Tow Capacity - Toyota 4.7L

[Don and Dale]

I have an extra cab, 2 wheel drive, older Toyota Tundra with no tow package and a 7200 lb tow capacity. I am interested in purchasing a 23', 6200 lb GRVW trailer. Does anyone have a similar set up? I'm trying to see how well it will pull the trailer. Am I going to get up a hill with it?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Don and Dale

I have an extra cab, 2 wheel drive, older Toyota Tundra with no tow package and a 7200 lb tow capacity. I am interested in purchasing a 23', 6200 lb GRVW trailer. Does anyone have a similar set up? I'm trying to see how well it will pull the trailer. Am I going to get up a hill with it?

you don't have a 7200lbs towing capacity without the factory tow package.
that's the amount WITH the factory tow package.

you'd have to duplicate the factory tow package to be able to tow that amount.

what model trailer are you talking about? what is its UVW or its "dry" weight and what is its hitch weight and what is its CCC?

[teddy]

Hi Don:
I have a 2013 Tundra with the 4.6 V8 with the tow package. I currently have a Surveyor Sport SP220. The dry weight is around 4500 and has a load capacity of around 3000. (numbers are just rough estimates but pretty close). I don't plan to ever load it to near 7000 lbs. For me the Tundra is quite adequate. I have found it best to use the tow/haul setting on my truck, but since you don't have a tow package you probably don't have that. You can accomplish close to the same thing by setting your transmission to lock out the over drive gear(s).
Though I don't know the specifics of your truck, I think you will be fine.
Teddy

[teddy]

Ditto with Bikendan.

You will need to avoid places where you need 4-wheel drive.

[Don and Dale]

bikendan,
Thanks for your info and quick reply. We are looking at the new 231KSS Roo. It has a dry weight of 4858. We wouldn't pack a ton of weight and don't fill the water tanks until we get to our destination. We don't really want to spend the $ for a new truck and, of course, we can't get an honest answer from a dealer. Your input is much appreciated.
Don and Dale

Hi Teddy,
Thanks for your reply as well. We were most concerned, because we don't have the tow package. We bought the truck new in 2000 and I'm not even sure they offered the tow package at the time. It only has 85,000 miles on it, so hate to get rid of it. we just want to go in with as much honest information as we can get. Your input is appreciated.
Dale and Don

[ependydad]

Don and Dale -

You can use this calculator to get a feel for how much your actual tongue weight will be (which is what you'll run into issues with long before hitting towing capacities):
Estimating Tongue/Pin Weight from Dry Weights - Towing Planner
I've plugged in the numbers for the 231KSS.

Then, you can get a feel for how much payload capacity your truck has left over by using this other calculator based on your tire & load information sticker on your truck's doorjamb:
Towing Calculator based on Truck's Payload/CCC - Towing Planner

[campingwilliamsons]

No door jamb sticker on a 2000. But that vintage Tundra would be around 1000lbs. That would have been calculated using Toyota's turn of the century standard, full fluids + 150lb driver.

I would suggest a transmission cooler (assuming it is an automatic trans), probably a power steering cooler as well. You will of course want to make sure the brakes are up to spec etc. Lastly, you will need to add a brake controller, 12 volt charge line and install a 7way trailer harness on the back of the truck. I am guessing you will need to run all the lines yourself, as I doubt it is prewired from the factory. Not a hard job, just a tedious one.

[Don and Dale]

Originally Posted by bikendan

you don't have a 7200lbs towing capacity without the factory tow package.
that's the amount WITH the factory tow package.

you'd have to duplicate the factory tow package to be able to tow that amount.

what model trailer are you talking about? what is its UVW or its "dry" weight and what is its hitch weight and what is its CCC?

Hi Bikendan,
I realized I didn't answer all your questions. Thanks for your info and quick reply. We are looking at the new 231KSS Roo. It has a dry weight of 4858. The hitch weight is 443 and the ccc is 1618. Of course, we travel very light, with little water until we reach our destination. The truck is a 2000 Tundra 4.7L. It has a transmission cooler, but no tow package. Thanks again for your input.
Dale and Don

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Don and Dale

Hi Bikendan,
I realized I didn't answer all your questions. Thanks for your info and quick reply. We are looking at the new 231KSS Roo. It has a dry weight of 4858. The hitch weight is 443 and the ccc is 1618. Of course, we travel very light, with little water until we reach our destination. The truck is a 2000 Tundra 4.7L. It has a transmission cooler, but no tow package. Thanks again for your input.
Dale and Don

since it has no tow package, first you need to determine what rear end ratio yours has, vs. what would have come with the factory tow package.

and you'd have to duplicate all of the package to be able to tow the Roo because that's the heaviest Roo made. the problem is that the rear end ratio will be the most important regarding towing capacity. if yours has a high ratio, for gas mileage, it won't be good for towing.

i have a Roo 23SS and it weighs about 5000lbs. loaded for camping.
but i live on the West Coast and have lots of real mountains to get over. i wouldn't want to tow anything much bigger.
my Avalanche has the bigger 5.3 v-8 AND the HD factory tow package and my towing capacity is 7200lbs., so there's no way yours has that amount without the factory tow package.

[kodiedogs]

Hey Don I have a 2005 toyota tundra, I Pull a 29'8" Flagstaff ultra light 26RLWS, that has a dry weight of 5981.. Now I have a tow package with weight dis, and 4 point sway control. And powered brake system.. I can tow up to 7000lbs.. But would not want to get to that cause that would be max. I currently full load weigh in at 6625 lbs. And have no problems But if I read you right you do not have tow package and are 2 wheel drive. Toyota Spec.'s on your tundra would give you only 5500 lbs of total towing cap. So if you figure in you going to put lets say 1000# of stuff in your camper then you would need that dry weight is no more then 4500 or less. Now if you install a tow package toyota specs.Would still only give you 6200Lbs cause of the diffrent rear end and tire size that come on those models. So you would still be okay but you got no room you would be maxed out. But you would be 600 lbs over right now as you sit. Hope this helps ..

[bikendan]

good Tundra info, kodiedogs!

you wouldn't happen to know the rear end ratio difference between the factory tow package and the no factory tow package?

[teddy]

Hi Don:
For your information, this is from the 2014 Toyota Tundra brochure.
Tow Package includes: towing hitch receiver, trailer brake controller prewire, TOW/HAUL Mode switch, supplemental engine oil cooler, supplemental transmission cooler, heavy-duty battery, 170-amp. alternator and 4/7-pin connector.
The engine and tranny will work harder and get hotter, thus you need better cooling capacity.

[Don and Dale]

Thanks Kodiedogs and everyone. Bottom line here is that I'm pretty much out of luck with the my TV as it's set up (no tow package) and wanting the 23IKSS Roo. Thinking back, and this being the first year Tundra (I am the original owner), I'm not sure a tow package was even offered. Regardless, I don't have it and I don't want to damage either the TV or TT (or worse) by overstepping the overall capabilities of the complete setup, no matter what that will end up being. I read through so many posts like this one to try and find the answer to my questions before posting. I understand there are so many variables to this type question and I thank everyone for their input and knowledge. We are now looking at the 23SS version as a possibility.

[Don and Dale]

Originally Posted by bikendan

you wouldn't happen to know the rear end ratio difference between the factory tow package and the no factory tow package?

Bikendan,

I went and pulled out my original window sticker and it shows the differential ratio of the truck as 3.916.

[dcheatwood]

I had '02 tundra access cab with 4.7. Towed a 26' jayco at 4400 dry to Yellowstone and back to LA. Would not do it again with that engine and would have suffered greatly with a heavier trailer. Headwinds in NE New Mexico and southern Colorado held me down to 35 mph. Could not get any faster even on flat roads. Without headwinds it pulled OK but slowed greatly on steep hills.

Sent from my XT907 using Forest River Forums mobile app

[Don and Dale]

Ouchie Dave..... down to 35 on the flats w/headwinds? That had to have hurt. Though maybe uncommon, it is something to think about as a possibility. I see that you changed up TT and TV? How's that combo working out for ya?

[dcheatwood]

Originally Posted by Don and Dale

Ouchie Dave..... down to 35 on the flats w/headwinds? That had to have hurt. Though maybe uncommon, it is something to think about as a possibility. I see that you changed up TT and TV? How's that combo working out for ya?

Huge difference. The 5.7L is a work horse. Don't get me wrong. I towed that little Jayco with the 4.7 all over the south, and sometimes with an ATV in the bed. It did good but not under extra strain. Those headwinds were about 25-35 mph and I could floor it and could not speed up. Couldn't even get a downshift sometimes. Lol. But my uncle bought it from me and still driving it.
I'm on my second 5er with the 08 tundra. Current one is 7700 dry. Love it. Tow limit is 10,600 so plenty of room but the pin weight is the issue with half ton. Mine is 1150 dry. I have airbags and they keep me level.
Good luck with your deal. Keep us posted.


Sent from my XT907 using Forest River Forums mobile app

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Originally Posted by Don and Dale

Thanks Kodiedogs and everyone. Bottom line here is that I'm pretty much out of luck with the my TV as it's set up (no tow package) and wanting the 23IKSS Roo. Thinking back, and this being the first year Tundra (I am the original owner), I'm not sure a tow package was even offered. Regardless, I don't have it and I don't want to damage either the TV or TT (or worse) by overstepping the overall capabilities of the complete setup, no matter what that will end up being. I read through so many posts like this one to try and find the answer to my questions before posting. I understand there are so many variables to this type question and I thank everyone for their input and knowledge. We are now looking at the 23SS version as a possibility.

Have you thought about trading up to a newer (used) Tundra that will be properly outfitted to pull the camper you are most interested in?

[Don and Dale]

Cajun....
Yes we are open to all options at this point. Didn't really want to go with new/used TV, but will if necessary!
Thanks for the question.

[Don and Dale]

Dave,
Nice setup. We were looking at that same Rockwood 5th. Love that!