Towing question - noob.

[Quick86]

So I am towing an enclosed aluminum trailer (fits my father in laws harley and has a little bit of room left length wise) (V-shaped) from Lansing to the Farmington Hills area next week with my 04 Yukon 4WD. Yes it has a towing package with the auto leveling rear. The trailer is going to have a 2 bay snap on tool box FULL of tools, a small single bay MAC tool box, a pair of small top chests (don't know the brands, probably craftsman) --- all full of tools.

I've never towed much weight real far other than a riding mower from Howell on a small flat utility trailer with my Lightning, and one car on a dolly from Detroit area with an F150.

Would you guys recommend putting the truck in tow-mode for something of that weight?? Or would allowing it to shift in to OD be fine on the highway? It's pretty flat, not like there will be hills to deal with other than your typical highway elevation changes between here and there...

 

[1BADAIR]

Tow mode in those truck still goes into od and locks the convertor above 60.
Just holds the gears longer and no lockup in 3rd I believe. Tow won't hurt any thing but little mpg so no reason not to use it

 

[Quick86]

Tow mode in those truck still goes into od and locks the convertor above 60.
Just holds the gears longer and no lockup in 3rd I believe. Tow won't hurt any thing but little mpg so no reason not to use it

Oh, no shit? Well I am an idiot then. I am used to the old school tow mode that keeps it in 3rd gear.

 

[moneypit]

That much weight you need trailer brakes by law

 

[Quick86]

Really? It shouldn't be more than a couple thousand pounds with trailer I am guessing. The box is like 350lbs, another couple hundred lbs worth of boxes, probably 400lbs worth of tools...I am guessing we'll have 1000-1200lbs in there?

 

[1BADAIR]

Trailer brakes used to be 3500. Think its 3000 now

 

[moneypit]

3000 LBS, is the law a 2 bay snap on full of tools is probably 1500lbs alone , add the trailer weight and your there

 

[moneypit]

a krl 1022 snap on box is 720 lbs empty

 

[Swifster]

You'll be fine. I've towed more with a tow dolly and my Ranger. Just leave room in front of you.

 

[1BadSn95]

One thing youll want to keep in mind is placement of the load in the trailer. If its loaded toward the back its going to be a handful to keep straight going to the highway esp with such a little trailer. you want the box directly over the axle, or a little bit more towards the front if possible to keep your weight balanced as much as possible. Trailer brakes are always nice but youll get by with out them.

 

[Anthony]

91trunks open car trailer doesn't have brakes

Hahahahaha

 

[Quick86]

The trailer is 800lbs I learned. I was wrong, it's not a Snap-On, it's a Matco that weighs ~820lbs. I'll try to load the weight as centered as possible. I've got 4 ratchet straps to keep the biggest weight in the center. I'll probably put the top chests IN my Yukon to keep them more controlled being they're both single bay chests.

 

[moneypit]

put boards on the top of the box so you dont roll the lip on the box

 

[Quick86]

I'm going to make two trips. Talked to my buddy (whom we're doing this for) and as much as we'd like to do it in one trip... There is just too much weight after adding it all up. That box alone with tools is a solid 1600lbs. No way are we getting that + 2 top chests + a small roller + equipment (engine stand, jack stands, floor jacks, etc etc) in one load. The trailer is rated to tow 2000lbs. We're going to do one run with everything in the Yukon that will fit by itself, then another run with just the triple-bay Matco box loaded...