Lots and lots of looking later we finally got the hitch in and pulled out to our lake lot.
The setup:
2007 Tundra 4.7 Double Cab
DSP 17000 lb 5th Hitch
Tekonsha Primus (no prodigy or p-3 in the store, seems like a prodigy without the boost, would love to hear from others using this one)
Me, Wife, Two Boys (3 and 4 mos)
1993 Travellaire Rustler RW 245 5th
4500lb empty
approx 4850 loaded dry (no water)
max gvw trailer 6000 lbs
King Pin = 900 lbs
no airbags yet, no ext mirror yet (looking for a killer deal)
Well after many fretful nights wondering if she'd be up to the task, calculating and recalculating weights we finally pulled her out of the driveway for the 1 and quater hour hike to the lake lot. DSP kept sending brackets for GMC's out to me, I was getting livid, but in the end we got it in.
Pulled like a dream (don't underestimate the 4.7) only noticable on two loong grade hills (maybe 4% and 6%) temp guage didn't move (outside was between 64 and 70) pulled along at 55mph used about a half tank both ways.
My biggest worry was the king pin weight, but she didn't squat a bit. Hitch is adjusted as high as it'll go have about 6 inches clearance between trailer frame and box rails. Still might get Ride Rites but'll not till next season. My mechanic buddy put the hitch in, it' looks a little out, when I measure it's about 3/16 cockeyed, but no problems hitching, unhitching (on semi-level ground) or pulling. Any feed back on this is appreciated.
Plan is to pull dry as often as possible, there's a fill station a little better than half way to the lake, will likely use it but the wife hates the taste of country water wo we'll see. Want to head to the seed cleaning plant to weigh it up this week. Have to test the propane systems. Battery seems ok but would like to get a gen set eventually. Hot water heater will be tested, but I did find a small 4x5 soft spot at the rear corner, will have to deal with it soon.
I'm a complete neophyte when it comes to trailerin' and rv'in. Used to stay in the Cabin House as my son calls it, but the family smokes in there and with the boys I wanted clean fresh air for them.
I don't know how many are using the 4.7 to pull this big, but I'd love to hear from you and what your experiences have been (good and bad). Any techniques would be great too, such as maximizing climbing ability (gearing, speed etc.) I'm thinking if things start to heat up around here (Northern Alberta) I would consider another aux tranny cooler to supplement the one I have. My BIL has a Limited Crew Max and we were talking about ratios: I said I have 4.10's he thinks 3.73's, I'm 99.90% sure but he's cast a shadow of doubt (any confirmation is appreciated).
This thing is gold, pure Azberjainian Gold. I had 5.7 envy before, but really it can wait until I can afford more. Even then the 4.6 is looking pretty tasty as well if not just for the 6 speed.
I've missed my 4Runner, but no more...
Last edited by 934Runner; 11-18-2009 at 05:59 PM.
Reason: BIL bought a Tundra (smartened up) don't want to offend him if he finds this site...I'll probably be the one to tell him.
I pulled a bit more weight with my 4.7 and up 6% and 7% grades, those were the only times the 4.7 grunted a mite, rest of the time it pulled this rig just fine.
2005 Rockwood 26' 5'er, Michelin LTX MS tires, 270 watts of solar on the roof, 4 T-105 golf cart batteries, Xentrex converter, Outback FX2012T inverter/charger.
If you can't take it with ya, why bother with an RV!
2000 Tundra (bought 9/9/99)
JBA Headers
Gone but not forgotten~
You guys are making me blush. Nice to see what others are pulling. I'll try to get some pics for JBK23. It's not as fancy a trailer as TankerHank, but it suits us just fine. Everyone around here had me nervous as hell, but man am I impressed. Now thanks to Ropegun I'm onto buying a boat. (gonna need to find suplemental income for that one...)
Yea that first step can be a doozy , most times it is not an issue but there are locations where you have to stretch to reach it. We have looked at adding a stool for those times... now that I have a Tundra that can pull ALL THE WEIGHT my 5'er is rated for (8,2++). I really watched everything and anything that was put in the 5'er when I was pulling it with my 2000, but with the '07 the world has changed!
2005 Rockwood 26' 5'er, Michelin LTX MS tires, 270 watts of solar on the roof, 4 T-105 golf cart batteries, Xentrex converter, Outback FX2012T inverter/charger.
If you can't take it with ya, why bother with an RV!
2000 Tundra (bought 9/9/99)
JBA Headers
Gone but not forgotten~
glad to see this thread. i was considering starting a 4.7 thread but now that i actually took the time to look, im happy i did haha.
the wife n i are wanting a trailer of somesort. hadnt thought about a 5th wheel but now i am. we do have a boat that needs to go with us and from what i have read and been told the 5th wheel trailers handle extra weight at the azz end better than a bumper pull trailer would.... we have a 4.7 2WD DC shortbed with TRD that i was going to add helper springs or bags to and i think we can handle a smallish 5th wheel like these posted...no 15000 lbs trailers of course... our boat's manufacturers site says towing weight on our boat is 2700 lbs....but im not going to add it all up and focus on those numbers, i was wanting real world experience from the 4.7 crowd and seems like it will work just fine from what is posted above. now to figure out what trailer....
You will have to do some searching to find a light enough 5'er to be able to tack a boat behind it too. Just remember not all 5'er will handle pulling much weight behind them.
Your towing max is what? About 8,000 lbs.?
We looked at a 5'er (few years old not made anymore, can't remember the brand) that was about 24' and weighted in at under 5,000 lbs all loadeed and ready to roll, that is the range you need to look at if you are looking at adding the boat too. Didn't check to see where you are located, no mountains makes things much easier. Ahhh, Texas. I guess if you can find a mountain there you would be king!
2005 Rockwood 26' 5'er, Michelin LTX MS tires, 270 watts of solar on the roof, 4 T-105 golf cart batteries, Xentrex converter, Outback FX2012T inverter/charger.
If you can't take it with ya, why bother with an RV!
2000 Tundra (bought 9/9/99)
JBA Headers
Gone but not forgotten~
Last edited by Tankerhank; 08-02-2009 at 01:19 PM.
You will have to do some searching to find a light enough 5'er to be able to tack a boat behind it too. Just remember not all 5'er will handle pulling much weight behind them.
Your towing max is what? About 8,000 lbs.?
We looked at a 5'er (few years old not made anymore, can't remember the brand) that was about 24' and weighted in at under 5,000 lbs all loadeed and ready to roll, that is the range you need to look at if you are looking at adding the boat too. Didn't check to see where you are located, no mountains makes things much easier. Ahhh, Texas. I guess if you can find a mountain there you would be king!
yeah the steepest grade we have is probally that little section at the end of my driveway where it meets the street. it was sooooo steep my corvette rubbed a little hahahahahahahah yeah, no....just flat land around here, we do go to arkansas once a year and might be taking it there but not sure if we'd tandem it there or not...not even sure what ark's laws are on it, havent looked....we ususally stay in the resort on the lake so its just the boat.... but it would be nice to take both...dam...decisions decisions...also thinkking of a used class C possibly with a slide for more room but then i could take the boat anywhere with no issue at all...i dunno
Hey even the mighty 381 HP 5.7 will work if you push it. That's the problem, you get a bigger truck, you need a bigger trailer, and so it goes.
In northern Minnesota there's a hill called Mount Josephine, my truck hits 4,000 RPM most of the way up to maintain 55 MPH but it's a smoooooth 4,000 RPM and I can't really see paying the extra bucks for a supercharger.
Well anyway, when you decide to upgrade, you might find something like this (bought it used off ebay for $19,000):
__________________ [Tundra Bay]
Proud Member CBTMA
Radiant Red 2007 Double Cab Limited w/Graphite Leather Interior
Factory Nav, Sonar, and 10 spkr 440W JBL stereo with Sirius (sweet) Cold Weather Pkg and Block Heater. Brushed SS Stepboards,
Tires: BFG All Terrain T/A KO LT265 65 R 18, Diamondback Tonneau Cover.
Curt Front Receiver, custom 8" extension, & Warn 8000lb winch back/front mountable,
Tekonsha Prodigy Brake Controller DSP 16,000 lb 5th wheel hitch Firestone Ride Rite 2445 Air Bags
A little something to think about, back a couple of years ago I was pulling my 5th wheel with my 4.7 tundra, and found a significant difference in mileage between my unit and my brother-in-law's sequoia. The difference that I could see was the supercharger.
On the same trips I'd be getting 12 MPG where he was seeing 6 or 7. With the blower, I'd cruise up hills in 3rd where he'd be pushing down the rugs in 2nd.
Ask around and see what the fuel consumption looks like for the tow crowd that's running on boost...
07 4.7 Pulling 5th Wheel (don't underestimate it)
)
livid, but in the end we got it in.
Ahhh, Texas. I guess if you can find a mountain there you would be king!
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