Towing a 4-place inline with a Tundra

[IFlyEm]

Ok first of all this is NOT a brand bashing thread so please don't make it one.

Anyway, I have a 2007 Tundra Crewmax with the 5.7. I currently tow a 16' inline and it tows fantastically! Here's my dilema. I am quickly learning that I am going to need a larger trailer. Probably 24 ft.

My question is does anyone on here have any experience pulling a trailer this size with the latest generation Tundra?

How about any other 1/2 ton?

Do I need to go to the 3/4 ton? Obviously this trailer would be well under the 10,100 lbs towing capability of the Tundra so what am I really gaining by going to the 3/4 ton? Just better stability from the longer wheelbase?

I do have to admit. I am digging the 2011 Super Duty with that 6.7 diesel!

Any comments or suggestions are welcome! Aside of "(insert brand here)'s are pieces of crap."

 

[ndmtnsledder]

I have a 25ftX7 inline United enclosed with a steel frame that weighs around 3500#s empty with just the cabinets and such. I've pulled it with my cousins Dodge Hemi 1500 and my 07 F150 5.4L and they will pull them fine to a point with 4sleds. On the mtn passes the small gasses regardless of brand are gonna scream. Flat lands and good roads I don't mind. I pulled mine even with 4500#s of construction supplies here in ND a couple times with no problems but going out west in the winter I never felt comfortable. I now have a 08 F250 6.4L and it just feels more stable with the heavier suspension, higher rated tires, and just generally more pickup weight. Just depends how comfortable you want to feel while towing.

 

[IFlyEm]

Well safety is paramount. I am not going to be doing much mountain towing. Just the around WI and the U.P. My concern would be crosswinds on a degraded road since there are a lot of "not-so-maintained" county roads that I travel on.

Do I gain much lateral stability with the 3/4 ton?

 

[theultrarider]

You do gain a bunch of stability with the longer wheelbase and heavier tow vehicle. I grew up in the northern wi/mn area. I was just back there recently and am always amazed at how your county roads are WAY NICER than our "highways" up here in Alaska. Our roads are very narrow, rough in the summer and road maintainance is horrible in the winter. Snow and ice pack sevreal inches deep and broken is not uncommon. Then there are the hills (mountians) and tight twisty windy corners. I drive an f350 crewcab. I also pull an open 4 place and I would not ever want to go back to a smaller truck for our roads. Once the trailer starts to move wether it be from wind, icy roads or whatever, it gets sketcky real fast. That is one hairy feeling when the trailer starts to wag the truck. Guys do do it. I saw a TACOMA pulling an enclosed 4 place a couple days ago. No thankyou. Just cuz the motor will pull the trailer, does not mean you are safe to go down the road with it. You guys have better roads, but then again, you travel at much higher speeds than we do as well. We rarely see over 60 in the winter. Most roads are only 55 speedlimits, some are 65. I have owned f250 both standard cabs and supercabs, and each time I went longer, the stress level went down with a trailer behind me. I will stick with the 4door long bed. It may take a football field to turn it around, but it will stay straight down the road.

 

[94fordguy]

One thing I always think about when this subject comes up, is not necessarily what the vehicle is rated to tow, but also how heavy the tow vehicle is. For example, if you have a 7K lb trailer behind a 5K lb truck, you aren't going to be as 'commanding' over the trailer as a 7K lb truck would be. The brakes may be perfectly fine, but if you don't have enough weight on a half ton to keep the tires from sliding, (or spinning) it's not gonna matter.

Just my $.02

 

[IFlyEm]

Good point! Towing in July is one thing. Towing in the winter is an entirely different animal it seems. All my previous trailers were no bigger than a 12' 2 place. I LOVE the larger inlines. I just want to make sure I have a vehicle that can drive the trailer instead of vice versa.

 

[Superdutytd]

If this is an enclosed trailer I would definitely want to upgrade to a 3/4 ton. If you do decide to get a bigger trailer and tow it with the 1/2 ton definitely get an aluminum trailer. I have had my 30 foot aluminum whip on me in my excursion (weight on the X= 8200 pounds) when it was full of a bunch of building supplies and it would have drug me off the road in a half ton. Just some food for thought.

 

[gilpin_doo]

I don't think you will have any issues with the Tundra. I have an 07 with the 5.7l and have a 27' Travel Trailer with a GVW of 6700lbs and it tows it like a dream. I added the supercharger and now it really pulls nice. I see no reason to upgrade the Truck, if anything spend the $6k for the Supercharger, it is worth every penny!

 

[Jaynelson]

Sounds like you will be around the 6-7000lb range loaded, correct? Say, 3500 trailer + 3000lbs sleds and gear? If so, you shouldn't have any problems. You are WELL within the ratings enough that good winter tires and trailer brakes will go just as far as a bigger truck IMO. Unless you just feel like getting a new truck....a 3/4 ton diesel will be a heavier truck without question, but I don't think it's necessary unless you wind up in the 8000lb+ range.

Keep in mind that often many of the guys preaching the "safety" of big diesels will happily tow with half bald 35" mud terrain tires in the winter....so lots of it is just a dink measuring contest. Not saying anyone in this thread....but I see it all the time on the road (and in the ditch) around here in the winter.

 

[theultrarider]

Sounds like you will be around the 6-7000lb range loaded, correct? Say, 3500 trailer + 3000lbs sleds and gear? If so, you shouldn't have any problems. You are WELL within the ratings enough that good winter tires and trailer brakes will go just as far as a bigger truck IMO. Unless you just feel like getting a new truck....a 3/4 ton diesel will be a heavier truck without question, but I don't think it's necessary unless you wind up in the 8000lb+ range.

Keep in mind that often many of the guys preaching the "safety" of big diesels will happily tow with half bald 35" mud terrain tires in the winter....so lots of it is just a dink measuring contest. Not saying anyone in this thread....but I see it all the time on the road (and in the ditch) around here in the winter.

You bring up a very valid point about the tires! I too see it way too often, especially since I drive for a living as well as my weekend travels. My 35's come off as soon as the roads ice over and run skinny little pizza cutters that are both siped and studded. Alot also depends on the roads you must run and what kind of winds you expect to have to deal with. Our roads are horrible, and the winds can get 70-100 mph with rain on ice... With that, I love the wieght and wheelbase of the crewcab longbed one ton. I agree, not everyone has to have one.

 

[ndmtnsledder]

Sounds like you will be around the 6-7000lb range loaded, correct? Say, 3500 trailer + 3000lbs sleds and gear? If so, you shouldn't have any problems. You are WELL within the ratings enough that good winter tires and trailer brakes will go just as far as a bigger truck IMO. Unless you just feel like getting a new truck....a 3/4 ton diesel will be a heavier truck without question, but I don't think it's necessary unless you wind up in the 8000lb+ range.

Keep in mind that often many of the guys preaching the "safety" of big diesels will happily tow with half bald 35" mud terrain tires in the winter....so lots of it is just a dink measuring
contest. Not saying anyone in this thread....but I see it all the time on the road (and in the ditch) around here in the winter.

Your right to a point and i used to think the exact same thing. Im the type that will swap out tires with life left just cause i dont trust them in the winter and pull 20k# NH3 tanks or haul 2500 chemical totes with my F150xl 4.6L in the summer. It really gets down to the roads and having the weight to hold your own against the trailer. My 7500# F250 out weighs the trailer and sleds by over 1000#s. Before the trailer was mine we were towing it with a 2500 chevy and got to see it out the drivers window. We were only going 20mph but glare ice and 40mph sidewinds are no fun we were just trying to get off the roads at that point. If you do stick with the half ton make sure you upgrade to a C or D rated tires most half tons ive seen lately come with P tires and the soft sidewalls are no fun if the wind starts pushing the trailer around.

 

[Kevin]

Ditto on the tires. I have a 2008 tundra crewmax. Just replaced the stock p-rated BFG rugged trails (worthless) with 10-ply E-rated BFG AT. Bring on winter!

 

[Jaynelson]

By the book, a Crewmax 5.7L has a towing capacity of 10,100lbs and weighs 5625lbs or a little more depending on which model (curb weight). Also, the cab is HUGE on a crewmax and the box a little shorter, so lots of weight on the rear axle for traction compared to most trucks.

So....with good trailer tires and brakes, LT winter tires and half a brain....6,000 or 7000lbs should be cake. It should be a really good setup actually, from a power standpoint you'll have lots in the 5.7 and you won't be pushing the limits of any capacities...not even close.