Towing with a Tundra

[Alluminati]

Originally Posted by m.hony

I truly don't think towing my Classic 30 is hurting it or shortening its life.
-

The 5.7 engine is so ridiculously overpowered to just carry around 8 passengers in my Sequoia. It was made to do much more work than that. Sure, it works harder when pulling the trailer, but that's what it was designed for.

I have a CDL with passenger endorsement, and have driven a number of midsize busses, both diesel and gas. I don't think my Sequoia with the trailer attached works any harder than a typical bus engine carrying a full load of passengers.

[m.hony]

I like when it downshifts and increase RPM.
It sounds good like a race car.
The 3.5 V6 in the Avalon is stoopid crazy power to just haul 5 people, buried like it.


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by Alluminati

The 5.7 engine is so ridiculously overpowered to just carry around 8 passengers in my Sequoia. It was made to do much more work than that. Sure, it works harder when pulling the trailer, but that's what it was designed for.

I'm only pulling a 23FB, so I don't think I'm really pushing the 5.7 in my 2012, but I've wondered why so much more HP and torque would be needed (wanted). I've gone over some pretty good passes in CO without a problem. I would like one of those Diesel engine brakes for the downhills, but to go to a 3/4 ton, and it's $60-80K price tag, for an engine brake..

[Meeks]

Originally Posted by Alluminati

Why are you so condescending?

So Toyota is the only truck that requires routine maintenance??? If you have to change the oil in your Toyota, that proves that it's inferior. Really???

I tow my 34' 10K GVWR trailer with a 2008 Toyota Sequoia. But let's compare apples to apples, shall we?

The 2008 Tundra with a V8 engine tows 10,800#
The 2008 Ford F-250 THREE QUARTER TON with a gas V8 tows 10,400#

Toyota 1/2 ton tows MORE THAN Ford 3/4 ton.

Ford needs a V10 or diesel to out perform Toyota.

My post was not intended to be condescending. I was posting a maintenance schedule in an effort to be helpful.

I have a 2014 Toyota Tundra and love it.

[Meeks]

Originally Posted by m.hony

I don't think he was being condescending either, but wondered why he felt the need to post the maintenance schedule for me...
I have the Tundra, the Tundra owner's manual, and the Toyota dealership service department...
My Tundra is very well maintained, babied, cared for, loved...
It is still in nearly new condition 9+ years later...
I truly don't think towing my Classic 30 is hurting it or shortening its life.
So far I have not even replaced brake pads.
The only problem with my truck is the center console lid cover is peeling off/unrolling/unraveling due to 9 extreme Mississippi summers.
At some point I may get the console lid re-upholstered.
Buying a new one is out of the question- $514 from Toyota-

I posted the maintenance schedule in the hopes of being helpful as some folks never look at a manual. I also follow the maintenance schedule and was surprised at how dirty the differential oil was at 30,000 miles. I noticed you hadn't listed this or other fluid changes so that was part of my motivation in posting and trying to be helpful. I didn't list it specifically as I didn't want to sound "know it all" (which I'm not, there's always so much to learn) or pushy or......

Sometimes it's hard to know when to post and when not to. It's challenging not to offend someone at times, it seems. Glad you didn't take my post as offensive and were instead just curious.

[m.hony]

Just curious...
I have owned a 2007 Tundra for over 8 years.
Did you think I wasn't aware of the maintenance schedule?
No one has a better maintained, cared for truck than I...
Didn't think you were condescending, but didn't get the point, either-

[Countryboy59]

Never had a vehicle where I changed the diff oil at 30,000 miles. Is this something new?

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by Countryboy59

Never had a vehicle where I changed the diff oil at 30,000 miles. Is this something new?

Yes and no. Annually or 15k was a rule from back when. Cheap insurance. Today's full synthetics better.


But towing is a strain. Better safe than sorry. An easy DIY job as neoprene gasket is reused on many axles.


If it meets spec, REDLINE brand highly regarded.

[CRH]

I change my diff fluid. One of my trucks has a drain plug which makes it a breeze. I pump out the ones that don't. That is the only easy way in my truck with a Ford 9". It has no cover.

[jcl]

I used to change differential fluid, but that is going back to vehicles from the sixties and seventies. Fluids have improved a lot. Now I check for signs of leaks, and would change the fluid if fording a stream in a 4wd created a risk of water ingress.

Recall that one reason manufacturers eliminated those drain and level plugs is because in many cases, interventions led to more failures than otherwise, statistically.

[Meeks]

Originally Posted by m.hony

Just curious...
I have owned a 2007 Tundra for over 8 years.
Did you think I wasn't aware of the maintenance schedule?
No one has a better maintained, cared for truck than I...
Didn't think you were condescending, but didn't get the point, either-

I don't know how else to explain that I intended my post to be helpful.
You have let me know that the post was not helpful, nor desired, nor, I realize requested.
Let's let it rest and move on.

[slowmover]

Crabby today, ain't he?

OTOH, his posts about the truck and knowledge trucks in general worth a read. Seriously.

[B4WEDI]

23 years of Toyota trucks here, but I don't think Tundra is the one any longer...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq05bNUaBnU

[Boxite]

I see they did not include the Ram Hemi or Cummins in their "comparison". Wonder why....?

As a rear-axle specialist for Toyota (years ago) I have always thought the differential fluid change schedules of modern vehicles is intended to sell service and fluid. My Ram also recommends a ridiculous 30K miles and I did it at 100K only because I tow. It was synthetic, clear, smelled new. (I replaced it with the specified weight of Valvoline synthetic.)

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by Boxite

I see they did not include the Ram Hemi or Cummins in their "comparison". Wonder why....?

As a rear-axle specialist for Toyota (years ago) I have always thought the differential fluid change schedules of modern vehicles is intended to sell service and fluid.

Maybe because they were trying to compare three gas trucks, so they picked the top two US brands to compare to the Toyota?

My truck manual says diff service is only needed in the event of water intrusion. I don't think I've ever had diff fluid changed, well past 200,000 miles, but my current truck has an electronic locking diff. I might get that one done at 100,000.

[zapper]

Originally Posted by VernDiesel

As with any gasser pulling a 30' Classic but especially the Tundra.. Just don't stray to far from the gas station. �� Just humor Tundra fans.

Lol, Your not kidding. I have a 2010 Tundra 5.7 Crew Max and 2017 30 FC max range on a full 26 gallon tank is just over 210 miles on the flat (60-65mph). Our previous 25' Safari LE LS we could pull comfortably around 240-250 miles, wish I had bought the larger gas tank now. Didn't realize that 1500lbs in GVWR would make that much difference in gas mileage. I do carry between 25-30 gallons in gas containers in the bed for that reason Never had to use them yet, but you never know

[rfequity]

I was wondering if anyone using a Tundra as a tv feels the tongue weight on 25FB is too much for it? I have 2017 Tundra and a 2013 FB flying cloud. I use a WD hitch and it certainly tows fine. I have not had the tongue weight done with it fully loaded. Toyota says 1030 max tongue weight.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by rfequity

I was wondering if anyone using a Tundra as a tv feels the tongue weight on 25FB is too much for it? I have 2017 Tundra and a 2013 FB flying cloud. I use a WD hitch and it certainly tows fine. I have not had the tongue weight done with it fully loaded. Toyota says 1030 max tongue weight.

I have a Tundra 5.7 and tow a 26U with an Equalizer hitch. The 26U has an "advertised" tongue weight of 903#. The WD hitch takes some of that weight and transfers it to the front wheels and perhaps a bit to the trailer axles. So, No, the Tundra does not feel overwhelmed.
If anything, I might add air to the truck's rear tires, although I just towed 1400 miles without a single flinch.

I suspect Toyota quoted 1030# since that's 10% of the towing limit. And it's 1030# without a WD hitch.

I started watching other towed vehicles on the road now. Except for RV's I haven't seen a single WD hitch on boat trailers, cargo trailers, car trailers, or horse trailers. None were crashing.

[rfequity]

I really appreciate your input. I started reading about how actual tongue weights are much higher than AS advertises and was concerned I might be overdoing it. I too use a WD hitch. It's the Curt Tru Trak, which I think is a version of an Equalizer.

[aftermath]

I tow my 2006 25FB with my 2017 Tundra with the tow package and the larger gas tank. I never really was bothered by the smaller tank as we usually look forward to stopping along the way and going more than a couple of hours without a stop isn't part of our plan.

My TW when traveling is very close to 920 pounds. I have weighed my setup more than once so it is pretty close. In Washington State all of the weigh stations on secondary highways make the scales available to the public 24/7. I never bother them when they are busy but most of them are closed when I go by. It is a pretty nice service.

I use an Equalizer hitch and have no problems with the weight. Again, this is a half ton so we do monitor the amount of stuff we put in the bed. I am on my second Tundra and really like it. Not a single issue...very dependable and plenty of power for my needs.