To tow a BIG trailer you need a BIG truck, like my FORD F250 V-10, Lariat, Crew Cab, Long bed, 4x4. With it's real back seat I can carry 6 passengers and tow up to 10,000 lbs and still carry 3 motorcycles in my 8 ft bed.
I couldn't help it, had to tease.
But seriously, for the original poster, don't try to over do the trailer size, got to leave room for the toys, gas, wife and kids.
Anyone have any info on a crew cab Tundra yet?
Keep on truckin Tundra owners, you've got a good reliable truck.
Anyone got a favorite tow dolly? I want a good heavy duty one, I live close to the Elkhart Indiana area (travel trailer capital of the world) I see them anywhere from $600 to $1300 what do I look for?
Thanks
IHH
The thread "Tow Dollies" merged with the thread "Fifth Wheel Towing Questions/Help" as they are the same subject. --- Possum
Originally posted by Iron Horse Herb Anyone got a favorite tow dolly? I want a good heavy duty one, I live close to the Elkhart Indiana area (travel trailer capital of the world) I see them anywhere from $600 to $1300 what do I look for?
Thanks
IHH
I'd like to see some opinions too,kinda tired of calling friends or visiting Uhaul to borrow a trailer.
By the way,can't you get an open car carrier for a couple hundred dollars more than the upper price quote you recieved?
__________________ Try SEARCHING before posting. Thanks!
I agree, you could get a flat bed car hauler for not much more than a tow dolly and it is more versatile, you can put motorcycles, tractors, etc on it. I've been looking at 16 to 18 foot dual axle flatbed trailers new from $1199 to $2000. I've been trying to find a good used one for about half of that, no luck so far.
Most of the dual axle ones are rated for 7000 lbs, I need one to tow my Windstar van. Try punching in Car Hauler on Yahoo, it'll show up several.
But if you are set on a tow dolly, make sure that your your towed vehicle is not too wide. That's the problem with th Windstar, it's too wide for a tow dolly. I've seen new tow dollies for $699.
If you go to www.trucktraderonline.com, you will find trailers, trucks, etc. Do a search for your area and you should find several.
I have a 99 Jayco 316 Travel trailer. It does not have a slide out. That is why its fairly light. There are some brands (trail-lite) that are 1000-2000 lighter but they are pretty plain inside. Most 32 ft trailers with slides that I like are in the 7-8000 lb range. Ive had 3 campers in 7 years. Now the wife wants a new one again. Always something bigger, better, nicer!!!!
I have an Aluma Ltd. 18' flatbed car hauler I use to move my Jeep around. The GVWR on it is 7,000# (2 x 3,500# dexter torflex axles). Electric brakes on both axles, 1,000# tongue jack, slide out ramps, and rear leveling jacks were all standard. Empty weight for the all-aluminum trailer is 1,500# leaving 5,500# of usuable payload. Most comparable steel trailers weigh much more -- eating into usuable payload and pushing you closer (if not over) the Tundra's towing limit. The downside to aluminum is that it's slightly less durable than steel and the cost -- my trailer was $4,100 new including breakaway battery kit.
Like you said in a perfect world a Class III would be the best, but as long as you don't exceed the specifications of the bumber you should be fine. I have towed stuff with other vehicles using only the bumper and never had a problem as long as you drive within reason and don't exceed the weight limits.
The only other thing you might want to check is the tongue weight of the bumper and of course take into account how heavy the trailer will be when loaded and how the weight is distributed (keep the weight over the trailers axles as much as possible so the trailer is supporting the weight and not your bumper).
One other thing to consider is the height of the tongue on the trailer vs. the height of the ball on your bumper. You don't want the trailer to be too high in the front and hit the road in the rear.
Don't ask me where but in my recent travels through BBs trying to find info re:Tundras/Prodigy I saw a thread discussing the 45 mph. I said that that 45 mph stems from Toyota checking with U-Haul for their recommendation on safe towing speeds. I can tell you that I believe it was on the RV.net? Anyway, I'll see if I can find it and link the thread here.
Like you said in a perfect world a Class III would be the best, but as long as you don't exceed the specifications of the bumber you should be fine. I have towed stuff with other vehicles using only the bumper and never had a problem as long as you drive within reason and don't exceed the weight limits.
The only other thing you might want to check is the tongue weight of the bumper and of course take into account how heavy the trailer will be when loaded and how the weight is distributed (keep the weight over the trailers axles as much as possible so the trailer is supporting the weight and not your bumper).
-Ian
You need about 10% to 15% of the trailer weight on the tongue. Otherwise, it might develop a sway that could cause a wreck.
Ken said, "You need about 10% to 15% of the trailer weight on the tongue. Otherwise, it might develop a sway that could cause a wreck."
Right on! 'Way back in '73, we determined Los Angeles was uninhabitable, and moved back to Wyoming. I hooked the World's Biggest U-Haul Trailer to the back of my 442, and loaded that baby up. When we got our stuff in, there was still some room left in the back. We had rented a house from the daughter of an old couple who had passed away. She encouraged me to take as much of his old tools, etc. as I wanted out of the garage.
Hey, tools are heavier than furniture! I did OK at low speeds in town, then finally hit the Santa Monica freeway at rush hour. As I sped up, that trailer started gyrating like crazy! I whipped across all five lanes of the freeway, totally out of control. The Good Lord must have been watching out for fools that day, 'cause I didn't hit a soul.
Spent a few minutes panting beside the freeway, then redistributed the load right on the spot. With the heavier stuff in the middle and the tongue weight correct, we made it to Wyoming without further incident.
__________________ Larry Lawton
Retired in Wyoming
You need an adapter. If U-Haul still has their odd connections for lights, get U-Haul's adapter. They may also have the adapter to end up with the standard 4-conductor plug.
I'm trying to find out if my 2000 4x4 Limited w/access cab can be set-up to tow a fifth-wheel trailer. If so, does anyone know if Toyota has published the capacity for towing a fifth-wheel?
Obviously, the ability to tow a fifth wheel depends on the weight and balance of the rig you're planning to haul. Assuming the fifth wheel you're pulling falls within your truck's limitations, you should be OK. I'd highly recommend staying within the limits because trailers and fifth wheels can, and do, get away from you and the results can be expensive, if not worse. If you do decide to go ahead, you might check out a fifth wheel hitch set-up that Reese makes for short bed trucks. It uses the typical configuration in which the hitch sits over the rear axle. This can pose a problem when making tight manuvers (for example, the trailer hits the truck's cab). To solve this, Reese incorporates a release that can be pulled to allow the hitch to slide rearward giving more room to manuver without risking damage to the truck.
Some TS members have fifth wheel trailers towed with their Tundras. The only one I've personally seen is owned and towed by 5thwheeler from Torrance, CA. You might PM him for info, also. He has a Reese sliding hitch mounted to his bed and a great tool box that mounts between the hitch and the tailgate. So far no one seems to make a fifth wheel tailgate, however.
Hope this is some help. Happy trailoring. Judy
__________________ 2006 Bluesteel AC TRD Sport Tundra 4x2, LSD, TRD Dual Exhaust, Michelin Pilots M/S, "Maui MJK"
Need a bigger truck
I couldn't help it, had to tease. 
Boston Tundra
Larry Lawton
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