Tundra 5th Wheel

NEWORLEANSTUNDRA · #1 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 09:45 PM

Hey everbody!

my Tundra is a 2007 Double Cab with basic towing package, short bed and 4.7L V8.

Looking at buying a 5th wheel. A pretty small one. Looking at slider hitch by Pull rite and this Nomad Model 255 - Recreational Vehicles by Skyline

Anyone know if this will work? If so will it be within the limits of my truck.

We will have about 500 Lbs in the truck including the driver.

I posted the notes on the rv below as well.

Measurements (See Note)Exterior Length25'-0"Exterior Width96"Exterior Height10'-1"Interior Height76"Unloaded Vehicle Weight4700CapacitiesFresh Water System35 gallonsGray Water Tank25 gallonsBlack Water Tank31 gallonsConvertor Size35 ampsFurnace Rating25M BTULP Gas Capacity1/40 poundsWater Heater6 gallonsTiresST205/75D-14CAwning Size14' OPT.AccomodationsSleeping (standard/optional)6Bed Size (standard)60'' x 74"Dinette SizeN/A
Dimensions Stated to RV Industry Standards
Exterior length includes approximately a four foot hitch on travel trailers. Exterior height includes air conditioner, if installed. Exterior width does not include the width of the awning, if installed.
Actual Weight, Not Estimated Weights
For your safety and peace of mind, Skyline weighs every recreational vehicle at the factory. Other RV manufacturers use estimated weights which can be in error by as much as 20 percent. Insist your recreational vehicle includes an actual weight next to the entry door.
Notes
Unloaded vehicle weight and carrying capacity will vary upon optional equipment. Skyline weighs every unit at the factory. See trailer weight information label located inside the kitchen cabinet door for specific unloaded vehicle weight and carrying capacity.

Only Toyota for me · #2 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 09:57 PM

Shouldn't be a problem for your truck, and you should be within your GAWR listed as well.

See the towing forum under 'actual 5th wheel weights' and you'll see you're within safe limits. You can also look at my setup there as well.
My 5er is 7500 lbs mostly loaded for camping, and has a dry 1250 pin. I am well within GAWR and my truck does a fine job with it.

fivecodys · #3 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 09:30 AM

You should be fine. We had an ALJO (Skyline) and it weighed almost exactly what the sticker said it did. The dealer made a point to tell us that Skyline weighs the trailer after it is completely built and all accessories are installed.

Your truck will pull that trailer just fine. You will love the Superglide hitch too. It's not cheap but neither is repairing a dented cab and trailer.

You might want to look into a set of air bags to help pull the sag out of the rear end of your truck also. They are relatively inexpensive and you can install them yourself.
Bill

tundratrd21w · #4 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 10:38 AM

I'd go with the Pull-Rite Hitch, that's what I have in my CrewMax.
Try this link: PullRite has a SAFER, STRONGER, BETTER designed hitch for you for hitch.
You will probably need air bags: Firestone Ride-Rite or Air Lift.
I'm probably going with the Firestone's, but either one is good.

quarque · #5 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 09:38 PM

Take a look at the Forest River Surveyor line. They are light and the smallest one has a pin weight of 967. They also have a notched front-end so you don't need a slider. F.R. has a good reputation as well for quality and reliability.

jstanco · #6 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 09:55 PM

I don't want to be known as one of the "Weight Police", so keep an open mind when you read this. I have an '07 CrewMax with a sprayed in bedliner and a Pullrite Super Glide 12K hitch. The hitch weighs in at over 300 pounds. So when I filled up my tank with gas and went to the scale to weigh my vehicle with the 5ver connected (I bought a North Trail 28BH with a dry pin weight of 1180 pounds), factored in my wife and daughter along with my weight, my rear axle on the CrewMax came out at 4560 pounds. The RAWR on the CrewMax is 4150, so I found myself over by about 400 pounds. Mind you, this is with an unloaded 5ver.

My GCWR comes out okay, but I have now exceeded my GVWR of 7200 pounds--I am at almost 8000 pounds-that is 800 pounds over.

I am not sure what I am going to do right now. Possibly looking at another truck, but that is an expensive option, especially when truck values are going down hard and fast.

Just some things I have been thinking about recently.

John

Only Toyota for me · #7 (**permalink**) 05-29-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstanco

I don't want to be known as one of the "Weight Police", so keep an open mind when you read this. I have an '07 CrewMax with a sprayed in bedliner and a Pullrite Super Glide 12K hitch. The hitch weighs in at over 300 pounds. So when I filled up my tank with gas and went to the scale to weigh my vehicle with the 5ver connected (I bought a North Trail 28BH with a dry pin weight of 1180 pounds), factored in my wife and daughter along with my weight, my rear axle on the CrewMax came out at 4560 pounds. The RAWR on the CrewMax is 4150, so I found myself over by about 400 pounds. Mind you, this is with an unloaded 5ver.

My GCWR comes out okay, but I have now exceeded my GVWR of 7200 pounds--I am at almost 8000 pounds-that is 800 pounds over.

I am not sure what I am going to do right now. Possibly looking at another truck, but that is an expensive option, especially when truck values are going down hard and fast.

Just some things I have been thinking about recently.

John

You were able to weigh just the rear end of the truck? I don't beleive the crewmax weighs more than the DC, does it?
This is amazing to hear. My dad's 5er weighing in at about 9000lbs has a mostly loaded pin weight of 1500. His rear axle weight was 4120. The only thing different i can see is the slider hitch weighing 300lbs. Well, i take that back. We only weighed him & my mom in the cab & half a tank of gas.
The GAWR of your truck is 8150 (4000 front & 4150 rear). You're okay on total GAWR but over on GVWR, but at least now you know that, and can adjust your driving habits accordingly. Imo, being over on GVWR is not bad with a 5er, and actually you should really look at the GAWR.
One thing you need to find out is this: Do you tow across country on a regular basis? Or do you tow an occasional weekend trip here and there?

I'd say if you're towing across country a lot, maybe look for another truck ( and that's a big maybe). But otherwise, keep the one you have.

If you want to know what i'd do either way, i'd keep the truck you got. It'll do just fine with the proper setup (airbags, 10 ply tires, p-3 brake unit, etc..).

jstanco · #8 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 08:11 PM

I am at 7960 for GAWR, but isn't it not too good to be over on your rear weight? I don't plan on towing cross country, just around my state of Wisconsin. Looks like my tires might only be 2-ply? (P215-65R18). No air bags.

Only Toyota for me · #9 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstanco

I am at 7960 for GAWR, but isn't it not too good to be over on your rear weight? I don't plan on towing cross country, just around my state of Wisconsin. Looks like my tires might only be 2-ply? (P215-65R18). No air bags.

The weight police would say it's not good, but imo it's only a few hundred pounds.

Where the manufacturer gets the listed ratings is when they figure everything in the equation. And what is limiting you are the passenger tires you have on the truck. IMO, 10 ply tires, airbags, etc increase payload capacity. Watch me get flamed on that one. haha

First thing i'd recomend for you to do is: Get rid of those car tires and get some good 10 ply's & air them to 50 front & 60lbs rear when towing. Second thing is get some airbags & a good brake controller (P-3) and call it good.
With the proper tires & airbags, these tundra's handle the weight very well and are quite stable & secure feeling as well.
It's amazing the difference towing with my 10 ply's vs. my 6 ply mudders also. No comparison, but yet the tire maker says it can handle the weight i have. Go figure.

ddbrown17 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 07:25 AM

Only Toyota is exactly right! Once we got our 10 ply tires, Firestone airbags, and P3 brake controller, what a difference towing the trailer was! We feel very secure towing now. Of course, we not full tim RV''ers and on the road all the time. If we were, we definitely would have gotten a 3/4 ton pickup. This forum has been a tremendous help to us. You're on the right track.

Yvonne Brown
Puyallup, WA

tomhole · #11 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 03:19 PM

800 lbs over is a non trivial amount. I would not ever tow over my axle limits. Talk to any of the folks that promote heavy hauling, they say GVWR and GCWR mean nothing to them. They'll tow right up to the axle limits and that's where they stop. Tire limits, axle limits and hitch limits are where they stop.

So, listen to anyone you want. I promote staying under all the limits. Short of that, I'll concede the axle, tire and hitch limits. Going over those is dangerous. And you are waaaayyyyy over.

Get a bigger truck or a smaller trailer. Lesson learned.

Tom