Trailer weight

So looking at getting a 27 foot travel trailer and curious if the Tunny will be happy pulling it
Like I said it’s a 27 foot weight is 5370lb and a 540lb hitch weight
My trucks a 5.7 with OME leaf pack

 

That’s at the upper limits. I’m assuming those are unloaded numbers? Tongue weight listed on trailer specs is dry, not even propane or battery on the tongue included. The biggest problem will be payload. How much payload do you have available on your door sticker, then subtract you, your passengers, fuel, and anything else in the cab Or added to the truck like armor. What’s left is how much tongue weight you can have.

 

Check your payload numbers- sticker in door jam, driver side. It will tell you the max payload based on your actual truck. Then deduct any gear you carry and you will know that is left for payload/tongue weight.

 

or better yet, go to a truck scale and weigh your truck. Subtract the truck's weight from the GVWR. That is your actual payload.

That is what I did and discovered that I only have about 1100 pounds of payload left.

 

Can look up CAT scales near you - will only cost $11. I just took a dump load and got my weight leaving

 

I feel like this is what i said but with less info make sure you include fuel and passengers in your calculations too.

 

I assume it's not a 5th wheel. Get a weight distribution hitch otherwise that 500 lb tongue weight will exceed what your hitch is rated for. You could play around with moving stuff around but why risk it.

 

This.

OP, you are really at the upper limits. Calculate carefully. The truck will do it. I've towed at my absolute max payload and had no issues. I have a good brake controller and kept it at 65 mph max. However, once you exceed ratings and get in a wreck, you are SOL when it comes to the civil liability lawsuit.

 

The hitch would be fine, but this is where you get into specifics like axle load and safe weigh ton the steering axle. I would definitely use a WDH hitch with anti-sway at these weights, and multiple runs through the CAT scales to figure it all out.

 

The 2" receiver hitch is rated for 500 lbs tongue weight and 5000 towing without a weight distribution hitch. With a weight distribution hitch you get 1000 lbs and 10,000 towing rating for the 2" receiver hitch (the truck rating will be different). Since the OP said 540 lbs tongue weight I wouldn't risk it. Other than extra money for the hitch it's just added safety. The weight distribution hitch will also help remove weight from the rear springs on the Tundra.

 

where are you getting this info from?

 

The hitch and the mount on the tundra can support a 1000 pound tongue weight (and up to 10,000 pounds of trailer weight) with or without a weight distribution hitch. You do not need a WDH to drop 1000 pounds on the hitch. However, you should use a WDH while you are towing heavier loads. This is for control and safety, not for the ability of the hitch and the mount.

The manual recommends that you use a WHD when towing over 5000 pounds. The OP is right on the edge of that recommendation and it is up to him if he wants to use one or not. But he is within the capabilities of the truck and he wont damage the truck if he does not use one. The risk is lack of control and safety rather than truck capabilities.

 

If you carefully read the owner's manual it says "If the gross trailer weight is over2268 kg (5000 lbs), it is necessary to use a weight distributing hitch with sufficient capacity." It also says the tongue weight should be between 9% to 11% (10% is the industry standard). So while the hitch is rated for 10k I would be careful going over 5k without a WD hitch. Again, other than extra cost of the hitch, there's no reason not to use one since it'll transfer some of the tongue weight to the front of the truck and sway control can be added.