Question towing question

[stevej125]

hello this is my first post in this forum.
I am mew to towing. I purchased a 7950 lb travel tralier. ( dry weight) I can load 1550 lbs of cargo
max weight according to manufacturer. I have an equalizer weight distribution hitch. My 2009 Tundra is 2wd and rated at a tow weight of 10,400 lbs.
my question is this a safe tow combination??
thanks
Steve

[jsntundra]

Do you have a trailer brake controller? Your gonna need one. That and drive the speed limit and you should be fine.

[RONE]

Do you know the tongue weight of your trailer?

[FLTundra06]

I think you will be fine if you use a wd hitch, sway bar and brake controller.

[bps1371]

Originally Posted by FLTundra06

I think you will be fine if you use a wd hitch, sway bar and brake controller.

I would second that !

[07DCwhiteSR5]

the WD hitch is a must. i'd be suprised if your dealer didnt sell you one when he sold the TT to ya.

we have, at work, a "skywatch tower" trailer and it weighs in about 10k lbs and its the most poorly balanced trailer ever. the bucket part that you go up in is all the way aft of the rear axles...way aft hanging off the back, it is the back of the trailer actually, the taillights are even mounted on it. anyway, sure its hyd pumps and generator etc are in frt of the axle but its still way imbalanced. that and we dont have a WD hitch, it throws the HD 2500 silverado around....manuf says not to exceed 45 anyway and i rarely would tow it at that back when i towed it and moved it around... all that to say, a WD hitch is a must and life will suck and be dangerous w/o it.

[stevej125]

yes I forgot to mention I have a primus IQ brake controller.
the equalizer hitch is a weight distribution hitch with sway control.
I have been hearing mixed things about my tow weights. can I take the weight up to but not exceed the 10, 400 lbs safely, because some people say i should use the 75% of the max towable weight of 10, 400??

Steve

[RONE]

Originally Posted by stevej125

yes I forgot to mention I have a primus IQ brake controller.
the equalizer hitch is a weight distribution hitch with sway control.
I have been hearing mixed things about my tow weights. can I take the weight up to but not exceed the 10, 400 lbs safely, because some people say i should use the 75% of the max towable weight of 10, 400??

Steve

I believe that per manufacturer's recommendations, the 10.4K includes passenger and cargo in the truck, too.

[tomhole]

Lots of variables that can change the answer, but that combo sounds reasonable. Simple math is your friend here:

GVWR of your truck
- empty weight of your truck
- all the stuff in your truck while towing (people, gear, etc...)
= max hitch weight of trailer

GCWR of your truck
- empty weight of your truck
- all the stuff in your truck while towing (people, gear, etc...)
= max weight of trailer

Use my rig:

7200 lbs (GVWR of my 2008 DC SR5 4x4 5.7)
- 5600 lbs (empty weight of truck)
- 600 lbs water bags (4 humans, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a pig)
- 250 lbs gear
= 750 lbs

16,000 lbs GCWR
- 5600 lbs (empty weight of truck)
- 600 lbs water bags (4 humans, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a pig)
- 250 lbs gear
= 9550 lbs

I can tow a trailer that weighs 9550 lbs with a max hitch weight of 750 lbs and stay within the manufacturer's recommended limits. I used actual weights from scales, not brochure weights or guesstimates. Brochure weights and gusstimates are always lower than actual.

That's the simplest way to determine if you can tow something.

Lots of stuff can limit your towing capacity. For 1/2 ton trucks, it is usually the GVWR of the truck. For example, my truck is rated at 10,300 lbs max tow capacity. The math indicates this to be true:

16,000 GCWR
- 5,600 lbs empty truck
= 10,400 lbs max tow capacity

So, I should be able to tow a 10,300 lbs trailer no problem. Sure, as long as I don't weigh more than 100 lbs. Every pound you add to the truck removes a pound from the tow rating.

The recommended minimum hitch weight is 12-13% for travel trailers. So, a 10,300 lbs trailer should have a hitch weight 1,236 lbs. So, do some of that simple math:

7200 lbs GVWR
- 5600 lbs empty weight
= 1600 lbs max hitch weight

So, I can pull a 10,300 lbs trailer with a nominal hitch weight of 1,236 lbs and have enough weight to add myself and my wife. The kids, dogs, cats, pig, bikes, generator and firewood would all need to stay at home.

For you, that 7950 lbs trailer will weigh close to 9,000 lbs loaded with a hitch weight of over 1,000 lbs. Your Tundra can tow that with a properly adjusted weight distribution hitch and a brake controller (which you have). You must monitor how much weight you add to the truck when you tow.

Hope this helps. BTW, I'm going to move this to the towing forum.

Tom

[mikviv1]

Yes this is no problem to tow this set up! I have a crew max and tow a 33' camper and my dry weight is 8500lbs... The TUNDRA tows it great!!

Thanks Mike

[RLD Hobbies]

You'll pull the trailer like its not there! I pull a 8x20 Cargo trailer, 7,000Lbs. I have an equalizing hitch and sway control. I have an 08 Crewmax. I can pull a 6% grade a 70 miles an hour no problem with the cruise control! The Tundra has the brakes for stopping power. But the most important thing is good trailer brakes. Make sure it has brakes on all 4 wheels! My trailer is rated at 10,000Lbs. It has excellent brakes. Your trailer will not be a problem for your Tundra.

[stevej125]

Thank you everyone for your very informative responses!
I feel reassured now.
I will keep an eye on the weight, and continue to tow confident my tundra can handle it.
btw, great forum you have here!
Steve

[jdubh]

I tow that much. No problems.