What do you TOW with your Tundra?

I expected to have a few issues and hopefully nothing major pops up. It was one of the reasons we went with Grand Design along with the 3 year warranty and their reputation for customer service.

 

My dealer was pretty much useless as far as the problems I had. New that going in based on my visit to buy the TT. The price was very good so decided to buy. Forest River corporate was actually good to deal with.

 

I'm not understanding what "GD" is, please explain. I am an avid camper for many years and have never heard this term.

 

Thanks for the information. I will check that out.
That’s exactly where I noticed the water coming in also. It would collect on top of the schwintek rail and then run down into the floor.

 

Sorry it’s Grand Design. It’s a manufacturer.

 

Would you still have bought it if you knew of the slide leak?

 

Knowing now that the leak was easily fixed I would definitely buy it again. Initially when I saw the water inside our brand new trailer my heart sunk though. Hopefully all is good now.

 

This is great info! I’m going to take a look at that. Thank you

 

You are welcome. It completely fixed the problem.

 

Boy I’m going to look that up also as a PM for our Winnie Micro Minnie! Your suggestion of joining GD Facebook site is spot on. I’m on a few Winnebago sites and the info/fixes/mods people do is great. Just like this site you can find info on just about any issue your having.

 

You might already know, but Winnebago owns Grand Design.

 

Yep. maybe in a few years we will upgrade to a GD. They are nice.

 

I see all these folks pulling campers and trick rides...
I just seem to work.

 

Skidsteer = air bags?

 

Affirmative.

 

I thought it look pretty level for the weight your carrying. Any idea what the trailer and machine weight?

 

Just a little 16ft landscape trailer for now.
Wife wants to buy a decent sized camper... so that may be in play in a year or two.

 

Skid - 7800/lbs - 3538/kilo
Trailer - 1950ish/lbs - 885/kilo

Pulls and stops better than a gas powered F-250 I had.

 

Nice, your max out and good to hear there are no handling issues.

 

The airbags definitely help.

Cryo rotors and EBC orange stuff do very good.

Those EBC pads will make you feel like you’re in a sports car.

 

If you actually look at specs on older trucks... you'd be amazed how overbuilt these Tundras are.

I bought a brand new Chevy extended cab, long bed dually in 1997. Sticker was $28,600.
It had a 290hp 454 big block, 4L80 trans, 4.10 rear diff with 10.5" ring gear.
Curb weight was around 6000lbs and front brake rotors were 12.5". Rear drums were 13".
I towed a 28ft enclosed race car trailer with a 3000lb car inside it... It towed like a beast "back in the day".
The '93 3/4 ton truck I traded on it was rated at 8600lbs, had a 5.7 motor in it and 9.5" rear diff. It struggled to haul that same race trailer... hence trading up to the dually.


Compare those 1997 and 1993 specs to a 2020 Tundra and you will see how much more truck you get in 2020... compared to back then.

Pound for pound... a new Tundra is every bit as much... and more truck than a fullsize 1-ton big block dually was just 20-ish years ago.

I think the only weakness a Tundra has... is the rear leaf springs.

Otherwise... the horsepower, transmission, gearing, rear diff, etc... all add up to, or exceed a 1-ton dually of years ago.

 

Well, despite the advice from this group, I bought a Coleman 295QBWE. We need the space for three kids under 4.5 y/o.

Had them throw in a 12k Equal-i-zer for the hitch.

I hooked it up and took it to the scales, truck squats 2.5", full tank of gas and a full fresh water tank, which is forward of the axles, 60gal, or about 450lbs.

Here are the numbers:
GVRW: 7200
Payload rating: 1180
Truck with me in it that day: 6300 (with hitch @ 100lbs)
Trailer placard weight: 6300
Trailer that day: 6840 (water weight checks)
Trailer on scale: 6000
Tongue: 840
Total weight: 13,140
Truck total payload: 7160

So...40lbs left for the rest of the fam.

We have a trip planned in two weeks, going to give it a shot. Will obviously dump the water and move cargo to the back to take weight off the tongue. I am at 14% tongue weight, so some room to shift.

To the scale and back it felt fine, no issues other than new trailer brakes not broken in yet. Highway was comfortable at 65 with trucks passing. It will be a slow and cautious trip to see if it works.

I have been shopping for used Rams...

 

I think you will be perfectly fine.

Only thing I would do is throw a set of Firestone airbags in the rear.

 

Let us know how that goes

 

I think you will be fine as well. I would keep the tongue weight at 14%. More tongue weight will help with eliminating sway. I would suggest a set of Sumospring to help with the squat. They are very easy to install. I have a tongue weight of around 550lbs and use them. Work great.

 

60 gallons is a big freshwater tank. Leave it empty until you get to the campground

 

Agreed.
Water = 8.3lbs per gallon.

8.3 x 60 gallons = 498lbs you can easily leave behind.

 

Which ones do you have? Assuming the 47s?

 

I dont recall the number but they are the black ones. Blue are for the lightest loads, black for medium and yellow for heavy. Some on the forum were complaining of a rough ride using the yellow when not towing so I went with the black. I'll go to the yellow when I move to a 5th wheel and sell the black ones.