My '87 was used to tow a utility trailer many times and I'm sure the load rating was exceeded on a few occasions no ill effects. The scariest part was back then the car had rear drum brakes so stopping with a heavy load was a bit sketchy.

 

I had a 1999 Camry with the 4-cylinder engine until it was totaled about a year ago. I had installed a trailer hitch receiver that was specifically made for that model and did use it a few times to tow a small utility trailer lightly loaded (don't know the total weight of the trailer and load). The trailer is the 4' by 8' folding trailer sold by Harbor Freight. That trailer has proven very useful on other occasions being towed with my Chevy Avalanche, but I wouldn't try to use it for a heavy load and/or highway speeds. I had also installed the electrical module that you need for correct wiring of the trailer lights. I have learned that one of the main concerns related to towing is cooling of the automatic transmission oil. The stock transmission cooler is probably adequate if the load is not heavy and the air temperature is not high. BTW, I removed the hitch receiver before the totaled car was towed away and would like to sell it.

 

Yeah, I've towed with my Camry many times. Make sure everything is safe on the car (mechanically) and follow all the normal towing recommendations (loading, following distances, etc.). Lumber, dump runs, appliances, garden supplies... my Camry is my truck when I need one.

You will need a self-powered trailer light controller if you want to keep the tail light warning sensor active and working.

-Charlie

 

Handy Man



Can you recommend a "self-powered trailer light controller; also, not sure what a "tail light warning sensor" is so could your explaing what this is.

I am also having problems getting the tail lights working, without blowing a fuse; and, so far I can't get the brake lights to work- at all. I think I need a 4 to 5 wire trailer harness converter box to get the brakes lights on the trailer to work. And more and more, it's looking like I need a self-powered 4 to 5 wire trailer harness converter box, at that - so maybe this is the "self-powered trailer light controller" you mentioned in your post.
Thank You
&
God bless

 

Thread revival. Planning on towing a 1600lb pop up 800 miles. I will put a transmission cooler on it as soon as I can but the first trip won't have one. If I go easy, say 65mph, do you think it will fry it?

 

At that kind of weight you would be lucky to go over 50mph in a light breeze on flat ground, and stopping would be a joke.
I wouldn't tow that kind of weight for more that 10 miles at most, and that's with a trans cooler.

 

I think that is gonna be pushing it
Where do you live? There are so many cheap trucks near me I'd never consider towing with my Camry.

 

I think towing pretty much anything is putting a fair amount of additional wear and tear on the engine and brakes, especially the 4 cyl.

I'd look for a used Tacoma or similar designed for towing loads. This was designed for passenger use, and if longevity is important I'd factor that in.

 

About 700lbs would be the most weight I'd be comfortable towing with a 4 cylinder Camry for that distance, and even then I would only be going 60mph at most with overdrive off

 

I have a pickup at home that I will most likely use after I get it home.


2000 lbs is the rating for this car. I have no doubt it will go down the road fine, my pickup only has 180 horse and I wouldn't be worried at all with it. I'm worried about the suspension as I have subs in the trunk. I might take them out and put them in the backseat. The hitch weight will be well below the rating for the car and hitch.

I think with Americas truck culture people are conditioned to think you need a one ton to pull a garden trailer. You can in fact do a lot with a car if you take it easy. As far as stopping I plan to be conservative and not be an idiot.

 

That 2000lb rating was made before the dumbing down of the towing ratings of vehicles in the US, so it is much more 'correct' than the ratings of vehicles these days (where many even mid-size SUVs aren't rated to tow anything!)

Mentioning the subs is part of my point. If you have a couple passengers, the subs, some luggage, the trailer with some water and extra equipment in it, etc, you will quickly pass the total rating of the vehicle.

My other point of a powered light controller still stands.

The big worry here is that you think that 65 is a reasonable speed to be towing a trailer 'easy' at/near the tow rating of your vehicle...

-Charlie

 

It's a hopeful guess. If it's too much of course I'll slow down. The weight will be dry, no water me and my luggage. It should be within the ratings. I am having it wired up to spec so I'm not worried about that. I'm more worried about no transmission cooler.

 

I'd be most worried about stopping, especially if you have rear drums. Abs would be nice.

How much does your luggage weigh, how are your shocks, does the trailer have brakes, are you going up and down grades or passes?

 

Luggage will be 100lbs or so. Disc all the way around, new shocks, not to many grades to Pine bluff. I think I will rent a stall for a month and leave it there. Come back with my pickup. Assuming I'm able to get one and I might not as I am not going to buy at the wrong price just to get one.

 

V6 then? You'll be fine. 40 extra hp, bigger radiator, much stronger transmission, 4-wheel discs.

-Charlie

 

Alright, I've had the hitch for awhile. I hooked up to a 1400 lb pop up and took it a few mile on the highway up to 60 mph. No problem at all. I think you folks are way to conservative on what is safe much less what this car could do. It is of course noticeable and you have to plan your stops and drive very conservative. I do that with any trailer.

My question now is what transmission cooler have folks used? The dealer lists absolutely nothing. My mechanics say you don't want just the biggest you can get as it won't allow it to get to proper operating temperature and could cause issues. It of course has the stock cooler so do you think a higher cfm fan would do the trick if there is no good aftermarket cooler options?

 

Remove the two cooler lines from the bottom of the trans unit and just reroute those lines to a front of the condenser mounted mini unit. It'll be more efficient, but when cold it will no longer have the heating action from the radiator.



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Remove the two cooler lines from the bottom of the trans unit and just reroute those lines to a front of the condenser mounted mini unit. It'll be more efficient, but when cold it will no longer have the heating action from the radiator.

The factory cooler doesn't really ever get heat from the radiator in the winter anyway - the bottom of the radiator will be quite cold in the winter (assuming the car is moving).

If you can keep the torque converter locked most of the time (3rd OD off or 4th), towing doesn't heat up the trans any more than normal driving.

Assuming you don't tow all the time (you really shouldn't be in a Camry anyway), I would just keep the stock cooler.

-Charlie

 

Not too many grades to Pine bluff.

So did you move to Pine Bluff? I thought you said it was the arm-pit of Arkansas?

 

It is! We already moved to Illinois. The pop up I hooked up to was there. I didn't buy that one as I think it had water line/water heater issues. I may yet buy it for the right price if he still has it. Or I may buy an older motor home with a 454 and tow the Camry. I've really been all over the map trying to find the best solution and most Value for my dollar.

 

Or I may buy an older motor home with a 454 and tow the Camry.

That 454 motor home is prob a Bad Mamma-Jaamma!

I drove one in Biloxi Beach, MISS. It was a Winnebago w a 454 !

The guy who owned it told me it was an awesome machine! I was not convinced. He told me to get in & drive! So then when we are now at about 10mph on Biloxi Beach Blvd. He said "Floor IT!"

I laid rubber on the Hwy right by the gulf of Mexico, in a Winnebago! :grin:

Frickin Unbelievable!

Jim

 

I can believe it. I have talked to a guy in western Kansans with that set up and am considering it. I
Looked at a 1990 pace arrow with it today but didn't drive it. It had massive water damage so it's a non starter. I also looked at a 1997 Catalina with a Ford big block. In a lot nicer condition but a lot more money and it still has problems. I'm actually hoping theop up is still for sale as it's a no loose camper.

 

theop up

???

 

Stupid auto correct. Pop up. And it is sold. I'm bringing my pickup this time as the car needs some body work due to the break in. I'll be on the prowl. I missed a good one with that pop up. It was the perfect one for my needs as far as pop ups go. Se La Vie.

 

the car needs some body work due to the break in.

I must of missed something...

You had a break-in?

 

Yeah in a quality inn parking lot in Pine Bluff Arkansas along with 8 or 10 others.

It sparked this search for an alternative.

I'm trying to buy this now so no pop up haha. I'm looking for a car dolly now.

 

That's pretty cool! Is everything functional? What's the asking price?

 

20K. It's a diesel pusher with a Cummins and 6 speed Allison. Everything works but it has a leak around the timing cover. It might end up being a deal breaker. I've already agreed to a price with "of course the leak will get taken care of, it's a minor fix". Yesterday they called and said they didn't have time to get it fixed before I needed it and wanted to give me money off and have me take it somewhere myself. I said no, you fix it and I pay the agreed upon price. I talked to a couple mechanics I trust and they said it probably was minor but could be more and get expensive quick.

We shall see what happens. I am quite smitten with it. 40 foot of awesome. It's so smooth and quiet. Turns a lot better than you would think as well with the engine in back. It has a Kubota diesel generator that slides out of the front at the push of a button. The awning rolls up automatically if it detects to much wind. Lots of other features, it was around a $300,000 unit back in the day.

 

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