Towing with my 2.4?

[young-gunn]

I will be moving soon and need to know if this is possible with my truck or if I'll get myself into a lot of trouble. The trailer will probably be sitting at 1200kg and is a tandem axle.

I've read some threads and it seems possible but you guys seem to be towing in better weather and with less modded trucks. Here's my specs,
1992 2.4 Turbo
rebuilt engine with new head
turbo wastegate spaced to 14 psi (with boost gauge)
2.5" straight pipe exhaust
EGR delete
5.29 gears, welded rear diff
35x12.5" tires on 15x8 aluminum wheels
automatic transmission
4" suspension lift, 3" body lift

I have a custom rear bumper with the tow point built into it. I had the trailer rental company look it over and they said it is strong enough and will tow flat with a 12" drop bar.

I've been having problems with my injectors for a long time now (received the wrong ones, got new ones and one was stuck open when I got it) so it has been gutless and I have my doubts. I have 3 new injectors in it now and it's just sitting until I get my new injector, then I have to leave. It will be a 2000km trip from central Canada to western Canada over 2 maybe 3 days. Just wondering if anyone has experience towing this far with a surf. Average temperature will be around -15 celcius so I don't think I should have problems with engine temperature. I'll be changing the oil before I leave and bringing lots of extra coolant as well as spare fuel filters. I have a coolant gauge on the dash, I really wish I could get that wired up before I leave.

[tashtego]

I will be moving soon and need to know if this is possible with my truck or if I'll get myself into a lot of trouble. The trailer will probably be sitting at 1200kg and is a tandem axle.

I've read some threads and it seems possible but you guys seem to be towing in better weather and with less modded trucks. Here's my specs,
1992 2.4 Turbo
rebuilt engine with new head
turbo wastegate spaced to 14 psi (with boost gauge)
2.5" straight pipe exhaust
EGR delete
5.29 gears, welded rear diff
35x12.5" tires on 15x8 aluminum wheels
automatic transmission
4" suspension lift, 3" body lift

I have a custom rear bumper with the tow point built into it. I had the trailer rental company look it over and they said it is strong enough and will tow flat with a 12" drop bar.

I've been having problems with my injectors for a long time now (received the wrong ones, got new ones and one was stuck open when I got it) so it has been gutless and I have my doubts. I have 3 new injectors in it now and it's just sitting until I get my new injector, then I have to leave. It will be a 2000km trip from central Canada to western Canada over 2 maybe 3 days. Just wondering if anyone has experience towing this far with a surf. Average temperature will be around -15 celcius so I don't think I should have problems with engine temperature. I'll be changing the oil before I leave and bringing lots of extra coolant as well as spare fuel filters. I have a coolant gauge on the dash, I really wish I could get that wired up before I leave.

Hi,
It would be good if you could get the aftermarket temp gauge connected. It's a long journey you have got planned, and the 2.4 has a tendency to cook under load...
I'm not sure how much the outside Temp will help in keeping things cool, probably not an awful lot. The good thing is that you've got a new head on, fingers crossed...

[budweiser]

it will help greatly that if you fit an ATF cooler, i used to tow with my 2.4 with out it and turned on the warning light twice, but after fitted it never had a problem, and peace of mind

[Maverick]

I used to regularly tow a 1 ton trailer from Southampton to Perth (550 miles) with my old 2.4 without problem. Later on during ownership I fitted a transmission cooler which caused her to run cooler so will help.

The one thing is you have to accept that you will not break any land speed records, and you will slow down (a lot) on hills. Using the kick down and revving her will just cause her to get hotter, make more noise, but you will still be going slower.

[young-gunn]

Most of my trip will be flat with nothing to see so it shouldn't be so bad. Once I hit Alberta I may have some issues with hills. I don't know where I'd find a trans cooler here but I could take a look around when I buy my fluids and trailer wiring harness. May change the trans fluid before I leave, it was done not too long ago but I'll check the condition tonight yet. I know it will probably be the slowest trip ever I was hoping to put my stuff in a shipping container and just drive out but it would be an 8 day wait to get my stuff and costs $1100 more than just the trailer. Not including the extra fuel I'll be using to tow.

[shokenore]

Like Maverick said its gonna be life in the slow lane.
But it is only 650 kms a day.
It ain't a race its a journey.
Chillax take in the scenery take a camera and take some pics.
I for one would love the opportunity to take a drive like that, lucky you.
Seriously post some pics.

[young-gunn]

Well I'd be going through Saskatchewan for most of the trip, and if you don't know about the province, the typical joke there is, "your dog could run away for 3 days and you'd still be able to see him". I would like to go see the old set of Corner Gas, a Canadian TV show I always watched when I was younger but it is a little out of my way. This is gonna be a slow, long trip. And without cruise control I'm sure I'll have a beefy right leg in the end haha.

[Bogus]

As everyone says, it will be slow, but not too slow. You need to be going fast enough to have your tranny in lock up.
I fitted a Haydn rapid cool on my 3.0l which I bought in the US, Im sure Haydn must sell in Canada as well.If you do fit one I,d leave the stock cooler in also there will be times when you need to heat your ATF Id think.
Plenty of people here have dragged caravans around with stock 2.4s without issue. Im sure you will be fine trundling along flat roads with tranny in lock up , but with your massive tyres any big hills will need to be watched especially where its a long slow climb.

[budweiser]

mine came from us too, it was Fluidyne Heavy Duty Automatic Transmission Cooler, that was over tree years ago, and still using it.

ideas:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_...r~New&_fcsfc=0

[andyverran]

With all this talk of auto oil coolers, whats the consensus on that being a part cause of the 2.4 head issue? do the manual ones do heads at the same rate as the autos?

[Bogus]

With all this talk of auto oil coolers, whats the consensus on that being a part cause of the 2.4 head issue? do the manual ones do heads at the same rate as the autos?

Im not sure there is a consensus, I think its a case of every little helps. I personally think that the best thing anyone can do is make sure the viscous fan has oil, everything after that is going the extra mile. Anything apart that is from the good practice of maintaining all of the cooling system. e,g changing old stats, clean radiator of bugs and mud and maintaining levels of correct and quality coolant. Regarding manual ones, they are much fewer and further between than autos, so hard to say.

[young-gunn]

I'm confused with wiring my trailer lights. The brown wire is my taillight, I understand that. But how do I get my brake lights to work on the trailer seeing as the brake and signal is separate unlike a domestic here? I've searched and everyone says to buy an adapter box, which I probably won't find here in the time frame I have...

My parts truck is wired for trailer lights, I wish I could check that thing out but with the amount of snow we had this year it has become a snowbank.

EDIT: I found out I will need a 5-4 wire converter. My friend has found me a part number for a Reese one locally. I will have to grab one in the morning.

[young-gunn]

I'm packed and I'm ready to load the trailer but it seems to be struggling to pull even empty. It's really windy out here today and I don't want to run into problems. The trailer seems a lot larger than what I was thinking (2000 lbs empty). Might have to opt for something smaller and hope I can wedge my tools inside starting to worry a bit.

[tashtego]

I'm packed and I'm ready to load the trailer but it seems to be struggling to pull even empty. It's really windy out here today and I don't want to run into problems. The trailer seems a lot larger than what I was thinking (2000 lbs empty). Might have to opt for something smaller and hope I can wedge my tools inside starting to worry a bit.

Hi, how did the trip go?
Did you manage your trans-Canada crossing in the end?
Cheers

[young-gunn]

I ended up shipping my tool box with a transport company and loaded up the truck and drove out. Saskatchewan was windy and terribly cold so that was a slow day with awful mileage. The trip was a lot better once I get closer to Edmonton. I do have a few pics I could post later.