Tundra for towing a travel trailer

[medbill]

Hey Guys,

I am a happy Toyota owner, my primary car is a POS looking but drives well 92 Camry. My second is a 03 Tacoma TRD. I realize towing my camper which weighs around 4500 dry is pushing my tacoma to the max so I am planning on giving it to the wife and selling her car to help finance a full sized pickup for firewood and TT hauling duty. We camp about 2x a month from Spring to the fall so it will get some use. I have been looking around and I like the Tundra and the Dodge 1500. Everyone seems to have horror stories about every brand out there. My camper's gross weight is 7500 and it will hardly ever if ever be close to that.

All of the above being said if you had to buy a Tundra again today for hauling would you do it and which one (engine) would you get for the above jobs?

Thanks for any help but with all these stories about Tundra engines and trannys blowing up I have my concerns.

Bill

[Dana_15]

If money is a concern, the Tundra is going to be more expensive. The Dodge 1500 has a max towing capacity of 9100 pounds (certain models with a 150 pound driver in the driver seat).

The Dodge 2500 can tow over 13000 pounds and has a much higher payload than the Tundra, which I can say from personal experience is rather weak.

Good luck.

[RONE]

I'd easily choose the Tundra over the Dodge. The 5.7 with the 6spd is awesome. There are lots of reports of people towing right at the 10K limit with their Tundras through very mountainous terrain and not having any issues with the weight, so for pulling 7500 pounds frequently the Tundra is an awesome choice.

As for the payload, the Tundra is a 1/2 ton. It's not going to have a payload that can be compared to a 3/4 ton. Just like you can't compare the 1500's payload to the 2500's. Apples to Oranges. If I had to exceed the payload of a 1/2 ton vehicle, it would also be the Tundra that I would choose. This thing is built for heavy duty use. Massive rear-end, big brakes, etc.

[mickeydavis]

I tow a 29ft Holiday Rambler with my 08 5.7, does great except 10.5 mpg. Wondering
if air bags would help smooth rougher concrete slab travel. Anyone tried em' ?

[stickboyb]

Hello:

I have an 07 Tundra and tow a 30' Monaco Travel Trailer 4000 lbs. I only have the 4.6l motor but I swear it will ripe down the HWY at 75 mph if you want it too. Lots of power and talking to other trailer folks 10-12 mpg isn't so bad with the weight and size of trailer! One Dodge guy I know... 6mpg!!!

[mickeydavis]

Thanks, good to know. Love the '08 and the power, etc.
Installing air bags to control the rear end height and tongue
weight.
MickeyD

[sechsgang]

The Tundra's payload is very low, too low to seriously be considered for towing a 25+ ft travel trailer while staying within the limits.

[joindy]

I just traded my 09 Tacoma with V6 for new 5.7 V8 Tundra. I am towing a 4500 dry weight travel trailer. Have only towed it one time...about 120 miles over level and rolling terrain. Had the E2 weight dist/anti sway system and Prodigy 2 brake controller installed.
Towed very easily and I think it is going to work well. Got 10.5 miles per gallon, just what I was suspecting. Get 18 MPG when not towing, if I drive carefully and keep around 55-65 on state highways.