Tundra Towing FR Flagstaff Classic 8528RKWS

[Trawlerphil]

First let me state I'm an old "gear head". Some of the RV sites don't believe an F-450 can tow a grocery cart. Our 5th wheel is roughly 9,000 lbs. fully loaded and it has electric brakes driven by a Tekonsa controller. I know some people never met a rule or regulation they didn't love, but my strategy was to look at the pieces-parts of the truck to determine if there are any likely problem areas and then prove/disprove it with actual road tests. Here's my assessment:
Tundra HP is 381, plenty of power
Tundra Tranny is a 6 speed with tow/haul programming, not a likely problem
Tundra rear end is 4.30, no problem here
Tundra brakes are 13.9", no problem here and the Flagstaff has its own brakes
Tundra has Michelin Load Range E tires, no problem here
Tundra has Timbren suspension upgrade--handy, but neutral value
Tundra has a 16K PullRite auto slider hitch, no problem here

We towed the Flagstaff from Charleston SC to Aurora NC at 70MPH on Route 95 and the Tundra felt like it wasn't even towing a 5th wheel. Using E10 and "normal" shift parameters, we got 10MPG. This week we've got another trip planned and will try zero ethanol and the tow/haul shift programming. In May we're going on a southern "walk-about" and will try mid-range gas to see if we can get the mileage up to 12 MPG. If that works a brief spreadsheet analysis proves it is more cost effective than 10MPG with E10.

Lastly, a few thoughts about specifications. If the Tundra engineers say the maximum payload is 2000 lbs. (see their 2007 manure advertisement at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uubBXDANZHs

) you can be fairly sure the product liability lawyers at Toyota will cut the published payload back by at least 20 or 30%.

Bottom line, do I have any concerns about towing the FR Flagstaff Classic 8528RKWS? No, I don't.

[B and B]

What does your yellow sticker say for CCC? That is based upon options at delivery.

[bshort]

Well alrighty then..........

[Trawlerphil]

Originally Posted by B and B

What does your yellow sticker say for CCC? That is based upon options at delivery.

TOW VEHICLE
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR): 16,000 Lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): 7,200 Lbs
Vehicle's Maximum Payload Rating: 1,640 Lbs
Vehicle's Empty Curb Weight: 5,460 Lbs
Vehicle's Tow Rating: 9,800 Lbs
Rear Axle Weight Rating (RAWR): 4,150 Lbs

TRAILER
Trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): 9,020 Lbs
Calculated Tongue Weight (20% of Trailer GVWR): 1,804 Lbs (my estimate, haven't weighed it as yet)
Trailer's Empty Curb Weight: 7,462 Lbs
Trailer Maximum Payload Rating (Capacity): 1,558 Lbs

I measured the height of the top of the bed at 57" and then hitched up the 5th wheel. The new measurement was 56" do the actual pin weight may be a lot less than my 20% estimate.

[Steeljag]

The yellow CCC sticker on your drivers door reads 1640 lbs ?

You calculations show pin weight on FW to be 1804 lbs ? Does this include the FW hitch in bed of truck ?

Passengers and gear weight in your truck equals ?

[ronheater70]

Me's thinking you are over your cargo limit.. Significantly if I am reading your numbers right..

[goduc]

Go weigh your setup. Then you'll know how much you're overweight and then only you can decide if it's good or not. The nice thing about 5th wheels is they're more forgiving in the handling department. If your unit was a TT you'd be hard pressed to say it handles fine.
Just wondering, you mention you have Timbrens. You also state that the rear only drops 1". whats the gap between the Timbren and the axle? I'm thinking 1". Take out the Timbrens and you'll drop 3".
You know if it floats your boat then go for it. I would want a little more cushion myself.
I would have no problem being a couple 100 lbs overweight though.

[B and B]

I did and I was overweight with my Rockwood and the F 150 with payload more than yours.

[jodyfj40]

Man if I could get 10mpg pulling my wildwood 28DBK with my tundra I would be very happy. I'm at 7-8.

[donanddona]

Towed my 8528BHSSfor six years and then and only then we decided to upgrade to 40' so we traded for a 6.7 F250. My Tundra kicked booty...

[Claude002]

Had a tundra before----check your wheel nuts every trip--every day like truckers---had 1 wheel 2 nuts fell off the others were loose--happened 2 times-- 2e time 1 bolt that holds the nut came off completely almost had a disaster. Not sure about this but toyota only as 5 nuts per wheel--others ford/gm/chrysler have 6 or 8, by carefull

[Trawlerphil]

Originally Posted by Steeljag

The yellow CCC sticker on your drivers door reads 1640 lbs ?

You calculations show pin weight on FW to be 1804 lbs ? Does this include the FW hitch in bed of truck ?

Passengers and gear weight in your truck equals ?

The dry pin weight is 1089 lbs. My 20% of the total was just a guesstimate

[Trawlerphil]

Try midrange gas and use the Tow/Haul settings. The guy I bought the Flagstaff from also had a 2012 Tundra 5.7 and he said he got 12 pretty regularly.

[HONDAMAN174]

12? Maybe empty- or downhills. We get 7-8 also pulling 7500k

[HAMMDOWN]

You know I have to weigh in here. First off IMO best truck made. Ive pulled my 8289 to Florida to NW Ohio 2x to the U.P. so far over 4000 mi. in one year would of been more but still working and have had no problems with my 2013 Tundra pulling it. I averaged 9-10 mpg Now if Toyota comes up with a 3/4 or 1 ton I will get a bigger trailer

[Trawlerphil]

Originally Posted by HONDAMAN174

12? Maybe empty- or downhills. We get 7-8 also pulling 7500k

I've had my 2012 Tundra since March and I'm really anal, logging every fuel purchase into my spreadsheet. I get between 16 and 17 using E-10 and I'm experimenting with zero ethanol and midrange while towing, so I'll have more data later this year when we cross country

What mileage do you get when you aren't towing?

[itat]

I don't understand the point of this thread? It doesn't sound like the OP is asking for or interested in anyone's opinion.

[HONDAMAN174]

We get 13 around town.

[Trawlerphil]

Originally Posted by HONDAMAN174

We get 13 around town.

I suspect the difference between your 13 and my 16-17 is my "town" doesn't even have a stop sign. The grocery store is 22 miles away. The only other possibility is you might like teasing those 381 horses more than I do!

[ProCharger]

I am 13 or so city, 17 or so highway under 70mph. I was getting 22mpg at 65mph hand calculated mpg highway with stock tires but went to a nitto terra grappler load range E and dropped milage by quite a bit, same height tire.