Is a Tundra out of the Question

CaLBaR wrote:
Are you trying to tell me that I have a worse combination than a 1 ton that weighs about 8000lbs or so with a 14000 lb 5th wheel? I think not.

You guys that think you can only tow safely with a 3/4 ton or bigger make me laugh. Do I think a 3/4 ton would drive different than my 1/2 ton, sure, but am I unsafe with my combo, not a chance.

I always bring up this point and the thread seems to just stop... or turn away from that argument into something else...

There is a certain group of people who think that 1/2 ton trucks can't pull anything. They remark about the lack of brakes and non floating rear axle. The idea that a 6000 lbs truck can pull an 8000 lbs trailer is laughable and only acceptable if you are mentally ill. "Pulling a trailer that is heavier than the truck??? That's the tail wagging the dog!" "Those little puny brakes won't be able to stop you if the trailer brakes go out."

The same people have no problem with an 8000 lbs truck pulling a 16,000 lbs trailer. I don't know how a trailer that is 2000 lbs heavier than the truck is insane... but a trailer that weighs TWICE AS MUCH is inherently safer. An emergency stop with 24,000 lbs and no trailer brakes... perfectly safe in the mountains... right?

Look, some of us are intelligent here and know that a 3/4 ton truck is better for towing than a 1/2 ton. We also know a 1 ton is better. Then again, so is a class 8 tractor. Just because something is BETTER than a half ton does not mean that the half ton isn't adequate for the job. For people that can't afford to go drop $40K on a new heavy duty truck, can't afford to register it, can't afford to insure it, don't want to deal with the heavier weight when not towing, or any other plethora of reasons than there is nothing wrong with a properly set up half ton towing within its perimeters.

My half ton Tundra has performed flawlessly for me over the 4 years I have been towing my 6500 lbs camper. Up and down the Appalachain mountain chain, up and down the eastern seaboard it has been fantastic. No sway, no "white knuckle" experiences. Plenty of power and safe braking every time. Thankfully I drive in a manner that reduces the likelihood that I will need to make an "emergency stop". I am also young enough that my reaction time is likely much less than some of the older guys driving 1 tons...

My Tundra is a vehicle of compromise. I am 33 years old and have a young family. If I am lucky I get one or 2 extended (over 1000 miles round trip) trips a year and hopefully 5-7 shorter trips per year. For my miles towed and the weight of my trailer I do not want, nor do I need a heavier truck.

All the bluster and bravado on rv.net is ridiculous at best. My 5 year old Tundra with a GCVWR of 12,000 lbs will stop better in this "emergency situation" than the guy with the 10+ year old 1 ton truck with a GCVWR of 24,000 lbs. That is simple physics...

DarrellQ2001 wrote:

westend wrote:
Will someone please explain to me how a 1/2 ton truck with 8000 lbs on the ball is "no problem", "just fine","like it isn't even back there", etc.? I've done a bit of towing and if you are not sensing that there is 8K on a trailer in back of you, the rig is either coasting or parked. Is this just internet hyperbole?

Who ever said there was 8000 lbs on the ball? I said the gross weight of the trailer is 8000 lbs. If you have ever done "a bit of towing" you would know there is such thing as "tongue weight" and weight distribution hitches. My 8000 lb TT puts no more than 600 lbs on the ball when the weight distro system is adjusted properly. And, no, I can hardly tell it is back there.

OK, let me rephrase since you didn't understand me: Will someone please explain to me how a 1/2 ton truck connected to a trailer weighing 8000 lbs.......

BTW, I know all about tongue weight and WDH and this has to do with the "awareness" of 3-4 tons being pulled. I'd just like to know if some folks can pull that much weight and 30' in length and drive like "there is nothing back there". I don't get it.

keymastr wrote:
No, most of these people have never had to panic stop these rigs or driven them down steep mountain passes and my guess is that they have never driven the same size trailers with a 3/4 ton or larger truck to know the difference. Then they get butt hurt because they perceive this to be an attack on their particular truck rather than the safety discussion it really is.

Just because someone else has gotten away with it does not mean you should also push the limit. If you are purchasing a TV or trailer why not make sure they fit well within the limit not barely within the limit? You have the opportunity to make the choice.

Your right. I have never towed with a 3/4 ton truck to compare the difference. I have however towed the Rockies in BC, the mountains from Ontario to Florida and have never had an issue with either 1/2 ton I have towed with and the Tundra is better than the 2006 Sierra that I had. I have also had a couple of panic stops unfortunately, but no issues there either. Towed in the pouring rain in the mountains too, imagine that, up and down the passes and never had an issue even keeping up with traffic. I fail to see your point, my truck is about 6000lbs and my trailer is 7200 lbs wet. Are you trying to tell me that I have a worse combination than a 1 ton that weighs about 8000lbs or so with a 14000 lb 5th wheel? I think not.

You guys that think you can only tow safely with a 3/4 ton or bigger make me laugh. Do I think a 3/4 ton would drive different than my 1/2 ton, sure, but am I unsafe with my combo, not a chance.

Oh and by the way this is with over 40,000 km of towing over the last 8 years too with DW, DS, DD and the dog. All of which I would never put in jeopardy.

westend wrote:
Will someone please explain to me how a 1/2 ton truck with 8000 lbs on the ball is "no problem", "just fine","like it isn't even back there", etc.? I've done a bit of towing and if you are not sensing that there is 8K on a trailer in back of you, the rig is either coasting or parked. Is this just internet hyperbole?

Who ever said there was 8000 lbs on the ball? I said the gross weight of the trailer is 8000 lbs. If you have ever done "a bit of towing" you would know there is such thing as "tongue weight" and weight distribution hitches. My 8000 lb TT puts no more than 600 lbs on the ball when the weight distro system is adjusted properly. And, no, I can hardly tell it is back there.

No, most of these people have never had to panic stop these rigs or driven them down steep mountain passes and my guess is that they have never driven the same size trailers with a 3/4 ton or larger truck to know the difference. Then they get butt hurt because they perceive this to be an attack on their particular truck rather than the safety discussion it really is.

Just because someone else has gotten away with it does not mean you should also push the limit. If you are purchasing a TV or trailer why not make sure they fit well within the limit not barely within the limit? You have the opportunity to make the choice.

Will someone please explain to me how a 1/2 ton truck with 8000 lbs on the ball is "no problem", "just fine","like it isn't even back there", etc.? I've done a bit of towing and if you are not sensing that there is 8K on a trailer in back of you, the rig is either coasting or parked. Is this just internet hyperbole?

I have a 2011 Tundra 5.7 4WD, and it handles my 8000 lb "wet" TT like it isn't even back there (except the horrid 8 MPG at 70 MPH). For a few trips, we put the 1500 lb golf cart in the bed of the truck, and still it handles it with ease. Of course I don't drive 70 MPH with the golf cart in the truck.

So, I think you will be thrilled with how the Tundra handles that trailer.

8 pages... wow. 8000 lbs max loaded weight. At 12% tongue weight you are at 960 lbs. Figure 50 lbs for weight distribution hitch, you are at 1010 lbs. That leaves you 300 lbs of payload if you are fully loaded.

OP, do the math and you will figure out if you are comfortable with the numbers. I can tell you that I have a Tundra and tow light (6500 lbs right now). The Tundra is a fantastic tow vehicle for me and my needs. I will be upgrading (hopefully this year or early next year) to a heavier trailer, possibly 2000 lbs more.

I go to Florida almost every February for vacation. I have seen the same 2 guys at the campground that tow 5th wheels from Indiana and Michigan to Florida every year with no problems. They are way over their payload with just the 5er, not including gear for an entire winter and passengers. They do it just fine, albeit with no real mountains.

Last weekend I was at the lake and saw a guy pulling a THIRTY SIX FOOT Puma. It was brand new, he said it was 8500 lbs DRY, didn't know his wet weight or tongue weight. This was his first trip, but he came through the mountains of western PA to get to the campground with no problems. He said his old trailer was about 800 lbs lighter than this one, he had that for 8 years with zero problems.

Personally, I don't like to be over my manufacturer ratings. I have talked to plenty of people that go over the yellow sticker ratings and just pay attention to axle weight ratings. There is plenty of experience towing higher than yellow sticker and being just fine.

Regarding gas mileage, everyone is going to get different numbers, no sense in arguing about it.

I have had my '11 F150 Ecoboost for 6 months and 4800 miles so far. Average over that span is 17.2 mpg (per the dash computer, which is usually spot on when I hand calculate), and represents my 'normal use,' including about 800 miles of towing. I have taken 2 freeway speed trips unloaded, driving at the speed limit (70-75), and got 20.8 on one, 21.5 mpg on the other. My average driving and commuting tank is 17-18 mpg. Towing is around 10 mpg. No slower highway trips in the F150 yet.

My '10 Suburban does a little worse on fuel in all aspects. Lifetime is around 14 mpg over 25k miles. Its typical tank is almost all city, lots of idling waiting for kids at school, and my wife is not shy about using the remote start to get it warmed/cooled to her liking! Freeway speed trips return 18-19 mpg, and the best ever tank was a highway trip from Albuquerque to SLC, average speeds 60-70, which returned 21.3 mpg.

Mike Up wrote:
Still having issues on the 2013s, 2014s are to early to tell. Now the Eco is going into the Expy without it being fixed. Not a wise move by Ford since these SUVs mainly carry kids. Don't want my wife stalling out in a expressway lane with the kids when a speeding Semi is right behind them! If Ford did indeed fix it, they need to make everyone aware of that fact. But as now, I know of no permanent fix.

The swapped out the intercooler and changed the programming for cyclinder 2??? I think. Most are drilling holes in the bottom of the intercooler but not sure how that affects warranty.

I thought this was a Tundra thread, but whatever. I think you're overstating the 'issues' with the EB pretty dramatically. I am not aware of widespread issues w/ the Ecoboost engine. A few users have apparently had one or two events of condensation-related hesitation or stalling. Not an epidemic issue on the EB forums I look at, and not an issue people are struggling with every day. I've not had any problem with it, and I have floored it over and over again in the rain to try to make it happen every chance I have gotten (which, in Utah, is admittedly not that often!). The only thing I get is a hint of wheelspin due to all the torque! (yes, she will light them up on a wet road at 45 mph if I floor it, at least for a half second until the stability/traction control kicks in)