Those who tow with a Toyota Tundra

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Just wanted to update...In March or April 2016 we ordered a new 28 BHBE. Towed it all last summer with the Tundra. Towed well but was overloaded. GCW was 15,480#. Truck was 7,000# just by itself. Truck was rated for 7,100# empty and GCWR of 16,000#. Averaged just under 8 mpg. Had to run in 4th gear most of the time as the tranny kept wanting to shift out of 5th. I ran slightly larger tires (LT275/70R18's) so I am sure that made the difference. I installed air bags as well to handle the weight.

Fast forward to spring 2017...got a great trade-in on a new Cummins diesel so I went for it. Now with the 2500 diesel, I just set the cruise and the truck pulls along effortlessly. I do still know the trailer is back there but I am not concerned about the weight or what we load. I also get on average about 30% better fuel economy while maintaining speed on hills and can actually tow on the interstate at 68 mph easily.

[mikem56]

I also tow a jayco 25Z (10years old still in great shape) with a 2012 tundra, best vehicle i have ever had for towing no issues, wish it had a larger gas tank but stopping for fuel more often is not a problem gives me a chance to stretch legs and let the dog out to do her business.

[Skeeter]

Thanks, appreciate your feedback. We are not in your load range, but good to hear the Tundra was able to do the job. Our camping buddy recently upgraded to a 250 Cummings and then traded their TT for a Jayco 5-wheel (33'). He really loves the set-up. Plenty of power, smooth riding, and they installed a 40 gal tank in the bed. Obviously they are built for towing. Enjoy.

[WayneG]

I towed a 22FB (4600#'s) with a 2008 Tundra 4.7 from 2013-2016 with an Equilizer hitch. Truck/hitch worked great up to 141,000 miles except for the poor mileage 8.5-10 mpg.
Now have the F150 with the 5.0 and enjoying the better mileage at 10 - 12mpg.

[Markshark72]

[oldmanAZ]

Congratulations and welcome to the forum.

[Bsikes]

Sweet!!

[wags999]

Nice TT, we love our Tundra. I would just suggest you watch your cargo capacity, Tundra's don't have the highest ratings. Mine is about 1600 lbs as built, we have no issues towing our 27RLS but yours is little heavier/longer. We were up in your area a few years ago when we work kamped in the Trinity Alps.



Happy Camping !

[Cubfan]

We have a 2013 Tundra and it is a wonderful tow vehicle. Only two complaints, crappy mileage (8-9) and a small gas tank. We start looking for gas around 100 miles and need to gas-up around 150 miles. We purchased a new Whitehawk in July 18 and previously towed a Sunset Trail 250rb. With our WDH and anti sway bar, it tows like a dream.

[eodcoduto]

We use a 2017 4x4 1794, towing package,4.30 rear, and 38 gallon tank pulling a 2018 X23B without any issues. We average 15.3 MPG pulling to and from D.C within a 100mile radius. We were using a 2014 4runner but it was too much for it and now we are looking to trade the X23B on a Jay Flight 28BHS and we may add load range E tires. The 1794 and Platinum with the 38 gallon tank drops the towing capacity to 8800lbs, even with the towing package, from 9800 lbs with the smaller tank.

[wags999]

Originally Posted by eodcoduto

We use a 2017 4x4 1794, towing package,4.30 rear, and 38 gallon tank pulling a 2018 X23B without any issues. We average 15.3 MPG pulling to and from D.C within a 100mile radius. We were using a 2014 4runner but it was too much for it and now we are looking to trade the X23B on a Jay Flight 28BHS and we may add load range E tires. The 1794 and Platinum with the 38 gallon tank drops the towing capacity to 8800lbs, even with the towing package, from 9800 lbs with the smaller tank.

Towing capacity is not the issue. Cargo capacity will be exceeded long before towing capacity is reached. On the drivers door jamb will be a cargo capacity on a yellow sticker. That is as built, anything added after the factory has to be taken into account in that cargo capacity number. Also included will be passengers, cargo in the truck, hitch, items added to the truck PLUS the loaded tongue weight of the trailer. Note that a TT number on tongue weight is without battery, propane, water, cargo in trailer etc. I love my Tundra, but they don't have the highest cargo capacity. I am about at the limit with my 27.5 RLS and just my wife and I and almost nothing in the truck, even tho, I have 10,100 lbs of towing capacity, I can barely town 7800 lbs in the real world. The numbers will tell the tail. Good Luck ! Happy Camping

[Scott_Trailer_Newbe]

Originally Posted by rabontte

Thank you for all your responses. We are thinking of upgrading to something a little larger and wanted to see what other's experiences were. We do love our Tundra and hope to keep it for many years.

Don’t blame ya. Our Tundra CrewMax was an awesome truck, 10,400 tow rating, towing mirrors, 410 gears, it was not really a 1/2 ton, but not really a 3/4 either.

Started off with a Jayco 24RKS which the Tundra towed fine, except in high winds, and one other time in Colorado at 12,000+ feet. Outside of that it was a good truck for our trailer.

Fast forward to our 2018 28RL and it became clear the Tundra could do it, but we were always at our max cargo, and the wind felt like the trailer was controlling the truck. Our annual trip to Durango was in question because of past experience with our 24’ Trailer. I basically told the wife that I didn’t want to try that trip again with an even larger trailer. There were places going uphill where I was lucky to be doing 25 MPH. With oxygen levels at this altitude the 5.7 just ran out of power.

Finally traded her in last December and although I miss my Tundra, it was time to move to a 3/4 ton chassis and a diesel.

[Meister71]

Originally Posted by Bsikes

2010 Tundra CrewMax with 5.7L. We have a 2015 Whitehawk 33BHBS. Max weight on TT is 8500lbs. Truck has a 10,100 tow rating. We get about 8-10mpg until we hit a steep hill then it drop to 4mpg. Lol. No issues towing so far. Just tight getting into gas stations, but that's another thread.

On your tundra did you do anything to the rear end of it to help the weight capacity like Springs airbags shocks anything else

[Route 66 Traveler]

I have a completely stock 2007 SR-5 Tundra 2WD and it tows my 7000 pound trailer just fine. I usually get between 8.5 - 12mpg. I don't use the cruise unless I'm on flat ground with no wind, in the Tow/Haul mode. All I have done to the rear end is put on new shocks at 110k miles.

[Bsikes]

Originally Posted by Meister71

On your tundra did you do anything to the rear end of it to help the weight capacity like Springs airbags shocks anything else

Other than get the tundra with the towing package, no. Just an Equalizer Weight/Sway distribution set up.

[66lincoln]

Anyone else have problems with the 2016-2018 integrated brake controllers not working? Gain set all the way up to 10, electric brakes, manual slider and nothing from the trailer brakes. A friends F150 operates the trailer brakes just fine. I've just now been reading multiple NHTSA and other online threads about these Tundra IBCs not working.

[Jaws014]

I own a Tundra and that happened after I towed a small trailer w/o brakes. I had to go in to settings and tell Truck that the trailer I was towing was 5000+ w/ electric brakes

[Route 66 Traveler]

I traded my 2007 Tundra in for a 2017 Tundra SR-5 Crewmax last October. I have towed my trailer on 5 different trips since then and am very pleased with the integrated brake controller. I have mine set to a gain of 5 and it works just fine. If I slide the manual control to full on it stops just short of locking up the wheels. Mine works as good or better than it did with the Tekonsha Prodigy controller.


Could be a setup or wiring problem.

[66lincoln]

The 2017 IBC does not have the option to select weight. It only has two options: electric manual and electric over hydraulic manual; that's it.

I have an appointment at Toyota tomorrow to see if my IBC had all of the software updates. If it has, then I have one of the many IBCs that fail for no reason and no warning.

[Route 66 Traveler]

Originally Posted by 66lincoln

The 2017 IBC does not have the option to select weight.

I have never seen a controller that requires a towed weight setting. The Gain control is the only option, the higher the number, the higher the voltage to the electric brakes. Could be there is a blown fuse in the brake circuit or a bad connection at the trailer socket on the truck. You could try putting a volt meter on the brake connection in the plug while someone varies the manual slider on the controller...max should be 12 volts to the brakes.