2015 Toyota Tundra Crew Max truck

[cute cottage]

Will this truck pull our 27' EB AS trailer with a SwiffArrow Hensley trailer hitch?

The truck's specs are: 5.7 L i-Force V8 DOCH 32 V LEH
6 speed transmission
Torque: 401#-' @ 3600 RPM; 381hp@5,600RPM
Fuel tank 26.4 gallons
Drive - rear wheel
Tow capacity - 10,100
Curb weight 5,335
Payload 1,669
GVWR 7,000
Wheelbase 145.7"
GAWR front 3900; rear 4150
GCWR 15,860

Hensley wt 185#

Eddie Bauer GVWT 7800#

Thank you for advising


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[KJRitchie]

Yes. I tow my Classic 25fb (8000 GVWR) with no problems with a 2010 Tundra Double Cab 2x4, 1465lb payload. Engine has the power and your payload is better than mine.

Kelvin

[lloydnc]

We just towed our (new to us) 25" Airstream Safari home from Boise, Idaho. It was 453 miles up and down through the mountains of OR, WA and Idaho.

We were towing with a 2015 Tundra SR5 5.7 4WD with tow package and Toyota tow mirrors and a Hensley Hitch. It did a great job, no problems at all. We got 17.7 miles going down without the trailer and 10.8 towing with regular gas.

You should have the tow package with the 5.7. The Toyota Tow mirrors were the only other option were purchased on the Tundra.

You should be just fine.

[dmcgaugh]

I'd think you'd do fine. I tow our 25EB with a 2012 GL350 bluetec. Same torque as you (400 lb ft). On the steepest grades I can maintain between 45-50 mph, that includes Snoqualmie pass in Washington (I90) and Willamette pass in Oregon (hwy 58). Flat and milder grades I can easily go faster than I'd feel comfortable.

[DHart]

No question that the truck "can pull" the trailer.

The question is, will the truck's payload be enough for your trailer tongue weight (when fully loaded), and the combined weight of all you will put in and on the truck, including such things as the hitch, people, pets, camper shell/tonneau cover, camp equipment, generator, fuel container, bikes, chairs, camp recliners, fire wood, BBQ, raft/kayak, tools, yada, yada, yada. If you travel lite, you might be fine with that. If you travel heavier or have numerous people, big dogs, camper shell, and other stuff, perhaps not.

[Axeman]

I'm pulling a 28 s/o with my Silverado 1500 Crew 4x4 w/tow package. I think the trucks rated to tow 9500 lbs. I even regeared to 4.56. I'm looking at the Toyota Crew with 5.7 as well, due to the bigger motor, more power.. But, I'm also considering a 3/4 ton as well, due to the hitch weight of the 28 s/o(like 1200 lbs,which seems really heavy for the overall weight of the trailer).Is there anyone pulling a s/o Airstream or equal weight with the Toyota? I'm curious because my Silverado does ok until you get on steep grades.

[GammaDog]

We pull our 2014 EB 25 with our 2014 Tundra 5.7 Crewmax Limited. Just finished a 6,500 mile round trip to Wyoming. I think the combination of truck and trailer is ideal. We crossed the Rockies west of Denver on I70 at 11,000 feet... handled 8% up and down grades into and out of bighorn national forest and moved "briskly" for hours across I70 in Kansas and I90 in South Dakota.

That said, DHart hit the nail on the head. It is easier than you might imagine to exceed the Tundra's max gross weight with a trailer that size (or even the shorter lighter trailer I tow). I know, I weighed in before my recent trip and made adjustments to ligten the truck. To assess that possibility for your rig, add up the load you intend to carry in the truck. That includes family members (it's just the two of us), fuel (22 gallons of gas weighs about 130 lbs), tonneau (25 lbs), generators and fuel (150 lbs for us), stuff like tarps, ladder, etc. and the biggie... trailer tongue weight. Add it to the curb weight and compare that to the max gross weight for your specific Tundra. It looks like you have those figures already for your truck.

It's managable, but not assured, that you can meet all manufacturer's limits. The first one you will hit is the gross weight of the tundra itself. Combined weight (truck plus payload plus trailer), axel weights, tire loads, etc would be hard to exceed unless you first blew through the truck gross weight limit, so that's the one I'd watch.

[msjoe]

Not a problem with my 19 ft AS with my 2010 Tundra V8--but: can't open tail gate of truck completely since it hits the electric jack--not a big deal--the BIG dogs prefer to ride in the cab so the odds and ends go in the back of the truck. Poor gas mileage--15 mpg with or without the Airstream. Even with all the gear....

[Steamy1]

Originally Posted by msjoe

Not a problem with my 19 ft AS with my 2010 Tundra V8--but: can't open tail gate of truck completely since it hits the electric jack--not a big deal--the BIG dogs prefer to ride in the cab so the odds and ends go in the back of the truck. Poor gas mileage--15 mpg with or without the Airstream. Even with all the gear....

you can turn the motor housing 90 degrees and it sill clear. Just loosen the set screw.

I had the same problem with my Tundra and 19' and 23'.

[TopGeorge]

yes.

[msjoe]

To Steamy and Top George--I already did that and still is hit by tailgate of truck--it was an obvious solution (thank you!) but didn't work...

[Doc Foster]

I just pulled my 30' International Serenity 7,700+ miles from Maryland to Nevada and back. Yes, the gas mileage suffers pulling it up and over the Rockies (went through Colorado), but I can average 11mpg if I stay around 60-65 mph on flat Interstate. It drops down to about 9mpg if I speed up a bit and/or add in mountain terrain. We were fully loaded, with 2 Honda 2000 generators in the back of the truck with all kinds of other assorted recovery gear as I do a lot of fourwheeling once I get into the backcountry.

[Danattherock]

Originally Posted by DHart

No question that the truck "can pull" the trailer.

The question is, will the truck's payload be enough for your trailer tongue weight (when fully loaded), and the combined weight of all you will put in and on the truck, including such things as the hitch, people, pets, camper shell/tonneau cover, camp equipment, generator, fuel container, bikes, chairs, camp recliners, fire wood, BBQ, raft/kayak, tools, yada, yada, yada. If you travel lite, you might be fine with that. If you travel heavier or have numerous people, big dogs, camper shell, and other stuff, perhaps not.

Best answer^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Wife and I wanted this truck. Badly. Just a beautiful truck and would make a great daily driver. Can't get it out of my head. To the point I'm still considering a smaller Airstream (with lighter hitch weight). We were right on the bubble it would appear.

Payload is severely lacking in Tundra crew max compared to other 1/2 ton trucks. Don't listen to me. It's a known issue to say the least. Go look at the door sticker on driver door jamb and see manufacturer listed payload for the Tundra and a Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, etc. I saw several last week.

Did the same thing with Ford Expedition, which towing guru Andy Thomson at Can-Am RV in Ontario suggested we look at for our needs. It has independent rear suspension, 3.73 rear diff, transmission cooler, among other things that separates it from many other SUV's as a towing vehicle. If selecting the max tow package that is. But payload may be limiting factor here as well, still investigating his suggestion.

Toyota Tundra max cab 1794 4x4 was 1300 lb payload. Same truck in Limited had 1390 lbs. If hitch weight is 900 lbs, you got 400 left for all people, gear, and otherwise in the truck. If you buy a WD hitch, and I'm sure you plan to, I hear that is 100-150 lbs, which counts on payload as I hear it. Heard varying reports on that, muddy to me still. Anyway you cut it, I'm in similar position as the OP.

I can't answer your questions, but I sure as heck know what questions you need to ask. And you should be asking this in the towing vehicle sub-forum here where lots of very smart folk frequent. Wife and I, with two small kids (infant and toddler) and dog. Looking at Airstream in 27-28' range, with hitch weights of 791-950. Everyone said get bigger truck than Tundra for payload issue primarily.

As much as we loved the Tundra 1794 max cab 4x4 and Limited max cab 4x4, we did take the advice of nearly everyone on this forum, and Tundratalk dot com's sub-forum of towing. Buy a bigger truck. My needs are similar to yours so I would encourage you to give this some thought just to be safe. But my wife and I weigh 550 lbs and we intend to tow primarily in Smoky Mountians.

Each situation is different of course. Even I know that much. But proceed cautiously and be VERY careful when XX person says you'll be fine, I tow XXx with my XXX. Too many variables. Payload sticker on EVERY vehicle is different for starters.

The printed payload of 2015 Toyota Tundra Max cab 4x4 1794 and Limited ....

1525 lbs. look at the 2015 Toyota Tundra brochure. But YOU CANT buy this model/trim of the Tundra with anywhere near that stated payload. Look yourself.

Actual sticker on door jamb...

1794- 1300 lbs
Limited- 1390 lbs

Lots of great info In Towing sub forum here. A thread, using Tundra as tow vehicle, etc.. Has lots of great info, and my rant last week upon finding out the above. Good luck and be safe. Towing will be safer and more enjoyable if we are not maxing out, or exceeding, manufacturer ratings. Not to mention any legal issues, which I hear are many, if an accident ever occurred.

I'm 100% positive at this point most folks towing larger Airstreams with Toyota Tundras are EXCEEDING the vehicles rated payload. Short of being anorexic, single, etc.. I don't see any other answer.

Payload 1350 or so (each vehicle varies based on options/trim/4x4/cab style/etc...
airstream hitch avg 850-900
WD hitch 150
That's nearing 1100 lbs with NO HUMANS
And I've heard over and over hitch weights are higher than AS states. If true, even worse example here.

Good luck with your search.


Dan
NC

[smlbob]

I tow my 2015 FC 27' with a Toyota Sequoia, tow package, same engine as yours, but 4WD (though I don't often use it), and over 8200 miles to Utah and back, it did great. Overall 10.8 mpg...I use an Equalizer hitch, which is great.

[GammaDog]

As far as I can tell, the original poster has not commented on any of the responses. Cutd Cottage: Are you still following and has this info answered your questions?

[65CV]

Originally Posted by Danattherock

...

I'm 100% positive at this point most folks towing larger Airstreams with Toyota Tundras are EXCEEDING the vehicles rated payload. Short of being anorexic, single, etc.. I don't see any other answer.

...
Dan
NC

There is another answer... vintage.

Our restored 26' 1959 Overlander tongue weight varies from 300 to 540 lbs, depending on propane and water load. With a fully packed trailer weight of about 4500 lbs, it tows like it's not even there.

We love our new Tundra. Average mpg for our first towing trip was just shy of 13 mpg.

[Rich W]

I think that you also have to consider we're dealing with car companies and they don't all play by the same rules. The SAE towing standard J2807 testing (for pickups of less than 13,000 lb. cargo capacity) was agreed to by all of the manufacturers in 2009, but only Toyota followed through and complies with the testing. As a result, Toyota dropped the towing capacity on some of their vehicles. The others all set their own standards and tests and advertise their towing capacity based on these self-set standards.

So we really aren't comparing apples to apples.

This is a very interesting article from 2013 when it was all supposed to take effect.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2013...-isnt-standard

[747 Mech]

Here are my experiences towing with this truck Toyota 2104 Tundra
I pull a 2014 FC 28, my truck left the factory with a useful load of 1303lbs
My trailer tounge is 1164 loaded with a WD hitch that means "about"
400 added to front axel of truck about 400 to rear axel of truck and 400 shifted to trailer axels. 1303-800 leaves 503 left useful load on truck. Now not telling wife weight 503-350 leaves 153
No mater how I do it I can't seem to put less then 153 lbs of "Stuff" in the back of my truck.
These are my numbers my truck and my trailer and my desire to stay at or below Toyota Manf. Suggested max load.
I moved up to a F250 pure choice
Good luck on how you choice to go
Dave

[Danattherock]

Originally Posted by richw46

I think that you also have to consider we're dealing with car companies and they don't all play by the same rules. The SAE towing standard J2807 testing (for pickups of less than 13,000 lb. cargo capacity) was agreed to by all of the manufacturers in 2009, but only Toyota followed through and complies with the testing. As a result, Toyota dropped the towing capacity on some of their vehicles. The others all set their own standards and tests and advertise their towing capacity based on these self-set standards.

So we really aren't comparing apples to apples.

This is a very interesting article from 2013 when it was all supposed to take effect.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2013...-isnt-standard

Excellent post. I've read this elsewhere but not sure on details. If so, it would explain why payload on new Tundra trucks is so poor, yet many folks with Tundras are towing good sized campers with great success. Still, for new folk like me, it's a rabbit hole.


Dan

[m.hony]

5 years towing first a 28' and now a 30' with my Tundra CrewMax.
I'm happy.