M758

My 99 dodge factory hitch says to go with weight distributing over 5000lbs. When I towed my trailer 1000 miles on a standard hitch empty from Texas it got blown around big time. I suspect some of that was due to the empty trailer sail area.

So once it got I home I started looking for hitches and reading about trailer sway wind etc. Since I knew was going to be at 7000lbs (or more with a largeish tongue load to minimize axle load) or so plus the weight of gear in the truck bed (2 or 3 sets of tires, 200lbs of cannopy weights, fuel, ice chest etc) I got weight distributing hitch with sway control. Since then I towed it 800 miles from Phoenix to Miller in Salt Lake City. The towing was rock solid the entire way. Plus the hitch allows me to fine tune the angle to keep my trailer level. This is important with torsion axles and since I know I am running it heavy.

Here is a shot coming back from Utah. The trailer is bit nose down and I have since corrected that. For me well worth the $280 I spend on the hitch.

John H

I own a 2006 GMC 3500 Diesel dually. I had to use my brother-in-laws Tundra to tow from southern Ohio to VIR. It sucked. The brakes are nowhere near up to the task and I felt the trailer waggling 75% of the time at cruising speeds. The only time it did not waggle was under acceleration. Compared to the GMC, which I am used to, the Tundra gave me the white knuckles for ~7 hours.

jbossolo

I used to tow mine (enclosed, 24', heavy) with a Tundra. It pulled OK, but I haven't heard anyone comment on the single reason why I upgraded to an F350 (used, 2002, bought for $14K)- fuel economy.
The Tundra would give me anywhere from 7-8MPG, the Ford 15-17MPG.
You do the math.

paradisenb

My Tundra gets 16.5 mpg consistantly. Gets 12.5 towing.

As John mentioned the brakes are not up to the task. Neither is the suspension, axles, shocks, vehicle weight, etc.

One thing they are is dependable. I have had no issues (except changing front brakes constantly) with 108k on the clock, most not towing.

Forget about a 1/2 truck no matter what brand. Nothing is built for heavy duty use on 1/2 ton models.

M758

This seems like valuable feed back. When loaded my Dodge 2500 feels rock solid now. My only complaint is just 4 gears in the tranny. I beleive another gear would help the hill climbing. That and the 8 mpg. However the low mileage is to be expected on an 8.0 V10. I got 8 mpg towing from Phoenix to Salt Lake City. That was with many mountain climbs. Once to 9000 ft, couple times to 7000ft, numerius times to over 6000 and alot of runninng between 4000 and 6000 feet. However mostly 2 lane road at under 65 mph. I ran 2nd and 3rd most of the way with the flats in 4th (overdrive).

Veloce Raptor

I have been saying this for a while.






Professional Racing and Driving Coach

nosubt2

I tow #10,000 with a 99 F-250 diesel with 190,000 miles on it. Owned it for 50,000 miles and all I have had to do is tires and batteries. 15 mpg around town and 11-12 towing. Torque is king!!!

HODY905

To further the discussion, the Tundra Limited I looked at has the 5.7 iforce engine. Forget the horsepower rating but torque is 401/ftlbs. In the SR5 model it is a 4.6 litre engine which is certainly not powerful enough. Perhaps this is the model John was referring to, not sure.
Thnx for all the input guys.

John H

The one I was talking about was the 5.7 iforce. After seeing the commercials, I thought it would be okay. My wife even commented on the difference.

If you are stuck on a 1/2 ton, the Tudra is a nice truck to tool around in as a daily driver. It seemed to have okay power compared to the other 1/2 tons I've towed with. It is just not up to the task for towing.

After my first tow with a gas GMC HD 2500 long bed, I knew I'd never want to tow with a 1/2 ton again. My dually regularly gets 19 mpg on the highway and 11 towing at 80 mph.

consolidated

I tow an open 18' with a Boxster and motorcycle with a 5.7l Tundra. This is a light setup so towing is effortless, no sway, pulls stronger than my V8 Ford F150 WITHOUT a trailer, and the motor is awesome given it burns gas. I get about 13mpg.

It's been a very good as day to day truck, and will romp out 0-60 in 6 seconds, and rotates well under trail braking.

HODY905

John H: is your current truck, the dually, a gas or diesel?

Krokodil

It seems that folks often confuse the current 5.7 Tundra with the prior generation. Completely different truck. There are new 5.7 Tundras all over the paddock at the POC events in SoCal, some towing tripple axel 26'+ trailers.

I tow with a '10 5.7 Sequoia Platinum. Shorter wheelbase, but the same engine/transmission and tow equipment as the Tundra. Pulls a 22 enclosed at almost 7,000 without issue.

Load position is key. First time I towed with the Sequoia I had a bit of sway, moved the car about 1 foot forward in the trailer and viola, no sway. This is with a load distributing hitch, but no anti-sway control.

Last trip inlcuded a tow up a long, steep grade (The Grapevine for those in SoCal) in 95F+ temps without issue. Neither the engine or transmisison temp guages moved (likely just idiot lights).

While I will not argue that a 2500 diesel is far superior, the Tundra/Sequoia do the job fine and are a great choice for folks who also need the truck to serve as a daily driver.

Cheers,

ltc

Please dont' go any further...I beg you.

jrgordonsenior

John do you have 4:10 gears in your dually? I'm impressed buy the 19MPG non-towing mileage.. Best my Ford can do it about 16 highway, 13 towing....

Crazy Canuck

If you want the Toyota sell your trailer and buy something w/7000# GVWR in aluminum. Trailex is the lightest at 2300# dry.

Referring to the weight carrying vs. weight distributing requirement. Look at your hitch. There will be 2 numbers. The smaller one refers to weight carrying ability and the second is if a weight distribution system is used.

Unless it is an aftermarket hitch, anything weight carrying will typically be 5000#. Some aftermarket hitches are available (Class IV, Class V) with WC ability of 6000#, maybe more. Not many though. Second limitation is your drawbar. Normal class III hollow drawbars are rated for 5000#. You can get a solid core drawbar rated for 8000#.

If the load is substantial the tow package (truck & trailer) will tow better using a weight distribution system THAT IS SET UP PROPERLY.

As for the Ford/GM/Dodge debate, we have a 2000 F350 7.3 Powerstroke Diesel, a 2002 GMC 2500HD Duramax Diesel and a 2008 GMC 2500HD Duramax Diesel. The Ford is falling apart. The body is rusted. The 2002 GMC is still in nice shape. The 2008 is great and its milage is much better than a new Ford diesel. Reliability of the Fords was a concern. It was part of the decision to go GMC again with the 2008. It's a great truck and towing is beautiful. It's big around town though (crewcab, shortbox).