Max Tow Capacity

[jayr517]

Hey all, my wife and I are looking into buying this camper:

http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/brandtomo...orbit&m=290BHS

I know the max towing capacity of my 01 AC V8 Tundra is 7,100lbs, and the GVWR of this camper is 7,500, but I'm wondering what the actual towing experience people have had. I have heard that Toyota is conservative with their tow ratings. I'm trying to figure out if my Tundra would be ok towing this thing.

Has anyone towed anything over the 7,100 rating? If so, what was the experience?

Thanks!

[2000LtdKen]

Originally Posted by jayr517

Hey all, my wife and I are looking into buying this camper:

http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/brandtomo...orbit&m=290BHS

I know the max towing capacity of my 01 AC V8 Tundra is 7,100lbs, and the GVWR of this camper is 7,500, but I'm wondering what the actual towing experience people have had. I have heard that Toyota is conservative with their tow ratings. I'm trying to figure out if my Tundra would be ok towing this thing.

Has anyone towed anything over the 7,100 rating? If so, what was the experience?

Thanks!

jayr517,

Well just for comparison, I have a 2000 AC Tundra 4x4 with the V8. I tow a 21 foot Weekend Warrior Toy Hauler. Dry Unloaded weight is 4000 pounds.
At that weight the Tundra tows really easy. Once I add 60 gallons of water at 500 pounds, 2 quads at 400 pounds each, 1 motorcycle at 210 pounds, 18 gallons of gasoline at 100 pounds, propane and all my gear, plus 4 people, the truck is near the GCVWR and you can tell its back there. I feel its ok at this weight but I know that in the future I would buy a 3/4 ton truck for the extra driving confidence.

Ken

[basura]

I think the quick answer is 'no'.

There is a combined weight max as well as the towing max, plus
most rv'ers recommend leaving a margin

here's a link to a calculator - haven't tried it myself

http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/we...monstrator.htm

[basura]

http://www.explorerrv.com/articles/M...Trailer101.pdf

[jayr517]

Ah well, I guess it isn't going to work. Looks like I'm about 600lbs short. Thanks for all the info though, that calculator was a big help.

[KLS]

You do not want to tow that much weight in mountains or on flats into headwinds. All truck makers lie about the tow capacity, and Toyota is no different.

I feel that 90% of GCWR is a prudent max for tow weight.


Ken

[1bigarm]

Originally Posted by jayr517

Hey all, my wife and I are looking into buying this camper:

http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/brandtomo...orbit&m=290BHS

I know the max towing capacity of my 01 AC V8 Tundra is 7,100lbs, and the GVWR of this camper is 7,500, but I'm wondering what the actual towing experience people have had. I have heard that Toyota is conservative with their tow ratings. I'm trying to figure out if my Tundra would be ok towing this thing.

Has anyone towed anything over the 7,100 rating? If so, what was the experience?

Thanks!

I have a 04' tundra sr5 trd,that I have used to tow a 1952 33'travelo trailer.No stabilizer bars,with only the standard tow hitch.I could only drive about 40mph before the trailer and the truck would start to sway.

[jayr517]

Man, toyota needs to come out with an HD tundra. I love my tundra (and the taco I had before it), but what do us toyota guys do when we need to tow some real weight??

[Imdone]

Originally Posted by jayr517

Man, toyota needs to come out with an HD tundra. I love my tundra (and the taco I had before it), but what do us toyota guys do when we need to tow some real weight??

Be patient. Toyota will grant your wish in 2007.

[Donskee]

Hi,
Fastone1 suggested in an earlier post that 24.5 feet is about the longest you would want to go. And using a WD hitch at that. Search back into April and you'll see the discussion.

Don

[fastone01]

That is just a guideline without using any sway control device. I am personally towing a TrailBay TK27DS bumper to tonque measuring almost 30 feet long.(31 feet long with the Hensley) With this lenght, I bought the Hensley to keep the badboy from waggling. Every penny spent on the hensley was worth its price!

I am going to do a full write up on my towing experience with my rig sometime next 2 months from now when my final test pulling this to Lake tahoe in July.

So far, I am very very please with the tundra's performance towing this trailer. I have already taken the trailer 7 times out and the hairiest camping trip was going to Williams, CA Stonyford, Truck did great pulling it on a whiny pass 9% to 12% grade for 12 miles at 4000 ft altitudes.

Here is my spec going to stonyford, CA dry camping.

Tundra, Full Tank of gas plus me and my wife and son with generator, propane, tools, table and Ice chest.
5350 lbs
Trailer with 3/4 full of fresh water plus all the camping gear we needed
6500 lbs

total is 11850 lbs

Just watch the wieght, patiences when pulling on grades and always take only what you need. Keep speed down to 65 mph or below on the freeway and you will do fine!

Do not, I repeat, do not get imtimidated when towing on long grades doing below the speed limit when other drivers are tail gating you, drive your rig at comfortable speed you are confident and what the truck will let you and when you see an opening ahead, pull over to let this fools pass by.

You are not going to win any speed contest with anyone pulling this rig!
Over drive off a must!!!

Originally Posted by Donkee

Hi,
Fastone1 suggested in an earlier post that 24.5 feet is about the longest you would want to go. And using a WD hitch at that. Search back into April and you'll see the discussion.

Don

[Geodude]

I see you're looking at your trailer GVWR for your planning number. What's the dry weight. Not what the factory says it should be but what it would weigh empty sitting in your driveway? It would be best to know that and then know exactly how much stuff your putting into it and base your decision on true numbers.

Our trailer is a 32' Antigua 305QBS. That's not including the Hensley Arrow up front or the spare tire off the back. In the driveway it weighs 4800 lbs and loaded weighs 5150lbs. (from a recent stop at the scales). We're close to the limit on truck capacity, good on all axles, and near the GCVWR, but we're not over on any.

The 4.7L pulls very well and has plenty of accelerating power up steep grades. I'm still thinking of those JBA headers as recommended by RockyMtnRay but I don't see them as an absolute necessity. I don't expect to crest the top of any steep grades at the speed limit, that's not my goal!

Anyway, if you can get your true weights you can make a more informed decision. Good luck!

[jayr517]

Originally Posted by fastone01

I am going to do a full write up on my towing experience with my rig sometime next 2 months from now when my final test pulling this to Lake tahoe in July.

fastone01,

Thanks for taking the time to write up your experience towing...I may not be SOL after all If you think of it, would you mind sending me a PM when you have your write up? I'd like to read it.

[jayr517]

Originally Posted by Geodude

I see you're looking at your trailer GVWR for your planning number. What's the dry weight. Not what the factory says it should be but what it would weigh empty sitting in your driveway? It would be best to know that and then know exactly how much stuff your putting into it and base your decision on true numbers.

Hey Geodude,

I haven't bought the trailer yet, so I don't know what the "actual" dry weight will be. The factory says it should be 4220lbs, but realistically, I'd say 4700 or so.

[Geodude]

Those factory weights can be misleading, depending on the factory. Often, once you add a few options like A/C, etc., the factory dry weight increases by anther 300lbs or so. From there people typically add 400-600lbs of "stuff" to the trailer.