Looking at TT--what are your thoughts?

Looking at TT and keep coming back to a cougar half ton couple's camper.(22rbs which is about 5594 dry)

What weight do most of you tow?
I am trying to keep it around 7000-7300lbs fully loaded(trailer weight) which would be around 600 to 700 on the hitch. This should easily be in spec on every level for the truck.

I am running a 2020 double cab 2wd with the "towing package" and I have added my own transmission cooler.

 

That trailer will be fine and within your towing and payload for your DC.

 

That will be fine but I would highly recommend a WDH. It will definitely reduce the rear end drop. When properly set up, a wdh will keep the drop to a maximum of 1 inch.

 

Oh definitely, ordering a curt set up soon!

 

Actually does anyone have a recommendation for a WDH? I have always used EZ lift and CURT in the past.

 

I have the EZ lift with sway control

 

Those are nice trailers, but I think you may be underestimating your hitch/tongue weight. Empty it's 630 lbs. Throw on your hitch, batteries, propane, and essentials and that number will really come up. I usually use 13% of total weight as a target for tongue weight on a dual axle, so if you hit 7000 lbs loaded, you could easily be looking at a tongue weight of over 900 lbs. As long as you're good with that number (or a bit higher), you should be okay. If you're tongue weight is truly less than 10% of your loaded up weight, you could easily have a sway problem.

I tow a GeoPro G20BHS, which is a lot smaller than what you are looking at. My empty weight is 3615 lbs with a manufacturer's specified empty tongue weight of 495 lbs. Loaded up I'm around 4200 lbs, but I've measured my hitch weight when loaded and I'm at a good 750-800 lbs.

In terms of power, absolutely no issues with pulling. But even with my smaller trailer, by the time we all get in the truck (2 adults, 2 kids, and a dog) we are at the limit for payload, or even slightly over. Do note though that my payload is likely much less than yours with my heavily optioned CrewMax.

 

Spraynard enjoys TTs on display.

 

You make a good point, going back and looking I think I did underestimate my hitch weight. I am comfortable up to about 1000lbs since my payload capacity is around 1650lbs. Our cab will have 2 adults, 2 dogs, and maybe a generator in the bed of the truck, rest of the equipment stays in the trailer. I have watch people complain about payload... Now I understand why LOL I would love a dodge 2500 with a diesel but MAN that gets pricey. As much as I am not a fan of ford. Their gasser 3/4 ton looks appealing.

 

I use HuskyTow Center Line TS WDH with buit-in sway control and 800-1200 lb load bars for towing TT with max 6000lb. Except for WDH being bit heavier and some noise in really low speed (e.g. during parking), I found it very smooth and quiet and haven't experienced any sway yet. The TT specs say tongue weight is 560lb and I found it in ~800lb when loaded. With two people, dog, full tank and trailer, I am always on the capacity edge of my CM (max payload 1235).

 

Seems to me Toyota recommends 9-11% tongue weight. I'm pretty sure I'm over that but still able to stay very slightly under truck max weight on a 21 SR5 with 1217# payload pulling a 23' trailer that's about 600# under the 6080# gross.
I would never attempt to try to pull anything close to this weight without a WDH with sway control. I found a used Fastway E2 8000# WDH for $250 and did my homework setting it up. After talking to dealers I decided setting it up myself was the way to go. I didn't trust them to do it right and readjusting with load change isn't uncommon and I would be the one doing that.
Do your homework on what WDH you want. Some don't allow backing up and some don't come with sway control. I picked the E2 because of its simplicity and the friction sway control.
BTW, I still get impressed with the extra available power pulling this size trailer. Entrance ramps on busy interstate highways are never a concern.

 

I too was looking into a 2500 ram with the diesel. The payload on a well equipped one was very disappointing. I was looking at getting into a fifth wheel, but by the time I paid for the truck and camper it's almost cheaper to get a diesel motor home.

 

If payload is your concern, you're better off going 2500 gasser or 3500. 2500 diesels have generally tended to have similar payload to 1500s.

 

This is what I tow. It is a mallard m33. It is actually 36 feet long and comes in around 8400 lbs as I tow it. The hitch weight is about 1100 lbs. I never really researched the payload aspect of things, before buying it. It towed much better with my platinum tundra, the low profile tires made a huge difference.
Most times we go camping, I am easily 500 lbs over on payload. The truck does very well with it. The trick is to make sure your wdh is setup properly, I run an equalizer. And if you have the trd or package, air up the rear tires. The sidewalls at 33 psi are not stiff enough.
And just for the record, I am not saying it is ok to run over payload. I am just not at a point where I am ready to get rid of my camper or truck. My next setup will be within the actual limits of the truck.

 

After much research, if I was going to go fifth wheel, It looks like a 3500 duramax single rear wheel is the way I would be going. But again if I drop 80k on a truck, and 100k on a fifth wheel. That puts me in the price of some really nice diesel motor homes

 

We were looking at used Class A motorhomes and had a spending limit of $80K. That's the wrong area to be if you intend to stay under many RV parks 10 year rule and don't want the Triton V10 engine. Since our daily driver was 10 years old but in above normal condition with the used car market being good, selling the car and buying a new truck and trailer worked out best for us. This past summer wasn't the best time to buy anything but we got very lucky finding the trailer for about $7K less than MSRP and the Tundra right at MSRP. Now the problem is finding vacancies at campgrounds.

 

I've used the E2 and currently Equalizer E4 WDH. The E4 works very well for weight distribution and preventing any sway.
As others mentioned, the magic number I've found is tongue weight should be around 13% of total. Visit the CAT scales when fine tuning your setup. The Tundra tows very well. Solid and secure. Hopefully the newer OEM brake controller works as it should. Have not tried it yet.