Fact or Fiction - info on 3/4 tons??

[bugmenot]

I've been reading through some of the threads here and am having difficulty believing some of what i'm seeing. Some people are talking about towing 7200 to 8500 lbs trailers! I have a 4200 lb dry travel trailer that when loaded weighs in on average at about 5200. Actually on the weekend I stopped at a highway scale. Didn't have time to unhitch and do all measurements, but Front axle was weighed at 2980, Rear at 3750 and weight on the trailer axles was 5270. You'll notice that that rear axle weight is right at max (i have some adjustments to do on my Weight distributing hitch). So with me right at max on the rear axle with a 5200 pound trailer - how's it possible i'm seeing posts of people pulling 8000 lb plus. And as for performance - my truck did ok (05 double cab with TRD / 4x4) but you definetly know the trailer is there. No chance/way to tow in O/D. I tried it on relatively flat terrain for a few miles. Even though it was staying in O/D the torque converter was consistently locking and unlocking. Maintaining speed in 3rd gear (not "D") doing 55-60 MPH was possible on grades of 6% or more, but I wasn't going to break 65. Not without really working the engine.

I really like my Tundra, but to be honest I'm not all that impressed with it as a Tow Vehicle (my fault for not taking a closer look). I sure hope Toyota comes out with something soon to compete with the big 3's 3/4 tons - especially that rear axle. I'm really going to have to scrape and scimp to try and get my weight down. Don't know what else I can leave out........

What are others thoughts - just glad I didn't go for the 05 Taco as was my original plan. I would have ended up with a pop up. It's really my fault. I'm surprised to learn how little any half ton can pull - and realistically the Tundra is only 9/10's of one. I'm not talking HP, but Axle weights and carrying capacity. Like i said, hopefully they'll offer something more in the near future.

[pacjr]

Originally Posted by bugmenot

I've been reading through some of the threads here and am having difficulty believing some of what i'm seeing. Some people are talking about towing 7200 to 8500 lbs trailers! I have a 4200 lb dry travel trailer that when loaded weighs in on average at about 5200. Actually on the weekend I stopped at a highway scale. Didn't have time to unhitch and do all measurements, but Front axle was weighed at 2980, Rear at 3750 and weight on the trailer axles was 5270. You'll notice that that rear axle weight is right at max (i have some adjustments to do on my Weight distributing hitch). So with me right at max on the rear axle with a 5200 pound trailer - how's it possible i'm seeing posts of people pulling 8000 lb plus. And as for performance - my truck did ok (05 double cab with TRD / 4x4) but you definetly know the trailer is there. No chance/way to tow in O/D. I tried it on relatively flat terrain for a few miles. Even though it was staying in O/D the torque converter was consistently locking and unlocking. Maintaining speed in 3rd gear (not "D") doing 55-60 MPH was possible on grades of 6% or more, but I wasn't going to break 65. Not without really working the engine.

I really like my Tundra, but to be honest I'm not all that impressed with it as a Tow Vehicle (my fault for not taking a closer look). I sure hope Toyota comes out with something soon to compete with the big 3's 3/4 tons - especially that rear axle. I'm really going to have to scrape and scimp to try and get my weight down. Don't know what else I can leave out........

What are others thoughts - just glad I didn't go for the 05 Taco as was my original plan. I would have ended up with a pop up. It's really my fault. I'm surprised to learn how little any half ton can pull - and realistically the Tundra is only 9/10's of one. I'm not talking HP, but Axle weights and carrying capacity. Like i said, hopefully they'll offer something more in the near future.

It all depends on what you are pulling, we pull a 23' fiberglass boat the tips the scale around 6,500 lbs +/-. I have no problems towing this weight. One main difference is frontal wind restiance.

[bugmenot]

Originally Posted by pacjr

It all depends on what you are pulling, we pull a 23' fiberglass boat the tips the scale around 6,500 lbs +/-. I have no problems towing this weight. One main difference is frontal wind restiance.

That's still not near some of the 7500 to 8500 lbs posts. Tongue weight is usually 10 to 15% of trailer weight. Might be a little less with a boat, or you could use the 10% number which would put 650 lbs on your rear end with no one, nothing else in the truck. Max payload is 1620. Leaves roughly 900 to 1000 lbs for you, your passengers and any gear you take along. If you use 15% you only have 645 lbs for anything you put in your truck. It'll tow "fine" but I bet you too are close to your max gross axle weight on the rear. Do you use a weight distribution hitch? I'm guessing you'd almost be at the max GCWR or over depending on how much gear you put in the truck and how many passengers you have. I'm not slamming your setup, just pointing out why i'm disappointed in the Tundra as a tow vehicle.

[pacjr]

With a boat you are looking at 5% to 7% for the tongue weight. I think mine is close to 380 lbs +/- can't remember for sure.
This is due to the design of boats. They are very narrow up front and get wider towards the back. Also all the motor and drive weight is on the back of the boat.

[fastone01]

Well. Sorry to hear your dissapointed with your setup. You are right that some users here in this forum are posting trailer wieght as high as 8000 lbs. This is when you need to weed out fact and fiction post. Sounds to me that you have buyers remorse!

In any case, I am pulling a trail bay 27DS. Manufactures dry weight is 4880 lbs. Cabinet posted weight is 5336 lbs. Max GWRV is 7400 lbs. Actual weight last May 05 when I went to the weight scale. the trailer weight in at 6450 lbs. My truck, 2 members of the family+ camping equipment ( Generator, Ice chest full of ice/drink, tools, stove, 3/4 water etc) in the back of the truck and full tank of gas was 5400 lbs. Total weight for me was 11850 LBS. I am past max towing capacity

Lenght of the box is 27ft, total lenght from Spare tire bumper to the hensley hitch is 32 feet. I use to have pics in my gallery but somehow dissappear!

I was very impress with my truck. But with this said, I put some performance accessories that help with towing including the hensley hitch that make my towing experience great.

Where I live also, My trips are mostly flat. Maybe once or twice a year high grade and altitude to the sierra mountains or Southern CA great vine. I am not planning on taking trips that have highway grades past 8% for miles and miles of windy road, or altitude of 7000 Ft or higher like some users here. If that was the case, the trailer I got is way to heavy for the truck.

Not to be offensive here and just trying to understand your post.


your comment about "Maintaining speed in 3rd gear (not "D") doing 55-60 MPH was possible on grades of 6% or more, but I wasn't going to break 65. Not without really working the engine." sounds about right. My question is, what makes this for you so disappointing? is it because you can not tow with OD on? Or it drops down 2 gears to 3th for you to go 65 mph or faster?

One more thing, why are people here alway compare the tundra, which is rated at 1/2 ton truck to a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck rated. then post that they are disappointed with there towing performance because it does not tow as well like the other 3/4 or 1 ton truck?

my impression with the current tundra 99 to 05 model is like a

"Jack of all trades, master of none" It does everything well but not outstanding in all areas.

If I were you, Life is to short to be disappointed at something for a long time. Make a decision to ditch the tundra and get a real tow vehicle or ditch the trailer and get a smaller one. Or just add more accessories to help you tow.

My 2 cents.

[j4x4ar3]

Originally Posted by bugmenot

...just glad I didn't go for the 05 Taco as was my original plan. I would have ended up with a pop up. It's really my fault. I'm surprised to learn how little any half ton can pull...

Hmm... did you realize that the ratings for towing on the 05 Tacoma and the 05 Tundra are virtually the same??? The GCWR is within 700lbs of each other however the tundra weighs more to start...and payload ratings for DC 4x4 models are within 100blsso the only real difference between the two vehicles when towing is concerned is the V6 vs the V8. The only other difference is the size of the overall vehicle. The Tundra has a longer wheelbase so pulling a 30' trailer would be a little easier.

Originally Posted by bugmenot

.... I have a 4200 lb dry travel trailer that when loaded weighs in on average at about 5200.

Same as my trailer. I have a 26' trailer that weighs almost exactly the same. My - 05 Tacoma does surprisingly well. I will admit that the 35mph head wind I caught on one trip would have been nice to have a V8 but the truck handled very well with no sway problems and very little bounce.

Originally Posted by bugmenot

...Maintaining speed in 3rd gear (not "D") doing 55-60 MPH was possible on grades of 6% or more, but I wasn't going to break 65. Not without really working the engine....

Well considering that the towing speedlimit for us out here in California is 55 I'm not really interested in breaking the 65mph barrier. Not really that safe anyway with 5000lbs of weight trailing behind you. I reciently did a 6%+ grade for 10 miles (I-5 Grapevine in CA) and left it in 4th. Did really well. I only had to go down to 3rd to pass a slow semi. I did 50 up the hill with no problems at all. Tranny temp and engine temp didn't even budge. As well the 05 Tacoma says to do heavy towing in D and only to shift down to 4th if engine braking is required.

For me there's no need for a 3/4 ton truck that sucks gas 365 days a year towing or not. I get 20mpg not towing and 10-12 towing. 4 or 5 trips a year isn't worth the extra expense considering my truck does just fine with the load I give it. I'm already under my weight limits so hmm... I find that people that buy 3/4 ton trucks usually upgrade their trailers and/or carry a lot more junk with them that puts them right back at their limits. Funny though last weekend I was coming home and this guy had a moderately sized 5er being pulled by a desiel dually. He wasn't doing much more than 50 up a small grade. Had to pass him because he was holding me back. Just can't see where a 3/4 or even a 1 ton is an advantage.

[bugmenot]

My biggest disappointment as I said
"I'm surprised to learn how little any half ton can pull - and realistically the Tundra is only 9/10's of one. I'm not talking HP, but Axle weights and carrying capacity. Like i said, hopefully they'll offer something more in the near future."

Compare carrying capacity and GAWR of the Tundra to other 1/2 tons - not 3/4's and you'll see it's really only 8 or 9/10's of a half ton. That's where my disappoinment lies. I can deal with traveling at a lower speed, but i do have "buyers remorse" when I have to start leaving things at home that I could carry in another 1/2 ton to stay under my GCWR, GAWR and CC. A 6 cyl Taco pulling MY TRAILER would be a miserable experience I think. Kudos to you if you're enjoying your set ups.

I fail to see the logic on exceeding GCWR's or GAWR's for any truck setup. If you want to hype that a TACO or Tundra is rated to pull a certain weight you have to give equal consideration to it's other max ratings.

[j4x4ar3]

I think you'll be surprised that a Ford F150 isn't that much better than a Tundra when you look at the base ratings. It's only after you change out the axle ratios and do other mods that you start to break the GCWR of 12500lbs. I'm sure if you had the same mods available for the Tundra that it would perform just as well. Payloads and towing are very different animals although there is crossover. If you're using axle loads and trying to relate that to towing then you're not really matching apples to apples. A good weight distribution hitch can fix that issue pretty quickly if you're concerned. In any case no matter how much load you put on the axle your trailer needs to sit level so you may need a WD hitch anyway. Now if you're going to load the bed of the truck up with dirt, rocks or whatever then the axle rating could make a big difference between trucks. The Tundra was never marketed as a "work truck" then again neither is the F150 isn't marketed that way either. Difference is the F150 has work truck versions available where Tundra does not.

BTW if your trailer is 5200lbs loaded then max you should be putting on the tongue is 15% (780lbs) which is a little under half of your payload rating. With a weight distribution hitch that will lower that weight and balance it across all axles. If you're heavier than that then maybe you have a loading problem with your trailer and not a problem with the truck. You will also run into this situation no matter what truck you get. If you had gone for a 3/4 ton truck I'm sure you would have packed more stuff which once again brings that weight back up and brings you once again close to your ratings.

As I stated I'm under my ratings all the way around with my trailer and I don't have to sacrafice items that I bring with me. Any truck that you stay under their ratings should be fine. Granted as you said with your trailer you may be a lot heavier and you may be pushing the limits for your truck I would think not though since you said your weight is 5200lbs loaded which is what mine is and I'm under my limits on a "smaller" truck.