I am planning to move some stuff on my GX470 from Toronto to San Francisco. It doesn't have the tow package so will get it from UHaul as well. Has any one tried it ? It's around 4000 KM drive. Is it totally sane or insane to drive this much with a trailer on a 2005 GX ?

 

depends on the weight but the GX can handle a lot stock. Just have something to monitor the transmission fluid temp... maybe add additional cooling if you see that you will do this more than once? and keep the shifter away from "D"

 

How to monitor thee transmission fluid temp ? It would bee onee-off job.
Also what do you mean by keeping shifter away. Isn't it suppose to bee on D

 

How heavy will the loaded trailer and people/cargo in the truck be?

X2 on being able to monitor trans temp, something like a scanguage 2 would do the trick nicely. Make sure you get a trans cooler installed as part of your tow package, not sure if they came equipped on trucks that didn't get the tow package from factory.

Another X2 on towing in "4" rather than "D" on the transmission, especially once you get into the hills. Use the trans to slow you down by downshifting rather than using the brakes as well, keep those for when you need them.

 

Someone else was saying that all GX's came with the aux trans cooler. Easy enough to check - lift the hood and look for it by the horns.

The only beef I have with the scangauge is that it needs a wire between the unit and the OBD port. The bluetooth OBD modules for your smartphone can be pretty good if you spend at least $80 (the $10-20 ones are worth what you paid...)

The trick is going to be getting your tongue weight right. Because the GX's air suspension adjusts to keep ride height level, you can't go by suspension sag like on most vehicles. You want about 10-15% of the total trailer weight on the tongue.

Chip H.

 

I wish you could get something like the Torque app for the iphone, I never even think of them as options as I'm an Iphone guy.

 

I'll be renting thee uhaul 5 * 8 trailer which has a weight of 900 pounds. I don't think so I'll have weight more than 1000 lbs.So less than 2000 or 2500 pounds maximum. Isn't it a problem driving on 4 for extended period of time ?

I understand putting 60% of the weight in front so will follow that. I've this OBD Modulee. Had great review and costed $40 with flaming reviews so that should work I guess.

I've both iPhone and Android. Is Torque best of the best ?

 

It's much easier on the transmission to stay in 4th or 3rd and rev the engine a bit higher than it is to leave it in D and have it hunting for gears, that's when it gets hot! I found that mine got hot enough you could smell it driving up mountain passes and switchbacks with no trailer on, the shifter console was warm to the touch! There were grades I would downshift to 3 and leave it there the whole time, and same for coming back down, let the engine do the work, save the trans and the brakes. I'm from the prairies so there's always a bit of a learning curve when you get into the big hills as you never have to consider these things when there's nothing but flat all around you. I even found that the fuel economy wasn't any worse locking the trans in a lower gear, which is not what I would have expected.

The torque app for Android is very good, if you've got a good phone holder you can leave the gauge up on the screen and keep an eye on it. Ideally you want to keep your trans temp under 200F.

 

Correct. All years with or without towing package have a trans cooler. The towing package just added a wiring harness for a trailer as well as a connector for a brake controller near the steering wheel.

I have Torque pro and it doesn't show the trans temp on my 08. You'll need a scangauge to see the trans temp on our trucks from my research.

I rented a 5x8 uhaul and drove 450 miles recently. If you're just loading furniture you'll be fine leaving it in D if you're going over flat ground. If you're going over hills shift it into 4 or 3. You just don't want the trans to be "hunting" as IanB2 said and shifting back and forth between gears frequently. Also as long as you load the trailer properly you can go 70 MPH with no issues. I only had a few pieces of furniture but the trailer wasn't swaying at all even at 80. That said, use discretion and driving over 70 with a trailer is not recommended.

 

Insert gripe about cheap trailer tires here, that aren't rated above 55 mph. (check the load rating too)

Chip H.

 

The GX will have no issues with less than 3k lbs when towing. And I agree... check the trailers maximum speed rating. Uhaul is notorious for the 55mph tired and axle combos on their trailers.

You’ll be good... just take it slow if you haven’t towed before and pay attention to steep downhill grades. You don’t want to end up having to take a gravel run off.... been there. Lol

 

Should be a non-issue with that amount of weight. Since the UHauls don't have brakes, be especially careful on downhills. I tow 4K lbs with mine (with brakes) and it does just fine. Don't top 60 mph(maybe 65 on long flat stretches with tailwind) and you will be ok.

 

I tow a 20ft boat estimated 2800lb in the Ozark hills at 75 in drive no problems. I have a scan gauge and I let the truck downshift on it’s own to 4th, but when it does I also move the selector to 4 until I’m sure the trans won’t search (ie top of the hill).