Toyota Tundra and a 27' or 30'

[Doc Foster]

I currently have a 2014 Toyota Tundra which easily pulls my 25' Flying Cloud.
We are thinking about moving up to a 27' or even 30" 2015 International Serenity for the ducted air system, 2nd A/C (a lot of desert camping), and more room to maneuver around the bed. I have the 5.7L V8, tow package, 4WD. I know that it is rated to pull a 27-30', but want to know if anyone has any real world experience with a Tundra pulling a 27', or 30'?

[BoldAdventure]

Don't take this as being rude, but just reading this section of the forum or using the search button would of answered your question without a new thread, there are two threads within an ear shot of this one:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...dra-42419.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...pg-111922.html

Lots of folks pulling with that setup. Take a gander.

A nice looking rig.

[J. Morgan]

The search function really doesn't work on the app, until it does... Well...

[J. Morgan]

My 1/2 ton 5.3 Chevy does a good job pulling my 6,500 pound 31 footer, i don't see any reason why a 5.7 equipped Toyota wont do a great job with a trailer a couple of thousand pounds heavier.

[Bill M.]

I have never pulled a 30 with a Tundra. I have pulled a 25 and a 32 with my current tow and have seen very little difference in the load on the truck. I know a dozen or more people who pull longer Airstreams with Tundras and they seen to like it just fine. We are at a rally now with 2 Tundras pulling a 32 and a 28. But just to round out the picture there is a couple pulling a 16 ft Bambi with a 250 diesel also.

[aftermath]

Doc, I do not pull a 27 with my Tundra but I sure would like to one of these days. I would not hesitate on the 27. I look at it this way, you would be adding 2 feet, actually 2 ft 1 in, and 300 pounds. Since the Tundra pulls the 25FB easily, I really can't see any problem with the new numbers.

I revisited the thread that Bold Adventure posted and found the typical Tundra haters out in great numbers. Of course the first thread was back in 2008 when the second generation Tundra had yet to establish itself. The truck has plenty of power to tow but it will come down to length and weight. The 27 isn't much of an increase but the 30 might be a different concern.

Just my humble opinion.

[BoldAdventure]

M.Hony pulls his 30 with a 2007 Tundra I believe. Their a good stout truck. I just hate the interiors personally, but like the exterior.

It's funny but I won't tell you about my truck, but others will always talk about how their F-150 or Chevy pulls XYZ as somehow comparable or relevant to your thread.

I'm a car guy, and as such interested in all makes/models. So no hate here.

I'd say you'll be fine personally.

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by BoldAdventure

It's funny but I won't tell you about my truck, but others will always talk about how their F-150 or Chevy pulls XYZ as somehow comparable or relevant to your thread.

.

Ok....

I was simply stating that my similar but smaller engined truck pulls just fine.

If nothing else at least my post bumps the thread up where a Toyota owner might answer more in context.

[BoldAdventure]

Yeah but what doesn't the LS series motors do well?

[Doc Foster]

Originally Posted by BoldAdventure

Don't take this as being rude, but just reading this section of the forum or using the search button would of answered your question without a new thread, there are two threads within an ear shot of this one:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...dra-42419.html
This was started back in 2008, a different generation Tundra.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...pg-111922.html
That was mostly about MPG, which I wasn't really interested in. Thanks for the compliment on my rig..


A nice looking rig.

Thank you.

[slowmover]

Tongue weight is always the concern. Around 75-80% of the TW will remain on the ball after the WD hitch is set.

Use your current rig and find the numbers at present. Loaded for travel (or approximated; with full propane and fresh water) and on a certified scale.

How comfortable you find it to be (the truck can do it, its the load of both vehicles that is in potential question) should be based on acquired numbers.

.

[Piggy Bank]

Wincing and ducking here as I bring this up.

We are still looking, so have no real world tow experience yet.
Have the 2014 tundra 5.8 max cab 4wd.

Am I being crazy to be concerned about payload of 1400 pounds? DH and me take up about 400 of that, so that leaves 1000 pounds left for tongue weight, and anything in the truck. And this is for only 2 people.

(please don't hate me for asking. I am not trying to stir the pot) I am trying just tounderstand if a 23 or 25 is really NO PROBLEM to tow with 2 adults, and a normal amount of camping Stuff, in particular for mountain driving.

Thanks very much.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by Piggy Bank

Wincing and ducking here as I bring this up.

We are still looking, so have no real world tow experience yet.
Have the 2014 tundra 5.8 max cab 4wd.

Am I being crazy to be concerned about payload of 1400 pounds? DH and me take up about 400 of that, so that leaves 1000 pounds left for tongue weight, and anything in the truck. And this is for only 2 people.

(please don't hate me for asking. I am not trying to stir the pot) I am trying just tounderstand if a 23 or 25 is really NO PROBLEM to tow with 2 adults, and a normal amount of camping Stuff, in particular for mountain driving.

Thanks very much.

Stirring the pot is rather the point of these threads. The "Search" function is the place to eliminate redundant questions prior to your own thread rather than having it lost in this one.

The short answer is probably with a high likelihood. The longer answer requires the acquistion of weight scale data to dial it in. To place the the load in TV and TT properly and set TV tire pressure accurately.

[Wishing]

We have a 2013 Tundra and a 27FB Itl and I loaded the truck bed and trailer for a two week CO trip this summer and it towed great-even through some fairly elevated mountain passes. The speed limits on most roads were usually 75 and I had no problems traveling at that speed, even passing slower travelers. I didn't even use half the stuff I loaded, but it was my first solo trip and my husband wasn't there to ask me important questions like "do you really think you're going to need the pizza oven"?

[switz]

If "Wishing" has the stock GoodYear Marathon 15" ST rated tires on their trailer, the side wall speed rating is 65 mph on all "ST" design tires.

The 7,600 pound GVW rating of the 27FB would still work on the 15" Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires that would mount on the stock Airstream factory wheels and getting rid of a sidewall speed restriction. We used those Michelins on our 25FB with the 7,300 pound GVW.

Or consider the Michelin LT225/75R16/E LTX M/S2 tires mounted on 16" SenDel T03-66655T wheels like the factory offers as an option and have load capacity and no speed restrictions. These tires are stock on the 2015 Classic and order able on the Eddie Bauer 25Fb and 27Fb models. We installed them on our Classic.

[Doc Foster]

Originally Posted by switz

If "Wishing" has the stock GoodYear Marathon 15" ST rated tires on their trailer, the side wall speed rating is 65 mph on all "ST" design tires.

The 7,600 pound GVW rating of the 27FB would still work on the 15" Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires that would mount on the stock Airstream factory wheels and getting rid of a sidewall speed restriction. We used those Michelins on our 25FB with the 7,300 pound GVW.

Or consider the Michelin LT225/75R16/E LTX M/S2 tires mounted on 16" SenDel T03-66655T wheels like the factory offers as an option and have load capacity and no speed restrictions. These tires are stock on the 2015 Classic and order able on the Eddie Bauer 25Fb and 27Fb models. We installed them on our Classic.

I like the idea of the larger tire without the speed restrictions.

[m.hony]

I tow a 30 with a Tundra 5.7 CrewMax.
I love my truck, but it is maxed out on payload.
1,400# payload - 1,000# tongue weight = 400# - 2 passengers = 0
Then add fuel, bikes, firewood-
Payload is the only limiting factor when towing with a half ton.
I have towed 30,000 miles with it. The Tundra has plenty of power for any hill in Kentucky or Tennessee.
You already own the truck. Use it. If you didn't already have the truck and were looking to purchase I would say get a 3/4 ton.
The idea behind weight distributing hitches is to compensate for what the truck ain't got.
I personally like the interior of the Tundra and dislike some of the other interiors.
The point of others relating their Ford or Chevy experience is this: If they can do it with comparable payload and less horsepower, then you can do it.
In any campground you will see all kinds of vehicles towing- recently we've seen a Nissan Pathfinder and a Lexus RX300 towing. We have seen a Nissan Frontier, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Durango, Kia Borego-
If they can do it, we can do it.
In the 60's and 70's the used sedans and station wagons.
Go get you that new trailer, hook up, and go campin'.
I have had 2 trailers and 2 hitch setups on my Tundra. Neither dealer nor Jackson Center ever said I didn't have enough truck. Most travel trailers are advertised and sold as "half ton towable".

[m.hony]

Even with 16" wheels and Michelin truck tires I would still go 55-65 due to fuel economy- the faster I go the faster the fuel is burned- as bad as 7 mpg at 70 mph,as good as 12 mpg at 55 mph-

[m.hony]

Touring Dan also tows with a Tundra.
Go to a rally- you'll see half a dozen Tundras-

[Airrogant]

PiggyB - As usual your hunch is a real and valid concern. I agree with m.hony that this is all about payload. If you keep your truck empty, and load all of your loot into the AS, you'll be near the limit of what your buggy should carry. Arguably safe and legal, but you'll be pushing your truck harder than you probably want to.

There is a thread running about real world tongue weights that suggests that the published AS tongue weights are very low. I'm guessing that if you take your desired trailer's GVWR, and multiply it by about 0.15 you'll get a pretty good estimate of what your trailer's maximum tongue weight could be when the trailer is loaded with water, propane, and gear. Of course you can influence this number somewhat by distributing your loads properly inside the trailer. Once you subtract the true tongue weight from your TVs payload you're likely going to feel the big squeeze.

The weight of the stuff we like to drag along with us really adds up quickly. I was amazed how fast I was able to accumulate 200 lbs. of just the stuff you NEED to go camping - tools, electrical cords and adapters, water hoses and fittings, stinky slinky, levelers, chocks, etc.

If you can keep the contents of your truck near empty then I would try what you've got. Have your eye out for a new tow vehicle in the meantime since it seems that you enjoy doing all of the research. If you find you really need to lug more junk in your truck's bed you can always upgrade your TV later.