Towing with a Tundra - FYI

5030 · Dec 28, 2005

FarmDiesel:

Very interesating reply when, considering the Land of Lincoln still enforces the 73,280 pound weight limit in secondary roads even though it flies in the face of Federal Depatrment of Transportation guidelines. Talk about non-equality. Illinois, besides Michigan (where I reside) has some of the most conflicting weight and length requirements in the United States.

Let's not get into the Federal Bridge Law and how it relates to gross vehicle weight here.

Umgh:

Do you expect anything else? I believe in using the proper tool for the job. I'd never consider pulling my gooseneck with a Tundra or my motorcycle trailer with my 350. Likewise, I'd not consider pulling my 8 axle gravel train with my F350. It's all about sense and cents.

RayH · Dec 28, 2005

FarmDiesel'
Thank you,
I think we are pretty much in agreement. You are much more elequent than I am though.

Jagmandave · Jan 9, 2006

Just a few add on comments about the Tundra, I have an 05, V-8 2wd, which replaced an '03 same vehicle.....

Both my Tundra's had the factory hitch and towing package, which includes bigger radiator and trans cooler - which I think is a must if you're going to tow for a long distance or in really hot weather.

Previously I had a 99 Frod F150. I towed a 6k lb Vermeer chipper with both the ford and the 03 Tundra and found a couple of interesting comparisons. The Tundra's engine/trans/gearing hauled the load much easier than the Ford - MUCH easier! But, the Ford felt better, like it was more solid under the load. The Ford had 4wheel discs, the Tundra's have disc/drums, even with the uprated TRD suspension, so the Ford braked the load better.........

The Tundra back end does get a little loosy-goosy when you get close to a 1,000 lbs in the back, the Ford didn't. That said, the Tundra is so much more liveable in everyday driving than the Ford - quieter, smoother, more power, better ride etc. Reliability was not a factor on either brand - I've had no problems with any of them, although the 05 only has 3k miles so far.

Toyota is building a new truck assembly plant in San Antonio, due to open later this year, and at some point they will be building 3/4 and 1 ton trucks there.

I also have a few war stories regarding towing with what may be termed inappropriate vehicles......I towed one of those enclosed U-haul trailers (they look like a mini horse trailer) from Denver to California with a Porsche 914, I remember having to stop at the top of a couple of mtn passes to let it cool down a bit, but it hauled the weight really well.

I also hauled my boat, a 21ft Bayliner cuddy with a 145hp Chrysler outboard with my VW pickup (based on the Rabbit), however, even though it pulled the load just fine, in corners or under braking the boat was driving the truck, not the other way around! I only did this once!

What the heck, if you survive, you learn, you grow!

When you're older and smarter, you learn to do things the right way......... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Farmwithjunk · Jan 9, 2006

( I also have a few war stories regarding towing with what may be termed inappropriate vehicles..... )

Saw a bass boat being towed (in interstate traffic no less) by a Honda Goldwing once. Now there'd be a scene on the boat ramp. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

zjohnson · Jan 10, 2006

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Well that beats mine! My duck huntin buds and I witinessed 2 ole boys pull up to the boat dock early one morning on their Honda big red towing a duck boat(no lights, goodness knows how many miles on a public road with a 3 wheeler). Guess the Big Red would "tow" a light al duck boat better than a Goldwing would /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif a bass boat at interstate speeds!!!!!!!!!!!

sneaky_pete · Jan 11, 2006

Once, many years ago, I towed a VW Beetle with my Indian Chief. The old flathead pulled it easily, albeit not at interstate speed.

5030 · Jan 11, 2006

I think I am going to start a thread titled "I towed my M9000 with my Honda CRX"......what you think??

Reminds me of when I was a kid (years and years ago) when I was amazed at the ad of Charles Atlas pulling the Pullman railcar with his body and a rope. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

daTeacha · Jan 12, 2006

Continuing the stupid towing stories, back in days of being 20 something and just out of school, I traded a motorcycle for a ski boat, trailer and 65 hp Evinrude. (I felt safer with the boat after a close encounter with a Mack Truck and a large Buick while on the bike, despite the fact that I can't swim worth a lick.)

I rode the bike to the boat dealer, the wife followed in the Audi S90 wagon with a hitch. The trailer was a tiltbed, but not set up for this boat, apparently. When I hooked everything up and got the boat on the trailer, there was very little tongue weight. The guys at the boat store claimed to not know how to adjust the trailer, and I had never seen one like it before, so I just drove the thing the 40 or so miles home (over flat ground, fortunately) with the middle of the rig sticking up like a camel's hump. They hadn't secured the boat very well, either. When I got home and went out to unload it, the back of the car was sitting about 6 or 8 inches above level. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I think a few more miles would have gotten the rear wheels off the ground, but the thing was perfectly straight and stable when stopping and cornering.

turbo36 · Jan 12, 2006

(
Reminds me of when I was a kid (years and years ago) when I was amazed at the ad of Charles Atlas pulling the Pullman railcar with his body and a rope. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

How about Jack Lalanne pulling 70 rowboats? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif