Forum Discussion

chevy74's avatar
chevy74
Explorer
Jul 26, 2017

Big enough tow vehicle??

Hello to all

I am new to rving and to this forum and wish i had found this before i had purchased our first rv it would have helped in the purchase and probably avoided many mistakes.

My truck is a 2006 Toyota tundra with a 4.7l v8 and tow package, GVWR 6300#, payload 1309#, and GCWR 12600#. Our TT is a 28' living space with a GVWR 7200#, UVW 5320# with my partner and supplies in the truck bed together wouldnt weigh more than 500# and i use a reese wd with built in friction for sway control.
The salesman told me that the truck would handle the trailer no problem and even went as far as to say we could handle a 5er. Needless to say i am having my doubts because when i am on the freeway and trucks pass me i am being pushed around and feel unsteady, i have also had a hitch company setup my wd and it is still the same alot of white knuckle trips.
so my question is do you think the truck is too small and if so what do you suggest for a replacement truck? we love rving and intend to do it full time once my wife retires and possibly upgrade to a 5er

thanks in advance for all your help
Tow Vehicles
  • azdryheat's avatar
    azdryheat
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2017
    Trailer Life Towing guide says you may be able to tow a maximum of 7100# and it appears you would be pushing the limits. If it were me I'd get more truck or less trailer.
  • WNYBob's avatar
    WNYBob
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2017
    First thing please complete your profile, it helps to know more about you.

    Next, what tires and at what pressure are you running?
    Are you still running original OEM shocks?

    You may need to upgeade.

    You don't say how old the TT and how many miles are on it and does it have the original suspension parts. I upgraded mine and it made a lot of difference.
  • TrailerTravele1's avatar
    TrailerTravele1
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2017
    We too have a 2016 Toyota Tundra, our GVWR is 7100#. We tow a 21' 3500# net weight; probably 4500# gross Lance 1685. We wouldn't tow anything 28' -- at 21' we don't even know the trailer is behind us. But I remember the days when we towed with an undersized/right at the limit Toyota 4 Runner - it was white knuckle time more than we'd like to remember. We would get a bigger truck or a smaller trailer.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Jul 26, 2017
    Your truck may work for shorter trips, but is not a good choice for long hauls, or full timing in the future. Any 3/4 ton would make a much better tow with current trailer. If going full time in the near future, maybe towing a FW, a 35 series truck, with diesel engine would be a good choice.

    Jerry
  • chevy74's avatar
    chevy74
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2017
    WNYBob wrote:
    First thing please complete your profile, it helps to know more about you.

    Next, what tires and at what pressure are you running?
    Are you still running original OEM shocks?

    You may need to upgeade.

    You don't say how old the TT and how many miles are on it and does it have the original suspension parts. I upgraded mine and it made a lot of difference.


    tires are LT245/75/16 load E running at 75PSI, the truck is completely stock including the original shocks with over 128K miles on it (prob due) and the travel trailer is brand new this year with approx 1500 miles and it also has all the original suspension on it.
  • MitchF150's avatar
    MitchF150
    Explorer III
    Jul 26, 2017
    I would not tow that combo... Not saying it can't be done, but I wouldn't be happy with it..

    I tow a #5000 GVWR TT that's only 22' long from hitch to bumper... I tow it with a truck that has a "tow rating" of around #11,000..

    I might tow your trailer with my truck, but I'll bet I'd not be as happy towing it as I am now..

    It's all perspective and speculation as to what is a good towing combo, so just gotta do what you need to do to get into YOUR comfort level..

    Towing spec's do NOT take your towing comfort into perspective, so you just gotta live and learn.. I've been towing stuff for over 35 years and I know what I like and what I don't like..

    Good luck!

    Mitch
  • chevy74's avatar
    chevy74
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2017
    TrailerTraveler1 wrote:
    We too have a 2016 Toyota Tundra, our GVWR is 7100#. We tow a 21' 3500# net weight; probably 4500# gross Lance 1685. We wouldn't tow anything 28' -- at 21' we don't even know the trailer is behind us. But I remember the days when we towed with an undersized/right at the limit Toyota 4 Runner - it was white knuckle time more than we'd like to remember. We would get a bigger truck or a smaller trailer.


    thanks for the reply

    Keith
  • chevy74's avatar
    chevy74
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2017
    MFL wrote:
    Your truck may work for shorter trips, but is not a good choice for long hauls, or full timing in the future. Any 3/4 ton would make a much better tow with current trailer. If going full time in the near future, maybe towing a FW, a 35 series truck, with diesel engine would be a good choice.

    Jerry


    Thanks for the input Jerry, its not an enjoyable tow right now and we have only been doing small trips less than 300 miles but we will be heading east to Newfoundland in a month and the possibility of high cross winds are something i am not looking forward to especially since i white knuckle it most of the time already and take the side roads so slower speed (around 55mph)

    Keith
  • chevy74's avatar
    chevy74
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2017
    MitchF150 wrote:
    I would not tow that combo... Not saying it can't be done, but I wouldn't be happy with it..

    I tow a #5000 GVWR TT that's only 22' long from hitch to bumper... I tow it with a truck that has a "tow rating" of around #11,000..

    I might tow your trailer with my truck, but I'll bet I'd not be as happy towing it as I am now..

    It's all perspective and speculation as to what is a good towing combo, so just gotta do what you need to do to get into YOUR comfort level..

    Towing spec's do NOT take your towing comfort into perspective, so you just gotta live and learn.. I've been towing stuff for over 35 years and I know what I like and what I don't like..

    Good luck!

    Mitch


    Thanks for the comment Mitch

    I am not happy with it either, so we are leaning towards a ram 2500 or 3500 with a diesel or maybe a 2500 chev with a duramax not sure right now but if i make the move i want it to be able to tow a 5er in the future.

    Keith

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