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Travel Trailer Newbie Questions

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by CaptCraig, Jun 6, 2021.

  1. Jun 6, 2021 at 7:47 PM
    #1
    CaptCraig

    CaptCraig [OP] New Member

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    I'm hoping ya'll could double check my loose math to make sure I'm doing this right. I've tried to plug numbers into a spreadsheet I found on another thread but I'm pretty sure I'm doing it wrong.

    I'm driving a 2021 CrewMax 4X4 SR5 & had a WDH installed at a local RV dealership.

    My first question is how much weight do I have left to play with? I've posted the stickers for both the truck & camper & after weighing the trailer payload I can safely say we've added 500 lbs payload plus 127 lbs propane; all water tanks were empty. Now for truck payload, we had 670 lbs of family, 73 lbs of wood & 176 lbs of fuel.

    My second question is did I drive correctly? From what I've read, I should be using tow/haul while in S4. This had me consistently at 3,000 rpm driving 65 mph on the interstate. My truck would also tend to slightly pull to the right at times (only when towing) & intermittently make a very faint, high pitched squealing noise regardless if I'm towing or not.

    Which brings me to my final question. Could I have done better by placing it just in (D)rive while traversing the flat highways of central Illinois?

    Thank you for your time & your advice.

    20210606_214629.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2021
  2. Jun 6, 2021 at 8:47 PM
    #2
    CurtisLemansky

    CurtisLemansky 5.7 or Die

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    I’m new to this as well, but so far have found what the OEM manual recommends to work best… straight up Tow/Haul mode and only use S4 when going down a steep grade where additional engine braking is needed. I have an OBDLink MX+ that I use to monitor transmission temps and when the torque converter lockout is engaged. So far this has helped with making sure it’s engaged for large climbs where the torque converter generates a lot of heat and I’ve gotten pretty decent gas mileage staying around 60-65 on the highway. YMMV
     
  3. Jun 6, 2021 at 9:05 PM
    #3
    CaptCraig

    CaptCraig [OP] New Member

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    I was getting around 8.3-8.5 MPG for the whole trip, which sounds pretty normal around here. What does your RPM typically ride at since it sounds like you mostly use D?
     
  4. Jun 6, 2021 at 9:18 PM
    #4
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    There is another sticker in your door jamb that tells you your payload, and possibly a yellow one that deducts from that for add ons.

    Payload sticker looks like this:

    20210505_211439.jpg

    Upper right of the pic it shows 1265 lbs for payload. Your truck may have more or less, but that's the max weight you can add to the truck including passengers, mods, gear, the WDH, and tongue weight of your trailer when loaded.
     
  5. Jun 6, 2021 at 9:24 PM
    #5
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    You should tow in D with tow/haul per the manual. Use S4 when going DOWN hills.
     
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  6. Jun 6, 2021 at 9:28 PM
    #6
    CaptCraig

    CaptCraig [OP] New Member

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    Ah, yes. Thank you, I hadn't noticed that number on that sticker. Mine says 1385 lbs. Then a yellow sticker mentioned 50 lbs in add ons. So I'll have to subtract a total of 200 lbs for that plus everything I've added. I'm concerned I am easily overweight unless the WDH takes enough of the estimated 570 lb tongue weight off the truck.
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2021
    gosolo likes this.
  7. Jun 6, 2021 at 9:36 PM
    #7
    CurtisLemansky

    CurtisLemansky 5.7 or Die

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    I’ve gotten 10.8 MPG on our trip so far (~600 miles). That was through some significantly varied terrain including multiple mountain passes, but my trailer is probably sitting around 5500 lbs. loaded. We have 1,200 miles to go, so we'll see where it ends up.
     
  8. Jun 6, 2021 at 9:52 PM
    #8
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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  9. Jun 6, 2021 at 10:15 PM
    #9
    Hbjeff

    Hbjeff New Member

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    also keep it in S mode when in rolling hills. You want to keep it downshifted if it is shifting constantly. Higher rpms are fine, heating up the trans by shifting constantly is worse
     
  10. Jun 6, 2021 at 11:00 PM
    #10
    A-A-Ron

    A-A-Ron Done messed up

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    I liked my transmission temperatures way better in S4 than in D, both with Tow/Haul on. Many people here will say to leave it in drive but i don’t know if they are watching the temperature. Mine had the factory cooler.
     
  11. Jun 7, 2021 at 10:06 AM
    #11
    CaptCraig

    CaptCraig [OP] New Member

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    Yeah, my truck is all factory stock & the higher RPM got me wondering. Also, we tested towing in overdrive from a stopped position & only got up to about 30 mph & the engine sounded like it strained much more than S4
     
  12. Jun 7, 2021 at 10:50 AM
    #12
    Clemsonman14

    Clemsonman14 New Member

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    Probably a good idea to monitor trans temps if you aren’t already. That’s the main reason a lot of people like driving in S4. Keeps the truck out of overdrive and limits a lot of the trans heat
     
    CaptCraig[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  13. Jun 7, 2021 at 10:58 AM
    #13
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    All the "S" mode does is limit how high it will shift. Essentially in S4 you are telling the truck it's not allowed to go above 4th gear is all. In tow/haul the truck holds gears longer so I'm not sure you'd get above 4th getting to 30 MPH.
    In tow haul it "sounds" strained because it holds the gears.
     
  14. Jun 7, 2021 at 11:00 AM
    #14
    jdg1982

    jdg1982 New Member

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    I put mine in S5 when towing w/ Tow/Haul button pressed. That's worked best for me.
     
  15. Jun 7, 2021 at 1:37 PM
    #15
    CaptCraig

    CaptCraig [OP] New Member

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    Yeah, I was watching that the whole trip. Stayed right at the half mark or slightly below. Good to know if that's the biggest concern.
     
  16. Jun 7, 2021 at 1:50 PM
    #16
    Clemsonman14

    Clemsonman14 New Member

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    The tundra doesn’t have a trans temp monitor built in. You would need to use something like a scan gauge or and obd2 reader to look at it

    There’s a bunch of threads on here about how Toyota removed the transmission cooler starting in 2019. Should be able to find some mentioning how they monitor temps either from their phone or another standalone device
     
  17. Jun 7, 2021 at 3:17 PM
    #17
    CaptCraig

    CaptCraig [OP] New Member

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    Ah, so engine temp gauge doesn't correlate with trans temp?
     
  18. Jun 7, 2021 at 3:33 PM
    #18
    Lifer

    Lifer New Member

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    I have not towed with the 21 but the 08 I always have it in S4 on steep grades even not towing. I have been pulling with it for years with zero problems. I change fluid every 30K or so when the dealer says not to?
    Maybe I will end up adding the cooler on the 21 if its as bad as some are saying.
    S4 downhill is for safety I imagine? I never do.
     
  19. Jun 7, 2021 at 3:33 PM
    #19
    A-A-Ron

    A-A-Ron Done messed up

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    Nope. I had a Scan Gauge that was mounted to my steering column, but there are other options out there. I never ran into an engine temp issue no matter what I did, transmission temperatures can skyrocket if it shifts often on hills. Since you don’t have a factory trans cooler I would highly recommend some form of trans temperature gauge.
     
  20. Jun 7, 2021 at 3:42 PM
    #20
    Lifer

    Lifer New Member

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    Thanks for the link!
     
  21. Jun 7, 2021 at 4:19 PM
    #21
    CaptCraig

    CaptCraig [OP] New Member

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    Trans cooler doesn't come with a tow package?
     
  22. Jun 7, 2021 at 4:31 PM
    #22
    2mchfun

    2mchfun Yeah it'll pull it, just don't expect to stop!

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    No auxiliary transmission cooler on your truck. Welcome to the fucked over club! My biggest regret before signing, I failed to verify.
     
    CaptCraig[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  23. Jun 7, 2021 at 4:34 PM
    #23
    2mchfun

    2mchfun Yeah it'll pull it, just don't expect to stop!

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    Good news is for about $400 that problem is history!
     
  24. Jun 7, 2021 at 4:49 PM
    #24
    CaptCraig

    CaptCraig [OP] New Member

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    How likely is that to void my warranty?
     
  25. Jun 7, 2021 at 5:03 PM
    #25
    2mchfun

    2mchfun Yeah it'll pull it, just don't expect to stop!

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    Depends on if you ask the dealer to install and of they will honor the warranty, or if you remove it before they see it. Lots of options. I say they can shove the warranty, not touching my trucks ever again after their shenanigans.
     
  26. Jun 7, 2021 at 5:25 PM
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    Clemsonman14

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  27. Jun 9, 2021 at 6:15 AM
    #27
    CurtisLemansky

    CurtisLemansky 5.7 or Die

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    @CaptCraig just realized I didn’t answer your original question. Mine will sit at 3k RPM when in 4th gear (I monitor gears using OBDLink) when climbing a gradual grade. Otherwise on flat it’s usually in 5th at around 1800 RPM. Not often that it gets down to 6th that I’ve noticed.
     
  28. Jun 9, 2021 at 6:23 AM
    #28
    CaptCraig

    CaptCraig [OP] New Member

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    Thank you! Yeah, I want to try S5 on flat ground for our next trip to see what that does & see if my FIL has a gauge to measure trans temp just for funsies. I'm assuming I was fine on my last trip since I didn't get any warnings.
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2021
  29. Jun 10, 2021 at 3:31 PM
    #29
    A-A-Ron

    A-A-Ron Done messed up

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    Are you referring to the transmission temperature warning light? I don’t think it turns on until about 300F, will basically cook your tranny fluid by that point.
     
  30. Jun 10, 2021 at 3:38 PM
    #30
    CaptCraig

    CaptCraig [OP] New Member

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    oh, yeah, I don't want that. Maybe I can borrow one from someone before I have to explain to the wife why I bought a $130 part she wouldn't undertand.
     
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