Hello, (I have searched and read the few posts on this issue I could find)

I have a (read signature below) edit: I have and plan to use a lighter weight, load leveling hitch. It has anti sway feature too. (probably overkill)

My wife and I are considering getting a small travel trailer to tow behind my truck. So far, I have loaded it with 1300 pounds of sand and driven it with no problems, but I don't have a trailer to test. It's not a race car to begin with so I don't expect to go fast and we would take back roads and avoid highways where possible.

We plan on taking a two to three week trip that would take us into mountains and long flat areas.

We are considering a 13 to 16 foot trailer that weighs 1,000 to 2,000 MAX trailer weight. We want to get something old like a shasta, or scotty. The very lightweight trailers like scamps are Ok but very expensive for our budget. We really have about $1200 to spend and don't want to rebuild. We would keep the contents to a minimum and put a few things in the back of the truck to kep the weight down

I see the huge 22re camper trucks and think the wind resistance must be similar and the weight can't be that much off.

What do you guys think, what kind of experience have you had? Am I out of my mind to think I can do this?

 

if you plan on doing alot of towing, a gear swap would be a good idea. i pulled a big dual axle trailer with 2 4wheelers on it with no problems(trailer was kinda overkill for what it was carrying, but its all i have) im running 35x12.50 swampers and ive got 4.88 gears and a 5speed. i dunno how good the automatic is and i dunno if it has an overdrive off button or anything, but if so that would be a good idea as i was rarely in 5th gear ever

 

I have the overdrive off button and would definetly use it. I have 4.56 gears and stock tire size. I am planning to add an extra tranny cooler, and an maybe an engine oil cooler to help with heat. I htink having the huge tires would be a problem, but with my stock sized tires, I wont worry with a differnet gear ratio. Too much money in that.
Thanks for the reply, I guess any trailering experience will be usefull. Especially with regarding trailer height. (wind resistance).

I would like to find a trailer that has brakes. SOm eof the 12 and 14 foot trailers, even old ones have electric brakes.

 

I tow a 19ft Carolina Skiff! Loaded with fishing equip and have no problems. I run 32x11.5x15's w 4.56 22re auto. I would reccomend a tranny cooler and a set of air shocks http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...rtnumber=MA727 for the rear! I have no trouble towing my boat to the ocean(about 4hr trip)! I can run 60 to 65 on flats and about 45 up long steep hills. Turn off overdrive and get use to the engine revs(sounds like it will fly apart up hills, but it won't) and enjoy your trip!

 

It should tow it fine. Trailer brakes would be good though, especially if the trailer you get is closer to 2000 lbs. Trailer brakes not only assist in stopping, but also keep the trailer behind you. Too much weight will cause the trailer to push the truck sideways under a hard stop. I have towed over 1000 lbs a few times. I definitely felt it, but my truck hauled it fine, even up hills. I have heard somewhere that you are not suppose to use a sway control device on a Toyota so you might want to look into that.

 

Especially since you're only running 225's you probably don't need to worry about regearing.

 

yeah 225's with 4.56 gearing should be ok. Most likley when you get up into the 2000lb range you're looking at hydraulic surge brakes, not electric brakes. A tranny cooler is always a plus on autos, and make sure to keep it out of overdrive.

 

Diggin up this old thread to say that for others interested, 22re Tows great. I got the trailer, and the only real issue is wind resistance. The weight is no problem. I havent weighed the trailer, but I definetly cannot lif the tongue myself. The trailer must be over 1500 lbs. 60 wasnt a problem on flat, and I don't wanna tow faster with a 50+ year old trailer. Up hill, It can handle 55 to 60 but it drops into 2nd nad revs at about 4300 RPM most of the way up. Cooling fan kicks in about 4 seconds after that 2nd gear starts revving.
I put a tranny cooler in, and repacked my front bearings, replaced my brakes, and all seems well.
I am surprised at how well these old machines tow. It's nothing like my previous V8 GMC, but I get the same MPG towing with the toyota as I did without towing or loaded in the GMC.

ECT and OD off are the only way to go, but ECT isnt always needed. My audiovox cruise worked well too.

 

It'll do fine.. It won't tow it fast, but it will tow it.