Posted 2010-04-15 3:36 AM (#118841) Subject: towing weight (for the nine millionth question!)
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Hi all..
Am Looking at a truck.. Have kinda got it down between a Toyota Tundra 5.7L and a Dodge Ram..would LIKE a 2500 diesel, but the higher cost of maintenence is a drawback.. plus higher initial cost as well. the Toyota has a SRS (I think) tow package that gives it a tow weight of 10,100 lbs... . Both would be 4X4's. My question is: would 10,100 lbs tow wt be enough to pull, say a 2, possibly 3 horse goose neck with a weekend package? I am thinking to the future and if I am going to get a truck, I might as well get one that could safely pull a gooseneck with a light weekend package.. I prefer an all aluminum trailer, but am not locked in on that.. That is still a moot point as yet anyway..
Posted 2010-04-15 8:22 AM (#118849 - in reply to #118841) Subject: RE: towing weight (for the nine millionth question!)
Veteran
Posts: 144 Location: Hickory Hills, IL
Well I have no experience with the Tundra, but can tell you that going from a 1500 Ram to a 2500 Ram was a world of difference- and that was pulling a 3H stock trailer (trailer max wt was 7500# so within the pulling limits of the 1500, but only by 200#)The brakes are much better and the HD trucks just ride a ton better when loaded. Also after just one year towing with the 1500 I had to replace ball joints and u-joints on the 1500- it was 6 years old when we got it so it may have just been time... The 2500 has not been in the shop yet and has 68K and towing probably 80% of that 68K (and hauling hay 10% more). Just my $.02 on the matter- the 1/2 ton trucks have serious tow ratings now (look at the F150 11,400lbs vs the F250 base @ 9,200?!?!!).I would still rather have a 3/4 ton truck hauling my trailer.Cheers!~K
Posted 2010-04-15 8:38 AM (#118852 - in reply to #118841) Subject: RE: towing weight (for the nine millionth question!)
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I'm not going to argue one brand of truck over another.
From a trailer standpoint, you can purchase a well built all aluminum 3H GN trailer, with a 4' short wall and fully equipped weekender LQ that weighs ~ 5600#. With a couple of horses and gear, you will still be under a 10K limitation.
Posted 2010-04-15 9:31 AM (#118858 - in reply to #118841) Subject: RE: towing weight (for the nine millionth question!)
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
I agree with Gard on differing brands of trucks.
I think you could be closer to the 10K than you think though... Trailer-5600 empty, 3 horses-3000, Tack-800, Food & drinks for 3 days-100, 30 gal water in tank-240, Couple bales of hay-150, 2 bags of grain-100, Propane in tanks-50, clothes in lq-50, 10,090#... And from experience it adds up faster than you realize.
Posted 2010-04-15 9:55 AM (#118863 - in reply to #118841) Subject: RE: towing weight (for the nine millionth question!)
Veteran
Posts: 144 Location: Hickory Hills, IL
My 4 horse Merhow Verylite with 4' short wall weighs in empty at only 4900# (that is verified scale weight- MFG plate reads 4500# empty, I guess the other 400# comes from the cabinets added after it left Merhow. My trailer has 5200# axles on it so weight limit is only 10,400lbs.:-)
Posted 2010-04-16 12:14 AM (#118907 - in reply to #118841) Subject: RE: towing weight (for the nine millionth question!)
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Thanks.. No.. I wasn't asking as to one brand over the other.. those are the two brands that I've narrowed it down to.. I'd rather have the diesel, but the higher initial cost and maintenence makes me seriously consider the gas engine.. so my question was just what you answered.. Could or would the gas engine do the job not only now with my little bumper pull (yes.. of course) but also in the future if I stumbled on a screaming good deal on a 2 or 3 horse goose neck.. I only have 2 horses.. both under 1000lbs roly poly fat.. so would not be using a third stall except for storage.. As I am the only one who camps.. likely a 2 horse (hauling 1) would do the job just as well..
Posted 2010-04-16 7:54 AM (#118915 - in reply to #118841) Subject: RE: towing weight (for the nine millionth question!)
Veteran
Posts: 123 Location: Indiana
Like whats been pointed out before in other posts, it's really not about towing, it's about stopping. From that standpoint the Dodge would most likely be better suited for that purpose (insert Toyota joke here). I'm a big fan of the Tundra and Titan(Nissan) when it comes to 1/2 ton trucks, but you would be better off with a 3/4 ton truck. As far as towing a goosneck, I've never seen a Tundra towing anything other than bumper pulls or travel trailers. Have you asked the service department at the dealership if you can even put a gooseneck hitch in it? I know the original Titan was almost impossible to put any type of hitch in the bed.
Posted 2010-04-29 2:20 PM (#119505 - in reply to #118841) Subject: RE: towing weight (for the nine millionth question!)
New User
Posts: 3
I actually was in the same boat as you. I bought the Toyota Tundra 5.7 with towing package, which by the way has a tow rating of 10,800. It drives like a dream!! I like a 3/4 ton but I wanted a truck I could drive everyday. I tow occasionally but when you compare that with your everyday miles its important to have good gas mileage and a comfortable ride. Did I say that I love my Tundra?I just bought a Featherlite 2 horse aluminum trailer. I tried the Sundowner but it was too heavy in the nose. The Featherlite weighs only 3300lbs and the tongue weight was much lighter since the nose is so much lighter. You can't only compare 1/2 to 3/4. Within the 1/2 ton's are different trucks that have different specs. The Tundra with the tow package was built to tow. heavier suspension, transmission cooler, built in wiring, different rear axle ratio... so you have to look at each truck individually. As far as breaking goes. The truck is beefy and I am using a high quality inertia break control so its not just the truck stopping the trailer. You will be limited as far as hauling and will probably get an all aluminum trailer and no, I wouldn't try to haul a steel 3 horse with a weekender package. But in the end, I drive this truck 365 days out of the year and only haul a few times and not in mountains either. Gas milage was very important to me and my Tundra gets 18 City and 22 highway. Just know your limitations and shop for your trailer with that in mind.
Posted 2010-04-29 4:06 PM (#119506 - in reply to #118841) Subject: RE: towing weight (for the nine millionth question!)
Veteran
Posts: 229
rocky, If you don't want to keep buying trucks and you camp, think about going ahead and getting a 3/4 ton deisel. It seems like nobody goes backwards unless they totally get out of the horse thing. There are so many screaming good deals out there on LQ horse trailers. The thing about the deisels is, if you don't like to buy trucks every few years, and you like your truck, you can keep it a long, long time. Yes, the oil changes cost more, and you need to change the fuel filters more often, but that seems to be about it. I have two 3/4 ton deisels, one a 92 and both SRW and my only regret is that I didn't hold out for a dually when I bought the newer one. Now I am in the position of being maxed out on the truck side and I don't want to sell my paid for, very happy with it truck and go trough the stress and $ of a new truck purchase. Just something to think about.
Posted 2010-04-29 10:24 PM (#119519 - in reply to #118841) Subject: RE: towing weight (for the nine millionth question!)
New User
Posts: 3
Well, I guess I am one that that went backwards, cause I had a GMS Duramax with Allison transmission before and I just found it complete overkill to go to 6 or 10 horse shows a year. The truck costs more, the maintenance costs more, the Diesel costs more and it gets miles. Was no doubt an awesome truck! Hauled like a charm but also more like 40K... which is about 16K more then my Tundra. I wanted a truck that I could use everyday PLUS haul a GN to the occasional show. If I needed to go every weekend and drive through the mountains then yes, go with a 3/4 ton. But I downsized since it just didn't make sense as my primary vehicle.
towing weight (for the nine millionth question!)
