailer that light will not have it's own brakes but it will require more braking force to stop and therefore your pads will wear down faster.
Ultimately, take it slow, 65 mph max would be advisable regardless of speed limit and maintain a safe following distance so you can stop safely.
Putting a bottle of Techron fuel system cleaner in the gas tank won't hurt your gas mileage.... but you won't notice it while towing... expect to get 10-14 mpg depending on driving style. Plan your gas stops accordingly thru those more remote areas.
I pulled a 4000 pound, 16 foot enclosed trailer 2300 miles from Michigan to Seattle almost exactly two years ago.
1. What others said: Depending on weight you won't be able to go faster than 65 MPH, so it will take longer than what the GPS tells you.
2. I got about 8 MPG the entire way, so be prepared to spend a lot of money on gas and stop every 180-190 miles to fill up.
3. Weight the trailer properly- too much or too little tongue weight can cause fish-tailing and other problems.
The GX tows okay, but nothing like the Hemi Durano I've used in the past.
One thing not mentioned much is avoiding overdrive under certain conditions. Anticipating the downshift before the incline and avoiding high load / low rpm demand if that makes sense. There are definitely techniques pretty easily employed that improve the experience for transmission and driver.
I am thinking of purchasing a camper, something I can drop at a site and then come back and spend the night in, what can a 2016 with the tow package safely and comfortably pull (I am thinking under 4000LBS)?
10-08-21, 10:25 AM
