I'm considering a second generation tundra as a work truck. How much would you tow/haul in the bed or on a trailer or both at the same time, with your tundra? Would a daily 7-10K load be too much for a second generation model?
Tundra Towing/ Hauling ? (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter jfnall
- Start date
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When I think of towing Tundra doesn't come to mind. if you're towing that much I'd go with a true 3/4 ton at least. Tundra's are listed as a 3/4 ton but the axle/suspension isn't the same. Just my two cents.
7-10k daily is a bit much for a tundra, with the 5.7liter you have 10k max. You don't want to be at your max.
cwwfj60
Supporting Vendor
I tow with my tundra every now and then, 2011 crewmax with a 2'' icon lift, I've got airbags in the rear which help a lot and the most I tow is a car hauler with a land cruiser on it. This is a decent load but not too bad for every once and a while. If your doing it daily then you should consider a diesel for longevity reasons. Toyotas are tough but I can imagine if I towed 10k around every day it would begin to suffer.
- Thread starter
- #5
That's what I was thinking but I wanted to hear it from some guys hauling regularly. Sure wish toyota would offer a dually pickup. Would be nice
What about a daily 2500# in the bed with no trailer. Would that be a viable option?
What about a daily 2500# in the bed with no trailer. Would that be a viable option?
I'd at least do a hevier rear spring then. But I don't see any problems.
cwwfj60
Supporting Vendor
What in the world are you doing? hauling fill dirt?
- Thread starter
- #8
I have a lawn care company and would be hauling a spray tank setup, 200 gall or 300 gall rig. 2200-3500# on the 200 gall, And 2800-3000# for the 300 gall setup, including the framing of the rig, hose, etc.
I'm just tired of all the stupid problems I get with these dodge and Chevys I've been running for a while. I wan more reliability.
I am not saying, "It's okay to tow this much." This is just what I have done.
I use my Tundra for work. It's been loaded and towing for 8 years. At best it has as little as 300 lbs of constant weight from tools, at worst I've hauled a half pallet of concrete, 1760 lbs in the bed. I pull a 6 x 14 cargo trailer loaded with tools and material weighing in somewhere around 3,000 to 7,000 depending on whats is in it. Several times a month (sometimes several times a day) I tow a 2,200 lbs, 18' flatbed trailer to move equipment around from jobsite to jobsite. Mostly moving around a Kubota tractor with front loader and backhoe attachments weighing in at 2,834 lbs. The truck drives great pulling the combined 5,034 lbs. It may just be because I do tow so much, but I barely notice it back there. Other times, I move a Kubota mini excavator weighing 8,478 lbs. When pulling the combined 10,678 lbs, you definitely feel it. Is that pushing the limits? Yes, but my Tundra tows the excavator 100 times better than either of the Chevy 2500HD trucks with 6.0L V8s we have. Going beyond that, I had to relocate a load of gravel with a dump trailer. That trailer was somewhere in the 2,500 lbs range empty. It held 6 cubic yards of gravel, which is about 15,600 lbs. I only had to move the gravel 3 miles, and never went above 30 mile per hour, and had an escort truck. I would not ever recommend towing that much weight.
If anything this truck is over engineered beyond it's competition. I wouldn't hesitate to pull 5,000 to 6,000 lbs all day long.
I use my Tundra for work. It's been loaded and towing for 8 years. At best it has as little as 300 lbs of constant weight from tools, at worst I've hauled a half pallet of concrete, 1760 lbs in the bed. I pull a 6 x 14 cargo trailer loaded with tools and material weighing in somewhere around 3,000 to 7,000 depending on whats is in it. Several times a month (sometimes several times a day) I tow a 2,200 lbs, 18' flatbed trailer to move equipment around from jobsite to jobsite. Mostly moving around a Kubota tractor with front loader and backhoe attachments weighing in at 2,834 lbs. The truck drives great pulling the combined 5,034 lbs. It may just be because I do tow so much, but I barely notice it back there. Other times, I move a Kubota mini excavator weighing 8,478 lbs. When pulling the combined 10,678 lbs, you definitely feel it. Is that pushing the limits? Yes, but my Tundra tows the excavator 100 times better than either of the Chevy 2500HD trucks with 6.0L V8s we have. Going beyond that, I had to relocate a load of gravel with a dump trailer. That trailer was somewhere in the 2,500 lbs range empty. It held 6 cubic yards of gravel, which is about 15,600 lbs. I only had to move the gravel 3 miles, and never went above 30 mile per hour, and had an escort truck. I would not ever recommend towing that much weight.
If anything this truck is over engineered beyond it's competition. I wouldn't hesitate to pull 5,000 to 6,000 lbs all day long.
- Thread starter
- #10
Thanks for that info. Sounds like it is a viable option.
I just sold my landscaping business. My advice would be buy a real 3/4 ton truck, instead of using the Tundra.
offrd63
Ain't you done yet!
I found that adding air bags and a rear sway bar made a big difference for me, both in towing and hauling.
Getting an add-a-leaf or some airbags is on my to-do list.
Your two cents aren't worth the copper in them.
The 2nd gen tundra is built from the ground up to tow with. It is listed as a 1/2 ton, (nowhere is it listed as a 3/4 ton) but has a 10,000# towing capacity and I tow thousands of miles right at that number. It tows great. The axles and suspension are better than the competitions 3/4 ton. The 10.5 axles are bulletproof. I tow a lot with a Chevy 2500HD as well. The Tundra tows far better. Better suspension. Better trans. Better engine. Better brakes.
I do have air bags. they are worth the money.
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- Thread starter
- #15
Sounds like air bags are needed. What brand is worth buying? I have Pac Brake on my dodge 4500. Seems a little more well-built than the ride-rite setup. Any options for the tundra air bags?
I wouldn't say needed, but they are helpful.
I have Ride Rite Firestone bags. Inexpensive, well-built and they honor their warranty. Mine started rusting at about 4 years old and I had no problem with them being replaced by Firestone.
I have Ride Rite Firestone bags. Inexpensive, well-built and they honor their warranty. Mine started rusting at about 4 years old and I had no problem with them being replaced by Firestone.
bjowett
Supporting Vendor
Gumby has it right... and his experience backs it up. The truck is a true HD 1/2 ton... The wear and tear components are all oversized.
I tow a 29' RV with my 2008 5.7L Double Cab. Nowhere near everyday, but at least 2 or 3 weekends out of the summer months and 1 or 2 off season. It weighs in at 6700# loaded. I have a weight distribution hitch, Tekonsha brake control and sway control. I have never had any issues with towing. Also a 18' tandem axle car trailer with a loaded out FJ40.
@Gumby
I'm not a big trailering veteran. I have a 14 Tundra Crewmax (5.7l) and I pull a 26' RV short distances. The rear of my Tundra squats a bit. I use an equalizer hitch.
My setup is pretty much like what @hodag has.
That Firestone Ride Rite sounds like just what I need.
Is it for leveling? Stabilizing? Both?
I'm not a big trailering veteran. I have a 14 Tundra Crewmax (5.7l) and I pull a 26' RV short distances. The rear of my Tundra squats a bit. I use an equalizer hitch.
My setup is pretty much like what @hodag has.
That Firestone Ride Rite sounds like just what I need.
Is it for leveling? Stabilizing? Both?
