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Questions on towing a car with lift kit.

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by DrasticDelima, Aug 16, 2017.

  1. Aug 16, 2017 at 8:42 PM
    #1
    DrasticDelima

    DrasticDelima [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2017
    Member:
    #8413
    Messages:
    16
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2016 Black Tundra CrewMax 4x4 Heavily Customized
    7" Lift Kit HID Light and LED Tailight Upfit Custom Venom Bumpers TRD Pro Grill Custom Armor Skid Plate LED Flood Lamps (Hideaway) - Front and Integrated Rear Bumper
    So I want to preface this by saying that I've towed vehicles and boats, and backhoes etc before but I wasn't the one doing the calculations as they were "known quantities" and this is going to be my first long haul with this truck so I want to get some thoughts and feedback from those of you with actual experience to make sure I'm not about to do something horribly stupid. I'll give you the numbers and breakdown everything I know will be cargo etc. My questions are at the end so if you want to scroll down and then go back up that might work better. I apologize for the long post but I figured the more info the better.

    Tundra:
    2016 CrewMax (SR5) - Modified
    Approximately 11K Miles. Almost exclusively local short hops. I've removed all performance kit items for the haul but have considered a few changes for better fuel economy (Suggestions welcome)
    7" Lift Kit - Installed by Dealer (DJI Build) so I don't have specs on hand but could get them if need be.
    Fuel Rims "Cleavers" (2 Piece) sitting on Nitto TRAIL GRAPPLER M/T All-Terrain Radial Tire - 375/45-22 128Q Tires
    ARE Overlander Bed Cap W/Boot

    Trailer:
    U-Haul Auto Transport
    Features
    Easy-access loading ramp
    Tilt-out fender allows vehicle door access
    Ratchet-operated tire straps
    Vehicle security chains
    Automatic hydraulic surge brake

    Capacity
    Max load: 5,290 lbs.
    Gross vehicle weight: 7,500 lbs. max.
    Empty weight: 2,210 lbs.

    Vehicle in Tow:
    2012 BMW 535i
    GVW: 5,159lbs


    So if I'm understanding everything correctly my gross combined weight can't exceed 16,000 lbs according to Toyota?

    My truck weighs in at: 7500lbs (I'm estimating a bit to account for wheels/tires/lift kit, cap etc)
    Car weighs in at: 5,159lbs
    Trailer weighs in at: 2,210lbs
    Cargo Estimate: 2000lbs (3 dogs, 2 kids, 2 adults, Luggage, general cargo)
    Total Weight: 16,869lbs or 869lbs OVER WEIGHT?



    So that leads me to my actual questions:

    1. Am I really over weight?
    2. If I'm not overweight then whats the proper way to calculate this?
    3. Should I consider a different trailer option? This is a one way, one time trip.
    4. If I work out how to get my weight right on the vehicle etc., given the lift kit do you have a recommendation on a drop hitch that will be of high quality and safe/easy to use?
    Couple of notes on the truck and trip:
    • It will have a FRAC so I can actually monitor with the trailer with the rearview camera while driving
    • Has Tow Mirrors installed
    • Factory Tow Kit
    • Factory Tow break (I heard there were issues with the '16 here?)
    • I have Techstream & Cable so if theres changes that can/should be made please let me know.
    • I'm planning to have the dogs in the back with the rear window down and a duct tube to push air back to them (Anyone done this? Does it work?)
    • Kids are in car seats so that limits my options and forces cargo to either the cab of the vehicle in tow or the back of the truck with the dogs (I can put a separator in for safety but more concerned with weight distribution).

    Anyway, I know thats a lot and I'm sure I'm overthinking this but I'm hauling my most precious cargo (my family) halfway across the country with a sick wife and two kids under the age of 4 so I don't want to get this wrong. Any help/thoughts/advice is greatly appreciated.
     
  2. Aug 16, 2017 at 9:34 PM
    #2
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2016
    Member:
    #3246
    Messages:
    12,518
    Gender:
    Male
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    2012
  3. Aug 16, 2017 at 9:41 PM
    #3
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    Member:
    #2766
    Messages:
    35,621
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    LML 3500HD
    Calibrated Power 5 Tune pack, Allison 1000 tune, PPE deep trans pan, Cold/Hot CAC pipes, Banks CAI, PCV reroute, resonator delete, S&B 62 gal fuel tank, B&W GN hitch
    2012 BMW 535i= 4068 lbs from several sources I searched.
    Trailer weight= 2210 lbs

    Trailer weight = 6278 lbs. tongue weight should be around 10% or 628 lbs. this weight will play in later. This is only a guess depending on how you load the trailer. I have added a pic of your truck ratings.

    Truck- go weigh it. Pretty sure it isn't that heavy. My 1 ton is 200 lbs heavier than your estimate on your truck. From the factory, your truck is 5640-5690 depending on options. A bed cap is 200-250 lbs.
    IMG_2056.jpg

    Cargo- you should know a good idea what your family weighs, dogs, etc. cargo you can get a bathroom scale and get a good idea on what the actual weight is. So let's say your wife is model weight 110 lbs, you 200 lbs, 50 lbs kids, dogs 100 lbs since I have no idea what breed they are.

    460 lbs in humans and dogs. Add 100 lbs for car seats and other items. Luggage is probably 150-200 lbs (going off what my luggage weighed going to Hawaii this year).
    So humans, dogs, car seats/other items, luggage is:
    760 lbs.

    So your 16' CM Tundra has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 7200 lbs at best from the factory.

    Your truck weighs 5640 lbs at best from the factory. Now you have heavily modified it and the weight is more. This is were you need to get the truck over to a scale and weigh it.

    So best case, you have 1560 lbs to add to a factory truck, which we know yours is far from it. However, let's look at the known.

    Cap= 200 lbs.
    Family, dogs, luggage = 760

    1560-960= 600 lbs capacity left.

    Now let's take your tongue weight that is around 10% of your total trailer weight (thank God your not trying to use a GN or 5th wheel hitch since that is 20%) and subtract that from your capacity.

    600-628= -28 lbs.

    So for right now, you are 28 lbs overweight. Not horrible.
    Now if you load any more household items, this is going to be bad.

    So far, not to bad. Now we both know your truck is going to weigh more than factory, and I would guess it is around 1000 more pounds total including the top. So if that is the case, you are now going to be 1028 lbs overweight on your gross vehicle weight rating (truck).

    So let's add everything up.

    Truck 5640+1000 lbs for mods= 6640 lbs.
    Family, dogs, luggage= 760 lbs
    Car and trailer= 6278 lbs
    13778 lbs combined total weight. So your good there on your GCVWR.


    Your going to need a LDH, a big drop shank, and a couple prayers to get this truck cross country towing. 37" tires are not a good idea for a tow rig, lifting a truck makes it even crappier, and I really hope it is regeared if you expect to get into 4 gear.

    This is were half ton trucks really fail at towing is capacity. You run out long before trailer weight rating, that is for sure.

    So, you have a good idea of what your up against. Adjust the weights as you only know what that will be. Personally, I would be renting a U-Haul truck and trailer the truck. Fly back and drive car or have wife drive car.
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2017
    Sunnier, dcsleeper408, PMG and 2 others like this.
  4. Aug 17, 2017 at 5:33 PM
    #4
    DrasticDelima

    DrasticDelima [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2017
    Member:
    #8413
    Messages:
    16
    First Name:
    John
    Vehicle:
    2016 Black Tundra CrewMax 4x4 Heavily Customized
    7" Lift Kit HID Light and LED Tailight Upfit Custom Venom Bumpers TRD Pro Grill Custom Armor Skid Plate LED Flood Lamps (Hideaway) - Front and Integrated Rear Bumper
    Thank you sir! You just saved me a whole world of hurt and maybe even a few lives! So glad I asked. I'm just going to have the car shipped and take the truck with the family. Wife wants to know why I "Need" a second truck lol. Truly appreciate your help. You were spot on about everything. The only big difference is my ballistic armor adds a bit of weight which put this way over the line weight wise. So I see a hauler in my future lol.
     
  5. Nov 8, 2017 at 11:23 PM
    #5
    stanram

    stanram New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2017
    Member:
    #10825
    Messages:
    4
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Stanley
    I think now you are settled in your mind on how to plan your trip. That's great. It’s absolutely appropriate to hire a shipping company and ship your car while you being with your family and truck. If required you can surf the Internet for useful reference in regards to shipping or hauling.
     
  6. Nov 9, 2017 at 6:59 AM
    #6
    TundraTss

    TundraTss The Mistress

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2017
    Member:
    #8814
    Messages:
    609
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brandon
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD SR5
    Everything. Literally.
    Because math
     
    Sunnier likes this.

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