Towing with a Tundra

YotaOFFroad27

YotaOFFroad27

Active Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2009
Location
Oxford
Well like it says, How is it towing with a tundra? (1st gen w/ 4.7 V8) I am fairly new to the long distance 4x4 game and I'm looking to find something that is up to pulling. I am a Toyota guy. I am looking to find something that can pull a full bodied 1gen 4runner. I do like the Chevys but would rather have another Toyota. It also has to be DDable.. Im not looking for a Earth pulling, coal rolling, jerk your house off its foundation, tow at 200mph kinda truck, Just something I can hook a trailer to and not have to hold it to the floor all the way. That will also handle a 40 mile treck to work everyday and not murder me on gas.
Any advice on the subject would be awsome!! (Even if its not Tundra related) :driver:
 
My advise would be to separate your tow rig and daily driver. Second tip would be to wait for a good deal on a earth pulling, coal rolling, jerk your house off its foundation diesel truck. There's just too many mountains around here to tow with gasoline.

BTW - I think it is doable. I have a freind who towed with one for awhile, but still wouldn't reccomend it.
 
GubNi said:
My advise would be to separate your tow rig and daily driver. Second tip would be to wait for a good deal on a earth pulling, coal rolling, jerk your house off its foundation diesel truck. There's just too many mountains around here to tow with gasoline.
BTW - I think it is doable. I have a freind who towed with one for awhile, but still wouldn't reccomend it.
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What did your friend saw was the biggest issue when towing with his Tundra.. I know that the 1 gens dont have the biggest V8s at only 290hp (I think?). I dont really have the need for a diesel truck. Thanks for your imput
 
Well I tow with a 5.3 1/2 ton chevy. Right it's not a diesel, but it'll hold 70 all day. It'll go faster, but I don't like to push it. I just drop it out of OD while going uphill and when I'm at the top I drop it back in so it avoids the hunting for gears that generates the heat. It will slow down on steep hills, but I still get there.

I get 11 - 12 mpg.
 
I do some towing with my 05 tacoma. the 4.0 is rated at 236hp and i tow my jetskis all day long with no problem. i tow my 93 yota pickup every now and then, usually from raleigh to uwharrie and can tell i am pulling something but its doable. the biggest problem is the suspension is not made to handle the load ( i feel every little bump). i tow my dads 21 ft bayliner shorter distances with no problem. so having the tundra with the 4.7 you should be fine doing the towing you seem to want to do.
 
talk to jimmy or brian green daylon...
 
i think youll be fine i used to pull my jeep with my dads old tundra all over the place and it did fine now we pull with his new tundra 5.7 and cant even tell its there
 
A friend of mine loves his for towing his 1st gen Yota. He also swears by the load dist. hitch setup he has.
 
i have one and love my toyota. i pull a cj-7. i've towed it with using a trailer a few times and it did just fine..you won't get thrown back in your seat with power, but it does fine..
i mosty flat tow the jeep and again, it does fine.

mine is a 2wd and i get 17 around town, all day long..and it has 171K on the odo....

brian...
 
Coondogger on ncttora pulled his ris with his tundra and out pulled kyle in his cummings if im not mistaken. Get on there and find out.
 
rokntoy said:
Coondogger on ncttora pulled his ris with his tundra and out pulled kyle in his cummings if im not mistaken. Get on there and find out.
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Jimmy also pulls with a newer tundra. I have pulled with my 04 double cab 4x4 a couple times. I have noticed that they are fairly tounge weight sensitive. I still wouldnt hesitate to load my runner up and head to harlan.

ai320.photobucket.com_albums_nn330_sgtbriangreen_100_0120.jpg
 
xtoy_boy35 said:
talk to jimmy or brian green daylon...
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Jimmy has the 5.7 ... thats about another 100hp... i know he love that thing.

72Rockcruiser said:
A friend of mine loves his for towing his 1st gen Yota. He also swears by the load dist. hitch setup he has.
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what is a load dist. hitch setup? like i said im new to the towing game.. i have 4cyl yota so the only thing i can tow is a 2 by 4.... :lol:

viper red cj-7 said:
i have one and love my toyota. i pull a cj-7. i've towed it with using a trailer a few times and it did just fine..you won't get thrown back in your seat with power, but it does fine..
i mosty flat tow the jeep and again, it does fine.
mine is a 2wd and i get 17 around town, all day long..and it has 171K on the odo....
brian...
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what kinda MPG does it make pulling with the trailer? 17mpg is unlaod right? I was thinking the 2wd would make closer to 20 being.

rokntoy said:
Coondogger on ncttora pulled his ris with his tundra and out pulled kyle in his cummings if im not mistaken. Get on there and find out.
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Is this spanky?? Im already on NCTTORA... If i was kyle i would slap you for saying that:flipoff2: if this is not spanky.... Ignore this

sgtbriangreen said:
Jimmy also pulls with a newer tundra. I have pulled with my 04 double cab 4x4 a couple times. I have noticed that they are fairly tounge weight sensitive. I still wouldnt hesitate to load my runner up and head to harlan.
ai320.photobucket.com_albums_nn330_sgtbriangreen_100_0120.jpg
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I was hoping you would chime in! i want one like yours.. i would buy yours but i dont have any tow rig money yet :rolleyes: what kinda milage do you get loaded and unlaoded??
 
rokntoy said:
Coondogger on ncttora pulled his ris with his tundra and out pulled kyle in his cummings if im not mistaken. Get on there and find out.
Click to expand...

Not to start a debate...but first off it is Cummins..no G.

Second..5.7 or 4.7? Either way, I feel some bias in that statement...and I am a Toyota guy. I am all for both, because I love Toyotas, but to compare to a Cummins, I do not feel is realistic. Like 2wd to 4wd difference...just sayin...:beer:
 
rokntoy said:
Coondogger on ncttora pulled his ris with his tundra and out pulled kyle in his cummings if im not mistaken. Get on there and find out.
Click to expand...

Its hard to say what "out pulling" means. Is that acceleration from a stop or up a mountain or what? Is a tundra going to handle a 15k lbs load? Probably not for long. I can break the speed limit pulling my rig up any hill on the east coast, thats good enough for me.

i have no problem admitting that Jimmy or Jamie's tundras will out accelerate my Cummins pulling a light load, like 5000-7000lbs. The tundras rev high, have 6 gears to choose from and make good power. The difference comes when the load gets heavier. For a half ton, in my opinion you can't beat a 5.7 tundra, they do great with the load your average wheeler pulls.

But back to the orginal topic, Daylon, a 4.7 tundra will pull your runner and a light trailer. It will be sensative to tongue weight. I think you either need a weight distributing hitch or a set of air bags to keep it from sagging bad. Its going to be slow up the hills, but if you just hammer down and let it rev to where it makes power, then it will get you there without too much drama, just get used to seeing the tach at 4000-5000 up every mountain. Its a small gas engine, thats what it has to do to make power.
 
cumminsdzl said:
Its hard to say what "out pulling" means. Is that acceleration from a stop or up a mountain or what? Is a tundra going to handle a 15k lbs load? Probably not for long. I can break the speed limit pulling my rig up any hill on the east coast, thats good enough for me.
i have no problem admitting that Jimmy or Jamie's tundras will out accelerate my Cummins pulling a light load, like 5000-7000lbs. The tundras rev high, have 6 gears to choose from and make good power. The difference comes when the load gets heavier. For a half ton, in my opinion you can't beat a 5.7 tundra, they do great with the load your average wheeler pulls.
But back to the orginal topic, Daylon, a 4.7 tundra will pull your runner and a light trailer. It will be sensative to tongue weight. I think you either need a weight distributing hitch or a set of air bags to keep it from sagging bad. Its going to be slow up the hills, but if you just hammer down and let it rev to where it makes power, then it will get you there without too much drama, just get used to seeing the tach at 4000-5000 up every mountain. Its a small gas engine, thats what it has to do to make power.
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I wondered if this would call you out!!:lol:
 
cumminsdzl said:
But back to the orginal topic, Daylon, a 4.7 tundra will pull your runner and a light trailer. It will be sensative to tongue weight. I think you either need a weight distributing hitch or a set of air bags to keep it from sagging bad. Its going to be slow up the hills, but if you just hammer down and let it rev to where it makes power, then it will get you there without too much drama, just get used to seeing the tach at 4000-5000 up every mountain. Its a small gas engine, thats what it has to do to make power.
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What is a weight distributing hitch? Also would air shocks do the same thing as the air bags or are they different. One more thing, what is a light trailer.. in my mind a light car trailer would be around 1600lbs.. is that close? Like i said before, I am new to the towing game so please forgive all my questions.


To Everyone-

Thanks for all the replys, feel free to toss in your .02 if you havent already.:driver:
 
YotaOFFroad27 said:
What is a weight distributing hitch? Also would air shocks do the same thing as the air bags or are they different. One more thing, what is a light trailer.. in my mind a light car trailer would be around 1600lbs.. is that close? Like i said before, I am new to the towing game so please forgive all my questions.
To Everyone-
Thanks for all the replys, feel free to toss in your .02 if you havent already.:driver:
Click to expand...


Weight distribution hitch.. there's a bunch on the market (just google it) .. I've used the Equal-i-zer and it made a ton of difference... then sold it and went to some air bags and they were substantially cheaper and worked just as well (and easier to deal with)...

I think the common # is about 100# per foot of trailer? However better built trailers will weigh more. I believe my 16' trailer weighed around 2000#. You can get an open center but even that doesnt save much weight.

GET a good brake controler (Tekonsha P3 is what I use and it's great)... Also you may want to look into getting a trailer w/ brakes on both axles....
 
uncc civilengineer said:
Weight distribution hitch.. there's a bunch on the market (just google it) .. I've used the Equal-i-zer and it made a ton of difference... then sold it and went to some air bags and they were substantially cheaper and worked just as well (and easier to deal with)...
I think the common # is about 100# per foot of trailer? However better built trailers will weigh more. I believe my 16' trailer weighed around 2000#. You can get an open center but even that doesnt save much weight.
GET a good brake controler (Tekonsha P3 is what I use and it's great)... Also you may want to look into getting a trailer w/ brakes on both axles....
Click to expand...



I'll have to look into those. Thanks for the info!!
 
Daylon i would stay away from the air shocks, thats old school stuff. A set of air bags for the truck should be probably 150 bucks and work very well. No fab work needed, they should have a bolt on kit for about any truck.
 
Cool. sounds like this is just about everything then... now if only i had the mula to go out and get all this.... but alas..... I'm poor:( Thanks fro all the input.


- If anyone want to add something feel free :huggy:
 
YotaOFFroad27 said:
Cool. sounds like this is just about everything then... now if only i had the mula to go out and get all this.... but alas..... I'm poor:( Thanks fro all the input.
- If anyone want to add something feel free :huggy:
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My .02

Brand loyalty means a lot. Get something in your brand that fits your needs and you will be happy. Any brand will eventually fail on you. That's a given. If you have a dodge, but are a FORD man, you won't like having to repair the dodge... ever. Repairing your FORD won't be so bad.

Rear end gearing is big too. If you get highway gears in a new tundra, it will feel sluggish when loaded. The same applies to the other brands.

Pesonally, I'm a FORD guy. It runs deeper than the truck for me though... I place value on an organization that didn't take bail out money, etc... blah blah blah.
 
Benjie said:
My .02
Brand loyalty means a lot. Get something in your brand that fits your needs and you will be happy. Any brand will eventually fail on you. That's a given. If you have a dodge, but are a FORD man, you won't like having to repair the dodge... ever. Repairing your FORD won't be so bad.
Rear end gearing is big too. If you get highway gears in a new tundra, it will feel sluggish when loaded. The same applies to the other brands.
Pesonally, I'm a FORD guy. It runs deeper than the truck for me though... I place value on an organization that didn't take bail out money, etc... blah blah blah.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply, I love Toyotas, thats why I wanted a Tundra. I can not afford a new tundra, my price range will be about 10k give or take once I'm ready. Right now my price range is about 100bucks.:lol: :shaking:
 
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