Advice for my towing needs

Hello all. With today's new normals I have found myself working from home and that trend should continue. Home is a 10 acre farm where we currently use my wife's Pilot to haul our horse and utility trailer. Now that I don't have a commute it makes a lot more sense for me to trade in the car and grab a truck. I found a used Tundra 2012 TRD, V8 5.7L with (forget if it's crew or extended cab) and the tow package. Dealer says it can tow 7900 lbs on the bumper. It has a little over 100k miles. 7900 lbs is OK for my current needs and might be OK for future needs. By the time i might need more tow power I could upgrade trucks anyway (3-5 years). A lot of other horse folk have 2500s, but they also have much larger trailers, and I don't know if I'll ever have more then a 2 horse, maybe a 3-4 horse slant. So given what you all know, does this sound like a good fit?

 

Welcome to the forum from KCMO.

The Tundra is generally going to be ok for what you're wanting to do. But, if you want more info, check out the threads in the Towing and Hauling section. You'll get a lot of mixed feedback here about the towing experience with a Tundra. Some configurations are rated to tow over 10k pounds, but the owners say they don't feel comfortable with anything over 8k. Others say it pulls just fine. With the truck you're looking at specifically, how it tows will depend a lot on how it's been used in the past. 100k isn't a lot for a Tundra, but a lot can happen over those miles. If it has already been used to tow or haul a lot, the rear suspension could be worn out and need replaced before you can do much more with it. You'll just have to get eyes on it and see what it looks like. Another thing to consider is payload. It's well documented that the Tundra's isn't a lot. Towing 8k, your hitch weight could be ~800lbs or so, which may only leave enough for one person in the cab and an otherwise empty bed. Just stuff to consider.

 

Thanks BlackSheep! I will read through that forum now. Will be tough to tell what it's been used for unfortunately. Will I be able to see or feel it when I drive if the rear suspension is shot or at least headed that way?

 

Just an option for you.

Maybe you can get the dealership to print off any service records for you, assuming its located at a Toyota dealer,
If not, register here and get the vin to see what Toyota reports for service work.

I get most, if not all my work done at another shop, but I post all my work done on Toyota service site.
Helps me remember what/when work was done. I do this for my Tundra and the wifes RAV4.

Good Luck

 

If the springs look like the one in post #5 of this thread, they’re probably shot. You can also measure from the center of the hub straight up to the highest point of the bottom of the bed side wheel well. Should be +/-25” with an empty bed on level ground. If it’s much lower than that, they’re probably shot. You can also jump up and down in the bed to see how much it sags and how well the shocks damp the rebound.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)! Good luck in your research!

 

"BEAST MODE".....
Press and release "TOW MODE" button.
Press and hold "RSCA OFF" button for approximately 5 seconds, give or take. You'll see the lights do what they'll do on the tach. (2011 myself)
OH BOY!!! I HOPE YOU GOT THE 5.7 CAUSE IT'S' A WHOLE NEW VEHICLE!!!!
I knocked off, I think it was 3 seconds on my 0-80 time. YEE-HA!!!!

 

Welcome from NY.
Good luck with your decision.

 

Welcome from Alaska,I'm sure you'll be able to answer most all of you questions on here somewhere.

 

Check for cam tower leak, service records, frame, wheel bearing noise and car fax.

 

Tundra has 381 horses under the hood. Why would you tow two more behind it?