Gen 3 VS 3/4 Ton for towing TT

an example of being overweight for a halfton

the trailer OP referenced is probably not an issue for an hour drive to the lake. I wouldnt want to pull it 10k miles a year road tripping with a tundra though

 

I specifically excluded anything about a 5th wheel because I'm not speaking in hyperbole. If somebody overloads their truck and kills somebody else because of it, does it really matter if it was only an hour drive?

 

the speeds people tow at these days is probably far more dangerous than being a few hundred lbs over payload

 

Nah bro. Renting a condo, or cabin etc is always the way to go.

 

Yup, and when they speed AND are overweight it's all bad news. I'm an advocate for 60-65 towing speed and staying within limits of the rig, if not under them.

 

If you are 500 lb over factory GVWR, but your truck has been modified with heavier springs, LT tires, brakes, etc that certain countries who actually regulate these things would certify with a 2000 lb increase in GVWR, I really don’t think there is any problem whatsoever.

 

last summer we stayed in cabins at KOA’s. The kids loved the “camping” feel. Was nice to drive 80mph not taking the trailer too lol

 

Thats why I bought a used Jayco for $11000 and refuse to buy anything newer/more expensive.

But the math isnt wrong. Even at $11k I could probably have stayed in hotels for a similar price. But I also can't boondock in a hotel.

 

One thing not yet mentioned, a lot of people with an RV are trying to get places where there are no accommodations available. That would be my use if I had one.

 

After owning my trailer for a 2 years, if money were no option i would gladly sell my tundra and trailer, buy a class C motorhome and a ford ranger to pull behind it

 

I’ve been a victim of assault flatulence more heinous than the prospect of being 400 lbs (or 5% over) my GVWR. Let’s not get too self righteous here. I just returned from the 550 mile round trip towing this very trailer and can report that it towed fantastic as it has every trip over the last couple years. I experienced 2 emergency braking scenarios on the way back, steep ascents/descents, cross winds, and being in the center lane between 2 offset semis and never once felt I did not have complete control. I’d put my family in our car driving alongside with less guilt than allowing them to drive near most of these other distracted drivers all over the roads.

If we were talking about surpassing GCVWR (the max weight of the truck/trailer combo) I would have different thoughts on being overweight. At that point you’re definitely overtaxing the brakes and drivetrain and I would never recommend that. It just wasn’t designed to safely stop or control over 16,000 lbs as a whole unit. This trailer however even at max load is 7500lbs, my GCVWR is 16,000. I have about 2,000 lbs of wiggle room if I had it loaded to the hilt which we try not to do. I’m all for safety and am not a risk taker in any aspects of my life. I’m very much a rule follower. That said, being a touch over on payload when having E load tires, a properly setup WDH, AAL, airbags, better brakes, and a quality brake controller while being under GCVWR is not the end of the world to me.

A lot of these overlanding/offroad rigs are over payload without ever hooking up a trailer and they seem to avoid all scolding from the payload police. They don’t have trailer brakes from a rig that is under GCVWR to help them stop either.

 

Hard pass on that one.

 

That logic doesn’t add up to me. Pretty much every semi on the road is towing a trailer at least twice as heavy as the truck towing it weighs. A semi truck might be 25,000 lbs, but a 53’ trailer may have a 68,000 GVWR. The GCVWR of semis is a 80,000 lb max. On a more relatable note, a new 2500/3500hd can’t tow even 10,000 lbs if we were to go by your methodology.

 

You live in Florida? What part?

 

That's exactly what we're looking at doing but getting a class A and looking at the Maverick as a toad and to replace the Tundra.

 

Pretty much every truck is rated to tow more than it weighs. From Tacomas up to 3500s.

 

Just to throw gasoline on the fire. A 1998 1 ton chevy truck had a curb weight of 5200lbs and a payload of 3400 (approximately). They listed 10k towing

 

so a modern 1/2 ton then minus the payload

 

I wouldn't do that, either. But the thread is about a 7500lb GVWR camper and a 7200lb GVWR truck. I would have zero problem with that, just as others who tow at those numbers with a Tundra have stated repeatedly in this thread.

 

OP Here - Thank you all for your input so far. We actually do take the current trailer out around 12 times a year, and plan to start leaving this awful heat all summer. So I will be racking up the mileage. 32’ TT sounds doable but maybe too close to the line for ME. I’m now looking more into the 25-27’ length 5500 dry weight options. Seems a bit more appropriate although based on responses perhaps some would suggest it’s still a bit much. Current trailer is 22’, 3800 lbs dry and VERY easy to tow with the 2018. Single axle w/slide out so the hitch is 520 lbs dry. I have to load everything carefully. 1378 lbs available payload. I set up the scale contraption and got 590 lbs hitch weight all loaded up. Even a few hundred more lbs available payload from a 22/23 would be nice.

Would 3-5’ longer, 1700 lbs heavier with same hitch weight feel significantly different?

Thanks again!

 

The fact that you are actually aware of your payload and checking it puts you leagues ahead of many out there towing. In the end it is fully your decision, and you have to decide what is right for you and your abilities. Weight adds up faster than most of us think, so that 5500 dry weight will likely be a 6500-7000lb actual, and with a 10%-15% tongue you're looking at 650-1050 lbs of tongue weight before your WDH. If that's doable with the payload of the truck you want, then you are definitely good to go. If it's a going to be a couple hundred pounds over the payload it's still your call, but please don't be one of the guys that thinks adding airbags or suspension magically changes the truck into and HD tow pig. Whatever you decide, be sure to post up picks of the truck (even if it's not a Toyota) and camper once you've got them.

I hope you get a truck and trailer you love and get to enjoy the hell out of both for thousands of safe and happy adventure miles!

 

also, weigh the truck your looking at, those that have are finding toyota is sandbagging the capacities by several hundred pounds.

but even officially, my 2023 platinum has more payload than my 2016 by a couple tundra lbs, I can actually get in it and still have over 1000 when I could not do that with my 2016, it only had like 1100 lbs empty

 

Brain check- in no way is weight of vehicle a true indicator of towing weight of a trailer! Fake news abounds. A heavier truck is most definitely usually, rpt, usually designed to tow more. (Electric trucks = heavier but tow capability not so much).

 

I guess it depends on what makes it heavier. Is it heavier because all the components are beefier or because it's been packed full of batteries?

 

I am just referring to the link between weight and trailer tow. For the EV trucks the battery is indeed the added weight but still shows as weighing “x” number of pounds thus logic must indicate it tows more, which is not the case. A diesel GMC 1500 Diesel is heavier than a Tundra but rated over 2k less for trailer tow. Not saying the Tundra is in any way a 2500 or such just that a 6k truck is indeed rated for pulling more than it weighs and rightly so.

 

You guys are getting a lot more use out of your setup than most do. I will venture a guess you’re self employed or retired at this point?

For retirees who have the money and desire to travel a lot I can understand the allure of a camper. My in-laws bought one after they retired and are now considering buying an RV and towing their Prius or whatever small car they choose behind it instead of pulling a camper all over the country behind their F-150.

My wife has two aunt/uncles on that same side of the family and they use RV’s now. One couple has a Winnebago diesel pusher/coach style outfit they tow a small car with, and the other use a RV based on an old Econoline van chassis. I’d poke fun at the Econoline aunt and uncle for being cheapskates, but they also own an airplane so different $$$ priorities I guess LOL.