2012Coleman wrote:
Second Chance wrote:
Your problem is not going to be towing capacity as much as payload. Depending on how your Toyota is optioned, it has a payload between 1,255 and 1,380 lbs... that's including passengers and cargo in the vehicle as well as tongue weight of the trailer. A good WD hitch weighs 100 lbs and the loaded tongue weight of that trailer will be close to 900 lbs. Will you, your family, and anything you put in the Toyota come in under 380 lbs. total?
Rob
And air bags don't increase payload
Indeed. Many of the 3/4 ton gassers are substantially more capable than the most exotic loaded 1/2 ton, and many times cheaper to boot! The market and pricing is geared toward the 1/2 ton as that is where Dealer and OEM bread and butter is. With the 3/4 and one tons geared more for the commercial sector and priced accordingly. Hence, prices for the 3/4 tons can rival or be lower than many 1/2 tons. Go in acting like a business owner or farmer, instead fo a RV owner, looking for a good 3/4 ton and you can really get substantial discount from the MSRP. Do your research on what you need and go in knowing what you want.
For instance, my 2015 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L 4.10 ratio diffs, LT Z71 4x4, double cab standard bed, with snow plow prep package, tow package with integrated controller and 5th wheel/gooseneck prep with a Line-X bedliner thrown in for good measure, Tow capability of 13,000 lb and when the pickup is full of fuel, two people, and a few hundred pounds of gear in the back, it still has about 2300 lb available payload. Still well above the OEM max hitch rating of 1500 lb. Front axle rated at 5200 lb and the rear axle rated for 6200 lb.
All for $38,000, brand new, off the lot. And not during one of those high incentive "truck month" sales. Try driving of the lot with a loaded up, max tow, super 1/2 ton whatever for the same price. And even then, with all that souped up 1/2 ton, it still will not match the capability of a average spec'd 3/4 ton.
I lowered the back end to take some of the 3/4 ton "cat in heat" rake out of the back, installed SumoSprings 1500 lb cellular urethane foam suspension supports that offer similar performance as air bags but with a far lower cost and none of the hassles. Total cost of about $250. Even with the pickup back end lowered with a set of 2" McGaughy's drop shackles, with well over a ton in the bed the pickup is just getting to to a level stance. But the drop in the back was one of the best investments of $70 that I ever did. Made getting in and out of the bed so much easier for this old beat up ex Armored Cavalry Sergeant. Really no reason that 3/4 ton suspensions should be such that the back end of the pickup truck bed is half way to the moon.
the ride of a typical 3/4 ton can be rougher, for sure. I got the inflation tables from BF Goodrich for my AT KO2 tires and run the pressures recommended for the actual axle load a the time. That smoothed up the ride somewhat. I also got rid of the stock Rancho shocks and put on a set of Bilstein 4600's and that brought the pickup almost into 1/2 ton ride quality territory.
