Toyota Tundra Forums banner
Cancel

Is New Toyhauler Too Much Weight? 8000 lbs loaded.

28851 Views 34 Replies 21 Participants Last post by  Buckmaster73, 
boarderchap
I just bought a new toyhauler that is 5900 lbs unloaded, and I took it out this weekend with out our motorcycles, which weigh 800 lbs a piece, that was the intention of the toyhauler to haul the bikes around. I was rapping 5500 sometimes on the tach, going up one of the local canyons here, that you have to use to get out of town. Is this going to be ok on the truck? I was in 3rd gear most of the trip, and never got out of 4th. The truck kept downshifting constantly from 3rd to 4th and back. I thought this truck was ok to tow 10000 lbs. I love the truck, I just dont want to burn her up towing something too heavy all the time. It is a 2010 CM with the 5.7. I may have to get a Duramax or something, so I dont hurt the Tundra. Any suggestions? TIA
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 20 of 35 Posts
U
What model of toyhauler did you get? Were you using tow/haul mode?
Reply
Save
Like
boarderchap
Hey Uncle Pinky,

The Toyhauler is a 2010 Cherokee Wolfpack 27dfwp, I was in tow mode the whole way. Im just kinda freakin, because Sturgis is only about 3 weeks away, and I gotta tow the bikes about 1200 miles round trip, and I dont wanna overwork the truck. The trailer said it was half ton usable. Out here in the west, there are alot of steep mountain passes, not sure where they tested the truck when they rated it at 10000 lbs. I forgot to mention, that the wind was blowing like hell the whole way.
Reply
Save
Like
T
I often tow 9,000 lbs and my truck is a stock 5.7 DC with tow package.

Do one of the following
for steep ascents and descents Put the truck in "S" mode for better control on shifting and engine braking.
for normal driving, press the tow/haul button put her in "D" and drive. Let the truck handle the shifting, the computer won't let the truck hurt itself.

You don't need a dura max for 8K.

Keep an eye on the Transmission temperature gauge on steep ascents, (mine has never been above the half way point even on steep hills in 100 + temperatures)

Take your trailer to the scales and make sure the weight is what you expect. Many times the "Empty" weight listed on trailers is before any options or features were added. Bring it what you consider "Empty" and then again loaded. You may be surprised by the results.

Last but not least, lower your expectation of top speed. You've added 8,000 lbs to the load on your truck, slow down, this will also help fuel economy. When towing I usually keep it under 60 and plan my trip timing accordingly.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
boarderchap
Good point Terry, I was trying to keep her at 70, and about the guages, the engine temp and the tranny temp guage were both in the middle, so no overheating. I guess Im gonna have to slow down. It took a whole tank of gas to go 90 miles.
Reply
Save
Like
DavidT.
You guys are lucky. Anytime I tow something I'm limited to 55 MPH here in Ca. When the transmission starts to hunt between gears, just throw it in S mode and use the lower gear it's hunting to. Or slow down :)
Reply
Save
Like
NorCaler
Man something is wrong....because I tow at 65 to 70 mph and I get 165-185 miles out of one tank of gas with my 8200 pound travel trailer. I think your transmission just needs to program itself because it should not be hunting back and fourth between 3rd and 4th unless you're on a 5-10% grade. Mine did the hunting back and forth the first two tows and then the computer knew exactly what to tell the tranny and this suckers pulls great in auto mode. No need to manual shift when you let the computer settle in. The only time I use manual shift lever is on a steep downhill grade to keep heat off of brakes and 3rd gear seems to be the ticket. I say leave that sucker in D auto and let the tranny train itself via computer and you will see a huge difference. Also I have never seen my transmission gauge move while towing. It is always straight up and center.
Reply
Save
Like
bill3508
boarderchap said:
Good point Terry, I was trying to keep her at 70, and about the guages, the engine temp and the tranny temp guage were both in the middle, so no overheating. I guess Im gonna have to slow down. It took a whole tank of gas to go 90 miles.
Click to expand...
Lol, thats 3.4mpg. That is a nice toy hauler though, I'm looking for one also and bought the truck specifically for it. I would think it wouldn't be a problem.
Reply
Save
Like
htownrida713
i remember when i used to live in slc, going up parley's canyon was no fun when you got a heavy load. but 8k should be no problem still for a 5.7.. don't know what part of Utah your from, but hell there's lots up and down through mountains, so that could contribute to your low mpg
Reply
Save
Like
RONE
You truck can handle that load. Do a search and start reading because there is TONS of info on this forum about loads. Several members are towing 10-12K pounds regularly.
Reply
Save
Like
boarderchap
Yep, Parleys Canyon is the real PIA, and also the three sisters right outside of Evanston Wy, all the diesels are doing like 20 mph at the top of both of them. It just is a ***** that I have to go over both of these obstacles to go east on I-80 from Salt Lake City, to go any where. I havent even tried it with the bikes in there yet.:eek: Seems like my 07 CM was geared a little different, it seemed to tow a little easier with a heavier load.
Reply
Save
Like
C
Your good, I haul near 12,000lb fifth wheel trailer.
Reply
Save
Like
B
You mention the wind. I regularly tow a 33 foot trailer with a 2008 DC with 5.7 and tow package. I don't have any problems going uphill or down but a headwind in the 30mph+ range kills the mpg and keeps the tranny in 3rd and 4th gears. For what it is worth if you can wait out the wind you'll save a lot of money on gas!
Reply
Save
Like
stumpm2
I tow a 21' toy hauler that is similar in weight. The Tundra tows it fine at 70 mph and is usually in 4th or 5th. It has kicked down to third once or twice at 60-65 mph at the crest of the hill but it was not turning 5500 rpms. 4500 rpms is the most I have seen. The Tundra usually turns between 3000-3500 rpms depending on speed in 4th and can handle 99% of the hills at 65 to 70 mph. Any type of head wind will definitely be felt and keep the truck in 4th and burn a lot more gas. The Tundra tows great, but you will not be able to hold 70 mph up a long steep mountain pass with that much weight. Most diesel trucks can't do this without excessive heat build up in the transmission or turbo. Slow down and keep the rpms around 3500 (peak torque) and you will do just fine.
Reply
Save
Like
W
Peacemaker Pete chiming in here too.
My Toy hauler weighs about 1000# more than yours loaded. My first haul was in the Columbia gorge with a 30 MPH head wind, and I got 4.7 MPG trying to tow at 70 MPH. Next trip was (SLOW DOWN) to 60 MPH and with no head wind on mountain passes, mileage went up to 10 MPG and the transmission shifted down a whole lot less.

You can haul at 70 MPG but the wear and tear on your rig may be 4 times as much than at 60 MPH. Just my opinion. The toy-hauler has a pretty big wind signature. I find that the SHAPE of my tow is more of a factor than the weight.
Last week, we towed home with a 30 MPH TAIL WIND. I went 65 MPH over the same ground and got 11 MPG measured at the pump (not the computer). We added the transfer-flow 46 gallon gas tank so we don't have to stop for gas as often. That is a nice unit but spendy ($1200+ Install). WORTH it!
Tundra is plenty of truck to haul these loads. Hang in there!
Peacemakerpete in Spokane.
Reply
Save
Like
DCLB4X4
I towed a 16ft trailer with deer blind on it this weekend. Hardly any weight, but lots of wind drag. Many hills and lots of headwind. Ran 70mph and got 10-11mpg as best I remember. There was lots of downshifting, even to 3rd gear in tow/haul mode. The wind drag is the big killer on the mileage and downshifting.

On the return trip I had an empty trailer. Never shifted to 3rd, rarely to 4th.
Reply
Save
Like
htownrida713
bill3508 said:
Lol, thats 3.4mpg. That is a nice toy hauler though, I'm looking for one also and bought the truck specifically for it. I would think it wouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...
3.4 mpg or 90 per tank is pretty damn crappy. 8k lb load is nothing for your 5.7. something dont sound right at all! have your truck check out or something for heaven sake...post back and update us boarderchap. im curious to know wats up with the such low mpg. :eek:
Reply
Save
Like
RONE
htownrida713 said:
3.4 mpg or 90 per tank is pretty damn crappy. 8k lb load is nothing for your 5.7. something dont sound right at all! have your truck check out or something for heaven sake...post back and update us boarderchap. im curious to know wats up with the such low mpg. :eek:
Click to expand...
That low of a mileage is very conceivable - he was going up a steep incline, trying to run 70mph, and had a strong headwind. Air resistance increases with the square of the velocity, so double your speed and you increase air resistance by a factor of 4!
Reply
Save
Like
DavidT.
Ooo....
Reply
Save
Like
DavidT.
mmm....
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 20 of 35 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Toyota Tundra Forums
Tundra Solutions Forum - the best community to talk, mods, price, repair and research your Toyota!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
2Gen-Tundra 1Gen-Tundra 1Gen-Sequoia Tacoma Engine, Intake, Exhaust, Induction
Top