Ok, new question has come to mind... Tundra 5.7L owners this is for you

[wave man]

I've been really struggling to pick a TV because many say a half ton is more than sufficient for a 25FC (but that it gets iffy going past to 26, 27 etc) and that would be really great for my situation because I can't afford an expensive TV like a 3/4t, the 1/2t would be ideal for all the usual reasons people prefer them..

BUT the tongue weight of my incoming FC25 FB (starting at 837 and passing 1000 according to many) proves the "half ton will do it" truism false. I will be in my AS a lot, it will get heavy, and I want to put my kids in the truck sometimes... ..The usual payload quandry seen here many times

I hear it said (read) Tundras are seemingly really overbuilt and impressive in what they can effortlessly do because of it... I'd love to get one.

So I've been grappling with Payload issues in a potential TV (getting a FC25FB) and I'd like to put some questions to ya in a private setting so as to ask specific questions and get a candid exchange without re-hashing in a public forum again...

Could I ask for those of you out there working your Tundra 5.7L to send me a private message so I can run a couple things by ya? I'd love to follow up on this issue with those of you that are in the know...Thanks so much in advance, I've been reading till my brain hurts and need to cut to the chase

[uncle_bob]

Hi

I would not recommend taking any vehicle over it's axle ratings regardless of how "stout" it seems to be built.

Part of the problem is that a modern truck can have some strange numbers on it. Headline numbers from the F-150 page (Chevy and Dodge have similar numbers I'm sure):

Payload 3,270 lb
Towing 12,200 lb (with WD hitch)

From a bit further down:

Max config GCWR (that I could find) 17,100 lb
Max tongue weight 1,220 lb

One *could* ask exactly what makes that a 150 or a half ton. One also wonders about the "max payload" version even having a passenger seat in it ..... The "camper" section shows a number of config's with 1500 to 2500 lb cargo ratings.

Digging up the axle numbers would take more key strokes than I'm up for at the moment.

Bob

[dkottum]

A properly equipped half-ton will tow a 25, 26, 27, and 28 well, you wouldn't notice the difference of 2 feet and 300 lb max load rating among them. If the truck is greatly over-sized, you will notice the difference from one well-sized to your needs.

Look at the "payload" number as a shopping reference, but it is the axle ratings and the load placed across them (as well as 200 lbs or so to the trailer axles) by a quality w.d. hitch and setup that will determine what the truck can carry and how well the vehicle tows. If you carry extra people you will need to manage the loads in the bed of 1/2 and many 3/4 ton trucks when putting the Airstream on the hitch receiver.

When you get loaded for travel, take a moment and run your loaded vehicle over a CAT so you know if your truck and trailer axle loads are within ratings. Then you'll have a reference for future loading and w.d. adjustment. If you have too much load, you will need to take inventory of "stuff' and leave some at home (probably best to keep the kids in place and lose some of the gear).

Tundras are over-built. Well, not everyone will agree with that if it suggests our others are under-built. Ford, GM, Ram, and Nissan also build highly capable trucks that may offer more towing options and make better use of fuel.

[wave man]

Thank you both, the axle ratings is the ray of hope that gets short shrift seems to me.. and it may make this actually doable. Less worry anyway ...

[Bob662]

...and don't forget that a half (maybe a bit more) of "tongue weight" gets sent somewhere else--to the front axle and the trailer axles--with a well executed weight distribution hitch. The only way to determine how much is at the public scales, which doesn't help you in deciding which TV to acquire. Just remember measured unattached tongue weight isn't too relevant.

[wave man]

Another factor I've lost track of, thank you Bob662

[OTRA15]

Don't forget a margin of error for a safety factor, to accommodate all kinds of instant loads from road conditions, evasive maneuvers, and so forth.

Also this tough question -- when you are fully loaded with all your trailer and camping gear in the pickup, kids, full tanks, maybe some extra water and food in coolers . . .

. . . will you wish you had not compromised on the TV with a "I think I can just make the limits" kind of approach?

Or -- when you buy a tool, do you get the one that will "just barely do the job" or do you buy one that will easily handle the current job, and then some?

A 1/2 ton pickup will probably disappoint IMO.

Good luck,

Peter

[dkottum]

People will argue 'til hell freezes over about the best weight distribution hitch, but (almost) all will agree you cannot use a mid-size Airstream/half-ton tow vehicle combination without a capable w.d. hitch and high quality w.d. setup.

An example, our our FC 25 RB fully loaded (837 lb factory hitch weight, probably 1,000 lb loaded), with oversized AGM batteries in the box (extra 40 lbs), a ProPride hitch (180 lb) on the tongue adds 800 to 840 lbs to our trucks axles. When sizing w.d. hitch bars, the weight of gear behind the trucks axles must also be considered, along with trailer's loaded hitch weight.

The truck's wheelbase, any flexibility in the truck's frame and hitch receiver, and engine type (our cast iron diesel engine loads the front axle more than he aluminum gas engine option) also make a difference. We use 1400 lb w.d. bars to load our truck's front and rear axles to near 3600 lbs each, they are rated at 3900 lb each. Without a capable w.d. hitch our rear axle would be overloaded and the front axle too light for positive steering and braking when we need it most.

[m.hony]

PM me.
I will answer any questions.
I think the 30" actually has less tongue weight than a 25' or 27'.
I think I am the only Tundra 5.7 owner to speak up so far...

[kdickinson]

I've seen more and more Tundra's pulling not just Airstreams but as tow vehicles in general. They seem quite capable.

[DMT]

Tundra owner here. PM me as well if you like.

[Rugger]

I have a 2013 Tundra with a 5.7 L and tow my 2008 International 28 CCD. We use an Equalizer WD hitch. This is our second Tundra towing our rig and have never felt under trucked. Listed hitch weight is 880, but probably closer to 1000. Feel free to PM me

[rucos]

I pull a 23ft with a 2010 limited tundra with tow package ...love it and barley notice the trailer ... I have pulled from Canada to the Mexican border a few times now and am very happy .... except it sucks gas ... but what doesn't??

[AzAirstream]

Here are my actual numbers weighed on a CAT truck scale. Hope this helps.

Tundra and Airstream Weights

Certified Scale Weights
Tundra GCWR – 15690 lbs
Tundra TWR – 9400 lbs
Tundra Max Weight – 7300
Airstream Max Weight - 7200

2016 Toyota Tundra Crewmax – Empty Weights – Full Fuel
· Front Axle – 3320 lbs
· Rear Axle – 2560 lbs
· Empty Weight – 5880 lbs – Max Allowable Weight – 7300 lbs
· Truck Payload – 1420 lbs Available


2016 Tundra and 2016 Airstream 25 Flying Cloud – Empty Weights – No Water/Waste
Blue Ox Weight Distributing Hitch showing 3 Chain Links and proper set-up
· Truck Front Axle – 3180 lbs – Max 4000 lbs
· Truck Rear Axle – 3520 lbs – Max 4150 lbs
· Truck Payload – 600 lbs Available

· Trailer Axles Total – 5120 lbs – Max 7200 lbs
· Total Gross Empty Weight – 11820 lbs
· Airstream Empty Weight – 5940 lbs
Airstream Payload – 1260 lbs Available

[demijac]

I must confess that we haven't done the detailed weight analysis that can (should) be done to confirm tow vehicle worthiness for our rig. All we can point to is anecdotal evidence from our own experience which is as follows:

We have a 2007 Tundra double cab. We started pulling our 2014 Classic 27FB almost four years ago and have 100K plus miles on the Airstream. We have been to 46 of the Lower 48 states and several Canadian provinces. We've spent alot of time in the mountains. We seldom venture off of paved roads.

To date, the Tundra has performed admirably with just its regular maintenance - oil changes, tire rotations, and one round of new brakes and rear shocks. We've never had any major issues with this truck.

We have a deliberate strategy to reduce wear and tear on the Tundra, and besides regular maintenance, focus on three other things - 1) keeping max speed while towing to 60 mph, 2) letting the truck find its own comfortable speed up the hills, and 3) downshifting on the downhills vs. using our brakes.

With the cost of new pickup trucks being what they are, our intent is to stay with the Tundra to about 400K miles if we can - so far, we're at 215K. It's been a pleasure to drive such a dependable vehicle all this time and we are looking forward to many more good years in the Tundra.

[damascus]

Took my 2012 5.7 Tundra into a Toyota dealer for its 90,000 maintenance service during the International Rally in Escanaba. Spent time with the service manager telling him I thought I could get 200,000 miles out of it easily. He laughed. Keep the maintenance required and you'll get 400,000 miles.

He went on to say that a guy brought his tundra in with over a million miles a while back. Toyota bought it from him and gave him a new one. They tore it down to analyze the moving parts and reported back that is was hard to tell the difference between the old and new pistons.

Bravado? Exaggeration? BS? maybe. But is sure made me feel good.

We tow a 2012 25' Flying Cloud all over the US and Canada. Never felt like the truck was wanting for anything.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Independent of the axle numbers, your receiver has a weight limit on it. The stock F-250 receiver is "only" 1500 lb. The F-150 comes in at 1200. I would not count on the WD hitch in terms of these numbers. I'd bet they are based straight on tongue weight. There are various ways you hitch and unhitch based on which make / model you have. Any added strain there will hopefully be brief.

If you happen to be lazy (hard to believe anybody would be) you *might* tow with the WD bars still in storage .... just saying ....

Bob (those bars are heavy ...)

[m.hony]

There is a 1,000,000 mile Tundra on YouTube.
The transmission was rebuilt and the starter and alternator were replaced at about 770,000 miles.
My truck may have 61,000 miles now.
Only 939,000 miles to go...

[rmkrum]

With regular scheduled maintenance just about any Toyota product will go over 200,000 miles easily.

[CRH]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

With regular scheduled maintenance just about any vehicle made today will go over 200,000 miles easily.

Fixed it for you.