Toyota Tundra - TT ?

[cantfindusernam]

My dad has a 2012 Toyota Tundra 5.7L with tow package. It is not the TRD version. He is considering a Open Range 216 that is a new model and dry weight of 6000lbs. No other weights are given nor is this model located on Open Range website.

We know the Tundra can pull it...no problem but if his weight is 7500lbs loaded (he will not be traveling with very much water or waste) do yall think the tongue weight will be ok? Payload is about 1500lbs and only him and mom will be traveling in the truck.

Is this a good match? he will be using the 10k Equalizer Hitch.

[e-light]

cantfindusername wrote:
Parents are going to get the Open Range 216.

Awesome! They will do fine with the Tundra and that trailer.

[cantfindusernam]

Parents are going to get the Open Range 216.

[spoon059]

APT wrote:
Gas engine budget for 8mpg towing, maybe 7. You'll be happy to exceed that if you get 9-10mpg. If you budget for 10mpg and get 9, you will not be happy.

7500-ish pounds is a good match for the Tundra with a couple in the cab. Enjoy!

Great advice! On my last trip I estimated 10 mpg at $4/gallon. Thankfully gas was cheaper than expected so I was ecstatic! I had budgeted $1600 in fuel alone and saved a good amount of money!

[APT]

Gas engine budget for 8mpg towing, maybe 7. You'll be happy to exceed that if you get 9-10mpg. If you budget for 10mpg and get 9, you will not be happy.

7500-ish pounds is a good match for the Tundra with a couple in the cab. Enjoy!

[spoon059]

Maybe I am lucky... if I tow local (less then 200 miles) we usually keep the speed under 60 and I can get 10.5 to 11 mpg on flat ground. That is hand calculated. We just finished a 1800 mile round trip to Florida and I averaged a little over 10 mpg on the way down at about 67 mph. We had strong wind in our faces on the way back and got lower 9's coming back at 67 mph.

[CaLBaR]

the Tundra will do just fine. I have been towing the trailer in my signature for 5 years now. It is 6200lbs dry and 7200 or so loaded to camp. The truck does great and is very stable. I agree with the others though that you won't get 11 mpg. I get between 8 - 10 tops, usually around 9.

[cantfindusernam]

Thanks everyone. I will pass on the info to my parents.

[Ron3rd]

45Ricochet wrote:
11 MPG towing with the 5.7 is optimistic at best. I guess with a tail wind going down the Grapevine it's doable. Realistically you'll be in the single digit MPG, but I agree the Tundra should be up to it. BTW nobody tow's dry weight, use trailer GVWR for a better figure :W
Good Luck

X2, 11 mpg is out. We get 9 mpg or slightly better towing heavier than the OP. Count on 9 mpg and if you get a bit better, that's a bonus.

[TundraTower]

I have a 2013 Tundra 4wd TRD 5.7L. I have a 10K lb Equalizer hitch and tow a 7,600 lb travel trailer that is stickered at 6,200 dry weight. I've weighed it many times and the tongue wt always comes out around 800-850 lbs.

You said the Tundra payload was 1,600 lbs but you might want to check that by weighing the truck and comparing to GVWR. After truck options, mine had much less payload than that.

I'm getting 9 MPG consistently over 1800 towing miles, and it seems more related to speed than hills or weight. Under 63 or so and mileage is good, over 65 and it drops like a rock.

The Tundra does an outstanding job of towing this load and we are pulling it from Alabama to Utah in late May (4K miles round trip). I'm 400 miles from a factory-trained Equalizer technician and continue to play with the WDH adjustments. Have made arrangements with a factory-trained tech in Oklahoma to adjust it as we go thru there.

[W_E_BGood]

cant...with my '08 Tundra 5.7 4X4 I tow an '11 Keystone Outback rated 6,000 dry and a 1K/10K Equalizer. My tongue wt. with full 30 gals. of fresh water in the tank at the rearend, 2 #30 full propanes and a group 27 battery on the tongue, it's 760 lbs. Add the Equalizer hitch head (guess about 40) and a few clothes and the food stock in the fridge and cabinets I'm probably close to 1,000.
Payload in the truck is the DW and I, a 18 lb. Sheltie and maybe 300 lbs. cargo.
Your dad should have NO problem. A year ago we took route 7 through the Ouachita Mountains Arkansas (LOTS of 25-30 mph switchbacks) with no sweat.

As far as getting a tongue weight, I went to one of the local RV places (US Adventure), was real polite with the service mgr. and he helped me get my tongue weight with his scale. 😉

[Terryallan]

cantfindusername wrote:
6000 is on the yellow sticker on the actual trailer. Equalizer Hitch 10k would be used.

Then that is what it weighs sitting on the lot as you see it. IMOP Dad, and Mom will not add over 1000lbs to the dry weight. Prolly not that much. reason I say that. I weighed my TT after I loaded it with all my camping stuff, some clothes, and some food. We added 550lb to the dry weight. I'd say they are good to go.

[lanerd]

All dealers have the capability to weigh the tongue....they may say they don't, but they actually do. However, weighing the tongue with the trailer empty will only give you, at best, an estimate at what it will weigh once loaded. That's why Skip (see above post) recommends using the trailer's GVWR as a base line. Again, 7500 lbs won't be out of line and 15% is 1125 lbs. At a 1500 payload capacity, that only leaves 375 lbs. Ask your Dad a question: would he rather push a wheel barrow loaded to 15/16th capacity or 5/8 capacity? May not be a very good analogy, but it gives you an idea of what the truck will be up against.

The 5.7 will have no problem pulling this amount of weight, but the truck itself may be at, or maybe even over, its limits. Wheel bearing, transmission, rear end gears....all will have a shorter life span.

good luck

Ron

[45Ricochet]

11 MPG towing with the 5.7 is optimistic at best. I guess with a tail wind going down the Grapevine it's doable. Realistically you'll be in the single digit MPG, but I agree the Tundra should be up to it. BTW nobody tow's dry weight, use trailer GVWR for a better figure :W
Good Luck

[kknowlton]

He'll be ok, but will likely be over his truck's GVWR, at least slightly.

[ib516]

He'll be fine.