Hundy or GX for towing stuff?

[roadstr6]

Arent the newer Tundras rated at 10k#?

And I would be another vote for a dedicated tow rig. I bought a used 1997 F250HD big block truck a few years ago to tow with, and after driving a v10 f650 over the weekend (Uhaul) I'm now leaning towards seeing what I can find in the higher gvwr rigs used. As has been mentioned, it's not hard to overload a tow rig if you start actually adding up all the stuff.

From what I read the newer Tundras are rated at 10k#. I believe that is best in class. Not quite 3/4 ton territory, but better than the domestic half ton trucks.

One thing’s for sure, my MIL’s ‘17 Tundra SR5 pulled great. Dropped it into tow mode and pulled every hill without breaking a sweat. Integrated brake controller is nice too.

 

[lt1fire]

All new 2019 1/2 ton domestic V8s are around 11k and up tow capacity.

I think the tundra with the 5.7 is at 10k and 7k with the 4.6

Strangely the best in class for a half ton is the 3.5 V6 eco boost f150 at over 13k if I remember that right from the auto show.

But these are brand new and not really what one buys for a third car dedicated tow vehicle.
To me that means cheap and reliable and not driven that often.

 

[stevezero]

Cheap, reliable, and not modded!

 

[Mtbcoach]

I don't need a 2500 for my uses, but I do need at the bare minimum a damn stout 1500. Two or three times a year I tow a 7000# Airstream behind my old '03 Ram 1500 with the 5.7 Hemi. It does okay but it struggles in the mountains. This last mountain trip we took, I borrowed my mother-in-law's '17 Tundra 5.7 just to see how it would tow the Airstream. I was seriously impressed. My next truck will be a Tundra. I wouldn't tow anything more than a small boat or a utility trailer behind any of my LC's, including the wife's GX.

We came close until we drove them back-back (‘15 Tundra & ‘15 Ram 2500) over the same roads/terrain/conditions. We (my spouse) REALLY wanted the Tundra, drove a loaded one, all the bells and whistles. She drove them both (as did I, wasn’t first test drive for either choice) finding our Ram the choice as a daily driver/truck, driving around unloaded, one day raining. There is a sh!t ton to love about the new Tundras, not enough to push me off a Ram Cummins, had a ‘96 I regretted selling after 7yrs of zero issue service (pulling a 30’ 5th wheel), I was biased but wifey was biased against another diesel. For her to like the Ram was pleasantly surprising, saved who knows how many hours of negotiations

 

[mtweller]

I am also with Al. 3rd vehicle/tow vehicle, last thing on my mind is a Land Cruiser. Personally, I can not live without a pickup so the choice of a tow rig was easy for me. Even with the upcoming 5.3L swap for Heather's 80, towing anything past a camping trailer is not in the cards.

re: the 5.3L - I towed Dozer with my heavy ass trailer a few times w/ a 2004 Silverado back in the day. It was really disappointing. Never towed w/ a 100, but Emma's GX pulls our 21' Wakeboard boat just fine, honestly handles a little better than my lifted 200, but not quite as much guts. The self-leveling suspension is really nice for a lighter load and I don't feel the brakes are inadequate with that load. I'd take the GX over a 5.3L truck for a 3500lb load myself.

ETA - I should mention that I've never towed anything more than our boat with the GX, so I'm guessing the comfort and capabilities get maxed out pretty quickly, but I just wanted to chime in that for lighter load it works fine.

 

[roadstr6]

My buddy here at work always sings the praises of the pulling power of his '17 F150 Ecoboost. He pulled a 6000# camper from Charlotte up into Maine and back a couple of weeks ago. On the way home he noticed it was less responsive and it threw a CEL. He got it home but now it is at the dealership for repairs. Something with the turbos. They are telling him $2000 worst case scenario.

Those Ecoboost engines are peppy, but I just can't go there. Call me a fool, but I'd take a N/A V8 over a turbo 6 for a tow rig any day (as long as we are speaking of gas engines).

 

[mtweller]

My buddy here at works always sings the praises of the pulling power of his '17 F150 Ecoboost. He pulled a 6000# camper from Charlotte up into Maine and back a couple of weeks ago. On the way home he noticed it was less responsive and it threw a CEL. He got it home but now it is at the dealership for repairs. Something with the turbos. They are telling him $2000 worst case scenario.

Those Ecoboost engines are peppy, but I just can't go there. Call me a fool, but I'd take a N/A V8 over a turbo 6 for a tow rig any day (as long as we are speaking of gas engines).

[SPEAKING OF GAS ENGINES ONLY]
Have to agree 100% here Dave. My brother had the Ecoboost and we towed about 10k worth of loaded camper, albeit only 20 or so miles, but I was very impressed with how it handled it. But I just don't trust the longevity angle for these applications yet. Maybe in another 5 years we'll truly know, but with chatter about the next gen LC going to a V6Turbo (just rumors at this point) it would make me incredibly sad.

 

[lt1fire]

[SPEAKING OF GAS ENGINES ONLY]
Have to agree 100% here Dave. My brother had the Ecoboost and we towed about 10k worth of loaded camper, albeit only 20 or so miles, but I was very impressed with how it handled it. But I just don't trust the longevity angle for these applications yet. Maybe in another 5 years we'll truly know, but with chatter about the next gen LC going to a V6Turbo (just rumors at this point) it would make me incredibly sad.

THe LS went V6 turbo and that is the Lexus flagship...... I'd say 100 percent chance the Toyota flagship goes that way also and Toyota has made it very very clear they arent interested in diesel for the NA market.

From everything I've seen the v6 EcoBoost is incredibly reliable but turbos do add one more thing to go wrong and have to fix and all turbos will need at least the seals redone at some point. That isn't enough to put me off of it though I would own one if it dropped for the right price.

If I personally was going to get a new gas 1/2 ton it would be a Chevy. That is just a personal choice and really any 1/2 ton pickup is a fairly solid buy brand loyalty aside. But I will never buy a brand new car so that doesnt say much.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

There's something to be said for being skeptical of new tech, but the ecoboost F150s came out in 2015. There has been plenty of time for the motors to get a bad rap and they haven't. More efficiency with the same or better capability is always a good thing.

 

[weejub]

@jtmosca - - If it were me, and I am the WRONG person to ask, I would sell the 80 and the Highlander and just by a V8 4Runner, 4th Gen and use Drive, not Overdrive when you pull your camper. If it is only 3500 lbs loaded, you will be fine - I have pulled that much and it pulls great. Get a Scan Gauge II and watch your Transmission Temps for hills if needed.

Something like this for about $13K:

2008 Toyota 4Runner V8 AWD MINT

Craigslist, I have a mint condition 2008 Toyota 4Runner SR5 with all-time four-wheel-drive. It has a little over 117,000 miles on it and has been in Florida and North Carolina its entire life. The...

raleigh.craigslist.org

Pick up the Dobinson 3" heavy rear springs and the Bilstein 6112 front end set to about 1.5" and enjoy the simplicity of life with 1 car vs 2 or 3.

Take the extra $$ and put it in savings.

 

[jynx]

Sidebar v8 talk.

Ford has seen the light for heavy towduty and is going back to a single cam pushed v8 in 2020 SD trucks.

OP, to the original question, for light duty occassional tow duty (<3500#) either the hundy or GX will do fine. We have a GX and it is great, lots of bells and whistles. Don't own a hundy, but they are cushy too. Very similar drivetrains, hundy's extra mass and width might help keep things steady. Probably be similar mileage. Scanguage and an aux trans cooler and peel out.

 

[lt1fire]

Yeah the new Ford 7.3..... looks to be a great motor

 

[Fort Knox]

I can't really speak to the GX vs. Hundy debate, as I've never driven either, but I'll just add another vote of confidence for the 5.7 Tundra. I'm on my 2nd one. Traded the '07 CrewMax SR5 (first year of the 5.7) in for my current '15 CrewMax 1794 Edition. There was nothing wrong with the '07 at 100k miles. I just wanted more bells & whistles. The CrewMax has a TON of interior room for people or stuff, but not really both, since it's a pickup. If you get a good tonneau cover or bed cap, problem solved.

I've towed my 4Runner or 40 on a trailer many times behind it. Total weight, including camping gear, tools, and spare parts is just shy of 14k, as measured on the CAT scales. Since the Tundra is around 5,700 lbs., that makes my cargo + trailer combo around 8,300 lbs. Several hundred pounds of that is usually camping gear, coolers, etc. in the bed. Towing capacity is stated as 9,800 lbs., so I should be just fine.

While I may get a weight distributing hitch at some point to help out, it tows great. Power is not an issue. I've towed up Old Fort a few times and I can go as fast as I want with no issue. The only downside is fuel economy. I get around 10 mpg towing. Compared to other gassers, that may not be horrible, but compared to a diesel, well......it's not good. Of course, diesel costs more, but I still think you'd come out better, cost-wise.

I almost bought a 1st Gen Sequoia as a tow rig before buying the '07 Tundra. I saw a couple that were REALLY nice, but I would've been right at the towing capacity, so I test drove a Tundra and my decision was made.

 

[mtweller]

IThe only downside is fuel economy. I get around 10 mpg towing. Compared to other gassers, that may not be horrible, but compared to a diesel, well......it's not good. Of course, diesel costs more, but I still think you'd come out better, cost-wise.

IDK man, I only got 13ish towing Dozer w/ the Duramax. But it was 13 in the hills or anywhere. Think I got 14.5 one time going to OBX. But, you hardly even knew you were towing - buttery smooth. I miss that, but since I am a slacker and rarely make events now anyway, it's worth the cool factor of now having my 2hundy.

 

[Fort Knox]

IDK man, I only got 13ish towing Dozer w/ the Duramax. But it was 13 in the hills or anywhere. Think I got 14.5 one time going to OBX. But, you hardly even knew you were towing - buttery smooth. I miss that, but since I am a slacker and rarely make events now anyway, it's worth the cool factor of now having my 2hundy.

Well, at least that makes me feel a little better.

Mine is between 9-11, but usually upper 9's, close to 10. Of course, around town I get 13-14 normally and maybe 16-17 on road trips without the trailer, so it's not a gas sipper, towing or not!

 

[Davidsel47]

Both my GX and my 100 series tow my bay boat very well but my GX gets better gas mileage while doing so. Maybe its because the 100 has a lift and offroad tires but the GX is just over all lighter.