TT n00b

I would weigh the truck, to see the real weight is with the options that your particular has. Weigh each axle to see how the weight is distributed.

I regularly see Tundra's towing 27-29 ft TT's with one slide . I think you need to do as someone suggested already, rent a TT and see if you like it . See how it feels with your Tundra and go from there. See how crosswinds feel using your truck with a TT . You might hate it ! Then you can visit the rv.net motorhome section .:B

Re trailers dry weight....i would forget that number ! They post them to attract unsuspecting buyers to make them think they can tow a 35 ft TT with a Kia.
I have never towed or hauled any trailer or truck camper that was close to a dry weight and that was from the dealers lot, empty. The RV's listed options usually bumped up dry weight numbers by 500 lbs.
My dealer used portable scales to get real weights of his units on his lot.
***many potential buyers felt they had to downsize the rv or upgrade the truck and many others went ahead with the purchase and towed for years w/o issues. Im not saying its a good idea to do that, but people do it and i see those people all the time when they return to the shop for service. Still towing, still smiling and never had an issue regarding weight.

What i see some 1500 owners do is upgrade the tires . If not for weight reasons, they simply feel better while towing.
"My truck feels kind of squishy towing this thing". Owners have said, the stiffer sidewall of an LT tire, just feels better. I guess it becomes more of a factor as you get closer to the max ratings of things.

Your trucks tires also have a weight rating stamped on the sidewall. "P" rated tires might be your limiting factor and might have to be upgraded to an LT tire. If that's the case, make sure the rims (wheels) will match any tire upgrade.


http://towingplanner.com/Calculators/TowingPayloadEstimate

http://www.rvuniversity.com/staticpages/index.php/Matching_Tow_Trailer_101

drbenzo wrote:
OKAY

Here is my Tundra info:
2016
Crew Max Short bed
5.6L V8
It looks like the "combined weight o occupants and cargo should never exceed" is 1,212lbs. It says 1270 and a small yellow stickers says mods have reduced the load carrying capacity by 58lbs.

Wow, that's a very low payload figure for a half ton truck. With that low of a payload, I'd suggest you look for smaller campers in the 25'and under size and under 6k gvwr. Don't go by dry weights. With your family of 4, gear in\on the truck, hitch weight, tongue weight, you will run out of payload very quickly.

I'd also humbly suggest you not jump from a tent right to a 30' tt. Most folks, myself included go to a pop up first or at least an older/smaller tt first.

If you want them to stay nice, TTs require a lot of maintenance. Washing, waxing, cleaning, winterizing in the fall, state inspection, etc.

Not to scare you off, they are totally worth it to me, but they are work. Good luck

Since you are working out the towing math, my two bits of advice on which trailer is....

1. Make sure the bathroom is comfortable - you can sit on the toilet comfortably, the shower stall is roomy enough, and the sink is usable. We love our TT, but the toilet is too close to the wall, the shower is tiny, and the sink is hardly big enough to wash your hands in.

2. Get what the wife likes. Old, old wisdom dating back to the time of cavemen - if the wife ain't happy, no one is happy.

As to future planning - once kids hit 16 years old, it is common that they start to be less interested in camping with the parents. We bought our 21 foot TT 14 years ago, and now that the kids no longer (usually) camp with us it is a beautiful size for two people. Except, of course, for some issues with bathroom size! lol

Have fun, maybe see you on the road!

Ignore the tow rating. Your truck's rear axle and GVWR will be greatly exceeded with a 9900 pound TT, a family in the cab, and the a bed full of camping gear.

This is tthe math on what
1200 pounds of payload
500 pounds of people in cab and stuff in the bed

700 left for TT tongue weight. That's about 5500 pounds loaded travel trailer, and 4500-5000 dry.

If you, wife, and kids are only 300 pounds and the truck bed is empty, then you have 900 pounds of TW which is closer to 7000 pound loaded TT.

The LCC (load carrying capacity) on your truck is 1212lbs, that is how much total weight can be added to the truck. That weight assumes you have a full tank of fuel, and a driver. You have to take that 1212lbs, and subtract the weight of you wife and kids, and anything you put in the truck(bikes, dog, firewood, chairs, etc), then you have to subtract the weight of the hitch (about 100lb). Then you still have to subtract the tongue weight of the camper.

The tongue weight on these trailers once you get them loaded is going to be 900-1000lbs. With a 1212lb LCC, that only leaves about 200-300lbs of capacity, when the wife and kids get in, you will probably be overloaded before you add any bikes, toys etc to the bed of the truck.

Unfortunately I think you need to look for a little smaller trailer.

Jebby14 wrote:
1200lbs - weight of your family - weight of your gear - weight of your hitch - 13 percent of your trailers loaded weight = available payload. This needs to be a positive number. keep in mind things like propane and a battery and pots and pans and water and bedding and any other stuff you put in the trailer is not included in its weight. Heck some options aren't even included. I personally think you are looking at a smaller camper or bigger truck but with careful planning you could sneak inside the numbers by just a hair.

Could you expand on this equation a bit?

"1200lbs - weight of your family - weight of your gear - weight of your hitch - 13 percent of your trailers loaded weight = available payload. "

What is available payload?
Is trailers loaded weight the weight with all the gear, water, propane etc included with the dry weight?

So I found some more info on my truck!
GVWR: 7000lb
GAWR: FRT 3900lb, RR 4150lb
LCC: 1212
Tow: 9,900

Does the weight of my hitch include the WDH?

FWIW, I'd choose Jayco in your situation. They were the runner up for me when I was shopping last year.

Have you checked out the Tundra forums? You'll get first-hand advice from those over there that tow.

Tundra Talk

Tundras.com

You'll be fine. If you're not doing boondocking there's no need to run around with full tans which reduces the load quite a bit. I'm not a believer in overkill.

We've always towed with SUVs and after 15 years I wouldn't change a thing. Have a great setup and use the tow/sway bar.

Have fun!

1200lbs - weight of your family - weight of your gear - weight of your hitch - 13 percent of your trailers loaded weight = available payload. This needs to be a positive number. keep in mind things like propane and a battery and pots and pans and water and bedding and any other stuff you put in the trailer is not included in its weight. Heck some options aren't even included. I personally think you are looking at a smaller camper or bigger truck but with careful planning you could sneak inside the numbers by just a hair.