Towing capacity confusion from owners manual

As a starting point I've been towing for over 20 years, car haulers, travel trailers, 5th wheels (currently). So, wer elooking at selling the 5th wheel and Silverado then downsizing to a bumper pull.

To verify what I can tow, I checked the owners manual. Both pictures are from my manual. The confusion comes in because I thought all 2016 crew max trucks had the 38 gallon gas tank. But the footnotes indicate that there are two different sizes.

The first picture is the exact model I have per the certificaiton sticker. According to that table I can tow 9800 unless i have the "large fuel tank". Then it drops to 9400.

What is the fuel tank referenced by footnote 3?

 

Just put less fuel in the tank. Now you can magically tow more!

Honestly I wouldn't worry about it. If they are listing different tow ratings due to fuel tank size then you would also have to have different tow weights for the weight of the driver and passengers in the truck as well.

If you aren't adjusting your tow weight to account for having another person or two in the cab, then it makes ZERO sense to adjust for a larger fuel tank.

 

The standard fuel tank is 26 gallons I believe. I think that’s what it is referencing

 

I would honestly say if you're looking at trailers that are 9400 vs 9800 lbs (loaded), you're better off sticking with your Silverado (assuming it's an HD). Sweet spot for towing with a Tundra is 6500 lbs total (~5500 lbs dry) or less, in my opinion.

 

That TWR total, the 9000+ lbs figure really does not mean much for a half ton truck. You will usually run out of payload before you hit that number. For half tons, it is better to use pin/hitch weight as well as adding in all gear and passengers- if you are within your payload- good to go.

 

Good morning Rosy,

I just picked this up in Detroit and was about a 700 mile trip to Duluth, was kinda of surprised how thirsty the Tundra got towing a bread box.

 

There is no fuel tank referenced in footnote 3 that I can see. The fuel tank in footnote 4 is the 38 gal.

It's really a distinction without difference though in this case. At 9400 or 9800 you'll likely be way over payload rating. If you ignore that might as well ignore TWR as well. JMO.

 

I wasn't. Everyone I've talked to with a gasoline truck gets 10 mpg towing a travel trailer if there's no wind.

When my buddy first got his 29 ft bullet, his 2009 Sierra Max 1500 with the 6.0L got 7 mpg in a heavy crosswind.

 

You’re not really surprised about the MPG’s I hope. And no WDH on a trailer of that size is foolish for any distance. Be careful out there people!!

 

Never said anything about towing a 9K trailer with a Tundra. We pickup our new trailer today and the manufacturers spec is 4200 dry, 5500 loaded.
I was just asking about the note in th eowners manual. I have never seen a reference to a 2016 with anything other than a 36 gallon tank.

I really haven't decided which truck will get tow duty. Since both will probably be 9-11 mpg and both have essentially the same fuel capacity.
What I will do is go to our favorite campground about 50 miles away and see how each one does. It's a good combo of flat land ans hills.

 

The Tundra should have no trouble with a trailer that size but a heavy duty truck will always be nicer to tow with.

 

The trailer weight was around #6500 (11400 max)and was getting around 8.5 mpg at 55 mph , 65 mph would put me in the 7 mpg range. The trailer pulled straight with no sway but a WDH would be a good investment when i start putting heavier toys in it.

 

It’s a good investment (and recommended in your owners manual by Toyota for anything over 4500#) for just the trailer itself. It’s a Toy Hauler? The weight will add up quick then. Good thing you have that supercharger, but that will be a lot of camper for that truck. Your practically at your max with 10% buffer with just the trailer. Be careful out there.

 

I think the tow package is standard on the 5.7L. The large tank is standard on everything except SR and SR5. There’s an SR5 upgrade packaged that replaces the front bench seat with bucket seats AND adds the large fuel tank. So if your truck doesn’t have the front bucket seats, it has the large fuel tank.

spec sheet from Toyota is here https://pressroom.toyota.com/2016-toyota-tundra-specs/

 

That's the must have package I got.

 

You lost me with that last sentence. If the upgrade package adds bucket seats and the large fuel tank, then why would a truck that doesn't have bucket seats (bench seat) have the large fuel tank.