Can the tundra handle this?

Could our trucks handle this atv carrier? Atv weighs 400lbs wet.

 

Look at the weight rating tags in your door. 400 lb ATV should be fine. Hitch weight and payload are both over that.

 

What does the carrier weigh?

 

I know the tongue weight rating is higher than this setup, but i can understand if the forces are a little different in that there are no wheels on the other side of that trailer tongue?


Carrier weighs up to 116lbs

 

True. The leverage would be something to account for, but that's above my pay grade. I don't see why you wouldn't just put the ATV in the bed. It's already eating a bunch of payload, so it's not like you can load the bed up with a bunch anyway. Just my thoughts.

 

This is for a truck with a camper shell...

 

Aaaah. That would be why I didn't think of it. Lol

 

What does the camper shell weigh, and what is in the bed

 

On stock leafs??

 

Yes stock leafs. Assuming bed load is just a sleeping bag and ice chest. If the total load is under the payload for example

 

Jeff, is the atv too big to go in the bed with your cap?
My 2015 leafs....before getting Deavers, but I know even Deavers can fail as said in Alex’s leaf update thread.

 

You probably can load the atv on the trailer hitch but just watch how much you squat and keep the bed as light as possible.

 

I put on a 350lb jet ski on a carrier, then my boat behind that. Besides needing airbags, seems fine. Boat is probably another 3 or 400 tounge weight. Only wierd thing is the hitch angles down slightly to account for stock rake is my only guess. When loaded/lifted it makes it exaggerated.

 

The leverage from that being feet away from your truck is enormous. Think of a bowling ball on the end of a broom handle, you’d never be able to pick that up. If I’m understanding, you’re looking at this in combo with a camper in the bed? No way you’re under payload with that atv in that spot. Get a trailer....

 

Problem solved

 

“Camper shell” sounds more like a fiberglass shell/ topper than a slide in/ cab over type camper. But I could be wrong.

 

Regardless of what’s going on the bed, his payload would be maxed out with that atv setup and anything else in/on the bed is just gonna exacerbate the problem.

 

Yes its just a leer camper shell on his truck. His atv wont fit under the shell thus the reason for looking at this
For a friends truck. 08 i think, all stock.

 

If it were me, I’d get a used trailer, do an over-under axle lift to gain 6” of clearance and throw on the biggest tires you can cram. That trailer would follow the truck anywhere and be much better for suspension and mpg.

 

Max tongue weight is like 900lbs. Should be fine. Take it slow over bumps. I’ve had a double dirt bike carrier on mine with about 500lbs and no issues. I was more afraid of the rack breaking. And careful on inclines and dips, the back of the rack will be really easy to drag.

 

Yeah this is just transport needs. He isn’t wheeling the truck

 

I had a very similar set up behind my first gen, no issues even with a dirt bike and gear in the bed. You just need to be aware of dragging it when going in or out of driveways as Joonbug mentioned...gotta drive it like a lowered mini truck and hit everything at a 45 degree angle

 

It seems like the obvious answer to most people here is to get a trailer, but there are a few advantages to a set up like this that makes it worth the research and effort. When towing a trailer in CA you have to drive in the right lane only except to pass, no car pool lane, and 55 MPH max no matter how small it is. Also storage of a trailer vs the hitch hauler when not in use.

 

I wouldn’t use it in my tundra.

The weight x the center of gravity distance to the hitch is the moment the hitch bracket to the frame has to resist.

The 900# tongue weight limit x the distance from the hitch to the ball is WAY less than what you are looking at in the photo.

that thing is going to bounce and put a lot of stress on things.

 

If you drive over bumps with a trailer isn’t that the same force

 

Same weight but different moment due to the way way way longer moment arm.

think of turning a bolt - std wrench vs a breaker bar or cheater pipe over the wrench. Force multiplier.

 

There are some engineering variables since the draw bar is 3 feet long vs 9 inches or what ever a standard draw bar is. 300 pounds input on a 9" ratchet is less torque than a 3 foot one. But the quad carrier force is spread over the 3 feet, not at the end of it like a hitch, so there's some math to figure what it really is. In my opinion and experience it's fine. Others may not be comfortable. Do what makes you comfortable.

 

Oooooh ok get it now. It’s as if you had the trailer attached to a 3 foot long hitch insert

 

And to think, at its furthest point its like 5ft away from the truck (my best guess). Imagine what you could turn with a 5’ breaker bar to put it in perspective. My money would be on the atv hitch arm snapping before the tundras hitch fails. That bouncing takes a toll.

edit: I towed many a golf car (up to 12 at a time) for a few years and know what these things can do to a trailer...