Towing 38' trailer at 8600 lbs+fuel/water/people

I have a 2014 CrewMax, tow capacity 10k. Looking at Springdale 38 BH trailer, loaded will be 9500 lbs. While this is our first travel trailer, at 95% capacity, I'm concerned this is pushing too close to max weight? What do I need to be aware of?

 

That’s a lot of weight dude. I tow around 8000 and it pushes the truck around a bit. You would usually want to leave a larger buffer but you should be ok as long as you take it slow and leave space for stopping. Also maybe use an aftermarket brake controller as the tundra integrated one is weak.

 

No way. Bigger truck or smaller trailer. That's what will happen.

 

Trailer TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BIGGGGGGGGGGGGGG !

 

Too much trailer, I wouldn't do it.

 

That's too big in my opinion. Even if youre in limits, it will not be an enjoyable experience towing it at all. It will be an absolutely stressful chore. Small items will add up your weight fast, and you will be over without even knowing it. Trailers are rated with not a damn thing in it. (Chairs, tables, dishes, food, ice chest, propane, sewage, tools, kids bring a friend/ toys, etc.)

 

Compare your loaded tongue weight + all cargo / passengers in your truck against the truck’s payload capacity.

 

I live fulltime in our 30FT TT. Total weight is 9,300LBS. We tow about 20 miles a day, every day. We are properly weighted. A 12K weight distribution hitch, 2 sway brakes and the stock brake controller.

We feel very confident with towing behind the Tundra.



We have also added sumosprings and a custom leaf pack.

 

This is right on.

The reason we got the Tundra last year was to avoid the stressful towing. I towed our current trailer with my Tacoma for six years and by the end, my wife and I were done. I started working her for a Tundra year five and after a scary mountain tow, she gave in on the way home.

I don't know your experience towing, but 38ft is a huge first trailer. If I had to tow a trailer that big now, I'd go back to tent camping.

 

Have no doubt the truck would pull it. Heck it would probably “pull” 14k#, stopping it and the feeling of it pushing you around would be very uneasy. But That’s too close for comfort for me so you wouldn’t catch me doing it. Would be diff if it was a one time move or 1-2 a year move.

 

I think it’s just fine. I’ve towed heavy and long too with absolutely no problems. Sounds like you know your stuff with balance and tongue weight. You’ll do great.

 

I towed my racecar around a bunch when my Tundra was pretty much stock with a brake controller. Trailer weighed 9000+ lbs. It'd cruise at 80mph fine, and did a few 500-2000 mile trips without issue. You can tow that weight totally fine, I'd be concerned with the length and getting pushed around by wind or other big vehicles disturbing the air and moving it around. If you're smart about driving and not hauling ass I bet you'd be fine.

 

I think there's a difference between whether the Tundra could pull it and whether it's smart to max it out for your first travel trailer.

Maybe he's headed to the local KOA or living in it. That's different than a road trip out west.

 

I will say I would never go bigger that what we currently have.

 

To much trailer IMO, you need to move up to a 3/4ton if your actually going to go on trips with it or a smaller trailer. If your only pulling local then it probably wont matter much.

 

Too much. The length of the trailer alone will not be friendly to a half ton truck. IMHO, anything bigger than 33’ is 3/4 ton of bigger territory to tow it safely in any condition.

 

I had a 10,000lb 36’ travel trailer...and I used a 6.7L Powerstroke. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should...

 

I’m gonna try this! I’ve been wanting a trailer but don’t know where to start lol.

 

That’s a lot of trailer for sure! I want to start out with something smaller for sure to get used to it.

 

By the owners' manual, my '13 CM Limited with tow pkg and nothing else extra, has a max tow wt of 9300#. I think you're pushing it to close, especially since this is your first TT.. Don't know where you plan to tow, but I've pulled 53' trailers driving 18 wheelers, and the winds in the west (CO front range) can be ferocious, and the grades unforgiving if you're not careful. That 38 footer behind your half ton is like a huge sail back there. You're gonna feel it big time.

I also question your 9500# loaded weight. The specs on the trailer say 8750# dry weight, 56 gal fresh water tank, 60 gal propane tank. Fill those two up and your already at 9450# and nothing else in the trailer yet.

 

My wife and I have been trailer shopping and today came across EXACTLY what we want, but think it is too big. It's the Wolfpack 27PACK10. Dry weight is 7988, and 33' total length.

 

That's the way a properly set up combo should look. Did you set up the WDH yourself?

 

Mine is 31' 7500 pounds dry.Truck pulls it pretty good but I would have gone a little smaller.Wife fell in love with it so it was over.FYI she wanted bigger but I had to be realistic with the tow vehicle.Very happy with my Tundra 2017 SR5 2wd crew max.

 

Air bags and stock tow mirrors added after this picture

 

I agree that's too big for a halfton, even one with more payload and a higher towing capacity than the Tundra. Either a smaller trailer or a 3500 is in your future.

 

My wife wanted a larger trailer until she found one she really like and thank goodness it was only 23' and 6080 GVWR.