Towing Truck

[DaBurghBucco]

Looking to purchase a truck to tow a 2017 INTERNATIONAL SIGNATURE 25 FB. We are leaning toward a 2017 Tundra with the 5.7 liter v8. Welcome any comments. Thanks!

[mastercaster]

What/where will you be using it? Mountains, full tanks etc.? I tow trailers everyday for work, and am a big believer in having a bit more truck than needed. Don't just go by the ratings, as you will likely be miserable towing near the limits. It's nice not even having to think about the weights and ratings (outside of distribution). Let us know the types of camping you will be doing.

[DaBurghBucco]

Gonna be traveling coast to coast. Going to be dry camping most of the time.

[esm]

Just used a 2016 tundra to tow WA State to Texas (downhill with an International 27 ( about 7800lbs). Pulled perfectly. Get largest gas tank available. Tow mirrors help. Trailer tow option essential. We had TRD which is floor shift. Mileage was 8 to 11-12mpg. Best tow operation was in select shift 5th gear (S5) 2200-3000rpm. Best mileage and throttle control. Worst mileage and erratic shifts if you try to use drive (D) not recommended. I'd rate Tundra as good but there are many other choices out there.

[wulfraat]

I like my Infiniti QX80 SUV. Independent suspension. Low center of gravity. 1,700lb payload. 400hp and 413lbs of torque. Quiet, smooth and very comfortable for long journeys. I've used it for about 15k miles of towing our 25' and plan to use it to tow the new 30' international I'm picking up end of this week.

[mastercaster]

How often will you be towing? Are you opposed to diesel?

[esm]

DaBurgh... Still interested in Tundra? We completed return trip TX to WA. Total avg 10.9 mpg in some of the worst weather. Snow slush (4x4, 40mph), rain, hi headwind 20-40 mph.
Truck was perfect.
We use an "Equalizer" anti sway sys.
Never got better than 12 mph using tow/haul. Got 14.9 on hwy 93 NV. 6000' and flat. Used S5, no tow/haul. Easy driving.
Seems to handle everything at 2200 to 3400rpm. Idaho, MT mtns occasionally 4500 rpm.
We tow 6-8000lbs about 60% of tundra mileage. Other 40% comfortable and about 16.5mpg. Tundra is a good AS TV.

[DaBurghBucco]

Thanks for the info. Not totally sold on a Tundra. I do like the reliability.

[DaBurghBucco]

Does the trailer squat a little at the hitch?

[esm]

Must use anti sway and if set up correctly tundra and. AS are level.
I used air springs on two previous tundras but not the 2016. Tundra does seem to be lightly sprung for 3/4 ton type vehicle.

[Goal15]

My 2011 Tundra with EAZ wd hitch and 6000 lb Safari 23 doesn't squat at all at the hitch. Not sure what it would do with 7800 lbs.
It tows easily at 62 mph at about 1700 rpm on level surface Even on mountain grades in Arkansas never above 2500 rpms

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Are you buying new or used? If new, off a lot or special order? Is the truck purely / mostly for towing? You can do pretty well on a "tow only" special order truck from several outfits.

Bob

[Piggy Bank]

Originally Posted by esm

Just used a 2016 tundra to tow WA State to Texas (downhill with an International 27 ( about 7800lbs). Pulled perfectly. Get largest gas tank available. Tow mirrors help. Trailer tow option essential. We had TRD which is floor shift. Mileage was 8 to 11-12mpg. Best tow operation was in select shift 5th gear (S5) 2200-3000rpm. Best mileage and throttle control. Worst mileage and erratic shifts if you try to use drive (D) not recommended. I'd rate Tundra as good but there are many other choices out there.

Hi ESM, we just upgraded to a 25 Flying Cloud and have a Tundra 2015 Limited 5.8L V8 4x4 extended cab short bed. We use an Equalizer hitch. We previously had a Bambi 22 Sport (same vehicle).

We are heading to Yellowstone in 2 weeks across KS, NE, WY and back home across CO and KS.

With the 22 the tow/haul made no noticeable difference, and we did Yellowstone last summer with no issues.

We have some questions/clarifications on your experiences. 1-do you always use the tow/haul setting, or only under certain conditions?

2-Is the S5 your "go-to" setting on most conditions? We will of course (aside from I-80 stretch that is mountain driving between Cheyenne and Laramie, and the end of the trip at the Park) be driving on primarily flat land that is a steady uphill grade from the Missouri River to the Continental Divide for 2 days heading out there.

3-What is your typical drive style/speed? We tend to go about 62-ish on Interstates or US Highways.

4-Any comments on gear section and RPMs for uphill and downhill in the actual mountains?

We did this trip just last year (same vehicle) but the 22 is just less of a factor, I think.

We were wondering what type of real world MPG to expect. Both just to know, and to plan fuel stops.

Thanks in advance.

[NHdigger]

I have a 2012 Tundra and it pulls my '08 25' Safari with no problem. We use a Reese dual cam hitch and set it up to ride level. Take some time to get it right.
Added air bags because my driveway goes uphill and I have to disconnect the spring bars when backing up the hill.
It's only a 1/2 ton truck so you have to watch your loading!

The trans will downshift several times going up long grades (I-80 in PA!) because it doesn't have the torque of a diesel(or the cost & expense).
Gets 11-14 mpg, usually avg. 12 going from NH to midwest.
Overall a great truck.

[esm]

Originally Posted by Piggy Bank

Hi ESM, we just upgraded to a 25 Flying Cloud and have a Tundra 2015 Limited 5.8L V8 4x4 extended cab short bed. We use an Equalizer hitch. We previously had a Bambi 22 Sport (same vehicle).



We are heading to Yellowstone in 2 weeks across KS, NE, WY and back home across CO and KS.



With the 22 the tow/haul made no noticeable difference, and we did Yellowstone last summer with no issues.



We have some questions/clarifications on your experiences. 1-do you always use the tow/haul setting, or only under certain conditions?



2-Is the S5 your "go-to" setting on most conditions? We will of course (aside from I-80 stretch that is mountain driving between Cheyenne and Laramie, and the end of the trip at the Park) be driving on primarily flat land that is a steady uphill grade from the Missouri River to the Continental Divide for 2 days heading out there.



3-What is your typical drive style/speed? We tend to go about 62-ish on Interstates or US Highways.



4-Any comments on gear section and RPMs for uphill and downhill in the actual mountains?



We did this trip just last year (same vehicle) but the 22 is just less of a factor, I think.



We were wondering what type of real world MPG to expect. Both just to know, and to plan fuel stops.



Thanks in advance.

Howdy! Lots to think about here.
Tundra has so many ways to do anything...and many opinions...I was trying to get a system for myself and that AS.

Third Tundra ('07, '11 and now 2016) and about 120k miles towing 6k weights.
Yes, S5 is my go to tow. Drive gives some very erratic shifts and terrible mileage. Not recommended.
Tundra will tow at any speed. I did a lot of 70+ after starting at 60-65 for first 3-4 hours. Mileage takes a dive over 65 and I think my 10.9 is showing this.
The AS at 7800lbs is first tow that I use tow/haul all the time (also we live in mtn area). Tow/haul seems to give me 12mpg and tremendous pull advantage over just S5.
On flat ground, even at 6000' I could easily use just S5 and 65-70mph pulled well and returned 14.9 mpg for 150 miles.
We had much horrible weather with heavy rain, 4" slush Casper to Denver (Cheyenne to laramie was closed!) Then 20-40mph quartering headwinds AZ and southern UT. These are where we got 8.9mpg.
The Tundra and AS tracked perfectly thru all this. Had to remember I was towing 27'.
S5 2200rpm was cruising and a steady pressure on hills seemed like 3400rpm would handle any hills except passes in Idaho and MT when it wanted to be about 4500rpm intow/haul.
This is first tundra with 38 gal tank and this allowed250 to 350 mile between fuel ups. This is as much as a 67 year old butt and knees can handle! Smaller 26 gal tank means much shorter distances.
Hope this helps, enjoy "The Stone". We tried to go east to west from Cody in Oct but it closed with 9" snow as we arrived.

[Piggy Bank]

Thanks much for your reply and real world experience.

To keep on-topic, I think that this will be good information for the original poster who is wondering about different vehicles.

I will say that I use the Tundra as my daily driver around town and like it very much. If you do look at Tundras, I can't stress enough how much we enjoy the trim level we have with the back window that rolls down all of the way. This is just so nice in good weather.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

One not so obvious advantage of any tow / haul setting on any truck is cooling. The shifts generally result in lower engine and transmission temperatures. I most certainly do *not* watch those closely all the time. Either they are "ok" or they are "pull over". I have no extensive data other than the random observation that they do run a bit cooler.

Bob

[esm]

Bob, Piggy Bank I agree.
2011 Tundra had an actual tranny cooler AND gauge on dash. Loved it for TX, NM summer towing. Thought it would be part of tow package, but not so. Toyota like other manufactures makes packages with 5 things you don't want to get one you do! If anyone buys Tundra for towing be prepared to specify tow mirrors, trans cooler, etc. likewise, elec rear window (SR5), dual climate control. Bit of a pain, but makes truck experience better.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

To get all of the features you might want for towing, Ford will get you to check a *lot* of package check boxes. They do put most of the obvious ones together, but the rest are scattered all over the place. I do understand why. If there is a specific engine / rear axle / transmission combo that gives you the greatest towing capacity ... you need to order those. The biggest issue I have had is going into the dealer and making sure all the right boxes are checked ....

Bob

[DaBurghBucco]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

To get all of the features you might want for towing, Ford will get you to check a *lot* of package check boxes. They do put most of the obvious ones together, but the rest are scattered all over the place. I do understand why. If there is a specific engine / rear axle / transmission combo that gives you the greatest towing capacity ... you need to order those. The biggest issue I have had is going into the dealer and making sure all the right boxes are checked ....

Bob

Thanks, I am starting to realize that is the right path to take.