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nal13's avatar
nal13
Explorer
Apr 17, 2018

5th wheel for Tundra

I own a 2007 Tundra with a towing capacity of 10,300 lbs. Currently, I own a bumper pull travel trailer (2016 rockwood mini lite 2506s) that weighs in at 5,100lbs. The wife has us looking at fifth wheels and asking what I can go up to in weight. My rule before was 7,000lbs, but now that it's a fifth wheel, I'm wondering if I can go a little higher, comfortably. I know to factor in tongue weight and cargo weight, I would add air bags just to keep everything level. Models we are looking at are: Jayco Eagle 25.5REOK and KZ Sportsmen 262RLK. I have been told by a couple people I know who own half ton pickups and went from a bumper pull to a fifth wheel that say they pull way better, even if they are heavier and that they get better gas milage. I do plan on a 1600 mile trip this summer and I tow for a living, I drive a semi, for what that's worth. Would I be safe and would this fifth wheel tow better than the bumper pull?

Also, does anyone else have any camper suggestions? We are looking for a walk around queen, couch and dinette, decent sized bathroom, black tank flush, and we need an outdoor kitchen. The outdoor kitchen seems to be the kicker for this segment of campers.
  • Nice looking trailer.....but
    You are going to have somewhere around 2000 lbs of pin weight ... (2007 Tundra payload 1,350 to 1,750 lbs)

    My opinion...that's probably going to be too heavy. Air bags will not increase your payload.
  • Finding a 5er with a light enough pin weight for the Tundra may be your issue.
    Just googled your model and while the 10,600 tow is what I found the payload cap was between 1350 and 1750.
    By the time you add yourself and the wife, a 150-200 lb hitch your going to be hard pressed to find a 5er with a loaded pin weight low enough to meet your target with a pin weight approaching 20% of trailer weight.
  • What are your axle and tire ratings? You can upgrade tires and add bags but do keep in mind you're dealing with a half ton with a semi-floating 5 lug axle, not a de-rated 3/4 ton. It would also help if you used a lightweight hitch like an Andersen Ultimate. The conservative answer here is always to assume 20-25% of the trailer's GVWR will be on the pin but I don't think that's necessarily an accurate assumption in all cases for all people.

    If you're going to be pushing the truck with a trailer on the high end weight-wise, I do think you'll get a better towing experience with a fifth wheel versus a bumper pull. Provided you have the axle rating to carry the pin, that is.

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