What do you TOW with your Tundra?

Okay…now that’s pretty sweet

 

Well, here we went earlier today. Bone stock TTS SR5 Crewmax hauling a 2020 Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite weighing in at 4,171lbs and tail to tounge 28ft.

I drive a 18 wheeler for a living. Going on 9 years. We traveled 30 miles and my fuel mileage dropped to 8.8 on the dash. Could not find the gauge for the trans temp?

At any rate, the Tundra ran like a dream. I dont forsee needing any upgrades to haul this in the near future. Maybe next year when I upgrade.

 

This is one of the trailers I'm interested in so thanks for the info.

 

I forgot to mention the tanks are all empty but I definitely don't see an issue with it fully loaded.

 

There isn't one. You have to get an aftermarket scanner that can read the sensors. Scanguage is a popular option, and the transmission cooler kit thread has some info in the first post on options as well. https://www.tundras.com/threads/tundra-transmission-cooler-kit.60550/

 

I would normally prefer to travel with the tanks empty anyway but I foresee a fight with the wife on that one.

My only concern with that trailer is the dry tongue weight is around 700 lbs whereas I think a Grand Design 2400BH, for example, is closer to 500 lbs.

 

2021 Rockwood Geo Pro 19FD

Been pulling it with my 4Runner, but taking it out soon with the Tundra.

 

This is where I get muddy. Is this different than hitch weight? Because hitch weight on this is 412.

 

As far as I know the terms would be synonymous for this, but hitch weight might be referring to the rating of your truck's receiver (permanently attached to your truck) and the hitch+ball that you are using.

Apologies in advance if I go over something you already know. It's just easier to do it all in one go vs piecemealing it based on individual experiences.

The common term used for the trailer is tongue weight. Tongue weight given by the manufacturer of the trailer is generally a dry weight. That means no propane tanks, no batteries, and the trailer completely empty. It's basically a very low ball number, because you are going to add weight to the trailer and that is going to increase your tongue weight. Generally speaking, you want a tongue weight of about 9-12% of your trailer weight.

You'll want to look in your truck's driver door jamb for the sticker that gives your payload rating, and see if there is a yellow sticker that further reduces your payload rating for add ons. That payload after subtracting the accessory weights is how much weight you can add to the truck and still be in factory limits. This includes, passengers, gear, anything in the cab/bed of the truck, your hitch, and whatever the real tongue weight of the loaded trailer is.

Payload is the kryptonite of the current Tundra. It's hard to get travel trailers with goodies in them and stay within the manufacturer limits. You'll have lots of guys that blow those numbers off saying that anyone who cares about it are just "weight police" and too conservative, blah blah blah. That's a decision you make yourself, but remember that your decision will affect everyone you drive by on the road as well.

That's part of why lots of people recommend finding the trailer you want before buying a truck. Lots of Tundra owners are disappointed when they find out that a 1/2 truck rated to tow 10,000 lbs is going to eat it's payload with a trailer that is nowhere near 10K pounds.

 

Great explanation. I would only add 9-12% of the loaded trailer weight. My GD 22RBE dry tongue weight is speced at about 520. The weight of my loaded trailer, about 5600 lbs, is about 625 on the hitch.

Warning - long story

I have been wanting to change to a DC for more PL and the bigger bed. It's impossible to find a DC locally so I called a dealer about 250 miles away that had the truck I wanted. I asked the salesman to verify the PL on the sticker and he said he would call me back.

He called back and said the PL was 1,800 lbs. This was a 2018 CM Limited so I knew that was BS. I started looking through the pics they had on AutoTrader and fortunately found one of the sticker that showed PL at 1300 lbs.

When he called me back I told him he was mistaken. He then said he talked to his sales manager who told him to let me know I could double the PL by adding "air shocks" to the truck.

This was an actual Toyota dealership.

 

And this is why you don't listen to salesmen. They don't know the product and they sure as hell don't care about you.

 

I towed an 87 C-10 pickup from SC to VA with one of the haul car trailers. Ran 80 most of the way, smooth as could be.

 

Sorry, which exact model do you have? I'm looking at the Forest River website and I don't see a single Rockwood Mini Lite with a tongue weight or dry weight that low.

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/travel-trailers/rockwood-mini-lite

 

Borrowed trailers on the rare instance I need to move the lawnmower or golf cart.

 

Thank you! Up until now I have only towed utility trailers with mowers and loads to the dump so I am getting a lot reading these experiences.

 

Well I'm not near the paperwork to dig up the brochure info or book info. I was looking online yesterday and found the hitch weight listed but I'm sure it's wrong on this site or not what we are talking about.

https://www.rvusa.com/rv-guide/2020...i-lite-travel-trailer-floorplan-2109s-tr45036

 

Rented this guy over Labor Day weekend truck did great. Had a great time with the family!

 

Usually just the 4 wheeler to go out and play.

 

In the process of adjusting the WDH this morning. 380 more break in miles before towing this.

 

I don’t want to hijack this thread, but what scale are you using to confirm your trailer weight?

 

I use a bathroom scale for tongue weight and will hit the CAT scale at a nearby truckstop for both truck axles and total trailer weight. You can get the app or go inside for your weight ticket.

When using a bathroom scale there's a procedure to follow so your scale isn't overloaded. Too lengthy to describe here by google knows and tells.

 

I have a bathroom scale I use for my pop up trailer and have seen the process of using it for heavier weights. But I’ll be moving some stuff in a month with a couple different trailers, so I was just wondering what you all were using since there were a few posts on tongue weights in the 500# and higher.

 

Tongue weight scale

 

This explains the bathroom scale method for heavier weights.

https://www.curtmfg.com/trailer-parts/couplers/learn-more

 

Nothing! If I can't fit it in the truck, I don't need it!

 

Put work van in the mud turning this trailer around on my land. By the time the new winch pulled out the van and I had the Tundra connected and pulled the trailer on around I had to go make the appointment with the crane. So she got to be a regular work truck for the day.

 

A Champion 2200 Bay Champ

 

Picked up my Escape 19 in Sumas, WA today. Tundra towed it beautifully. I ordered it in October 2020 and originally it wasn’t going to be done until March 2022. ETI stepped up their game and delivered 6 months early. Very happy so far.

 

Don't know if I ever posted our camper

 

Our first was a 19 footer, just wait.
jk
Looks great!