First real tow job in the Tundra

Well......let me begin by saying thank you to the members of this forum who suggested the shackles to minimize squat in this TRD pro. On Wednesday the 17th o ended up towing my 21 foot Bigfoot two axle travel trailer down to NC where I originally purchased it. Trip was approx 5 hrs.

Tundra performed flawlessly! Avg gas mileage was bw 8.7 and 9.9 mpg. Trailer has a dry weight of approx 5000 and a max gross of 7500 pounds. In the past when I weighed it while towing it was approx 6000 pounds or so. We have an Equalizer weight distribution hitch.

I followed your suggestions and also the owners manual and went with the S4 and tow/haul mode. Would be real easy to get faster than 65mph if not paying attention.

This truck feels more stable than the Silverado I had prior to it. Right now I have no intentions of putting air bags on.

Very very pleased with how this Tundra towed. Will try to hit the scales when I pick the trailer back up.

Thanks again Toyota for this product and thank you to the folks on this forum for your suggestions regarding our trucks.

 

Thanks for the report! That's why I'm here. Looking to get into a Tundra and sell my Tacoma. Looking for better towing.

 

Did you monitor transmission temps? If so what were you getting?

 

I did not. I did keep an eye on the instrument cluster given all the chatter on this forum about to have or not have the transmission cooler etc.... etc...

And no.....I never did see any warning lights come up on the dash regarding any over temp issues.

To get the pan temps and such.... is this something specific I should buy to keep an eye on when towing the travel trailer? Best suggestion etc...etc...

And at what point should I get nervous or take a pic of any elevated temps that have not yet spiked the warning light on the dash?

Thanks for any input!

 

i probably would monitor to some extent just to be on the safe side if you are planning to tow it a lot. I think the warning light comes on at 302 degrees. Was just curious where the temps settled at as S4 and tow/haul seems to be the ideal setup on the non cooler trucks for maintaining acceptable temps

 

New to the forum, traded my 2020 GX for a 2021 Limited 4X4 with some other packages. Made the change because needed to tow a new-to-me 2019 Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite 2506, dry weight 5200 and tongue weight at 700. It has a Lecurve R3 WDH and the prior owner towed with Nissan Titan. I was stressing and stressing on the weights. Son-in-laws have Tundras and do their friends, all good trucks.
Picked up the Rockwood in Phoenix and brought it up to Flagstaff, lots of hills, stayed at 65 or below and relied on this forum for an education. Used tow mode and cruise control on the flats. On the mountains I felt I needed to slow down to 50-60 because the 5.7 sounded like a small displacement engine singing high revs, just didn’t not sound good on a 5.7 just to keep up at 60MPH to be hitting close to 4000 RPM, so slowed if down to keep RPMs under 3500; it sounded much better to my ears.
All the temp gauges stayed put, and got home having seen 9.1 MPG, having filled at Costco right before I got the Rockwood.
There is a good long descend into the Verde Valley on this trip up the I-17, I was impressed that it cruise control kept it a 55 MPH without touching the brakes, I was pleasantly surprised and as with the GX the Toyota cruise downshifts first to slow without applying the rear brakes as does Volvo.
BTW the Rockwood had over half of its water filled and near empty grey and black tanks, and the seller kept just about everything they used inside the trailer so I am pretty sure with water and a stuff I was pulling at least 5600# .
My thoughts after this first tow... well the Tundra did fine, me alittle on edge as was my first tow with anything this size... commonly towed utility and double axle box for the quads and 4X4s. I was right that I would have overtaxed the GX, but man that GX was a much nicer ride. I think the Bilsteins add some harshness to this Tundra. But I digress, the Tundra will take on the task, but had I had to do it over I think I may have cross-shopped a diesel. Still may have gotten the Tundra because it is not always connected to a 5600# trailer.
That GX was my first Toyota produce since a Prius in the 80s. I had Benzs and more recently Volvos, my wife has a 19 XC60 and I had a 18 V90. Benz makes a great product, but service is up there. Volvo has great tech, hands-free works exceptionally well and the Bowers and Wilkins sound system is wow. But I put 28K miles in 13 months on the GX, nothing but scheduled maintenance and loved the ClubLexus Forum. I appreciate Toyota build and appreciate this Forum.

Best to All —ALAN