How much will my tundra tow long term?

Hey everyone,

I am probably going to be towing close to 10k miles per year with my Tundra. It is rated for 1450 lbs payload and 9800 lbs towing capacity. I understand that these are maximums and not reccomended for everyday use over the long term. Does the standard "derate to 80% for towing" mantra apply to Tundras? What trailer weight and payload do Tundras handle well on a regular basis over the long term?

Bonus points for those that bring real world experience

 

Read this: https://fifthwheelst.com/unsafe-eighty-percent-towing-rule.html

 

I’d keep my trailer’s GVWR under 8k, and I’d install an external transmission cooler.

check this out: https://www.tundras.com/threads/tundra-transmission-cooler-kit.60550/

 

I thought 2012 Tundras had transmission coolers from the factory. Did they not work well?

 

Sorry, I didn’t see that you had a 2012. There so many new members with brand new trucks. Yours should have the ext cooler. Personally, I think you’re good to tow within the truck’s limits 10k miles/year. I’d stick to an accelerated maintenance schedule.

 

Good write-up, however, I'm not towing a fifth wheel, and I'm not using the 80% rule to avoid exceeding any ratings. I plan to weigh the trailer axle and tongue weights to make sure neither payload nor GCWR are exceeded. Payload most of the time will be right around 200 lbs, leaving me 1200 lbs for tongue weight.

That said, I suspect the tow ratings for any half ton specify what it will do on an occasional basis, not reliably for 10,000 miles per year. Hence it makes sense to derate the tundra, but I'm not sure how much. On the other hand, it is a Toyota...

 

Why over complicate things. It’s simple. Monday - Thursday you can run full gcvwr and then Friday - Sunday run NO MORE than 72% of GCVWR. The problem comes when you change time zones on the changeover days. But there is some leniency in both directions as long as it’s not a holiday or leap year….then yer fuct.

My real world experience. When any modern truck is used as a truck they don’t last. Suspension components, transmissions, brakes. Nothing is made for longevity. I buy new work trucks every 3 years because they are worn out and they’re not even close to what I consider to be an acceptable lifespan. They work every day and it shows. Work…not beat. They just aren’t made to work anymore.

 

Okay... Can you define "used as a truck"? Your experience confirms my suspicion that I shouldn't load the Tundra to capacity on a regular basis, but how much should it be derated?

 

Is your payload actually 1450? I mean is that what your sticker says? Any mods that add weight or different tires? How much gear will you put in the truck?

To be safe and know I can carry gear, people, food and water, I’m looking at trailers around 4000 lbs.

 

FWIW....... 80% of my 14 year old Tundra's 72K miles has been towing! I tow(ed) a 6500 lb TT (Cat scaled, payload aprox 750 lbs, passengers, cargo and fuel) all over the mid-west, several times to the west coast and once to Fairbanks. Followed severe duty maintenance schedules. Truck has never missed a beat and I expect to drive it another 14 years.

 

Great advice- follow this to the "T" and you will be good and have NOTHING to worry about!

 

That's what the manual says, the sticker lists GVWR but not curb weight. The manual lists payload at 1450. I'm well aware that adding me and gear will reduce the payload available for trailer tongue weight, but I was more wondering what percent of that 1450 the tundra will handle long term.

 

I would like to know how many licks to the center of a tootsie-pop... Or rather, how long it will last at 80% lick??

 

I want to know that too...

 

There’s a really good chance your payload is lower than 1450. There should be another door sticker. Is your truck completely stock?

I don’t think anyone knows how much the tundra can handle long term. The 2 “million mile” tundras were both hotshot drivers I think. Or your truck could break next week. I’d say the less weight the better.

 

Why? The truck is mostly stock except for an aftermarket tailgate. Given your post above, sounds like you have a good handle on payload ratings for these trucks, what is a typical payload rating for a Tundra?

 

It just seems like payload on tundras are low. My sticker stays 1250 I think, minus another 8 according to a different sticker. You can’t ever go but the book as anything you add reduces payload. I have added a bumper, ARE cap, and decked drawers full of stuff and my truck weighs about 6800 at the scale. Going by 7200 gvwr, I only have 400 left over and that doesn’t include me. Payload is my only buyers remorse.

Do you have a DC or crewmax? DCs are a bit lighter so they have higher payload.

There are a lot of posts where people pull heavy trailers regularly. There’s also stock trucks that break. I pulled an overloaded lance 1685 across the country with no issue, but other stuff broke on my old 2010 tundra while not towing.

 

Edit from my previous post:
Payload rating (door sticker) for my 2007 SR5, Crewmax, 4x4, 5.7L = 1325lbs
Fuel = 160lbs, Passengers = 400lbs, TT tongue wt = 780lbs, Misc cargo = 200lbs
Total payload = 1540lbs

 

Just half the mileage on maintenance schedule and tow it, you get the truck for work not getting a grocery hauler.

 

Online, you’ll read that a crewmax 4x4 is capable of 1560 lb or something like that when properly equipped. But mine says 1270 on the door jamb. I have a factory bedliner and the huge fuel tank.

Each truck’s actual payload is listed on the door jamb. Unless yours is the barest of bare bones, it’s gonna be less than advertised online.

Yep. I have no reservations about pushing my truck harder than most, but I would (and do) stick to an accelerated maintenance schedule.
Take care of her, and she’ll take care of you.

 

I don't use my Tundra for work or as a grocery hauler. It is a dedicated recreational vehicle (RV), probably fits somewhere in the middle of your two categories. (bought purposely to tow my TT)

 

I bought mine strictly to pose in.

I have it trailered by a real truck with a real OEM tranny cooler to scenic locations (the mall).

 

That’s why the V8 is gone, replace by a 3.5 V6 Tacoma engine…lol

 

Based on the number of "pavement princess" Tundra's I see while actually "using" mine, there must be a lot of you out there...... LOL

 

Welcome when it comes to this forum no matter what thread this will come up.

 

Here is the door sticker to look for. Mine was actually 1220 and reduced by 96 for bed liner or steps or something port installed.

 

That's where mine stands alone: my truck is a "pavement gutter slut" or "slam hole" if you prefer.

 

...some like their slam hole black and blue

 

I came here to ask a similar question. I have a 2016 sr5 dbl cab standard bed 4x4 5.7 V8 flex fuel engine. Aftermarket 33x12.5x20s. I'm pulling a 2021 East to West Della Terra 261rb 30ft tt 6576 dry, 9576 gcvr. It pulled "okay" to south padre, tx from beaumont, then up to Fredericksburg then to beaumont. Got 6 mpg....for what its worth. My concern is going to arizona this winter prob gonna hit some ice around cottonwood. makes me nervous, im right on the capacity line as is...

 

My current travel trailer has a GVWR of 7000lbs, I tow it across country 3-4 times per year and generally travel 700-1000 miles per day on the way out and again on the way back. About 15k(+/-) miles per year towing, another 8-10k through the year, and I am right about 80k miles in my 2018. I change oil before and after my trips and change the rear diff every 30k miles. I keep my tires and wheels stock size to maximize efficiency and average between 8 and 10 mpgs when towing.

As a side note I get much better mileage out west in the mountains and at elevations above 5k feet than I do east of the Mississippi. Not what logic says it should be. It probably is because it does better at longer stretches than it does in more frequent

I do a small amount of towing a boat and pair of sea doos back and forth to the lake a few times per year. No problems with this truck towing that weight under these circumstances.