pulling a trailer

[colonel6632]

well sounds like im moving.. so i'm thinking about renting a 4' x 8' u-haul trailer to haul most of my stuff... couple of questions

can my car pull it... mostly can the transmission live up to the challenge. I've though about installing a transmission cooler.

and how much does a hidden hitch cost... and does anyone know where i can get one for super cheap?

[Nate's Alero]

you are risking tranny damage, dont pull ANYTHING with an alero, not what it is designed for

[CactusWill]

You'll be just fine with a 4 x 8. The alero was not designed to tow, but a tiny little trailer that weighs barely 1000 lbs fully loaded is not going to kill it if you're just going a short distance.

[natedawg9640]

3400 yes... 2.4 or 2.2... not advisable.

i also wouldn't advise towing a 4x8 trailer full of gold bullion

[misslindseysue]

U-Haul won't rent it to you unless you have a friend with a pick-up go get it for you.

I pulled a small 4x8 utility trailer with my 3400 Alero quite a bit. Up to ~1500 lbs it was fine. 2.2L, probably not such a good idea.

[Nate's Alero]

but the 3400 has the weak 4T45E,

its a lose lose situation

[CactusWill]

Both the 4T40E and the 4T45E in the alero is intended to propel similar loads of weight. The biggest issue besides the additional weight itself is not which drivetrain you have, but the way you drive it and the distance you are traveling. I've carried 8 or 9 people in my alero before which is about the same weight as a small trailer full of household goods, and blowing up the tranny was not one of my biggest concerns. It was not even in my top 3 concerns :lol:

[Nate's Alero]

Both the 4T40E and the 4T45E in the alero is intended to propel similar loads of weight. The biggest issue besides the additional weight itself is not which drivetrain you have, but the way you drive it and the distance you are traveling. I've carried 8 or 9 people in my alero before which is about the same weight as a small trailer full of household goods, and blowing up the tranny was not one of my biggest concerns. It was not even in my top 3 concerns :lol:

i like my 4T45E it shifts nice, but i dont EVER beat on my car, its like never past 1/4 throttle

[colonel6632]

well on the u-haul site it says my car is ok to pull... so i assume they would let me.

and here is the trailer
http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.aspx?equipment=trailer-4x8

i'm pretty sure my 5 speed can pull it. if the 3400 can... and i also have had alot of people in my car... it wasn't near as fast... but it went.

the trip is about 500 - 550km drive... flat for the most part.
and i worry about the transmission.... i think a tranny cooler would help it

[AbHeLlRaZoR]

I would suggest renting a U-Haul van instead and rent an car trailer to tow your car behind that.

[Vic28]

I think you can.. but I dont know what are you hauling in the trailer.
His is 5-speed also.
http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19313&highlight=atv

[CactusWill]

well on the u-haul site it says my car is ok to pull... so i assume they would let me.

and here is the trailer
http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.aspx?equipment=trailer-4x8

i'm pretty sure my 5 speed can pull it. if the 3400 can... and i also have had alot of people in my car... it wasn't near as fast... but it went.

the trip is about 500 - 550km drive... flat for the most part.
and i worry about the transmission.... i think a tranny cooler would help it


So you don't even have the auto transmission? What are you worried about then?

[colonel6632]

I would suggest renting a U-Haul van instead and rent an car trailer to tow your car behind that.

http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.aspx?equipment=truck-10

those are mighty expensive... for my trip about $450
and then they get about 12mpg.

now i know i won't be getting 38 mpg... but i sure as hell should get better than 12. even if i have to use 4th gear the whole time

[AbHeLlRaZoR]

LOL yeah, good point

[Vinalero]

If you are doing highway, once you have reached your speed, I would go in 5th, whats the difference really btw pulling 1000lbs of trailer, and having 4 ppl weighting 200lbs in the car + luggages?

If there are lots of hills with a speed limit of 80 or 90, well yeah 4th is better.

[TheEdgeofSanity]

you will be fine... just read your manual for instructions about proper weight distribution and don't drive like you are in the Indy 500 and you will be fine. if I remember correctly, Ion C2 has a hidden hitch for sale and he could prolly ship it to you cheap. id PM him if you are interested.

[Caboose73]

You will be fine my rents towed a 5'x10' trailer fully loaded from MT Airy N.C to Billerica M.A and the car did fine and is still doing fine and that was almost an 800 mile trip threw mountains and shit.

[jayson_waltz]

if you can't pull that little trailer with your car (especially a 5 speed), you need a different car. god we got a 95 hp 4 cyl 5 speed ranger that has been bottomed out with wood in the box, and pulling 3 snowmobiles on a trailer at the same time. it survived just fine once it got rolling.

[undersc0re]

I have a 2001 2.4 alero 5 spd and it has been towing a trailer 4x8 with a snowmobile or a bunch of garbage, home improvement materials or full of soil etc...for last 5 years, just drive like grandma and be easy on the acceleration and braking of course. No problems here...yet.

[Redog]

Paying a little more now for a truck, better than paying of a tranny later.

I wouldn't do it. I considered doing it for ASS, but ruled agasint it

[colonel6632]

thanks for the help guys... i think i'm going to do it... but i'm going to install a tranny cooler and temp gauge to be sure... anyone got links? i'll search right away