Real Tow Calculations

[SparkeyBob]

I have a 21FBRS. Prior to it I had a 21' Sunline. I have towed both with a 2006 Tundra without one problem. However...someone is always informing me that I do not have enough truck for the job. My dealer showed me a chart that put my Tundra in the "Green" zone for the 21FBRS. Then my sales person told me that all changes with; tow package, transmission cooler, type of hitch, type of trailer anti sway package, type of tires and of course the weather and road traveling. Is there a guide out there that is not bias to truck type. What is the best and safest tow system without breaking the bank?

[acadianbob]

Well, I don't know the exact specifications for your Tundra. But your trailer has dry weights of less than 500 pounds for tongue and less than 5,000 pounds for GVW. It is hard to imagine that your Tundra is not capable of towing this trailer; even though it is smaller than the current Tundra. Who is telling you that your truck is insufficient?

Get the towing specs on your truck. Check out your payload capacity and gross trailer weight capacity. Then you can put your mind at ease.

I did a quick cursory look and it seems like your Tundra's trailer weight rating is about 6,500 pounds. There may be a sticker on your driver door jam that gives you your payload capacity.

[Wmoses]

Bob - there is so much misinformation out there that it will make your head spin. Just look at the RV.NET forums for a good indication.

We have no idea of your truck since your signature does not have any clues as to its capacity, but it does look like an older Tundra, going by the picture in your profile. Added to that we would need weights of the payload in the truck and the loaded weight of the trailer. You could well be overloaded.

Meanwhile you can check the Trailer Life Towing Guides to show what the truck's capacity could be fully loaded with gas and I believe with a 150# driver. Anything other than that reduces the payload, and working backwards from the remaining payload, you can calculate the max gross weight of the trailer.

[donanddona]

You could press the tire to their max pressure when towing. But then again they are most probably a passenger tire. The picture shows what a passenger tire does. After, I put a set of Continential "LT" tires on. You still need to press them up to 75 psi when towing.

[Twisty]

Just fill it up and hit the road!

[SKnight]

If you're under the tongue rating.

If you're under the tow rating.

If you don't exceed the GCWR.

If you don't exceed the GVWR.

Then tell them to go pound sand. Frankly, all that needs to be said. I found more than one website that has a calculator where you put your ratings in then what you're towing.

It said my truck, which is rated to tow 13,000lbs, could safely tow 6,400lbs. No kidding. Plenty of opinions online but the numbers on the door and in the manual are based on testing and again by the legal department.

So, if your numbers are good, tell them to go pound sand, again.