Howdy folks! I'm going to haul a 5x8 trailer full of stuff from South Dakota to Washington. I've never driven with a trailer before. But before I bought this car, I had never driven a manual transmission, and I learned in a week to do the reverse of this drive!
I have a manual 2005 XT. I'll run OBD Check on my phone throughout the trip, I got an infrared thermometer to check wheel temp, I'm going to get brakes installed. I'm currently donating and selling a bunch of my stuff, and I don't know exactly how much I'll have to move. I don't fear about filling an enclosed trailer, I will be moving with zero furniture... but I do have a lot of various hobbies that take up space.
Two things I hope to get some input on: which route to take and general thoughts about the trailer choice.
Route 1
I've driven this a lot- I know all the stops my dog and I can make. It's shorter and less overall elevation gain. I dread dropping down into Idaho from Montana.. and going over all the various passes.
Route 2
Longer, more elevation gain/loss but the steepest slope is a lower grade than route 1. Far far less familiar route. I've gone the second half from SLC-Seattle, but not from my current location to SLC.
Trailer 1
United XLV 5x8
Trailer 2
Tractor Supply Company 5 x 8 Utility Trailer, 1,600 lb. Payload Capacity, 2,000 lb. GVWR - Tractor Supply Co.
I'm really torn on the trailer choice.
(1) I want to go the enclosed route because then I have free storage for a few months (I will need storage for a few months). I have a place to park it outside, I will not have a place to park it inside.
(2) I will be rained on during that drive. If I am not, this truly will be a crazy dry spring for the West.
(3) The cheapness of the open trailer is enticing. Money will be tight for a few months, so any savings is important.
I also have been looking into the options for the trailer after it will be empty. There are some pretty neat things people have done with cargo trailers, to make them more like teardrops. But I could also build that up from an open trailer, so the after-use is less important.
Edited to add: anything extra I should do to my car? Could a sway bar upgrade help? I haven't had mine looked at (but I also don't have any specialty shops around).
Basically- any thoughts?
Bonus- hitch photos. I'm currently having the car looked at by a mechanic buddy.
I have a manual 2005 XT. I'll run OBD Check on my phone throughout the trip, I got an infrared thermometer to check wheel temp, I'm going to get brakes installed. I'm currently donating and selling a bunch of my stuff, and I don't know exactly how much I'll have to move. I don't fear about filling an enclosed trailer, I will be moving with zero furniture... but I do have a lot of various hobbies that take up space.
Two things I hope to get some input on: which route to take and general thoughts about the trailer choice.
Route 1
I've driven this a lot- I know all the stops my dog and I can make. It's shorter and less overall elevation gain. I dread dropping down into Idaho from Montana.. and going over all the various passes.
Route 2
Longer, more elevation gain/loss but the steepest slope is a lower grade than route 1. Far far less familiar route. I've gone the second half from SLC-Seattle, but not from my current location to SLC.
Trailer 1
United XLV 5x8
Trailer 2
Tractor Supply Company 5 x 8 Utility Trailer, 1,600 lb. Payload Capacity, 2,000 lb. GVWR - Tractor Supply Co.
I'm really torn on the trailer choice.
(1) I want to go the enclosed route because then I have free storage for a few months (I will need storage for a few months). I have a place to park it outside, I will not have a place to park it inside.
(2) I will be rained on during that drive. If I am not, this truly will be a crazy dry spring for the West.
(3) The cheapness of the open trailer is enticing. Money will be tight for a few months, so any savings is important.
I also have been looking into the options for the trailer after it will be empty. There are some pretty neat things people have done with cargo trailers, to make them more like teardrops. But I could also build that up from an open trailer, so the after-use is less important.
Edited to add: anything extra I should do to my car? Could a sway bar upgrade help? I haven't had mine looked at (but I also don't have any specialty shops around).
Basically- any thoughts?
Bonus- hitch photos. I'm currently having the car looked at by a mechanic buddy.