Long Tow - 1000+ miles w/134k on the rig - Should I do it?

[ohio4runner4x4]

Thought I would ask this here cuz you guys do more towing than us guys in the Sequoia forum........SO........Got a trip planned to go snowmobiling this weekend across the bridge in St. Ignace, MI. It's about a 500+ mile drive each way. My buddy was gonna drive and take his Suburban...but his wife wrecked it today and it won't be fixed in time.....so.....the only other potential tow vehicle is my 01 Sequoia 4x4.

Should I be concerned about towing a 3000 pound trailer for 1000 miles. It's a dual axle trailer and I don't have a brake controller.....and there's no way to get it installed before we go, due to logistics. My Sequoia has 134,000 miles. It's been flawless since I bought it a year ago with 99K...but I have lately noticed that it shifts slow... it stays in gear a little longer than it should when it's first driven in the cold......I have replaced all fluids in the axles, tranny and transfer case with Amsoil Sythentic and run Valvoline Maxlife 5w30 in the engine.

So..... Should I do it? Or am I gonna kill it?
Your $.02 is requested!
Thanks
Todd

[Garth]

I'm taking my '00 Tundra with 121k on it this weekend on an 850 mile trip to pick up a new boat and trailer it home. I changed my oil, made sure all fluids are up to snuff, and am almost ready to go. I have to setup my trailer plug to go from a 4flat to 5flat tomorrow before the trip, and then I'll be all set. I don't expect any issues as long as I take it easy, and kick it out of OD on the larger hills on the way home. My biggest worry is weather and the roads, and I think I'm ok so far with that.

Ah, I missed that there were no brakes on the trailer... hmmm. I have brakes on the one I'll be pulling, I'd go with the brake recommendations.

-Garth

[USAFTUNDRA]

PM rocky moutain Ray in the towing forum. he's the towing moderator and he can tell you spot on what you should and should not do.

[ohio4runner4x4]

Got a trip planned to go snowmobiling this weekend across the bridge in St. Ignace, MI. It's about a 500+ mile drive each way. My buddy was gonna drive and take his Suburban...but his wife wrecked it today and it won't be fixed in time.....so.....the only other potential tow vehicle is my 01 Sequoia 4x4.

Should I be concerned about towing a 3000 pound trailer for 1000 miles. It's a dual axle trailer and I don't have a brake controller.....and there's no way to get it installed before we go due to logistics. My Sequoia has 134,000 miles. It's been flawless since I bought it a year ago with 99K...but I have lately noticed that it shifts slow... it stays in gear a little longer than it should when it's first driven in the cold......I have replaced all fluids in the axles, tranny and transfer case with Amsoil Sythentic and run Valvoline Maxlife 5w30 in the engine.

So..... Should I do it? Or am I gonna kill it?
Your $.02 is requested!
Thanks
Todd

[tomhole]

Ohio law is any trailer over 2000 lbs requires brakes. Michigan is 3000 lbs.

My rule of thumb: if the total weight of the tow vehicle, including all cargo, plus the trailer does not exceed the GVWR of the tow vehicle, you will be fine without brakes. In your case, with all the occupants and cargo, you will far exceed the GVWR rule of thumb (but the Sequoia itself will likely be at or below the GVWR).

I towed a 3000 lbs pup without brakes behind my minivan and almost killed my family. The Sequioa certainly has better brakes than my Sienna. But you'll be illegal and pushing the capability of the Sequioa brakes.

Short trip, probably ok. 1,000 miles with an SUV full of people and gear, I would not recommend it.

Tom

[VOLTundra]

While I have never owned a Sequoia, I have towed extensively in my past. The biggest transmission killer is heat. Watch you trans temp guage if you have one, if not watch you engine temp guage. Once you have the engine warm be very causious of even the slightest increase. Your Sequoia probably has a 5k towing at least so you are well below. Make sure you load your trailer correctly with about 60% of the weight in front of the axles. You want the rear of the tow vehicle squat. If you are going about 50 mph and slightly wiggle the steering wheel, the trailer should slightly sway and then stop with out any assistance. If you have to do anything to get it to stop, then you are not loaded correctly.

I just traded my Frontier which had 140,000 and I towed with it for several hundred mile trips with ~3,000lb. I have also towed with a C 1500 which had 200,000 and towed around 8,000lb. The vehicle maintenance and being aware of what you are ding are the keys.

My other big suggestion is to watch your following distance. And also watch for idots who cut you off. Take it slow and you should be fine. It does not have to be a race to the destination.

Have fun!!!

[RockyMtnRay]

The plan doesn't sound very smart to me. Pretty dumb to be honest. Heat issues won't be a problem in Michigan in Feb. But braking could be a very big problem...it's pretty likely you'll encounter some, probably a lot, of icy/snow packed roads. Those are fairly dicey to tow over when the trailer has functioning brakes; a panic stop on ice when towing 3000 lbs without trailer brakes is an almost guaranteed jackknife and subsequent wreck (typically rollover of the tow vehicle). Bottom line: Fuhgetaboutit until you have a brake controller in your Seq!

[04DSGTUNDRA]

We pulled a 2k trailer a few years back in a T100 with 200k on it. No problems at all. I strongly advise you make a miracle and get that braker controller on that truck, that is unless you want to replace your brakes when you get back.

[TennDECA]

Even with 134,000 miles on the clock, if your Sequoia is still as solid as Day One, I'd say no problemo.

[Only Toyota for me]

Originally Posted by ohio4runner4x4

Got a trip planned to go snowmobiling this weekend across the bridge in St. Ignace, MI. It's about a 500+ mile drive each way. My buddy was gonna drive and take his Suburban...but his wife wrecked it today and it won't be fixed in time.....so.....the only other potential tow vehicle is my 01 Sequoia 4x4.

Should I be concerned about towing a 3000 pound trailer for 1000 miles. It's a dual axle trailer and I don't have a brake controller.....and there's no way to get it installed before we go due to logistics. My Sequoia has 134,000 miles. It's been flawless since I bought it a year ago with 99K...but I have lately noticed that it shifts slow... it stays in gear a little longer than it should when it's first driven in the cold......I have replaced all fluids in the axles, tranny and transfer case with Amsoil Sythentic and run Valvoline Maxlife 5w30 in the engine.

So..... Should I do it? Or am I gonna kill it?
Your $.02 is requested!
Thanks
Todd

Yes, you should be concerned about towing w/o trailer brakes. With trailer brakes, no worries. The sequoia's always shift slow when cold, that is normal.

Mechanically--------no problem with the sequoia.

No trailer brakes-------could be a big problem.

If you absolutely have to do it. Just keep in mind you cannot stop very fast at all w/o trailer brakes. So drive slower, and 3x more cautiously.

[rvhighway]

Originally Posted by ohio4runner4x4

Should I be concerned about towing a 3000 pound trailer for 1000 miles. It's a dual axle trailer and I don't have a brake controller.....and there's no way to get it installed before we go, due to logistics.

Todd,

The problem is your lack of trailer brakes. I don't know the laws of your state, but it may very well be illegal to tow a 3K trailer w/o operable brakes, as well as being dangerous/deadly to other drivers on the road. You need to look it up if you're planning on towing in such a manner. However, I wouldn't recommend doing it. It would be irresponsible on my part to make that recommendation.

Here's the situation. You want to keep the trailer behind you, rather than jack knifed into the other lane where it can hurt or kill another innocent dirver. You can't keep that from happening without brakes on the trailer. It's easy for the trailer's tires to break loose from the roadway under adverse roadway conditions (i.e., ice, snow, or rain), which it appears you'll have since you're going snowmobiling.

It's also easy for the trailer to try to pass you when you have a panic or quick stop. It's a simple matter of physics: "A body in motion tends to stay in motion." The trailer will want to keep moving forward while you're trying to stop the tow vehicle.

Remember, the trailer is only attached to you by one little ball hitch, which isn't very stable, and the trailer isn't weighted evenly side-to-side. It will want to continue it's forward momentum through the path of least resistance provided by the physics of the entire situation. You'll have no ability to affect the physics of the situation through the application of the trailer brake to get it pulled back behind you once it begins to slide. It's just a bad situation waiting for the right time to bite you in the backside. It can even happen when you're properly setup with trailer brakes, but it's even easier when you're not set up properly.

As someone who's pulled an RV all over the country for years, professionally investigated countless vehicle colisions for even more years, and as someone who has had a Class A license for many years, my advice is to not pull the trailer with your vehicle unless it's properly equipped. Your vehicle is not properly equipped and you'll open youreslef up to all kinds of civil and possible criminal problems should someone get hurt or killed because of your actions.

Again, check out your state's towing laws, and other states where you'll be towing, for your legal requirements. My recommendations are based on knowledge of the laws of my state, which may be different than your state. My state requires brakes on trailers over 1500#s.

However, IMO I wouldn't operate any trailer without a set of operable brakes seperate from the tow vehicle no matter how little the trailer weighs. That's based on everything I've already listed, but remember that the opinon part is just that, my opinion.

My statements and opinon are also based on the results I've seen of various "questionable" driver behaviors, including equipment issues like you've described. Your few hours of fun may not be worth the consequences of your actions should an accident happen . . . just think about it.

That's my 2-cents . . . well, maybe it's my 5-cents. Good luck!

~Garth

[evenfall]

I wouldn't bother checking the Laws. The laws do not over rule common sense, and that is what you need here.

My Class A CDL tells me that if you've got no way to apply braking power on a ton and a half of trailer going where snow is, or any place else, that's called tugging on superman's cape, and I wouldn't.

No law will help you when the tail is wagging the dog. And OH, The tail WILL wag the dog. That is just what towing is.

[skinny2]

You gotta put the brake controller on, plain and simple. There really shouldn't be anything difficult about hooking it up, not sure what logistics have to do with it. Buy one and hook it up, even a cheapo unit would work fine for this load.

The transmissions seem to be the weak link on these, but honestly if it's on the way out this trip won't make or break you.

[ohio4runner4x4]

Guys....thanks for all your replies. But I think you missed the point of my question. I understand all the concern about no brakes....I tow a 30ft travel trailer around all summer long with my Powerstroke Diesel Ford. I can't take it cuz it's a regular cab and there's 4 of us...and I can't get a brake controller installed cuz I'm out of town till 9:00pm Friday nite and we are leaving Sat morning. I also only have a flat 4 pin connection so I would also have to rewire to a 7 way.
My whole question is a Sequoia w/134k up to the task? I haven't really towed anything except a small utility trailer around town.
Thanks

[ohio4runner4x4]

Guys....thanks for all your replies. But I think you missed the point of my question. I understand all the concern about no brakes....I tow a 30ft travel trailer around all summer long with my Powerstroke Diesel Ford. I can't take it cuz it's a regular cab and there's 4 of us...and I can't get a brake controller installed cuz I'm out of town till 9:00pm Friday nite and we are leaving Sat morning. I also only have a flat 4 pin connection so I would also have to rewire to a 7 way.
My whole question is a Sequoia w/134k up to the task? I haven't really towed anything except a small utility trailer around town.
Thanks