Please clarify towing this travel trailer....

Hi all. I have a 2013 Double Cab with the 4.6 and tow package with the Tow/Haul button. We just bought a travel trailer and one of the members in the camping forum when I asked about a WDH said that I am at the lower end of the towing capacity and that I should focus more on payload. My payload is 1335 lbs. What do you guys think? It is a dual axle trailer.

 

Your picture shows up blurry on my phone but Netmonkey did a good job laying out the GVWR/ payload/ tongue weight calculations and measurements you need here:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/questions-about-payload-and-gvwr.71074/

 

I tried different pics...maybe they are easier to see.

 

Tongue weight on that trailer should be around 600lbs so you should be fine assuming you aren’t trying to take 5 people the dog and a bunch of stuff in the bed. Only way to know for sure is to hit a scale all hitched and loaded.

 

I'll have to look and see where I saw it but the tongue weight is 410 lbs. I need to start by having the truck itself weighed since there are mods on it.

 

Tongue weight is not constant depending on the loaded weight of the trailer and how it is distributed. FYI. The weight stated is Dry tongue weight, with the trailer empty how it came from the factory. A rough calculation is usually 10-15 percent of the total trailer weight after loaded.

For instance if you loaded a thousand pounds of gear into the nose of the trailer it would increase substantially. Not that you would do that but just conveying a point.

 

Dry tongue weight of 410 dies not count propane tanks, battery, and all the tools you have in the front of the camper. I agree 600 is a better number. Then figure out the weight of the truck and taken the additional weight from now over from the factory off the payload minus 600 and you have your legal limit to have in the truck.
I have had 3 campers on the 4.6 tundra double cab in the similar dry range of 3300-4500# and 23-25’ inside the box size. The 3300 dry wasn’t even 4K loaded and I did regular hitch pull but with the proper drop to ga e the camper level due to my lift. It was fine for the under 1 hour trips to local camping areas.
The 4500 dry was pushing 6k pounds loaded and 28’ overall length and I appreciated the WDH with sway on the highway especially when semis and cross wind came into play.
I would personally say to get on even if it’s a budget setup from etrailer.com or where ever if you are going very far or very fast. It’s A tool that can provide added safety and comfort.

 

Yes I am planning on getting a WDH regardless just to have as a safety measure. You dont see any issues with the 4.6 pulling the weight of this trailer? I'm on a 3/2 coilover/shackle lift and I'm going to start with a 2" drop hitch.

 

Your friend on the camping forum must be driving a 3/4 ton diesel. I see 6000 pounds dry weight on the camper tags. That will put you not at the lower end, but probably at the upper end of your Tundra capability, and then you'll have to load with care. All the Tundra ratings have to checked using the weights that will be loaded, not just the dry tongue weight and passengers weight.

Read your Owner Manual for some good information: Sec 4-1, Before Driving; Cargo and Luggage, Vehicle load limits, and Trailer towing. Owner Manual recommends two axles over 3000lbs, sway control device over 2000 lbs, WDH over 5000lbs gross trailer weight.

 

Thanks. It is a dual axle trailer and I am looking into a WDH. Just making sure the truck can handle it without issues. Yeah I took that guys advice as a grain of salt.

 

That trailer has a huge carrying capacity! Dry weight 3800 gvwr 6k!!!

you will be more than fine with that trailer. I would absolutely use a wdh as it will help with sway as well.

 

My bad. You are correct. I see 6000 is the GVWR now. Dry weight 3844 pounds.

 

I think you’ll be ok. If you get up to 6000 with a fully loaded truck your gonna feel it. Dry weight will be easy for your rig. It’s all the add on that’ll get you. Whenever you can carry weight in the trailer so the trailer axles carry it and don’t chip away at your payload too bad.

 

I highly doubt you’ll be packing 2500 lbs of camping stuff, enjoy camping!

 

It’s funny how fast it adds up!! Dry weight 3800 pounds, two tanks at 40 gallons full is another 640 lbs, two batteries with boxes and wiring is another 100, propane tanks is another 65, dishes, cooking stuff, fridge full of food and drinks, dishes, clothes (my wife takes 3 damn suitcases for a weekend getaway), bikes, iPads, sewer hoses, water hose, leveling blocks, generator, gas, tank treatment, games, camping chairs, bedding, cleaning supplies, etc... even if all the gear was only 400pounds (which is a bit conservative especially with a generator and a family of 3)that’s already an additional 1205 lbs. now your at 5000. Tounge weight of 500 to 750 lbs. add passengers to truck(2smaller people would be around 320 Lbs)gas to truck (200lbs), mods,WDH, any gear in truck, and that payload drops like a stone! I agree with you just saying it’s adds up really fast!

 

you’ll make it I have a 3/2 With shackles also. Not going to win any races and would be slow on mountains but will be fine. Just load it level. On my lighter one I used a 4” drop hitch.

 

FYI most WD hitches have adjustable hitch ball heights so you just pick which setting you need. So probably no need for a drop hitch just use the WDH setting that fits your truck when you level your hitch initially.

 

Sweet! I'll look into it.

 

Watch the setup videos online. I have a husky centerline Ts hitch, very clear videos on YouTube to make sure you have the height and angle perfect

 

My TT weighs a little over 5500 unloaded. I'm guessing around 7000 loaded. Get a good WDH and dont worry. But dont worry the payload police will chime in. I look at it this way, my 2008 Honda Ridgeline had a pay load of 1500 for a unibody truck! The tundra is way more truck. BTW I have the husky TS WDH its a nice hitch. Just set it up properly.

-Jason