Tundra towing mods

I said “if”. It was a hypothetical. And no, I cannot personally change the gvwr. Only the manufacturer can do that. So yes, no matter what upgrades I do to the truck, the information on that sticker stays the same. Like when I put 295/70R18 tires on my truck. The sticker still says 265/75R18. But, trust me, the tires are definitely, without a doubt 295s

 

Here’s the link for that thread about the trans cooler install.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/install-complete-on-additional-transmission-cooler.12385/

 

I suspect this is turning into one of those things like ColoradoTJ mentioned...

Clearly I understand that the sticker refers to the factory equipment on the truck. But regardless of what parts you change out, or what payload you think your truck can handle, you shouldn’t exceed gvwr.

A basic dc 2wd tundra has about 1700 lb max payload based on the simple math of gvwr minus curb weight. While a different set of leafs can theoretically handle more weight, it doesn’t increase the payload to 2100 lbs in terms of the gvwr. Plus you’re potentially introducing more stress to other things like your wheel bearings. We don’t know what the limiting factor was that set the gvwr on the Tundra, so even if you fully upgrade the suspension and axle, you’re potentially still in unsafe territory.

It’s your truck and you seem to have a lot of experience towing. You might consider getting on some scales the next time you’re loaded up.

 

Almost anything short of a small trailer will exceed the payload on a Tundra. My trailer's tongue weight of only 550lbs will max out my payload when I put a 3K generator in the back with four adults and a dog and my TT is only 23.5' long and weights 5.5K loaded. The reality is that almost every TT you pull with a loaded Tundra for the trip will exceed the payload.

I guess my point is common sense and experience to know how the truck is handling any certain towing scenario should trump the door decal.

 

There is a big difference between someone being slightly over payload, and WAY over payload. Just because someone is experienced doesn’t make it ok to be well over your trucks GVWR, regardless of what upgrades they have done.

 

Let face facts, 90 percent of us are over payload so common sense must kick in. You can have one Tundra slightly over or at payload and because of a poorly set up truck and trailer be way more dangerous on the road then say a guy pulling his fifth wheel with a properly equipped Tundra and trailer.

 

What kind of logic is that?! Some other people do more dangerous things with bumper pull trailers so it makes him towing a 5th wheel in a Tundra ok? There is no way to justify towing a full sized 5th wheel with a Tundra, the numbers aren’t even close to adding up. It’s unsafe for his family and everyone else on the road, not that any of this will change your mind.

 

I will use tundraflyguy’s 17 dc trd pro as an example (no intention to single him out but he has provided us with some weights of his trailer setup earlier in the thread).

He could confirm with his sticker, but we’ll assume he has a payload of 1600 lbs. 5th wheel hitch may be another 200. Running boards another 100. 10 ply tires weigh a fair bit more than the stock tires, probably another 50 lbs minimum. So before dropping the trailer on it the truck is down to 1250 lbs remaining for payload.

He said he’s probably at 2000-2100 lbs pin weight with a fully loaded trailer. Now add another passenger (100-150 lbs) and it’s somewhere around 1000 lbs over the payload rating.

This is just a quick assessment without verified numbers, but to me this doesn’t look like it’s barely over the max payload. It’s way over the max.

 

I wasnt refering back to the OP. There are many who tow smaller 5th wheels with a Tundra and yes they are over payload but I would rather be 500lbs over payload with a 5th wheel then say 200lbs over payload with a TT. A 5th wheel will always tow better.

 

There's more to safety than just a piece of paper.
- Experience of driver
- Road conditions
- Speed
- Weather
- Traffic

But towing that max weight 5th wheel certainly has reduced safety margin, which is what you need when there's emergency (ie. need to slam on the brakes.) Toyota no doubt built some margin into their numbers, we don't know how much. Some would say there's no margin remaining at all. You can 'create' more margin by reducing your speed (eg. drive at 60 even when others are going 70)

 

https://youtu.be/vuaJHn0smF0

 

Brakedust, you have made it very clear on the airbags with WDH thread that you are just winging everything related to towing. It’s just the same thing again talking about “safety margin”. Willard did an excellent job in post #71 breaking down that this 5th wheel is realistically about 1,000 pounds over payload. This is a safety hazard to everyone on the road regardless of the drivers experience and the conditions. Not going to continue with this thread, this 5th wheel needs an HD truck.

 

My 2,100 pound payload was including my passengers. The hitch doesn’t weigh 200 pounds either. About 80. I can pick it myself and take it out of the truck. I calculated everything except the added weight of 10 ply tires. I didn’t think about that. But that is un sprung weight, so is that really payload?

 

That transmission temp drop is due to the transmission torque converter locking out. Heat up to 230 is from torque converter slip, when you downshifted it allowed the converter to lock thus reducing the temp. The factory engine Thermostat is 180 F so at 185 the thermostat is already open.

 

Yes, it counts against payload. Payload is just gvwr minus curb weight. Increase curb weight and you decrease payload, even if it’s unsprung weight.

Again, gvwr/payload isn’t necessarily about how much weight you can put in the bed. So many other parts of the truck are stressed as the curb weight increases. Brakes, bearings, etc.

 

Isnt it great when people claim they can add new tires or suspension components and that allows them to go 1000lb over payload?

https://www.tundras.com/threads/what-you-can-actually-tow-video.84129/

 

We just bought a TT back in February. First thing I did was put on PowerStop Z36 pads and rotors.

 

I'm not winging it, just stating facts.

A trailer & truck at rest is "safe" by any definition. It's not moving, hence no one is going to be harmed. You can overload it by 10k pounds, still safe. Now move that combo at 5MPH - still probably safe. Move it at 15MPH, likely still safe. But eventually you'll reach a point where it's not safe.

Manufacturers arrive at the numbers they provide by factoring in many variables
- Government regulations
- Their own testing
- Mechanical limits of the components
- Anticipated load variation at speed (ie. when hitting a bump at 75 MPH)

As for the airbags, I won't run them so I don't care what you do.

FWIW I think the 5th wheel deserves an HD truck as well, but if he doesn't upgrade he can slow down in the meantime.

 

I am now towing a 31 foot TT that goes about 6250 dry, 650 lbs. tongue weight. I have a cab high shell on truck 250 lbs, a Hensley hitch 200 lbs., 400 lbs of people, about 200 pounds of gear in truck, and about 3-400 pounds in trailer. My total loaded weight must be around, 2000lbs. or so. Payload in my 2017 TRD 4x4 DC is 1320lbs.
My towing experience was horrible. Hitch works great however the ride was squishy, and braking was a challenge. I previously towed a 27 foot trailer that went about 5K dry with no issues at all. I'm thinking of upgrading stock shocks prior to my next tow. Any suggestions? Preliminary thought is 5100's and Sumo springs. If I can't get this dialed in, I will be forced to trade for a 3/4 ton gasser. I've owned diesels and do not wish to own another. I also want to be safe for other people on the road, as well as my family. Thank you in advance for your replies.

 

Taking off the canopy and moving as much of the gear as possible to your trailer might help also. I have a similar trailer, just bought a 3/4 ton gasser last weekend to replace my Tundra. I think your last trailer was about the ideal max size for these Tundras.

 

Which truck did you get?

 

GMC AT4 2500. Going camping this weekend, can’t wait to see how it tows. I have a Grand Design 2800BH, the Tundra did ok locally but not as well on the long ones like Yellowstone. Never hauled water and avoided putting any of the weight in the truck.

 

Congrats! No worries about payload Damn

 

Payload is just under 3,600 for mine, I can literally pack whatever I want now!

 

Thanks! It is a gasser, special ordered it before Christmas. Had to stick to the budget and honestly diesel would overkill for my trailer. By the time we might consider a 5th wheel I will probably have 150k on this truck and be ready for a new one.