What do you TOW with your Tundra?

is a 26’ model actuality 28’, in that picture it weighs around 6000-6500lbs probably

 

Nice any sway?

 

no sway at all, I do have one friction sway control set up with my wdh.

 

We towed our 1990 Airstream (29' Excella) on a 6200 mile roadtrip out west back in the summer. The truck and the camper both did great, largely thanks to the light weight of the Airstream (less than 6k dry), the Prodigy P3, and our Hensley hitch. It's time to replace the stock Michelin AT2s, and I am tempted to go up to an E-rated tire, but I also have a hard time fixing something that's not broken. Would love the look of some 275/70 KO2s, with a 5100 set up in the front, but I know all that would compromise how well this truck and camper match up. Since we got home, I have stripped the clearcoat off the Airstream and started polishing her up...

 

Beautiful set up and great picks...I love the Airsteam's

 

My truck handles towing a lot better after 5100s with e rated tires. I also have an add a leaf. Even with the little bit of lift the truck feels a lot more stable with weight behind it.

 

What leaf did you add? My trailer is only 3,900lbs, and the truck pulls it with ease. I used to pull the trailer with my 2010 Taco 4.0L with tow package. I upgraded to a completely new lift/shocks/springs and had a much better towing experience. Not looking to add any/much height to my Tundra, but I do like the little bit of extra firmness when towing. Thanks!

 

get some firestone airbags and onboard compressor .. my truck tows my boat great with them

 

Thanks. I hear the airbags are nice.

 

I agree I'd put the airbags on you'll love them.

 

Yes I can tow all different weights and abuts the airbags. Or I can take the air down to 10 psi. And rides normal

 

Why did you choose Firestone? Do they eliminate the need for my load distribution set up?

 

I went with Firestone because you don't have to drill the frame to install the bags plus my brothers had them on his 1 ton for 20 years with zero issues. I don't pull a camper but I do pull a 22-ft car trailer and a boat all the time. Which on those you don't need a weight distribution hitch so I can't answer that part.

 

Yep. I’ve had these on my truck a year and the truck before I had some also for over 5 years.

 

You shouldn’t need to be using a weight distributing hitch when towing less than 5,000 lbs.

 

Never heard that. Always assumed it was good to use it. That said, I've never owned a truck this big. I had an 86 Toyota p/u, a 2004 Tundra, and a 2010 Taco. Always used load distribution. Using it on my 2017 reduces sag.

 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen axles further back on a travel trailer. Have you ever checked the tongue weight? My guess is that it is significantly higher than the standard 10% because so much of that trailer is in front of the axles.

You can continue to use the WDH but your truck manual will tell you it is not necessary for trailers less than 5k lbs but that assumes your tongue weight is within the 9-11% spec. If your tongue weight is more than 15% of the total weight I’d try to move heavier items to the very back of the trailer for a more balanced towing experience.

 

Looks like a pretty typical TT layout to me?

 

It's not unusual. The box is just under 18'. Most of the weight (slide, kitchen, fresh water tank) sits over the two axles. Mfr recommends not putting too much additional weight up front for obvious reasons. If you compare our size TT to like size TT from mfr such as Winne, Jayco, etc axle(s) in basically the same loc - especially if there's a slide.

 

Maybe its just the angle?? here is a stock photo I just pulled off the internet. Doesn't it seem like this has a lot more trailer behind the rear tire?

 

Looks like you have Grand Design 2400BH. It’s a lot longer and heavier than his trailer, probably hard to compare.

 

The narrow leafs are a big part of the lower payload on the Tundra. It's not conservative, it's engineered.

Comparing it to a minivan is folly. The van has LOTS of components that are way lighter and it is a unibody instead of body on frame. Absolute apples and oranges comparison.

 

I used wheelers add a leafs. I always have about 500-650lbs of weight in my bed for work so add a leafs work good for me. The got me back up to factory height if not a little more. I had bags and cradles on my last tundra and I didn’t like that it limited up travel, and the internal bump stops in the fire stone bags were pretty rough.

 

cords and cords of hand harvested wood
small 14ft alumacraft
whatever else is needed in between

 

noob here and I have been reading a lot about it without being able to completely be confortable with the decision making thus why asking for whom as experience here.
I have constant weight so will add leafs packs anyway.
About towing, thinking about long trips as well, maybe 600/700 lbs tongue weight.
Would consider adding bump stop or air bags on top of the leafs?
Why one or the other? Thoughts that bump stop will work great with additional leafs but still need to understand better air bags.

 

Airbags and added leafs are only good for addressing the sag and ride quality under load, so you are still limited by the factory payload ratings.

That said, both leafs and bags will help while loaded, but leafs can be less forgiving when the load is removed. Bags can be adjusted as needed. This is what I've learned through reading on the forum at least. I'm sure someone with firsthand experience will chime in.

 

Thanks for the reminder on payload I got that right I believe.

Are air bags more appropriate than bump stop then? Ones (airbag) prevent to bend to much by being consistently existing pressure depending on how much you put in while bump stop will reactively push back to original position when hitting a bump on the road?
Edit :: This: https://www.iconvehicledynamics.com...essories-07-up-tundra-rear-hyd-bump-stop-kit/

I don’t want to hijack the thread neither.
I am looking at towing TT starting from 16 to 20’. I am don’t want to run 6mpg neither

 

I had a 2 inch drop with my TT? With the WDH, it was only 3/4 inch.

 

Y'all are awesome! I found a great video where an engineer compares air bags to wdh. Had all wheels on scales, tapped into a computer, etc. Bottom line his analysis indicates wdh most effective. Still not sure what I'm gonna do, but will head out on a 1,000 plus mile trip this summer to help me decide. BTW, CPL P, you're TT is at least 5-7' longer than mine. Agreed the angle of the pic doesn't help. Tongue to tail, my trailer is 24'. It's deceptive b/c the body is 8' wide before the slide is open but the main box roof is only 16' long. The curved front is where the bed is located.

 

All I can say is I have towed many trailers with and with out airbags. And my 20 years of experience the airbags work. That’s why I keep buy new ones for all my new trucks I have bought.. even my 2007 f350 I put airbags and it did make a difference