Is 2017 Toyota Tundra Suitable for Towing a 6K Travel Trailer

Question:

I am at the end of my Lease on my Chevy Silverado and about to turn it in .I am thinks my about a Toyota Tundra but I have a Travel Trailer that just weighs just over 6000 lbs would the Tundra be a improvement or a step back to tow my trailer.

asked by: Patrick D

Expert Reply:

It is always preferable to have extra capacity/safety margin in any towing set up.

The 2017 Tundra tow rating varies from a low of 6400-lbs up to just over 10,000-lbs depending on how it is equipped at the factory. Certainly the lower capacity version would not be ideal; you would be right at the truck's towing limit. If you select a tow-package-equipped version then the truck would certainly be capable of towing a 6K travel trailer with room to spare.

Toyota does note in their online Tundra manual that for a trailer over 5K weight you should use a weight distribution system to spread the trailer tongue weight load. Weight distribution systems even out the load across the truck's axles to restore your steering and braking performance and they also help prevent trailer sway from passing truck and wind gusts.

For a 6K trailer the tongue weight (TW) will be around 800-lbs. For a trailer with this TW you could use a system such as # EQ37100ET which works over a TW range of 600- to 1000-lbs. You need to include the weight of any cargo behind the truck's rear axle in your total TW figure. A scale to measure the trailer TW, part # e99044, makes this easier.

expert reply by: Adam R