Tundras were built for this!!

I recently bought a 34' Open Range fifth wheel that's 7800 lbs. Our Tundra pulls it up any incline I've found yet without skipping a beat. By that I mean I usually have the cruise set at 67 and it goes right up without losing even 1 MPH. Now she drops a few gears and runs up to about 3500 RPM but has no trouble pulling it at all. Just yesterday we replaced the crap Bridgestone passenger car tires with 10 ply All Terrains. Other than that I plan on putting Timbren Suspension Springs between the leaf springs and the frame. For some reason the approach to every bridge or overpass is like a ramp and for some reason these engineers can not make a smooth approach to an overpass. It really bottoms out the suspension. The Timbrens are a big fat rubber spring that replaces your bump stop. Well... I just created my account and can't wait to see how many other Tundra peeps are towing fifth wheels. I drive a truck for a living so it just seemed a fifth wheel was the next step in this long camper progression. I've seen the guy on YouTube and it looks smaller and lighter than mine although his truck is the same color

Let's see more Tundras pulling some fifth wheels y'all!!

 

It bottoms out the suspension because you've grossly exceeded you payload capacity.... and you tow with cruise on.... please don't encourage others to do as you've done.


This is a troll post, or you shouldn't be towing anything at all. Not sure which.

 

Do you tow it in "D" too?

 

It bottoms out the suspension on expansion joints/ramps because that trailer was never meant to be pulled by a half ton truck. Hope you dont hurt anyone trying to pull that monster around.

 

How dare you call me a troll... Although I used to live in the lower peninsula of Michigan (under the Mackinaw Bridge) and that's what UP (Upper Peninsula) people call lower peninsula people. Trolls...

So I've only driven Kenworths and Peterbilts for 27 years and 4 million miles accident free... So if I can run 80,000 pounds for 4 million miles I can sure pull an 8000 pound camper safely. This fifth wheel is made with a pinbox that sticks way out and is designed for a SHORT BED half ton. Ain't you... Or anybody else gonna tell me I have to lower my standards and buy the crap the Big 3 is selling... I've even seen a F150 12,800 tow rating... I will walk before buying a Ford. Now that truck has the "package" on it to tow that. Better idea... Buy a Tundra and put the "package" on it. There are even Firestone airbags you can put on a Tundra.

And these poorly designed overpasses would probably smack your bump stops against the frame not towing anything. I guess you've not seen the ones in TN, AR and MS. You almost ramp over the bridge like Bo and Luke Duke.

 

I will say, that trailer has the shortest overhang I've ever seen on a 5th wheel. Didn't know they made them like that.

 

Welcome to the forum!

I'm going to have to agree with the above post, your pulling way over what that Tundra was desiged to do. I'm guessing its a Limted with approximatly 1200 payload capacity and the pin weight on that trailer is about that much.

Happy towing

 

Yes another towing thread!!! I love these. @ColoradoTJ

 

He loves these!

 

It's designed for a short bed half ton... See the notch outs in the front corners so you don't smack the cab when you turn sharp? You're supposed to be able to turn 90° to the trailer without touching. I haven't turned that sharp yet.

 

https://youtu.be/xyTUmVAofvo

 

Please use some common sense and do not pul that huge trailer anywhere. I sure hope you do not harm anyone when crap goes South and you lose the whole rig in a ditch!!! See ya in the YouTube Videos!!! Be SAFE!!! BE SMART!! Well,,,, be safe!!!!


It may be possible but it should not be done,,, the length is way way to long for the 1/2 ton truck. Just looking at the setup common sense would say “nope don’t do that”!!!

 

That is exactly where I am. This will get interesting

 

Pretty slick. Almost a cross between a 5th wheel and gooseneck.

 

I just cracked one open,

 

Great color truck and cool trailer! I haven't seen one of those that I'm aware of. My payload sticker disagrees with the "built for this" claim, but I guess if you do something wrong you just gotta do it right (?). Good luck and be safe.

 

Meanwhile, the rest of the world smirks. "Americans! Think they need a 1 ton truck with a giant diesel engine to take a cooler of beer and a tent camping!"

 

Correct, but they don't haul arse 65mph on highways either..

 

Welcome and uh.... Welcome.

 

Anyone else gonna start giving Fed Ex trucks more space? Could be a ploy.

 

Got a CDL myself, and part of doing that job correctly is not overloading your rig. The "designed for a 1/2 ton" is all well and good for the shape, but not the weight on a 2007 truck design. It's designed for a 1/2 ton based on payload numbers given by the big 3, which are significantly higher than the Tundra's. You may as well make the argument that it is okay to hitch that up to a 1950 Chevy stepside because it's "designed for a 1/2 ton."

The empty pin on that trailer is best case 920 lbs, you have a Tundra Crewmax with more options than my truck so best case a 1260 ish payload capacity. You've got maybe 340 lbs, but lets be generous and say 400 lbs of payload to cover the added weight of the driver, passengers, gear in the truck, 5th wheel hitch in the truck, your extra springs in the truck, and any added pin weight of filling tanks, batteries, propane, and supplies in the trailer. There is no way you can scale that truck as you tow it and be within the manufacturer's limits.

You do you, but please don't encourage others to do this.

 

I had my doubts, but that big decal on the side is very reassuring.

 

Here's another avid adventurer towing 9k lbs with his tundra.

https://youtu.be/JnnAhkBFAfM

 

Welcome and greetings from Minnesota. Enjoy your new truck and keep the shiny side up.

 

That is an incredibly light 5th wheel…
My 34’ when fully loaded up for a trip was probably closer to 15,000 easily. And I pulled it with a 1ton (dually).

I just can’t see myself ever pulling any sort of 5th wheel with a half ton, not even with air bags and proper tires. While it is likely and even theoretically safer to do it this way versus a lighter bumper pull, it would take some pretty serious convincing.
“Just because you can, doesn’t always mean you should” sort of thing, I guess.

 

This is the only 5th wheel I know of that I'd consider pulling with a Tundra. https://escapetrailer.com/the-5-0-escape/