what I learned about my Tundra while towing this weekend..

N-Trouble wrote:
Tundra's dont have a Tow/Haul mode like every other truck out there?

Yes it does but I don't believe it locks out 6th..could be wrong but I always use tow mode and manually locking out 6th resulted in much less shift activity.

Tundra's dont have a Tow/Haul mode like every other truck out there?

Totally agree with above post. Pulled 10000 pound 5th wheel (scaled) for 2 years with a 2011 Tundra reg cab long box (1820 payload sticker) Was over GVWR by about 3-400 pounds. Traded for F-250 gas 6.2 due to payload. No difference in handling feel with 5th wheel between the two trucks. Like the ford trans better as can use M and it will not downshift out of the gear whereas tundra would. Tundra engine much more responsive and pulled hills better at lower rpm than the ford. Tundra got considerably better fuel mileage towing and non towing so I too wish Toyota would make a higher payload truck.

I had a 2010 Tundra with factory E rated tires and it towed like a dream. Lots of HP and torque, came on quick and smooth. The transmission on the Tundra never hunted and shifted firmly. The E rated tires kept the truck feeling stable and smooth. We towed a 6500 lbs trailer for several years with the Tundra and it performed flawlessly. We tow in the Eastern US mountains several times a year, never once felt underpowered.

Fast forward to 2015, we bought our new trailer (31' long, 9500 GVWW, 7300 lbs curb weight). We did the math and thought I could keep the tongue weight down enough to stay within my payload rating of about 1500 lbs. First trip we kept it right at the payload but left a lot of "stuff" at home. 2nd trip the wife decided we needed to bring all that "stuff" with us again and we ended up being a couple hundred pounds OVER the Tundra's payload. Fuel mileage was also about 7.5 mpg in the mountains. Again... still PLENTY of power, I could accelerate up any grade and maintain speed up grade. 7.5 mpg and a pretty small gas tank weren't too fun. Being over the payload made me worry about longevity of the truck. We ended up selling it and getting a diesel for better mileage and substantially more payload.

That Tundra was a BEAST though. I wish Toyota would build an HD frame and allow some more payload. The powertrain was great, the quality of the truck was great and the price was better than Ford, GM or Ram at the time.

I have a Ford F250 with the 6.7PSD. I lock out 6th gear any time I tow, unless I am on dead flat interstate. I see no reason to make the engine lug or make the tranny shift unnecessarily. It does not hurt any engine(including diesels) to run it a few hundred RPMs higher and probably is good for it.

Yeah, I can rarely tow in 6th in Colorado. Last summer in Alaska where much was right at sea level it would chug along in 6th all day long.

ShinerBock wrote:
My BIL has a 2016 Tundra that he tows his 9k trailer with. He doesn't have any complaints about power, as he shouldn't with 4.30 gears coming standard with the Tundra, but he does complain about the stability. He added bags, but he said it still isn't as stable as his old 2006 2500 with a 5.9.

I added Timbrens and it made a big diff in my situation. I really don't notice much diff in stability between my two trucks and both of which are 4x4. I might add my Tundra brakes feel stronger than my 2500 CTD.

I don't understand why folks are hesitant to chose gears in an auto trans.
I pick the gear for the situation and watch the tach. Drive is fine on freeways and that is about it ;)

My BIL has a 2016 Tundra that he tows his 9k trailer with. He doesn't have any complaints about power, as he shouldn't with 4.30 gears coming standard with the Tundra, but he does complain about the stability. He added bags, but he said it still isn't as stable as his old 2006 2500 with a 5.9.