What do you TOW with your Tundra?

Still too long for my taste, but that's pretty good for weight, as long as you dont have to add much to it.

 

My only question from reading is that the real tongue weight isn’t as simple as hitch weight, propane, battery, and wdh is it? Since cargo in the trailer somewhat balances it out correct? All those weights plus our body weight is right at payload max. I don’t see how so many people stay under weight with bigger trailers and their tundra

 

Simply put, they don't. 90% of the trucks that are half tons pulling trailers over 25 ft long are overweight. Half ton trucks are not designed to tow huge trailers. That's what 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks are for.

The real tongue weight is never as simple as just the dry weight Plus batteries and such. Anything else put into the trailer, any additional dealer options, it's all going to add to it. There are ways to help balance that by putting more weight towards the rear of the trailer, but you want more weight at the front to maintain stability while Towing.

 

This is one of the models I'm looking at. Have a 2020 TRD Pro crew cab.

 

Yeah I was thinking luggage and weight over the trailer axles and not way towards the back. Super frustrating how limiting the payload is for the tundra

 

It's just a half ton truck, man. I feel your pain though. It just so happens that for me it's perfect, because I don't ever want a huge trailer. Easy to say when you're single and only have a little dog.

I honestly don't think that being a couple hundred pounds over your payload is going to do anything drastic, but it is a liability issue. The trailers you are looking at scare me way more because of their length than their tongue weight. If you could do one without a slide out, or knock 5 feet off the length then I think it'd help your numbers.

 

That length is from rear bumper to tongue, so actual trailer is 27-28’ I think. Not short, but definitely not over 30’

 

I hear you. My preference is for 20 feet or less, though. Like I said, easy for me as a solo act.

 

Blue Ridge Parkway last week-

 

Need details on that trailer...looks very cool.

 

i agree with this too. I used to pull a 26ft camper with a Ford Expedition, did OK but not perfect. You could really feel the wind.

with my current 20ft camper, the tundra pulls it up any grade like it’s nothing. I just went up the grapevine at 55-60mph, effortless.

the length of the trailer can exert force on the truck as well as the weight. These 30 ft campers concern me when you have a strong crosswind. Thats where the sheer weight and frame stiffness of a 3/4ton would make me more comfortable

 

While those standards arguably determine a duty, the violation of those standards still must be a cause of the collision in order to be held liable to a party of the collision. And no I don’t believe your insurance company would deny coverage for being overweight.

ETA I am in no way advocating overloading any vehicle.

 

I’m familiar with the jury instructions in my jurisdiction and will stand by my previous post.

 

It's just a risk is all. I feel slightly hypocritical though, because I'm 90% sure I'll be a a wee bit over my payload if I ever get a toyhauler.

 

Needs a WDH with sway control

 

This is what we currently tow for camping. It's a 33' long 2018 Jayco SLX 287BHS.

The truck is stock except for the aftermarket tow mirrors (power, heat, BSM), a BedRug, and 275/70/18 St Maxx's.

The Tundra pulls the weight just fine but if there is a significant cross-wind (20-25 mph and gusty) it can get sporty.

I weighed the above load out at our local garbage dump, which has a weigh in-weigh out setup. A tent, chairs, clothes, food/drink, and general kitchen supplies were in the trailer with all water tanks empty. There were also 2 full 20# propane tanks on the front. In the rear seat area of the truck I had tools and grilling equipment. In the bed were 6 bikes (3 adult and 3 kiddie), Weber charcoal grill, firewood for 2 days, and 10 12" long 4x6 cedar blocks that I use to put under the jack stands. I was alone in the truck with a full tank of gas.

When I pulled the whole thing onto the scales the combined weight was 13,360.

I then pulled forward until just the trailer wheels were on the scale and that was 6060.
Next, I disconnected and weighed the truck separately with the 1000# Curt WD hitch and bars still attached...6540.

13,360-6540 gives me a trailer weight of 6820.
6820-6060=760 on the hitch.
760/6820 = 11% tongue weight.

My Tundra's max weight is 7200 and it weighed 6540 giving me an available payload of 660. Since there was 760 on the tongue, that put me 100#'s over payload. That could've been remedied by moving the cedar blocks into the trailer as they were pretty close to 100#'s, but I didnt bother because they had a bunch of crickets and earwigs on them from sitting in the grass.

With tow mode on and driving in S4, it did great, handles the weight just fine, but like I said if it's windy it starts to push me around pretty good. A couple of years ago I pulled a 4k# BobCat on a 2500# trailer with no problems and it was very stable since it was just a hunk of metal back there with no sail action. I am going to order the TRD rear sway bar soon to help stiffen it up some.

The Tundra is maxed out with our current camping load-out and no one else can ride with me but our solution is having Mamma Bear follow in the Sienna with the 4 boys.

Even though I'm technically pulling 3k below the max tow rating, you can see that I'm pretty much maxed out. I could gain some by moving stuff from the truck to the trailer (7500# rating) but the interior is still in great condition and I dont want to ding it up with bikes and grilling gear.

Any increase in TT size/weight is going to mean trading the Tundra in for a 2500/3500 gasser but I cant bring myself to do it...yet. The other issue is being able to put all 6 of us in one vehicle. When I first got the Tundra I didnt think it would be that big of a deal but it's starting to become a PITA. We'd like to do some real cross-country trips but aren't going to do that with 2 vehicles.

 

Your tow mirrors have the BSM? Do you have a Platinum or Limited with TRD OR package? Thinking about tow mirrors for my truck.

 

The truck is a straight SR5 but it has the convenient package which includes F/R park assist, BSM, and cross-traffic alert.

It did not come with tow mirrors and since the OEM tow mirrors are not BSM compatible, I went with Trail Ridge for about $250 IIRC. The vibration complaints about them are valid, however, other than that they work great. Upper lense is powered and heated and the BSM works.

Installation was pretty easy but I would highly recommend getting some plastic interior panel removal tools from Amazon for about $10. Worth every penny.

 

Well F me. Everyone I talked to told me you could only get BSM and sensors on Limited and Platinum and my wife insisted on that crap. I would have gone TRD Off Road with a long bed in a heartbeat. I get more disappointed with this truck every time I log on here, lol.

 

great research. I know exactly what you mean in comparing the bobcat load. I hauled bobcat in the past as well as a heavy truck. 7k for the truck including the trailer, and it pulled way smoother than my 4k lb camper. The wind signature is a massive difference. Just like lifting the front our trucks up 3 inches results in worse mpg just from the taller profile.

Man, 4 boys, you’re brave. Once they grow up a little you’ll be way overloaded lol.

i do have one thought, moving weight from the truck to the trailer is balancing the gvwr of the rigs, however it seems like the heavier the truck is in relation to the trailer, the more stability you’ll have against sway?

 

2020 Oliver Legacy Elite ll. There is a YouTube video that will give you lots of details.

 

Those are some sweet trailers and exceptional quality but I was floored on the $$$$ amount.

 

My 7’x14” motorcycle trailer on our way to Colorado

 

Your on your way to Colorado. That trailer better be full of enduros.

 

In my younger days.... yes....
Now, Just our Harley (Old man bike) lol.

 

Hi all, new to the forum. Anyone pulling a 5th wheel? I'm looking at a 27ft, dry weight 5800lbs / GVWR 7000lbs will that work or is that too much of a concern weight wise? Would like to tow around the states and wonder how the Tundra would handle the hills with that much weight. Any help will be greatly appreciated

 

Not enough info to know if it is a concern. The overall weights you listed are withing the capabilities of the Tundra, but that's not where the problem usually lies. Your payload capacity is what will bite you first, and most 5th wheel trailers I've seen, especially at the length you've listed, are way over what the Tundra is rated for on payload.

Welcome to the forum.

 

What model are you looking at. Weight is OK but what is the pin weight? Watch out for the weight police on the forum.

 

I highly doubt you have the payload to cover just the pin weight unless you have the base truck with either regular cab or double cab

 

Hitch weight is at 1060lbs