Travel trailer Recommendations

My family and I don’t mean immediate are starting to look for travel trailers. My dad, sister and I all have Tundras in different models from 2014-2017. For those that were in the same place at one point of fighting the Tundra’s payload capacity, where would you recommend we start for a light-weight trailer? We have up to 40’ ft of side yard storage but guessing we won’t ever be able to take advantage of that kind of length due to our payload numbers. Here’s our trucks below:

2014, double cab, limited, TRD.
2016, crewmax, SR5 upgrade, TRD
2017, crewmax, SR5 upgrade, 2wd 4.6

Thanks!

 

Maybe a better question. Say a dry height weight is 290 lbs. If you take your ice chest, gear bags etc, and put them in the trailer rather than truck, does it have less effect on the payload number? For example, if you had 300 lbs of gear and put it in the trailer rather than bed I’d truck, would it only increase the dry hitch weight of the trailer by say 100 lbs or less?

 

Correct. Adding the gear to the trailer will only put a portion of the weight on the tongue. Depending on where it is loaded in trailer.

If you had a toy hauler for example and drove a utv into it, you could in theory lower the tongue weight if the entire utv was behind the trailers axles

Or if you put an extra propane tank on the tongue directly, 99% of the weight is on the hitch

 

Ok, so help me walk through this. I checked my sticker on the door and my payload is 1240. I have a 175 camper shell, say 250 lbs for me, 140 lbs for the wife, 30 lbs for the kid and car seat plus an 80 lbs lab. That leaves me roughly 700 lbs to play with. If we go with this particular trailer and the dry hitch weight of 290. I only have 390 left? This isn’t including ice chest, gear bags etc. I’ve never towed anything of this size before, only a small ATV trailer with my quad. I’m kinda in the camp or not nearing my max payload but willing to admit I’m ignorant when it comes to towing travel trailers. Any thoughts or input for a rookie?

 

I think your logic and thinking are correct.

I have never looked up for the tundra, but when i had my chevy the specs for payload included 250lb assumption for a driver. So if toyota does the same thing, then you have more to spare than you’re calculating.

Our trucks are huge, but they are also very heavy. So 1200 seems like a small payload, but we alreay weigh almost 6k

 

Hmmmm never thought of Toyota including a driver in their payload number, that would be comforting to me knowing this but I’ll check in manual before assuming. I just want to be safe towing for my only family’s sake and everyone else out of the roads around me.

 

Even with e rated tires, i think many many people with half ton trucks are towing way too big of a trailer. Just my opinion but you never want to be pulling too much weight and heaven forbid crash into someone. Attorney will eat you up

 

I understand what you’re saying. Hmmm hmmm hmmmm hmmm.

 

Average 1st time buyer of a camper sells or trades it within 18 months. Really think it through as to what you need and dont need in a camper. With a 1/2ton, I wouldnt want anything bigger than a 27ft ultra light.
I love my 2018 Jayco 23rls, 4998lbs dry (24ft Camper Box)....but I admit, a couple more feet/storage might* be worth another 400lbs weight if it was more than just me and a dog. This model is actually 27'3" tip to tail, easy to maneuver, and pulled like a dream behind my 16 GMC, havent given it a pull with the Tundra yet.

 

We’re looking at a 16’ dual axle Camplite. Dry weight is 3160 lbs.

 

You will be fine, buy a Weight Distribution Hitch with Sway Control and load up!

 

Yes, plan to. So with a WDH, is it possible to maintain that dry hitch weight while loading all our crap in the trailer, or potentially even reducing it?

 

I'd hate to piss off a Trailering Guru or Engineering Grad, but I dont think it works exactly like that. Tongue weight is more determined by load distribution. BTW, what are you planning on loading? UltraLite trailer have ultralight load ratings themselves. Im limited to 1600lbs additional in my trailer, and you can reach than number faster than you think.

 

Nothing too crazy. Ice chest, sleeping stuff, utincles, beer, ya lots of beer. Fishing gear probably too. Propane tanks, batteries on the trailer. Camping chairs, tables

 

There are fantastic videos on youtube regarding WD systems, I recommend Haylett RVs channel, he has a great section on hitches, loading, maintenance, tips, tricks, etc.

 

Ok, thanks.