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06-11-2015, 11:26 AM
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#21
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2 Rivet Member
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Yorba Linda
, California
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 69
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No doubt you would be more comfortable with a larger, newer TV but remember..,they use to tow Travel trailers with station wagons
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06-11-2015, 11:39 AM
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#22
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3 Rivet Member
2015 25' International
Scottsdale
, Arizona
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 130
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I would go with the 25' twin. We bought a 2014 FC 23D and traded it in on a 2015 International a few months later. We are very happy with the 2015 25 International and like the extra room inside and the extra storage on the outside.
__________________
Bob
2017 Ford F-250 Diesel
2015 25' International
WBCCI # 5462 4CU
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06-11-2015, 12:03 PM
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#23
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Rivet Master
2012 23' FB International
Woodstock
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Lots of owners pull 25 ft AS with a lot less than your Tundra. You may want to upgrade or add transmission cooling. Our 11 year old 4.7 Mitubishi engine with 3.53 rear end does just fine except for the 6 and 7 % grades. But as Mike says get the rpms up into the peak torque range. On my truck the tranny refuses to run in 3rd gear so I am often at 4000 - 4500 rpm on a long up hill. The truck is a multipurpose vehicle so we live with the weaknesses. The Tranny is in perfect shape at 200,000 Km. I Assume you have 4 wheel disc brakes so reserve stopping power will not likely be an issue.
JCW
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06-11-2015, 03:00 PM
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#24
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Rivet Master
2014 23' Flying Cloud
Fair Oaks
, California
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 717
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BKuhlman
The Tundra is a 4.7 V8 w/4 wheel drive. When looking at the engine info it seems to make a big difference in whether it is a 5VZ-FE or 2UZ-FE. The manual says the Access cab, 4wd, auto trans, 5VZ-FE engine has a gross trailer weight of 4900#. But the same with the 2UZ-FE engine has a gross trailer weight of 7100#. Ours is the 2UZ-FE engine. McDave, ckottum, do you know if your engines have this designation? I don't know what it means other than it has them both listed and gives different trailer weights.
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The Tundra is gone now, but on the paperwork I kept it states that the engine is a "4.6L DOHC 32V I-Force V8 with Dual Independent VVT-i310HP/327 lb-ft." I remember having the Tundra's towing capacity checked out when I was considering which trailer to buy, and found that the allowable gross trailer weight was about 7,000#, which was in excess of the gross weight rating of 6,000# for the 23' AS that I bought. I'm not sure if they still had the dual weight ratings you mentioned in 2011, as that question didn't come up.
There was no real reason why I traded in the Tundra when I did, as it was still performing adequately, but it was one of the rare times that the stars were aligned and my wife and I agreed on something without a lot of discussion about it. I guess we both like traveling with the trailer, and as we're not going to get any younger, we might as well do it in style. I really didn't want to wait for her to have any second thoughts about it!
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06-11-2015, 05:15 PM
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#25
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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The current 4.6 engine has more horsepower and torque that he previous 4.7 engine.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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06-11-2015, 05:27 PM
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#26
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Rivet Master
2012 23' FB International
Woodstock
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Our 4.7 is 235 HP; 240 Ft Lbs Torque. I've always coveted anything with 310/327!
jcw
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06-11-2015, 05:32 PM
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#27
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1 Rivet Member
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 11
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I just did my first trip in my new 2012 FC 25 rear bed with my 5.3 Chevy. Have had my 1998 19' Bambi since new. I bought the 25 from a guy who towed it with a Thndra 4.8. He said he had no problem with it. I had some concern because I like to go to the mountains.
I just spent a month in New Mexico a pulled it over some 6% grades. Not long up hill pulls but no problems.
You will have 1'000# of water if you drive with the tanks loaded! I only do long drives with about 20 gals of fresh water.
My view is if you are like me you will have the AS longer than the truck. Get the AS you like! You can up grade you truck rear end $1,000+ to get more tow power or change truck later. Read what Andy with CanAm Airstream says
You will love the Airstream life style is. I still have the Bambi after 17 years
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06-11-2015, 07:21 PM
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#28
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JCWDCW
Our 4.7 is 235 HP; 240 Ft Lbs Torque. I've always coveted anything with 310/327!
jcw
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The 5.7 iForce is 381 horsepower and 401 ft. lbs. of torque-
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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06-11-2015, 09:08 PM
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#29
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Slowpoke
2012 27' Flying Cloud
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 255
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As a former owner of a 2000 Tundra, I would have to agree with a couple of the earlier posters: Get yourself another truck. A newer truck. Maybe a post-08 Tundra. I'd say do this, even if you weren't planning on pulling a trailer.
The first-year Tundras were notorious for brake problems. Toyota rushed the first-gen Tundra to market, and they had a lot of bugs to work out. Basically, your truck has Tacoma brakes. They are too small and light-duty for the truck when empty, let alone when pulling at least 5K lbs of trailer.
I had endless problems with my truck's brakes: warped rotors, overheated calipers, bad seals, etc. Finally spent big $$ to upgrade the brakes to 02-03 spec, only marginally better.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it's time for a newer truck...
__________________
Like the tortoise, travelin' slow with the house on our back
2012 FC27FB "Ted Zeppelin"
2010 Tundra Crewmax Platinum "Silver Rhino"
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06-11-2015, 09:20 PM
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#30
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,406
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Yes, two of our sons were mechanics and said they made
Lots of money rebuilding those brakes.
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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06-11-2015, 09:29 PM
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#31
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1 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Binghamton, New York
, New York
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 7
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Go for it
I'd buy the 25. I'm assuming the Tundra has the small block V-8, it will not have an issue. I tow my 20' Safari with a an 2002 3.4 V-6 Tacoma, I generally stay out of overdrive as constant down and upshifting is rough on the tranny. Make sure your distribution hitch it set up properly. I've run the trailer about 6,000 mi. with no consequences or concerns. I previously owned a 2000 Tundra with which I towed a 26' Pursuit fishing boat - I didn't even know it was back there. The Safari is 5000 GVWR and the Pursuit was 6500. I did add a transmission oil cooler to the Tacoma, your Tundra may have one. You will be fine. I was nervous about the same problem but it has worked out fine. Go for it but do it right with the hitch.
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06-11-2015, 09:42 PM
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#32
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1 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Binghamton, New York
, New York
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 7
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You don't need a new truck. The trailer has electronic brakes and when adjusted correctly will not create any more wear on the tow vehicles breaks than would happen in the course of normal events. The trailer will not push the truck when the brakes are adjusted properly. Its just a little sliding mechanism you can play with when while you are driving to insure the trailer brakes are working adequately. You'll learn by doing, when adjusted to strongly, the trailer will do the stopping a jerk you around in slow traffic. Move it a little till that stops - just to the point where you don't feel the trailer pushing you. It is very, very easy. P.S. That's an old truck but in good condition will do the job. I just ran into a guy pulling a 28 footer with standard Mercedes station wagon with a diesel engine. Quebec to Forida five years running. That car was smaller than my Tacoma.
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06-11-2015, 10:18 PM
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#33
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Rivet Master
1995 25' Excella
xxxxx
, xxxxxx
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,349
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I also agree that the OP doesn't need a new truck, especially if is is in good shape....Heck, a 2000 model would be a late model at my house. My towing vehicles are a 1977 and 1994. My traveling car is a 1987
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06-12-2015, 02:01 AM
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#34
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2 Rivet Member
1974 Argosy 26
Joshua Tree
, California
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BKuhlman
The Tundra is a 4.7 V8 w/4 wheel drive. When looking at the engine info it seems to make a big difference in whether it is a 5VZ-FE or 2UZ-FE. The manual says the Access cab, 4wd, auto trans, 5VZ-FE engine has a gross trailer weight of 4900#. But the same with the 2UZ-FE engine has a gross trailer weight of 7100#. Ours is the 2UZ-FE engine. McDave, ckottum, do you know if your engines have this designation? I don't know what it means other than it has them both listed and gives different trailer weights.
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The 5vz-fe is the Toyota designation for the 6 cylinder engine. The 2uz-fe is the designation for the 4.7 L v-8. The 2uz is different from the 1 and 3 Uz engines in that the 2uz has a cast iron block instead of aluminum. It was designed for higher torque applications such as SUVs and pickups.
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06-12-2015, 05:43 AM
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#35
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2 Rivet Member
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
Charleston
, South Carolina
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 45
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Thanks to everyone for your input, and information. This has all been very helpful. I'll update with our decision when we have one.
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06-12-2015, 07:40 AM
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#36
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2 Rivet Member
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
Charleston
, South Carolina
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 45
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Well, I have another question. Is the hitch weight included in the GVRW for the TT or is it in the GVWR for the TV? If the GVWR for the TT is 7300 and the hitch weight is another 835, that's over 8000 total - way above the 7100 limit for the Tundra. If not, then at 7300, we're only 200# over the Tundra's tow capacity for the 25'. I think we could manage to be careful with cargo for the cross country trip. We will be driving 2 vehicles and towing another small Uhaul. The second vehicle and Uhaul could carry most of the cargo we will have with us. And again, taking an easy route to I40, then the rest of the way on I40 is pretty level if I remember right.
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06-12-2015, 10:02 AM
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#37
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1 Rivet Member
1996 25' Excella
Sacramento
, California
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 12
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Just make sure you have a the big radiator and transmission cooler on your truck and always use a lower gear up and down hills.
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06-12-2015, 10:14 AM
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#38
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Spokane
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,843
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I agree with the other posters. Get the 25, use your Tundra and see how it goes. Since it is now 15 years old reality would say that you will have to replace it sooner than later. Your small block V8 will tow the Airstream safely although it will slow down on the long steep hills. If you know this going in you shouldn't be disappointed, just down shift and slow down.
I have a brother that tows with your truck. He pulls a small toy hauler of the white box variety. His Tundra runs strong but he goes slow and pays the price in mpg, especially when driving in the wind and going up hills.
I pulled a 21 ft white box behind my 4Runner with the same engine. It was fine but I knew I was going up to the Airstream so I moved into the 5.7 L Tundra and it tows it nicely. Also, follow the advice to get a good WD hitch and dial in your trailer brakes to avoid over working the TV brakes.
Good luck and have fun. We really like our 25
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06-12-2015, 10:26 AM
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#39
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Rivet Master
1968 24' Tradewind
Oxford,
, Mississippi
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,564
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I pull my 68 Tradewind with a 2001 Tundra. The trailer weights around 4100 when loaded for camping. It is all I would want to pull with my truck. It is fine on flat ground and cruises all day around 62mph (my truck and trailer have a harmonic or something at that speed and it just feels right) but in the Smokies or Ozarks I always wish for a bigger truck. Make sure you get a good brake controller (I love my P3) as the brakes on the Tundra can get warm fast on long downhills, even using engine braking.
Also, do not pull with the overdrive engaged. ALWAYS turn it off when pulling, your tranny will thank you and your bank account will too.
__________________
__________________
Bruce & Rachel
__________________
68 Trade Wind
2001 Toyota Tundra
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06-12-2015, 10:42 AM
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#40
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1 Rivet Member
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2014 16' Sport
Fair Oaks
, California
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 18
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We started with a 16' Sport thinking we were going to pull it with our Infinity Fx SUV, but when we realized we didn't have a tow package on our Infinity, we ended up renting a truck from Bay Area Airstream. This worked out great because we ended up getting a 2014 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition, then upgraded to the 25 FC Twin front bedroom. Had we known, we would have straightaway gone to the 25' instead of trying to get purchase an Airstream according to our tow vehicle. Our Tundra does great towing our 25' and we love the look and style of this truck...just our preference as I know most consider only Fords or Chevys "real" trucks
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