Toyota has become a part and parcel of customers who want vehicles and vehicle parts at a cost-effective rate and guaranteed reliability. This company is responsible for manufacturing some of the best and most legendary cars of the 21st century. The first pick-up truck that had a V8 engine was made by this company and the truck was Toyota Tundra.
Towing and payload are key features of the Toyota Tundra that set it apart from all other vehicles. This truck can double as a family transporting vehicle and a payload carrier whenever necessary. However, the 5th wheel is something that can be towed by some Toyota Tundra truck models under various conditions.
Simplifying Toyota Tundra Model Varieties
The Toyota Tundra was first released in 1999 by the Japanese company Toyota to compete with the ongoing champion Ford F150 pick-up truck. The first models of Toyota Tundra looked more like pickup trucks and had only the driver and passenger seat. Later after 2005, the 1st Gen Toyota Tundra produced 4-seater models and named them Double Cab.
The 2nd Gen models of Toyota Tundra were manufactured keeping the dual advantage as well as off-roading in mind. That’s why the dimensions of the truck were made larger and the engine was pumped up to intake 5.7l oil and 26.4l fuel. These were the brand-new Gens that introduced Double Cab and Crew Max in 2018, both had their specialties and downsides.
The 2nd Gen produced the most trucks from 2007 to 2021 and will continue until the 3rd Gen production begins. The 3rd Gen of Toyota Tundra will be released in early 2022 and the manufacturers have declared that the truck will have greater mileage and cost a bit more than its former generations.
The list below involves Toyota Tundra trucks manufacturing years and upgrades:
1st Gen Toyota Tundra Production: 1999-2006
Toyota Tundra Basic Cab Production: 1999-2006
Toyota Tundra Double Cab Production: 2005
2nd Gen Toyota Tundra Production: 2007-2021
2nd Gen Toyota Tundra Double Cab (New Model) Production: 2018-2021
2nd Gen Toyota Tundra Crew Max Production: 2018-2021
3rd Gen Toyota Tundra Production: Coming Out in 2022
Toyota Tundra Tows 5th Wheel – Reviewing Camping Trip
Toyota Tundra Towing Capacity
Since Toyota Tundra has a large variety of models including 3 generations of upgrades, the towing capacity of every model and upgrade is different from one another. As a result, even if you buy the lightest 5th wheel, all of the Toyota Tundra trucks models can’t tow it. The individual towing capacities are provided below:
1st Gen Toyota Tundra Basic Cab
The 1999 Toyota Tundra Basic Cab was designed to tow up to 7,200lbs. Meanwhile, the average weight of a 5th Wheel is about 12,000lbs to 15,000lbs. Even if you buy the lightest wheel which is 7,000lbs, the only object you will be carrying with the truck is that 5th Wheel. So, attaching a 5th Wheel to the 1st Gen Basic Cab is discouraged.
1st Gen Toyota Tundra Double Cab
The Double Cab model of Toyota Tundra was released in 2005 and has more seating space than the Basic Cab. Unfortunately, this model can only tow up to 6,800lbs. This truck can’t tow the lightest 7,000lbs 5th Wheel through and through.
2nd Gen Toyota Tundra Basic Model
The first models of the Toyota Tundra were released from 2007 to 2017 and looked as powerful as they were bulky. The size of these trucks was larger and the engine was ramped up to tow and carry more payload as well. With a torque of 3,600rpm, this truck can tow up to 10,200lbs which means it’s the optimal truck for towing a 5th Wheel with a weight of 7,000lbs.
2nd Gen Toyota Tundra Double Cab (New)
The Toyota Tundra Double Cab released in 2018 can tow the lightest 5th Wheel only if it has a 5.7l V8 Engine. That’s because the 5.7l V8 can tow up to 9,900lbs of weight whereas the 4.8l V8 engine carries only 6,800lbs. So, make sure to use the 5.7l V8 engine if you want to tow a 5th Wheel.
2nd Gen Toyota Tundra Crew Max
The 2nd Gen Toyota Tundra Crew Max is specialized for carrying passengers with the best comfort rather than carrying heavy payloads. For this reason, the Crew Max only carries up to 9,200lbs of payload. It’s quite a sacrifice to carry a 5th Wheel with this truck model since only 2,200lbs is left and the truck’s towing days will halt.
3rd Gen Toyota Tundra (Unreleased)
The 3rd Gen Toyota Tundra will come out in 2022 and is expected to have more than 12,000lbs of towing capacity. All the lacking of the two previous Gens of Toyota Tundra is expected to be fulfilled with this model. So, carrying the lightest 5th Wheel with this truck model is the best choice.
Things To Remember Before Buying A 5th Wheel
The 5th Wheel is an optional upgrade for your truck and ensures that you can live inside it and travel the world with comfort. However, Toyota Tundra may seem like a powerful truck that can carry tens of thousands of pounds but the reality is that they can only carry the lightest wheels that weigh about 7000lbs.
Remember the following advice before buying a 5th Wheel:
- Buy the lightest 5th Wheel available in the market and weighs about 7,000lbs
- Check if your truck model can carry the lightest 5th Wheel
- Don’t buy a 5th Wheel if your truck will only have 200-300lbs left after towing the 5th Wheel
- Buy a 5th Wheel that can handle rough turns and won’t risk tumbling over
- Don’t buy a 5th Wheel if you know you aren’t satisfied with the inner features since you’ll have to sacrifice quite a lot to buy the lightest 5th Wheel
- Make sure that your truck has a V8 engine of 5.7l since it is the optimal 5th Wheel towing
Parting Words
Toyota Tundra has one of the most versatile builds among pickup trucks. This truck will be the optimal build for carrying an average 5th Wheel once the 2022 model of the truck is released. The former models can also carry the lightest 5th Wheel if they fall into certain criteria.
A 5th Wheel is the best choice of transportation and comfort for travelers and family trips. It houses enough space to take a substantial amount of necessary house objects that can help you along the road. For this reason, buy a 5th Wheel that is optimal to your choice of taste as well as light enough for your Toyota Tundra truck to handle. Enough said.
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