1st gen towing a dump trailer? (Small landscape business)

Hey everyone! A while back I got a 1st gen 2006 Tundra V8 4x4 access cab and currently I am using it as a daily driver and weekend project hauler. On the side of my normal job I do landscape maintenance for people in my area, and I have been considering maybe getting a small dump trailer to add to my equipment collection. From what I have found, my truck is capable of towing up to 6,900 lbs I believe. The specific dump trailer I am looking at (big tex 70sr) is a tandem axle and weighs 1,730lbs empty and has a GVWR of 7,000 lbs, so with the trailer fully loaded I would basically be at my trucks maximum towing capacity...

I'm pretty new to towing, so how realistic is this scenario? Has anyone towed at maximum or near maximum capacity with these rigs before and how well do they handle? I would be towing on flat roads, and I do have to go on the highway where the speed limit is 65mph. Typically I will be hauling yard debris (like pine needles, leaves, branches, grass clippings, sometimes cut up trees) so I don't think that stuff is usually too heavy and probably wouldn't reach maximum capacity. But also occasionally I will probably haul mulch, dirt, and gravel which can add up weight pretty quickly and that may put me up to the maximum on days that I haul loads like that. Most jobs are not more than 25 miles away so not really long hauling too far.

Thanks in advance for any advice I can get guys/gals

 

I towed over weight with a ‘04 sequoia. Apples/oranges but if you’re smooth & aware i figure you’ll be fine. Make sure your steering, suspension, brakes, & tires are up to par. Turn off OD.

 

Yep. Make sure it's got a trailer brake, and get your truck set up with a 7 pin hookup and brake controller if it doesn't have one already.

Most any truck can get a heavy load moving. It's the stopping that's the problem. Trailer brake, learn to be defensive and get used to using the transmission to help slow you down way before you need to stop, and since you're on flat ground and not on the highway, I'd say you'll be fine.

I've never pulled a trailer that heavy but the general rule for trailers is trying to get 10% of the trailer weight on the tongue, so on your rear suspension. 7,000lb of trailer, if loaded correctly and your hitch height is correct, is going to be in the range of 700lb tongue weight. That's a lot of weight on your rear end. Might want to look into Sumo Springs, Timbrens or Firestone airbags.

 

I presume you aren't going to be using a weight distribution hitch so be prepared for some rear end sag.

 

You’ll need a WDH. And no, the truck will not perform well, it will get by at best. You’ll be white knuckle driving that thing loaded up like that. My “comfort” zone towing with my v8 FGT is around 3500-4k pounds. Over that you really feel the weight. Acceleration is sluggish and braking requires much longer distances.

 

It all depends on your experience towing…the more you do it the more comfortable you’ll be. That said start out on the lighter side and move up from there. Not sure I would own anything and be worried about only towing half its capacity, but then I’ve been driving semi’s for 40 years.

 

It ain’t about the machismo. The FGT is literally a stretched Tacoma. I’ve towed heavy with mine many times. Hauled over payload as well. My 7k# travel trailer was all she wanted and much more. It’s not confidence inspiring at max weight. Doing that daily around town? Through traffic? Pass. Not the best truck for that duty.

 

Yea, you feel it. I felt the 5-6kish lbs hauling my tractor. And the ?2kish lbs? Of the popup. Never felt white knuckle, never had to get over 60mph with the tractor, and the popup was fine running 80 through west texas (in OD when i wasnt climbing a hill). The trip with the nova, filled with junk, and damn near an inch thick worth of plate on the deck, the sequoia struggled, but a little patience goes a long way. Also pulled a rented 20something ft TT through OK in the windy season in the sequoia, that was nerve wracking, but it was only 3kish lbs. more like a bunkhouse TT i stead of a luxobarge. I tricked some poor bigrig into trying to pass me & used him to block the crosswind.

 

Don’t take it as a personal attack, like u said its not about machismo. I just stated I wouldn’t own something and be worried about towing half its capacity…ie buy a 3500 to tow a 1500 capacity. You yourself have stated you have exceeded the payload. If someone wants to do that regularly, than they should consider a bigger unit. Your recommendation of a WDH is definitely a great idea as they do make a big difference.

 

He has a first gen. I own a first gen. I’m relaying my experience with the platform and how it responds to towing heavy. Ratings are what they are, doesn’t tell you what the experience is like. He’s asking if his first gen would be good at hailing a 7k# dump trailer on the regular. No, it won’t be good at it. Can it do it? Sure, but the experience is not great, potentially unsafe depending on setup of truck and trailer, conditions, and driver experience. These are not HD. They are Medium at best.

 

The problem may be that I’ve never owned a FGT, just Tacomas and my 21 Tundra. I’ve towed probably close to 8,000 or more with the 21, but if the FGT is not much more that a Taco, than your probably right.

 

I’ve owned an FGT and a 2019 CM. The 2019 is a different animal for towing.

 

The truck equivilent to ‘slow car fast’ is ‘weak truck heavy’. When i get my nitrous kit designed, i wanna do a full time-trial of the ike gauntlet. Loaded to the exact weight on the sticker & setting a time. Then i’ll have an excuse to start modding.

 

A 1st gen tundra is the wrong truck for towing heavy with any sort of regularity. A mid 90’s 12v cummins would much better fit the bill as a full on work truck. A loaded down 12v will probably get twice the MPG than a loaded down 4.7.

 

Know what a cummin wont do?

https://youtube.com/shorts/rbqKJ-sChRU?si=fq4T5G8Qq8KS2GDm

v8 noises.

 

Maybe not if it’s on lady tires…

 

I’m classy. Under 31” grips when it needs to.

 

any tool is the right tool if you abuse it enough.