Towing through Toronto

[JayC]

I soon head out on a 14 day trip to the Kingston/1000 Islands area. I am going to have to travel through Toronto from east to west on a Monday. I have done this many times but never towing a trailer. My experience with traffic through there makes me nervous to tow. Are there any members here with tips or suggestions for me. Should I take the 407 all the way or should I stick to the 401.

[suzieshome]

How was the drive? Did you take the 407?

[Roadwarrior56]

I'd stick to the 401, avoid the morning and afternoon "rush hour", and just take it easy.

[TommyAjax]

I just pulled my pop-up from Oshawa to Beamsville on Thurs Jul 02 - took the 401 to the 403 and used the Pan Am HOV lanes. Got on the 401 at Thickson at about 10am and was clear sailing from Ajax to past the DVP when the HOV lanes ended. They start again in the collector lanes around the 400 interchange.

I had called ahead to the Whitby OPP detachment to confirm that I could use the Pan Am HOV lanes and they said that as long as I had 3 or more people in the tow vehicle I was fine as it wasn't a commercial vehicle.

The 407 is good as well and always is moving but if you don't have a transponder, you get hit with an extra $4 video toll charge plus the weekday mileage rate is $0.26/km for non-rush hour. There is a toll calculator on their website and Brock Rd to West end 401 on a weekday is $23.61 without a transponder. Nice thing is that they don't charge extra for a trailer (or I never was pulling the pop-up).

Plus you have to take into account getting from the 401 up to the 407.

[JayC]

I've been thinking staying on the 401 would be the better choice. I am thinking if I can time it to be going through around 10:30 then I should miss morning rush even though it always seems like rush hr.
Interesting about the HOV lanes. Wonder what they would think of 27ft trailer in them, there will be 4 of Us in my truck!
i am just going to take it easy like Roadwarrior56 said.

[kayakparrothead]

On the 401 keep in the right hand lane, stay at about 105 and avoid the rush hours. The 407 is much less stress and sometimes worth the 25 bucks. Also rush hour is never a problem. Getting of at the east end is wonky but west bound is a breeze.

[TrustedTraveller]

Its been my experience that there really is no "non rush hour" while going through the Toronto Area, I would try and hit it around 5am at the latest, then be done with it before the real heavy traffic hits. Especially with the PanAm games the traffic volume is going to be even more unpredictable.

[ocps9823]

I drive that route all the time.

Go for the 401, I just can't stand being ripped off by a foreign conglomerate to drive on a road built by the province.

As said above I would plan to hit the airport area of the 401 around 11am. Take your time and pack your patience.

Once past the Whitby / Ajax area stop at one of the On Route Rest Stops. Stretch your legs and get a Tim Hortons. Works for me every time.

Enjoy your trip.

[JayC]

Alright, was easier then I thought. Rolled into Toronto area on the 401 at 10:50. Traffic was heavy but moved at 100km/h most of the way. Slowed down to about 80km at the 400 interchange but picked right back up shortly after. Pulled into the OnRoute at Port Hope at 12:05
Thx for the tips, they certainly helped.