We recently purchased a 2011 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Platinum Edition with the 5.7 Engine, Towing Package, 20 inch wheels and it has the 5.6 Bed. The Tundra is rated to tow 10,000 lb. I'm having the tires replaced with E Rated (10 ply) tires and I'm having rear Timbrens installed over the leaf springs It has also been fitted with an automatic slide 5th wheel hitch for pulling a 5th wheel. We also purchased a 2008 Keystone Laredo 5th Wheel with a 7740 Dry Weight and a 1440 Hitch Weight according to the manufacturers labels. It's a 30 footer with one slide. There are just the two of us and two lap dogs so we won't be loading the camper to the max. Bikes go on the rear of the 5th wheel which should help the pin weight. I've pulled it a couple of times on the Interstate and it pulls fine. A lot of it is using common sense when towing regarding speed and allowing plenty of space to stop. Exceeding the speed limits and riding the guy in front's rear bumper is simply inviting trouble no matter what your towing vehicle is. I've also seen plenty of 3/4's and 1 Tons out there towing a TT that is not set up correctly that are far more dangerous than my half ton rig. I've matched the two up the best I can, added some safety features and will use common sense when we're out there.

Sounds like you've thought it all through. The only thing I'd add is that you visit the scale and verify all the applicable weights to make sure your calculations and assumptions are correct.

The thing that you need to remember is what YOUR rig is designed to tow. Do not rely on dry weight because it can be deceptive. Particularly if you are at or close to your max. weight. The weight you need to be concerned about is the GCVWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating) of your TV. If you are within 80% of that max., you are approaching problems. You will read lots of posts on this forum about how well their rig tows when overloaded. Don't be swayed. Their rig will wear out faster, break down sooner and become unpleasurable to drive sooner than if you have an adequate tow vehicle.It sounds like you are trying to justify towing with an inadequate rig by citing all of the "extras" and safety things you do. Here is the issue: If you are overloaded or close to your max., and you have a panic stop (an unanticipated emergency 'slam on the brakes' stop), you more than likely will find brake fade or failure. You can't plan for that type of stop. You can plan for minimizing the effects by towing within the rating on the tow vehicle. Not only that, but you will spend a lot less money in the long run if you start out with an adequate tow vehicle.I expect to be trashed for saying this, but I have been there-done that with an inadequate TV. When I upgraded to a vehicle designed to tow more than what I was, I never had trouble or expensive repairs.

I am really not an expert on 5th wheels but that 10,000 lb tow rating is not having a 5th wheel hitch in the bed of the truck and the 1600 lbs it will have hooked to it. Loaded weight and actual weight are two different things. Stopping and down hill are another thing altogether. Wishing you luck.

I would never tow anything that heavy with a Toy, even if it is rated. They are just too light a pickup. I love Toyotas, having owned them for 20 years, on our 3 rd Pirus. My friend got rid of a Tundra and his TT because it was'nt enough truck and I bought the TT, a 2004 Arctic Fox 31W. If Toy makes a 3/4 ton diesel, I'll be on the bandwagon, til then I'll stick with my 8000 lb Chevy.

Atlgagent57, I wish you happy trails and safe travels with your setup. I'm not going to say anything but if it works for you great. Only you can determine if your setup is safe and you will find out sometime in your first 2 years of ownership.I say that because once you start traveling outside your comfort zone and find out most other drivers out there have no clue what it takes to stop rigs of this size and cut you off is when you realize the limits of your rig.

Halt Ton Towing | Good Sam Community

73 Replies

Hybridhunter
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
rhagfo wrote:

Toyota still uses a semi floating axle, so all you have is one small wheel bearing riding on the axle to support that over load, not my cup of tea.

.....

I have never owned a 1/2 ton semi floating rear axle pickup for a reason!

Get over it. Seriously. The VAST MAJORITY of truck owners never experience any issues other than perhaps premature wear from overloaded semi-floating axles. They have a capacity, just like a bigger full floater. One is not magical, just like the other is not garbage.

rhagfo wrote:
.... The 5.7 will likely get you up the hills with a little effort, but it might be a double black diamond ride down.

The tundra has massive disks, the trailer has it's own brakes.
The tundra also has tow / haul grade braking, and a 5.7 V8 that provides plenty of engine braking.

Their sure is a lot of hyperbole bouncing around in this thread.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Sep 26, 2013
atlgagent57 wrote:
......... I've pulled it a couple of times on the Interstate and it pulls fine. A lot of it is using common sense when towing regarding speed and allowing plenty of space to stop. .......

Well the Interstate is a lot easier and nicer than the twisty two lanes that lead to most campgrounds! The real question is how will handle going up and down hills and making it around corners while going down hill and stopping at the bottom of said hill. The 5.7 will likely get you up the hills with a little effort, but it might be a double black diamond ride down.
love2rvcamp
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
We were looking to upgrade/replace our 2001 F150 to tow our Rockwood 8313SS, 7800GVW and close to 1000lbs hitch weight. I really wanted a Tundra but upon looking at the door sticker of actual trucks the cargo/payload limits were not high (we were looking at the 4 door). There were lower than a new F150.

We ended up getting a 2013 F250 and never been happier towing. Check that yellow sticker on the door that is your payload and you might be surprised at the amount and how that tongue weight will chew into that amount.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
Need-A-Vacation wrote:
But all us need to remember.... This is just like the truck that towed the space shuttle! So he should be fine if the truck can do that!

true dat:B
Need-A-Vacation
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
But all us need to remember.... This is just like the truck that towed the space shuttle! So he should be fine if the truck can do that!
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
kmfvfr wrote:
NC Hauler wrote:
atlgagent57 wrote:
We recently purchased a 2011 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Platinum Edition with the 5.7 Engine, Towing Package, 20 inch wheels and it has the 5.6 Bed. The Tundra is rated to tow 10,000 lb. I'm having the tires replaced with E Rated (10 ply) tires and I'm having rear Timbrens installed over the leaf springs It has also been fitted with an automatic slide 5th wheel hitch for pulling a 5th wheel. We also purchased a 2008 Keystone Laredo 5th Wheel with a 7740 Dry Weight and a 1440 Hitch Weight according to the manufacturers labels. It's a 30 footer with one slide. There are just the two of us and two lap dogs so we won't be loading the camper to the max. Bikes go on the rear of the 5th wheel which should help the pin weight. I've pulled it a couple of times on the Interstate and it pulls fine. A lot of it is using common sense when towing regarding speed and allowing plenty of space to stop. Exceeding the speed limits and riding the guy in front's rear bumper is simply inviting trouble no matter what your towing vehicle is. I've also seen plenty of 3/4's and 1 Tons out there towing a TT that is not set up correctly that are far more dangerous than my half ton rig. I've matched the two up the best I can, added some safety features and will use common sense when we're out there.

As I noted earlier, the OP has asked for no input in any way shape or form. He has the TV and the 5er and is telling us why it will work, whether we believe it will or not. He's doing some things no one else has ever though of before :).

I would like to know what the "added safety features" are and how much common sense was actually used if, as the OP stated, he is no more than 1,000# OVER his trucks GVWR.

The "added safety features" would be the E rated tires and Timbrens. I would say it is still far overloaded. A buddy recently bought a 35' toyhauler to tow with his F250. The pin weight of that rig was 3,500 lbs dry, and his cargo capacity on the F250 was 2,100 lbs. Needless to say it is now being towed with an F350 dually.

The "E" rated tires work, but all timbrens do is keep the truck bed from "bottoming out".

I love how some use "dry weights", (also dry pin weights), to sometimes justify what they're going to tow, as though the dry weight is going to be what they're going to tow. Most know you could easily load 1,000# for a family camping.......wouldn't really know till unit is loaded.

I too would like a report on how it tows...better yet, long term on how suspension, tranny and drive train hold up over a year or so of towing....Take that combo to the bottom of I26 where you tow from TN into NC and I'd bet by the time he got to the top of the mountain, he'd be ready to get another truck, or go with a lighter weight 5er...and that's just one itty bitty example...

states he lives in the "south-east"...maybe he only tows flat land, no hills or mountains...
kmfvfr
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
NC Hauler wrote:
atlgagent57 wrote:
We recently purchased a 2011 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Platinum Edition with the 5.7 Engine, Towing Package, 20 inch wheels and it has the 5.6 Bed. The Tundra is rated to tow 10,000 lb. I'm having the tires replaced with E Rated (10 ply) tires and I'm having rear Timbrens installed over the leaf springs It has also been fitted with an automatic slide 5th wheel hitch for pulling a 5th wheel. We also purchased a 2008 Keystone Laredo 5th Wheel with a 7740 Dry Weight and a 1440 Hitch Weight according to the manufacturers labels. It's a 30 footer with one slide. There are just the two of us and two lap dogs so we won't be loading the camper to the max. Bikes go on the rear of the 5th wheel which should help the pin weight. I've pulled it a couple of times on the Interstate and it pulls fine. A lot of it is using common sense when towing regarding speed and allowing plenty of space to stop. Exceeding the speed limits and riding the guy in front's rear bumper is simply inviting trouble no matter what your towing vehicle is. I've also seen plenty of 3/4's and 1 Tons out there towing a TT that is not set up correctly that are far more dangerous than my half ton rig. I've matched the two up the best I can, added some safety features and will use common sense when we're out there.

As I noted earlier, the OP has asked for no input in any way shape or form. He has the TV and the 5er and is telling us why it will work, whether we believe it will or not. He's doing some things no one else has ever though of before :).

I would like to know what the "added safety features" are and how much common sense was actually used if, as the OP stated, he is no more than 1,000# OVER his trucks GVWR.

The "added safety features" would be the E rated tires and Timbrens. I would say it is still far overloaded. A buddy recently bought a 35' toyhauler to tow with his F250. The pin weight of that rig was 3,500 lbs dry, and his cargo capacity on the F250 was 2,100 lbs. Needless to say it is now being towed with an F350 dually.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
atlgagent57 wrote:
We recently purchased a 2011 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Platinum Edition with the 5.7 Engine, Towing Package, 20 inch wheels and it has the 5.6 Bed. The Tundra is rated to tow 10,000 lb. I'm having the tires replaced with E Rated (10 ply) tires and I'm having rear Timbrens installed over the leaf springs It has also been fitted with an automatic slide 5th wheel hitch for pulling a 5th wheel. We also purchased a 2008 Keystone Laredo 5th Wheel with a 7740 Dry Weight and a 1440 Hitch Weight according to the manufacturers labels. It's a 30 footer with one slide. There are just the two of us and two lap dogs so we won't be loading the camper to the max. Bikes go on the rear of the 5th wheel which should help the pin weight. I've pulled it a couple of times on the Interstate and it pulls fine. A lot of it is using common sense when towing regarding speed and allowing plenty of space to stop. Exceeding the speed limits and riding the guy in front's rear bumper is simply inviting trouble no matter what your towing vehicle is. I've also seen plenty of 3/4's and 1 Tons out there towing a TT that is not set up correctly that are far more dangerous than my half ton rig. I've matched the two up the best I can, added some safety features and will use common sense when we're out there.

As I noted earlier, the OP has asked for no input in any way shape or form. He has the TV and the 5er and is telling us why it will work, whether we believe it will or not. He's doing some things no one else has ever though of before :).

I would like to know what the "added safety features" are and how much common sense was actually used if, as the OP stated, he is no more than 1,000# OVER his trucks GVWR.
2hams
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
I feel sorry for him, which is why I posted our CAT scale weights on what I believe is the same trailer loaded and ready to go...
goducks10
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
Any bets that after we have tore him a new a$$ hole he won't come back and post his #'s?

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Halt Ton Towing

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