First time towing- worried!

[davidtg7123]

Hey guys,

I’ll be towing a 5’ x 8’ U-Haul storage trailer for my girlfriend on an 8 hour journey from central PA to Charlotte. I’ve never towed before. It’ll pretty much be all highways, anyone have any tips?

Do I remember correctly there’s a way to make the blind spot monitor take that into account? I’m in a 2019 XLT.

I also see U-Haul says not to go over 55MPH. Is this just a liability thing or should I really keep strict on that?

And as far as downshifting, I know from experience that tow mode will do that, but do I also need to manually do this when going down a hill? How fast should I move through the gears/where should I settle?

Thanks a lot guys it’s very much appreciated. I’m sure it’ll be fine but I’m a planner and overthinker so appreciate the guidance.

Sponsored

 

[Grumpaw]

5x8 trailer is nothing for the Ranger. Trailer will come with surge brakes, so it will brake when the Ranger does.
55 mph is for liability purposes. Just keep the rig at 62-65 on x-way and you'll be fine.
Use the tow-mode and simply use the shift button to downshift to lower gear when necessary. Most of us keep it in 7-8th gear when towing....just adjust as necessary.
Use premium gas when towing....easier on the truck.

 

[Frenchy]

Something to also keep in mind is how you load the trailer. Make sure most of the way put in the trailer is going to be towards the front. If you keep most of the way at the back of the trailer you could easily lose control.

 

[JoeF]

You can do some measurements as spelled out in the owner's manual and input them for BLIS. The width will be a default so there is no need to get that. The stock mirrors should be OK with that narrow trailer.

Look at the tires on the trailer; they might have a speed rating. In theory, you should not exceed that limit. If you do and the tire blows, you will be buying a new trailer for U-Haul. Chance of that happening might not be very high but it could happen.

Watch how you load the trailer. Too much weight behind the axles will cause sway issues which are dangerous.

Try to downshift on hills and not use your brakes as much as you can. You do not want to overheat them.

 

[bbeverag]

I have towed a 5x8 uhaul trailer twice in my ranger. My trips were not 8 hours, just 2 hours each way. I went exactly the speed limit (70mph). It was no problem either time, more anxiety than anything.

 

[Blue Streak]

5x8 trailer is nothing for the Ranger. Trailer will come with surge brakes, so it will brake when the Ranger does.
55 mph is for liability purposes. Just keep the rig at 62-65 on x-way and you'll be fine.
Use the tow-mode and simply use the shift button to downshift to lower gear when necessary. Most of us keep it in 7-8th gear when towing....just adjust as necessary.
Use premium gas when towing....easier on the truck.

Please correct me if I am wrong, I don't believe the 5x8 uhaul trailer has brakes. Only the larger ones have surge brakes. ?

 

[Grumpaw]

Please correct me if I am wrong, I don't believe the 5x8 uhaul trailer has brakes. Only the larger ones have surge brakes. ?

You are right....I stand corrected. I thought the cargo trailers all had brakes. I have my own so I've never needed a U-Haul.
Sorry for the bad info !!!

 

[21Blackout]

Follow the advice from above and you will be fine I run a 5x8 6hrs (each way) to my camp in PA 4 times a year. My additional advice is to make sure you leave enough room to brake in front of you due to the added weight of trailer. Safe Travels.

 

[5thranger]

You are right....I stand corrected. I thought the cargo trailers all had brakes. I have my own so I've never needed a U-Haul.
Sorry for the bad info !!!

Would you like a spanking for that?

 

[corendurance]

Hey guys,

I’ll be towing a 5’ x 8’ U-Haul storage trailer for my girlfriend on an 8 hour journey from central PA to Charlotte. I’ve never towed before. It’ll pretty much be all highways, anyone have any tips?

Do I remember correctly there’s a way to make the blind spot monitor take that into account? I’m in a 2019 XLT.

I also see U-Haul says not to go over 55MPH. Is this just a liability thing or should I really keep strict on that?

And as far as downshifting, I know from experience that tow mode will do that, but do I also need to manually do this when going down a hill? How fast should I move through the gears/where should I settle?

Thanks a lot guys it’s very much appreciated. I’m sure it’ll be fine but I’m a planner and overthinker so appreciate the guidance.

David I just got back from towing that same 5x8 UHaul for about 5 hours, including a stop to unload furniture on a city street on a hill. I just bought my 2021 Tremor 3 weeks ago. It was pretty much plug n play. U-Haul was very good about making sure everything is set up properly. The Ranger didn’t even notice that it was towing!

Tow mode handles all the shifting, and did a fine job. It also combines it with engine braking when needed, but that tiny trailer won’t need it. It also turns off the blind spot monitor so remember to check your side mirrors. That trailer isn’t even visible from them so you’ll see everything you normally would. Rear view mirror of course is obstructed. Can be a challenge to back up.

I’m sure the 55 mph is a legal thing. Smaller wheels rotate much faster than the truck wheels so they are more subject to overheating. If you’re driving 8+ hours it’s a good idea to feel the trailer wheel hubs when you stop for gas/food to make sure the hubs are not overheating. I kept it slower because it was over 90-degrees out, but I saw others passing me towing the same trailer at well over 70 mph.

 

[PapaBill]

Gents,
A suggestion: use wheel chocks. Don't depend on the tranny pawl and/or the e-brakes alone. Wheel chocks of 2x4's or 4x4's ~ 12-15" long can work pretty well too.
Semper Fi

 

[WOADKIL]

5x8 trailer is nothing for the Ranger. Trailer will come with surge brakes, so it will brake when the Ranger does.
55 mph is for liability purposes. Just keep the rig at 62-65 on x-way and you'll be fine.
Use the tow-mode and simply use the shift button to downshift to lower gear when necessary. Most of us keep it in 7-8th gear when towing....just adjust as necessary.
Use premium gas when towing....easier on the truck.

Sport mode for gear shifting...

 

[k1w1t1m]

Backing up can be a challenge so plan "drive throughs" to eliminate having to reverse.
It is likely the Uhaul guy or girl will hook the trailer up for you, watch them, and then double check everything yourself. Drive a mile or two down the road to somewhere you can pull over and check everything again. Everything else has been covered in previous posts.

 

[Charley]

All great info above. as a novice myself pulling a small trailer, the sentence "The Ranger didn’t even notice that it was towing!", is very import and needs to be followed up with "the driver cannot forget that they are towing" . While the trailer is always in your rear view mirror, without obsessing, make sure it stays in your mind. Especially if you are driving a route you are very familiar with.

 

[Grandaccess]

I think the tow mode button tells the trucks radar to act different, I always use (S) anyway....
You wont even know its back there.
and thats the problem! you wont even know its back there, if you dont tow often your not in the mindset of having 16 more feet behind you, thinking to turn Wide, start slowing down before you need to...
parking lots look for places to pull through

Sponsored