Towing with a Camry?

[Bandit9]

Here is the deal. My wife has a 02 Camry LE 4cyl auto tranny company car that she can use for anything and the gas is paid. Pretty sweet deal. Anyhow, I want to use it to tow my 5 x 10 utility trailer with my bike on it. I drive an average of 6 hours each way for my races. The Camry is rated at 2000 lbs with a 200lb tounge weight. My tongue weight is 170 lbs and the trailer loaded is probably around 1200 lbs. Should be fine....right? I am worried about the auto transmission. If I was just going an hour or two I wouldn't be concerned, but I am rolling 6-8 hours each way. Just wanted some feedback or tips. What about changing tranny fluid?

 

[splatt]

A tranny cooler is a definate must.

 

Steve

 

[Highbeam]

If you care enough to look at the tow rating then you should be more interested in the GCWR, GVWR, and GAWRs of that car. You will be overweight on one of these before you hit the theoretical "tow rating". All the weightratings are listed on the sticker mounted on the drivers side door jamb.

I'm thinking a better idea would be a cheap foldup or 3-rail bike trailer weighing less than 500 lbs, + your bike should keep you below 750. Really it is a 4 cyl, automatic car. You would hate to have your wife go to her boss and say her husband towed a trailer with it and blew it up.

 

[Enduro_Nut]

For 20 years my dad used a 4cyl. w/auto, and I had a 6 cyl. w/5spd. and used a open 3 rail trailer w/14'' wheels and pulled 3 bikes/jet skii's all over the US virtually every weekend - no problems. I always change my tranny fliud every 15k and typically get 150k out of the tranny.
Keep in mind this trailer is open 3 rail, not the heavy duty utility trailer - huge weight differance. In addition I wouldn't own anything with wheels under 14" - far less work to keep the trailer going(greasing wheels bearings, better tire replacement and highway speeds get eaten up with the 12'' wheels)As previously mentioned it would be worth $60-$100 for a tranny cooler just a precaution.
Next month I will put a hitch on my wifes 300zx so I can haul my bike up to New Hampshire for a vacation, about 3,000 mile round trip. I know Nissan can handle it so Toyota should without any problem using common sense.

 

[Bandit9]

Highbeam, I will be well under the GCVW. So I guess a tranny cooler is a must. I was told today buy a trailer/hitch company that I needed a converter for the wire kit to hook up the lights. Converter? For what? I put a harness kit on my Tacoma and don't remember any converter. He said it was 90 bucks for the converter. I need to be convinced I need this converter.

 

[High Lord Gomer]

You need a converter if your car has separate brake and tail lights.

The problem is that the trailer uses one wire for left turn/brake, one wire for right turn/brake, one for running lights, and one for ground. If you connect your brake wire from the car to both left and right, whenever you hit either turn signal, they will both flash (on the car and the trailer).

If your car uses the same bulb in the rear taillight for brake and turn signal, it has already handled the work of the converter and you don't need one.

I just wired up my old Toyota and had to do a converter. The place that installed the trailer hitch wanted $50 to do it. Walmart had vehicle specific converters with the right plugs that made it very easy to install for $20-$30, but not one for mine. I bought the generic converter for $13 and wired it in myself.

 

[Highbeam]

If you're within your ratings, I'd say go for it. On the first trip out watch the gauges and listen to the tranny to be sure it is not shifting all the time.

 

[Bandit9]

Converter is probably a must need. Damn. So the converter and hitch will be about $100 installed by me. Not bad. I am going to go for it. Thanks for the info fellas. I will report back on this, just in case there are some good laughs that come out of this.

 

[Layton]

If it shifts a lot or feels like the torque converter is slipping then lock it out of over drive. That will save a bunch of heat in the tranny.

 

[Bandit9]

Thanks Layton, I have asked many people about that the last couple of days and they all said the same thing. Thanks man

 

[Bandit9]

Well I installed a class II hitch and wired it up and went for test drive on the Interstate this evening. Trailer was loaded with bike. Went 75 mph with no problem. While on cruise, when going up over passes, it shifts. So what I started doing was to take it off cruise when I approach the over pass and just let it chug up with out changing gears and then when it is flat again resume the cruise. Sort of a pain in the azz, but I can live it when I know I am getting free gas! Thanks for the help fellas, I am leaving for my race in Arkansas tomorrow, that will be about a 7 hour haul, so I will know more on the Camry race hauler on Sunday night.

 

[High Lord Gomer]

:thumb:

 

[crustydirt]

Around here is how we's tow our sleds with our vehicles:

http://www.snowmobilefanatics.com/snofan/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6719

 

[Bandit9]

Well the first thing I have to report is that the 2002 Toyota 4 cyl has tons more power than the 98 4 cyl in my Tacoma! That sucks. My wife has more HP than me! Anyhow, the Camry pulled pretty good. No problems. It really got old having to cancel cruise and then restart it at EVERY incline, but hey, it was much more comfortable in the Camry than in the Tacoma. The rear end sag was not a problem either. I never dragged or scraped anything. I went right on through the 2 track road that led to the Harescramble and never bottomed out. I drove my Tacoma today down to the Yamaha shop to get a master link (Mine broke on the 2nd lap...DNF's SUCK) and it felt like a Tank. All rough riding and low on power, not to mention having to shift. That Camry was luxury. Overall, I like it. I will slap some race stickers on it...if my wife lets me. I doubt it though. Looks like I am sleeping in Hotels from now on instead of on a twin bed mattress under my camper top in the bed of my Tacoma! Now if I could just get someone to pay for my parts, food, and entry fees, I would be all set. LOL. I might change the tranny oil this week just to be on the safe side. What tranny oil would be best for the situation?

 

[Enduro_Nut]

I change my tranny every 15k with redline. I wouldn't worry about to that degree - just don't allow the tranny to shift constantly, keep the overdrive off(that's what almost all co's tell you when hauling a load.)

The Toyota will last longer as a tow than you will probably own the bike.

Good Luck on your next race!!

 

[dklink2000]

I had one of those for a weekend while waiting for delivery of my truck. 0 power. You will really be thrashing that thing. I don't know how the company the your wife works for, but I don't know if I would abuse a perk like that.

 

[Bandit9]

I hear you dklink. It isn't like it is every weekend. In fact I only have 9 more races til the end of the season. And that is in November. If they say something about it, then I will stop. Enduro Nut, thanks for the info.