5th Wheel Towing on New 2022 Tundra

Does anyone know if you can install a 5th wheel hitch on the new 2022 Tundra with its new Box construction??

 

im sure i can ,

 

I'm sure you can, but the payload is still going to be too low for it. Unless you are going for a super light weight (read small) 5th wheel like the Escape 5.0 https://escapetrailer.com/the-5-0-escape/ then a 5th wheel has too much tongue/pin weight for a half ton truck. You need to move up to a 3/4 or 1 ton.

 

true

 

Tow weights in the 2022 owners manual seem to be the same as my 2007 and 2018 Tundras. (8300 to 11,400 lbs). Suggested king pin weight in manual is, to quote, The gross trailer weight should be distributed so that the kingpin weight is 14% to 16%. (Kingpin weight/Gross trailer weight x 100 = 14% to 16%). Can't answer who has a 5th wheel to fit the 2022 yet.

 

2nd gen was rated to tow “upto 10,000#”

 

It's all about payload. Most half ton trucks don't have enough payload once loaded down with people, pets,, accessories camping gear, trailer hitch and other whatnot. Realistically fifth wheel campers should be towed with 3/4 or 1 ton trucks.

 

Indeed. The Escape 5.0 is the only half ton friendly 5th wheel I've seen, but most people that want a 5th wheel want something 25+ feet long with multiple slide outs. That's all well and good, but it's too much for light duty trucks, and half tons are light duty. You need to move a couch or a fridge? Half ton will do it easy. Tow your motorcycles or a couple quads? Sure. Getting a travel trailer the size of a small house or anything that is 5th wheel? It's time to get a Heavy Duty truck 'cause your half ton isn't made for that.

 

I’m looking to upgrade my 2012 Tacoma to a 2022 Tundra. My family tows horses and my taco does ok with a 2 horse bumper pull but we need to pull 3 horses and a gooseneck is more suited for that. Anyone have thoughts on the new Tundra pulling a gooseneck? I’m looking to get a featherlight trailer and fully loaded with horses and tack if estimate it would be around 10,000 lbs well below the 12,000 rating. I’ve also stretched my taco’s rating well over the 6,800 lbs on the sticker so I feel like Toyota is overly conservative with this rating. Direct experience pulling a gooseneck with a Tundra would be helpful. Thanks.

 

As stated previously, tow rating is not what you need to look at. You need to look at the payload rating and the tongue/pin weight of the trailer. Also, those advertised tow ratings are always for 2WD no option trucks. If you don't have a barebones truck you don't have that max rating.

Lets crunch some basic numbers here. 10,000 pound trailer and let's say you have a dead on 10% pin weight of 1,000 pounds as a best case scenario. If that Tundra has a payload of 1,500 pounds then you have 500 pounds remaining to cover the hitch you have installed to pull the trailer, any upgrades or mods to the truck including wheels or tires, any and all gear, plus your passengers. If you manage it all properly you might be able to pull this off.

Now what if you have a 12.5% pin weight of 1,250 pound? Then you only have 250 pounds for the hitch, mods, gear, and passengers. Much less likely to work at this point.



TLDR: If your tongue/pin weight is going to be over 600-800 pounds you can really easily wind up over your payload ratings. Best case for this will be increased wear and tear, higher maintenance costs, and a less than stellar towing experience. Worst case? Well, you can lose control of your vehicle and deal with all the possible outcomes.

 

The OP's question was about installing a 5th wheel hitch not whether or not he should be towing one.

 

Yup, and that was already addressed.

 

"I'm sure you can" wasn't really a definitive answer.

 

Correct. The more complete answer followed that.

 

Your complete answer about the size of trailer he could pull wasn't what he asked.

 

Let me put it into an equivalent setting.

OP asks "Can I stab myself in the leg?"

Options for answering:

1. No. You can't. (This would be a lie.)
2. Yes. You can. (This is true, but lacks information that the OP might want to have before making the decision.)
3. I'm sure you can, but it's gonna be a bad op. I would advise against it. (Answers the question, but also provides additional info so the OP can make an informed decision.)

In an attempt to be a helpful member of the community, and society at large, I opted for number 3.

 

Thanks dad.

 

No, no, no. @War Machine is the one with illegitimate Canadian offspring. You've got me confused with somebody else.

 

Your truck will be closer to 11k towing. You should get a bigger truck.

 

Don't do it

 

There are other options on 5th wheels other than Escapes. Winnebago makes a nice 1/2 ton towable 5th wheel with a pin weight of just over 800lbs.

https://www.winnebago.com/models/product/minnie-plus?GroupID=GROUP277

 

I don't think I've ever seen a 1/2 ton with a fifth whell hitch...

I agree its HD truck territory. Best news though, youll save some money over a new Tundra

Order a f250 gasser with the Godzilla and never worry about payload again. 3% under invoice plus any rebates. I thought about it, but can't handle daily driving a SD/HD truck.

 

Could you let me know which dealer is offering the deal?

 

If that's the loaded weight, then that's another option for sure. Didn't know about those ones.

 

The 800lbs pin weight is for the dry weight. I would think around 1K depending how you load so you should be able to stay under payload if you load it conservatively. There really isn't all that many option when it comes to a light 5th wheel.

 

Yup. That's why the general rule of 5th wheels being beyond half ton capabilities is true 99% of the time.

 

Some are willing to go right up to the max payload for the pin weight and even a couple hundred over and I can completely understand why. If you have ever pulled a 5th wheel compared to a bumper pull it's a night a day difference. It's odd that people have no issue with towing a 800lbs tongue weight trailer that's 28' long but if someone hooks up a 1200lbs pin weight 5th wheel at 25' long you are now endangering everyone and yourself on the road.

 

Half ton trucks are not designed to pull a 5th wheel. Use the right tool for the job and that means HD 2500 or 2500 series truck.

unless it was something like this

 

I've pulled tons of stuff. Pulled trailers for a living for a time. That's part of why I lean to the conservative side of towing combinations. I've towed things at (and probably over) limits and it's a miserable experience.

The driver is a huge factor in the equation. Somebody just starting to tow that wants to tow at their weight limits and wants to do it at 80 mph is a scary thing. At the same time, a very experienced driver I would have no issue with driving the same vehicle. The experienced driver is going to be more aware, keep better follow distances, and is way less concerned with the speed limit than they are getting to their destination safely.

 

I think one big thing is that the experienced driver knows when they need to slow down and the inexperienced driver may not.