Just came back from Yosemite yesterday, and I wanted to say I am very proud of my 05 Tundra DC. I tow a 31" TT, its long but also very light. It comes in at about 4700 lbs dry and about 5500 loaded with bikes. The truck was loaded with my wife, the two boys, and me. I have gone camping in some of the higher elevations (like Julian, CA), but was concerned about some of the higher grades in Yosemite. The truck performed great. Honestly I think going over the grapevine was the biggest test, but had no problems going 55 mph in the #2 truck lane. Going through yosemite to our campground was a breeze. The speed limit in Yosemite is 35mph, which was no problem, but some of the bends were kinda hairy because of the trailer length. I was debating going to an 07 next year, but I am seriously thinking of keeping this Tundra alot longer since it did so good. The only thing I still dont like is the brakes on the 05 tundra, but with the gain set a little high on the brake controller, it works out good. I will try and post a pic of the truck and TT setup when I send her back into storage. Happy, safe and fun camping to all this summer.
good to know. i myself have an 05 and sure would like to go to Yosemite also! btw, how did you go through the grapvines to get to Yosemite? must be a different grapvine as the one that i'm talking about is the one to LA.
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05 Salsa Red Pearl DC
01 Honda Civic
95 Acura Integra
Thats the exact one I am talking about. I took the fastest route from LA (I live outside of LA in Whittier) which is the I5 to Hwy 99 to Hwy 41 which takes you to the south entrance of Yosemite. I would have taken Hwy 140 up the Merced river (most scenic) but because of a temporary bridge (Huge landslide took out the road last year) they limit the size of vehicles to 28 feet or smaller, and mine is 31'.
Just came back from Yosemite yesterday, and I wanted to say I am very proud of my 05 Tundra DC. I tow a 31" TT, its long but also very light. It comes in at about 4700 lbs dry and about 5500 loaded with bikes. The truck was loaded with my wife, the two boys, and me. I have gone camping in some of the higher elevations (like Julian, CA), but was concerned about some of the higher grades in Yosemite. The truck performed great. Honestly I think going over the grapevine was the biggest test, but had no problems going 55 mph in the #2 truck lane. Going through yosemite to our campground was a breeze. The speed limit in Yosemite is 35mph, which was no problem, but some of the bends were kinda hairy because of the trailer length. I was debating going to an 07 next year, but I am seriously thinking of keeping this Tundra alot longer since it did so good. The only thing I still dont like is the brakes on the 05 tundra, but with the gain set a little high on the brake controller, it works out good. I will try and post a pic of the truck and TT setup when I send her back into storage. Happy, safe and fun camping to all this summer.
Your problem isn't poor brakes on your Tundra; rather the problem is you're not getting as much braking from the trailer's brakes as you should (or as they could give you).
It sounds as if you're using a time delay brake controller...which means the truck's brakes are doing a lot of the braking of the truck and the trailer. I strongly suspect that if you upgrade to a true proportional controller (like the Tekonsha Prodigy), you won't have to adjust the controller gain (set it once and never adjust it again), the trailer's brakes will be far more synchronized with the truck's brakes, and you'll get a whole lot more braking effort from the trailer's brakes. With much better braking from the trailer, you'll find that it will take about the same amount of brake pedal application when towing as it does when not towing.
The bottom line is the trailer's brakes should be stopping the trailer; the truck's brakes should only have to stop the truck (even when towing). A really good trailer brake controller will get you very close to this ideal situation.
__________________ Ray
Natural White '03 Access Cab V8 SR5 4X4 with TRD Off Road Suspension, Limited Slip Differential, and Towing Package
Towing & Performance Mods: JBA Headers, Gibson Muffler, 4.30 gears, Michelin LTX M/S Tires, Hellwig Anti-Roll bar, Prodigy Trailer Brake Controller, Autometer Z-Series Transmission Temperature Gauge, Magnefine Transmission Filter
Utility & Misc Mods: Genuine Toyota OEM Step (Nerf) bars, Peragon Tonneau Cover, TracRac Rack and Rail System, Muth Signal Mirrors, Pop&Lock tailgate lock, TruSpeed speedometer calibrator, "$20" RS-3200 Upgrade, Auto-Dimming mirror w/ Temp and Compass, Clear/Red/Clear Taillights with Silverstar Signal bulbs, 3M Clear Bra
I do have the prodigy brake controller. I think you misunderstood me, or I didnt give enough exlpanation. Compared to the factory setting of the voltage output adjuster mine is fairly high. I have it set so that the initial voltage is high enough for the brakes on the tailer to start stopping the truck before the truck brakes do, and just below the point at which the wheels lock up. I also have the boost set at 3 for highway and 2 for streets.
I do have the prodigy brake controller. I think you misunderstood me, or I didnt give enough exlpanation. Compared to the factory setting of the voltage output adjuster mine is fairly high. I have it set so that the initial voltage is high enough for the brakes on the tailer to start stopping the truck before the truck brakes do, and just below the point at which the wheels lock up. I also have the boost set at 3 for highway and 2 for streets.
A combination of my misunderstanding and not not enough detail in your explanation. With the additional detail of how you're using the Prodigy, it does sound like you're getting all you can out of the trailer's braking system.
__________________ Ray
Natural White '03 Access Cab V8 SR5 4X4 with TRD Off Road Suspension, Limited Slip Differential, and Towing Package
Towing & Performance Mods: JBA Headers, Gibson Muffler, 4.30 gears, Michelin LTX M/S Tires, Hellwig Anti-Roll bar, Prodigy Trailer Brake Controller, Autometer Z-Series Transmission Temperature Gauge, Magnefine Transmission Filter
Utility & Misc Mods: Genuine Toyota OEM Step (Nerf) bars, Peragon Tonneau Cover, TracRac Rack and Rail System, Muth Signal Mirrors, Pop&Lock tailgate lock, TruSpeed speedometer calibrator, "$20" RS-3200 Upgrade, Auto-Dimming mirror w/ Temp and Compass, Clear/Red/Clear Taillights with Silverstar Signal bulbs, 3M Clear Bra
TT trip to Yosemite, my 05 did GREAT!
I would have taken Hwy 140 up the Merced river (most scenic) but because of a temporary bridge (Huge landslide took out the road last year) they limit the size of vehicles to 28 feet or smaller, and mine is 31'.
Linear Mode
