2023 Tundra SR Towing Experience

Just towed a 6x12 uhaul trailer and two dirt bikes and gear in the truck about 1200 miles. Trucks a basic 2x4 SR model. The uhaul trailer is 2300lbs empty, had all my tools (heavy and tightly packed) and a dirt bike in it. Along with 2 more bikes and gear in the truck. So the trailer was about 5-6k loaded plus another 1k in the truck. So totaling around 7k maybe a bit more. Truck squatted about half way down, but pulled the load great, was able to hold the speed limit or a bit more the whole time. Went through the toll roads of Virginia which are a challenge for most big rigs, truck stayed around 2-2400rpm 99% of the time. Kept it in S8 or S7 depending on if it was hilly. Truck felt confident the whole time. Averaged 12-14.5 mpg going 70-75mph most of the trip. For a 1/2 ton I am more than impressed with the base twin turbo setup on these 3rd gens.

 

I’m about to pull a trailer next weekend that I used to pull with my Highlander. I got 10 mpg with Highlander. Want to see what I’ll get with the base 2023 SE crewmax 4x4.

 

May get a little less MPG cause of the higher wind resistance. But I’d guess 10-12 mpg depending on your right foot. With the added power it'll be a breeze.

 

Dang…that’s a lot of trailer for a Highlander…

 

It was still under its limit. I did add airbags tho. 0 sag.

 

Thanks. $1250 shipped from eBay. Was looking around here on marketplace but nothing rarely pops up here in my area in northeast.

 

Dealer charger me $300 over msrp but swapped sr5 wheels for a take off as the other person lifted and put bigger wheels.

 

You have 60k on a 3rd gen?

 

Doubt they’ll sell them for cheap.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1157636965...5mXsrTASe6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

I’m just saying what the dealer charged over msrp, most dealers had a few bucks off on this model so it’s probably a 1k wash with or without the upgraded wheels.

 

That's good to hear! I traded a 2012 tundra DC for a 2018 f150 with HD trailer package-it sucked from I guess from the lower truck weight. Sure it pulled like a beast BUT it was not as steady as the 2012 tundra was despite the f150 had over 400 lbs more payload. I'm really excited come August for the first tow.
Thank you sharing

 

Pulling shouldn’t be an issue,
Tell us if you were able to back up without problems from the new back up system

 

Love hearing stories like this about the SR. Thanks for sharing

 

Towed it effortlessly. The turbo spool is so nice and loud when it’s towing too. Got about 10.7 mpg rolling thorough PA mountains.

 

Excellent report OP thank you for sharing and the picture.

 

Trailer auto brake

 

I had surge brakes for the uhaul. For a 7 pin I use a curt echo brake controller that connects between the truck and trailer wiring. Works great.

 

my Tundra didn’t come with this button.
I did find some adjustments in the screen when in reverse, hopefully it shuts it off.
I’ll be testing mine in a couple of weeks when I use my trailer.

 

I'm shopping for my first ever truck and looking at the '23 SR. Talking to the sales guy today he told me that the SRs on his lot didn't have hitches installed from the factory and that trucks built as such need $8500 in upgrades in order to pull my classic car and trailer that will be around 5300 lbs. I asked him to clarify if he meant $850 or $8500 and he confirmed $8500. Some BS about reprogramming the truck to pull since it doesn't come with drive modes like and SR5 or higher, blah blah blah. He didn't love my immediate laugh back at him. The truck is rated for 8300 lbs. Am I missing something or doesn't a Kurt or Uhual hitch, wiring harness and TBC solve my issue for about $700?

 

He’s definitely BSing you. Some base SRs do come without it a hitch or wiring. I got the dealer to install aftermarket curt hitch and curt 7pin connector. It’s all plug and play. Also there’s a factory plug under the dash board where your knees are for the brake controller. With a weight distribution hitch you don’t need any air bags. So that’s roughly under $700 you’ll have to spend. It tows just fine. I kept it in S8 when driving through mountains with a trailer and it still kept RPMs under 2k

 

Thanks, Woocawachie. Exactly what I needed to hear. We'll see tomorrow if he has room to negotiate on his deficient truck that needs $8500 in order to be a truck.

 

Just finished moving my items to my new home. Only got a picture of the trailer emptied. Pulled all the tools and stuff like a champ. Got 15.5 mpg on mostly backroads doing 55 mph.

 

Why would you go back to that guy when he's either stupid or predisposed to screw you?

 

The U Haul trailers are tanks. I wouldn't be surprised if it's 1500lbs empty. How much weight do you think you had in it?

 

About 1700 lbs with the gate. Had heavy boxes of tools mostly. Probably around 5k total.

 

Apologies. I didn't see the first post where you were very clear about the load.
Brakes and temps were fine?
Ironically, one of the first trips I have after I get mine is a 700 mile trip pulling a 6x12 enclosed U Haul

 

Never had the engine temp needle move once up to operating temp. I don’t have a tow haul mode. If going in hilly terrain I just put it in S7-8 depending on the weight of the trailer. The base SR doesn’t have a tow/haul mode. Tows was great can’t complain drivetrain wise the 6x12 is heavier. I’d keep it in S7 if it’s a loaded trailer. Empty, you can barely tell it’s back there minus a the shaking if you cross a railroad track to something.

 

I worked with a different sales guys from my second call forward and he was great. Bought it for $3600 under MSRP…and there are only a handful of dealers with 4x4, CM, SRs within 500 miles of me so didn’t have much choice but to try and make it work with this dealership.

 

Mine doesn’t have a built in brake controller or what not just the camera itself if that’s what you mean.