Are You Buying All These Half-ton Claims?
"All-New F-150 Can Tow a Ram, a Silverado & Haul Two Hondas" Tows 12,200, claimed. (Ford Truck Enthusiasts) I guess we can soon do away with our 3/4 & 1-tonners. In a couple years the capacity rac...
Forum Discussion
I'm late on this thread but wanted to add on to Spoon's comments about towing his Nash 22H with his Tundra vs. a 2500+ since I have the same trailer and two similar tow vehicles.
Spoon wrote, comparing Dodge 2500:
I concur completely. I have a F350 V10 for horse chores, usually towing a gooseneck horse or hydraulic dump trailer with my tractor or loads of stuff for the dump. I've towed loads from 5K to 15K with it, long and short trips. I bought a Sequoia 5.7L to tow my Nash 22H on 100-150 mile (one-way) trips to the Colorado high country 7-10 times a year. The Nash weighs 5200 empty.
Data point 1: F350 towing the Nash 22H empty, Albuquerque where I bought it to Denver, about 400 miles, running freeway posted speed limits, no weight distribution. No sway or sag or any of the like. 7MPG.
Data point 2: With three seasons of towing now, I've put about 3K of towing miles on. All of that was over 6000ft, and 6-7 times per year it's up to 11K ft at the Eisenhower tunnel on the I70 freeway. Scaled weight (at a weigh station, for free) is 7400 on the Sequoia and 5700 on the trailer, 13100 combined. (That's over on the Sequoia GVWR for those keeping track). I can post more details on the towing experience, but the short of it is with the Equalizer hitch (and LT tires) it's every bit as stable as the F350. The 5.7L/6sp combo provides excellent performance both going up and down any grade I've encountered. I'm at 100 lb less than the GCWR and I can run the posted freeway speeds on any grade I've run in Colorado.
I'm totally impressed with the half-ton Toyota performance for a travel trailer within the ratings posted for it.
Spoon, if you want to come out west sometime I wouldn't hesitate a minute to tow your identical trailer with your Tundra.
Spoon wrote, comparing Dodge 2500:
spoon059 wrote:
I realize that 700 lbs of capacity is a LOT... but I didn't need it at the time and don't anticipate needing it for my expected life of the Tundra. For $7000 extra dollars for capacity I never anticipated needing to use, it wasn't worth it. For a heavier chassis sitting on my asphalt driveway, causing greater wear and tear, it wasn't worth it. For a rougher ride all the time when I only expect to tow around 3000 miles a year, it wasn't worth it. For the higher fuel costs AND lower expected fuel economy, it wasn't worth it.
I've towed 2000 mile trips 3 times down to Florida with this rig now. It has been stable and solid as a rock. I don't sway, I don't get the push/pull from passing tractor trailers. I've towed up in the east coast mountains with ZERO problems. Plenty of power going up the hill, plenty of control coming down the hill.
I know that in the lifetime of this truck I will never go in the Rockies. I know what my next trailer will be. I know how I camp and I know what we bring with us. I know what my weights will be, I know what my limits are.
I have ZERO regrets about the $7000 that I saved initially, plus fuel costs and better mileage in my Tundra.
I'm sure a new Cummins 3500 dually would tow BETTER... but not dollar for dollar better.
This thread is asking about the ability of a half ton to tow the higher weights as advertised. I believe that they are perfectly safe and able to tow those weights, when properly equipped and within the ratings. The question wasn't asked if the half tons tow AS WELL as 1 tons.
I concur completely. I have a F350 V10 for horse chores, usually towing a gooseneck horse or hydraulic dump trailer with my tractor or loads of stuff for the dump. I've towed loads from 5K to 15K with it, long and short trips. I bought a Sequoia 5.7L to tow my Nash 22H on 100-150 mile (one-way) trips to the Colorado high country 7-10 times a year. The Nash weighs 5200 empty.
Data point 1: F350 towing the Nash 22H empty, Albuquerque where I bought it to Denver, about 400 miles, running freeway posted speed limits, no weight distribution. No sway or sag or any of the like. 7MPG.
Data point 2: With three seasons of towing now, I've put about 3K of towing miles on. All of that was over 6000ft, and 6-7 times per year it's up to 11K ft at the Eisenhower tunnel on the I70 freeway. Scaled weight (at a weigh station, for free) is 7400 on the Sequoia and 5700 on the trailer, 13100 combined. (That's over on the Sequoia GVWR for those keeping track). I can post more details on the towing experience, but the short of it is with the Equalizer hitch (and LT tires) it's every bit as stable as the F350. The 5.7L/6sp combo provides excellent performance both going up and down any grade I've encountered. I'm at 100 lb less than the GCWR and I can run the posted freeway speeds on any grade I've run in Colorado.
I'm totally impressed with the half-ton Toyota performance for a travel trailer within the ratings posted for it.
Spoon, if you want to come out west sometime I wouldn't hesitate a minute to tow your identical trailer with your Tundra.
