POTENTIAL 5TH WHEEL PURCHASE

Me and my wife plus two little fur babies are entertaining the possibility of purchasing a 5th wheel to continue camping. We have a 2015 1/2 ton Tundra 4x4 that we use to tow a 26 ft and an 18 ft travel trailers (not at the same time...lol)
I am wanting to know if any of you tundra owners tow 5th wheels now that can be towed by the 1/2 ton and the brands and sizes and if you have had any problems that you have had to upgrade in order to do so. Any help is appreciated.

 

Go full size truck… I’m betting you’ll regret trying a fifth wheel with our size trucks.

 

Research towing capacity, payload capacity, hitch weight and you'll see your options are slim to none.

Buy a bigger truck for towing a 5th wheel.

 

....WOW, so far everything is negative! Holy Moley

 

The odd one who is doing it, is likely over legal limits and putting others on the road in dangers way.

Don't go over any limits, despite what some may say. The law won't be easy on you if you get into an accident and are knowingly over capacity.

 

It's not personal, it just gets asked quite a few times.
Stick with a bumper pull, or better to go to a diesel. Tundra could pull it probably but not worth the risk to hurt yourself or someone else.

 

Not much to pick from, especially considering the Tundras low payload capacity and the short distance from the cab. By the time you add the weight of the 5th wheel, you’re not far from the payload and tongue capacity.

 

It’s not negativity in all honesty but reality. Most 1/2 ton will have a tough time with a 5th wheel. Your in 3/4 or 1 ton territory plain and simple. Nothing against the Tundra…

 

Some good reading here:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/towing-a-5th-wheel-camper.10989/

https://www.tundras.com/threads/towing-a-5th-wheel-camper.29281/

 

This is the type of 5th wheel that a Tundra, or any half ton, can tow. Anything else and you need to move to a HD, 2500 or 3500 truck.

 

This nice gentleman with an Eastern European accent and great zeal has several videos showing himself towing a 5th wheel. I don't advocate it, but I enjoy the shit out of watching him do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3laoAJ3RyHk

 

The numbers don’t lie. Check your payload and the pin weight of the desired 5th wheel. Good money says you’ll be way over weight. Do some research and you’ll find the rated pin weight numbers are way lower than real world values. If you choose to ignore the numbers that’s on you.

 

You asked a question. We’re providing you with the factual information. Regardless of manufacturer, how many half ton trucks do you see towing a 5th wheel camper?

 

This guy is insane or incredibly dumb…

 

I tow a 23.5' jayco 5th wheel. The hitch weight is 1050 lbs, trailer is 5800 dry. I did add airbags. Tows great, been towing it for 10 yrs., first with my 08 now my 19. They quit making the model I have, was lucky to find one with a low hitch weight.

 

I prefer to think of him as blissfully unaware.

 

Or ignorant and careless with regards to the safety of every other driver on the road.

I didn't watch the entire video but he's over any limits...he shouldn't be towing it.

 

I do not have any issues with this.

 

Years ago I had a 24 ft Komfort and my crappy Z/71 pulled it fine. I don't care for 5th wheels myself anymore but you can do it just don't over do it.

 

Careful, the IPP (internet payload police) will come after you.

sskm3m and bravoseltaromeo, this is not directed at you, just this forum's IPP (internet payload police)in general

I strongly disagree with people towing and hauling well beyond specs., and I take each of my setups to be weighed to know exactly what I am at with total load, front and rear axle.

That said, the lecturing about payload and towing capacity from people (and again I am not saying you, because it is multiple people on this forum) who think they are educated because they can read a sticker is growing tiresome. The sticker on the side of your passenger truck is not a law. I don't care what Ford says, it isn't safe to strap 13,000lbs behind a 4500lbs F150. Additionally, as we saw recently in TFL videos, Ford and GM aren't even really capable of that weight without overheating, they just designed their vehicles to pass an agility test in order to gain that rating.

When it comes to towing capacity at least SAE J2807 provides some standardization for determining towing capacity, albeit a bunch of B.S. However, there is no standard, zero, nada, nothing for determining payload, because there is no standard for determining GVWR. Manufactures just through these numbers on their vehicles willy nilly without any real thought and I can use the Tundra as an example.

My son's 2WD 2015 SR5 XSP-X and my 2018 4WD Platinum are mechanically identical with the exception of me having 4WD. My truck has a GVWR of 7,200lbs, but my son's only has 7,000. Why is that? It makes absolutely zero sense. Components are identical with one exception, a 4WD system which in no way improves my ability to carry weight. It doesn't improve my brakes' ability to stop, doesn't change my suspension, doesn't change my lug pattern, it only changes weight for purposes of towing. These vehicles should have identical GVWRs, they don't.

Given the setup ssk3m describes, the GVWR combined with where that payload is distributed, is probably a ton safer on the road than someone towing an 8k bumper pull with a ,2000lb payload, 13,000lbs towing capacity F150. Just saying.

 

Somewhat disagree. From the NHSTA website:

The term GVWR is defined in 49 CFR 571.3 as "the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle." The GVWR informs vehicle owners how heavily the vehicle may be safely loaded. It also affects the vehicle's loading and other test conditions for the performance tests to ascertain whether the vehicle complies with applicable safety standards.

But let me ask you this: if the sticker doesn’t mean anything, why would Toyota just not put a sticker with higher numbers on it to avoid being out-classed by the competition? Why put a sticker on at all?

 

not negative. Constructive. Just because it’s not the answer you wanted doesn’t mean it’s negative. If you won’t want to hear it don’t ask….just do it.

 

Good questions, except your premise is false. I didn't write " the sticker doesn't mean anything". To the contrary, I personally think GVWR offers an estimation of what is known to be safe. Let me be clear, I am responsible in my setups, and wouldn't choose a 5th wheel for my half ton, but I do think there are those that can do it safely.

With regard to it being "a law" I am no attorney, but it seems what you provided here is a definition of GVWR and how manufacturers must define it on their vehicles. More specifically this seems to be a section relative to vehicles over 10k lbs. maybe I'm reading it wrong.It provides no information as any legality associated with being over GVWR.

As to why Toyota doesn't just change the sticker, well Toyota has never played that game. The big 3 always used to play it with towing capacity before SAE J2807, increasing towing capacity every year without changing the mechanics of the vehicle. There is no standard for payload, and so I think this has become their new game.

Lastly, I provided evidence in the simple form of illogical ratings from one manufacturer (Toyota) that would call into question the overall legitimacy of a GVWR rating. I don't want to get involved in a physics lesson, so I will keep my question simple for anyone that wishes to answer. Can anyone please explain the science (measurements, calculations, and/or physical tests) any manufacturer uses to determine GVWR for a specific commuter vehicle in their lineup?

Hint: I know the answer, and the IPP may find it very disappointing.

 

If you are in a accident, especially where there is a fatality, and you get a serious investigator (from the insurance company) that sticker will not be useless. Additionally if there is a fatality a lot info is collected off the vehicle like tire ratings and such. I knew quite a few of advanced investigators that would aid the insurance company in jettisoning the insured.

 

The door jamb number is not law. If it were, most of the overlanding aftermarket for Tundras and Tacomas would not exist.

 

I agree that it’s not law but it’s something that without a doubt can be used against you. If a insurance company can get out of paying they will. That’s all i am saying…statically speaking is it ever going to mean anything…no. But when things go terribly wrong ITS going to matter.

And sorry guys I am not looking to pick a fight (@Terndrerrr, @szabo101). I will always air of the side of caution even if I disagree or have no understanding of how the rating is obtained. I have enough experience to know that certain things are not worth risking.

 

Well you earned the IGVWRE* badge, wear it proudly. I am an engineer, and we design things in my line of work with specified design limits, if we exceed those there’s a good chance of injury or death. Happy towing.

*(IGVWRE=Internet gross vehicle weight rating engineer).

 

That guy would have a heart attack reading our gvwr threads. More power to him, but dear lord the wheels/tires do not seem good for towing

 

I have not responded snidely to you or anyone else, even though you inaccurately assessed my post and have nothing useful to offer. Not sure why you felt the need to do that.

 

With my 40 lb Anderson hitch plus frame brackets and my wife and I I'm around 150 lbs over. Big deal. I'd take my setup over someone towing a swaying bumper pull with a hitch weight of 700+ lbs.

But your right I probably shouldn't post this on acct of the internet police.