Can a Tundra take the abuse?

[Fifo]

I’m planning on purchasing a 2007 Tundra DC 5.7L 4x4 to tow around my Jeep on a 16 foot flat bed trailer. I figure the total weight of the trailer plus Jeep to be about 6,000 Lbs. plus the rig will have to carry my wife and I and enough supplied for us to camp out for a few days. Since we live in Washington this means the truck is going to be pulling the mountain passes with this load every couple of months, plus trips down forest service roads while towing. How well does a Tundra hold up to this kind of abuse, and how well will it pull the mountain passes? Most of the people we wheel with insist that you need a much larger diesel for this kind of duty, but with where we live it’s just not practical, and besides, I like the Tundra better.

[Marazzito]

I don't have a Tundra, but I do tow a 1967 FJ40 on a car trailer that weights about 6,000 lbs with my 07 Tacoma DC. I don't have 381 hp or 401 lb/ft torque. I tow my cruiser at least once a month and a couple times a year to the Rubicon which is at 6,000 ft and a lot of steep mountain roads to roads and highways. Most places I go does requires some towing on services roads as well. I can hold 65 on most every grade I have been on, granted it is safe to do so. True, I am towing right at my trucks limits, but it is very capable at its limits. IMHO, my Tacoma is capable of your towing needs. When I get stuck behind a slow moving semi, passing on a grade can become quite a chore if I don't have a lot of room, your 5.7 wont have that problem. Diesel guys also tell me that I am stupid when I pull up at off-road events and they all get their chuckles in. I highly doubt you will have any problems at all with your Tundra.

[mxsjw]

My wife and I have been rolling around in my 5.7 DC pulling our TT weighing in at around 5000. It tows awesome, 5000 requires very little effort. Keeps speeds like it is not even there. Mileage drops from 16 to 17 down to 12 to 14 while towing. I ride dirt bikes up where you probably take your jeeps, no problemo. I wouldn't go with a big diesel around here unless I needed to tow 4 out of the 7 days a week.

[Fifo]

That's what I want to hear, I like the Tundra quite a bit more than all the other trucks I looked at. If it will meet my towing needs then I think it's defiantly the truck for me.

Marazzito, I wasn’t able to go this year, but my 4 wheeling club (Timber Tamers) went to the Rubicon last summer. I would be going this summer myself but I’m a student at the University of Washington and my summer quarter finals are the same week most of my friends are going. May be next summer I will finally get down there and see what all the fuss is about.

mxsjw If I can get 12 MPG towing I will be ecstatic, I have a friend with a huge Chevy crew cab long bed dully with the Duramax/Diesel combo and he only get 12 mpg towing his jeep and trailer. Everyone talks about how much better the gas mileage is on the diesels but then most guys seem to be getting 12-14 towing and 18-20 empty, not much better than the Tundra guys seem to be getting.

[mxsjw]

Pulling the passes around here, expect 8,9,or 10 mpg depending on how heavy your foot is, but once you hit the flats it'll ballence back out at 12 and 13, at least that is what I have been seeing with mine.
From Puyallup to Westport, I was seeing 14.5 with 4 adults, 3 small/med dogs, and pulling 5000, now granted, that trip is fairly flat.
From Puyallup to Brinnon, out past Hoodsport on 101, we saw 13.5mpg, wife and I, 2 dogs, pulling 5000. If you have been on 101, you know how up and down the MPH is, and the vast amount of steep small hills. I thought 13.5 was pretty good.
Last week I checked tire pressure on the TT, it was way under, like at 30 pounds, getting that back up to the 50/60 range should help out as well.

Good luck with whatever you choose, and if you need a name at Toyota of Puyallup, send me a PM.