Best Towing Half Ton Ever - Toyota Tundra 5.7L V8

Ram 1500, Sierra/Siverado 1500, Titan, F150, even 3rd generation Tundra...I dare you to disagree that the 2nd generation Tundra with 5.7L engine, 4.30 rear axle, and a 38 gallon fuel tank is the most efficient towing half-ton with the best range and the greatest reliability,

[@SuperSnakePlissken]

💯. I’ve been towing for the last 20 years with my business nothing really heavy typically between 5000 and 8000 pounds and I own several trucks. My current truck is a 2021 tundra and by far it pulls better than any other truck owned Ford, GM, and Dodge. It alsogets the best gas mileage while towing than any other truck I’ve had including that Ford I had which was an Eco boost. I credited a lot of it to that 4.30 axel ratio because off the line I argue that it’s as fast as my twin Turbo was and it’s just an absolute pleasure to drive with. Just like you said that 38 gallon tank is a lifesaver. With the 24 gallon tank my range was barely 150 miles on my F-150 ecoboost. Overall it’s the best truck I’ve ever had in every category. I hope it lasts me 25 years.

[@kedrevs4037]

Awesome commentary, thanks Snake

[@nickgrant42]

The most reliable half ton truck ever in my opinion.

[@kedrevs4037]

just been great.

[@ksbond7287]

I have a ‘19 that I tow my Arctic Fox trailer with. I scale out at 8200 lbs which is the max I’d want to tow with this truck. I installed a tranny cooler, bags, and tow mirrors. Love the truck. It pulls and pulls and with my WDH dialed the truck drives nicely down the road. I’m thinking of doing a video showing the airbag install because I haven’t send anyone else talk about it. Good video here and I agree with the assessment.

[@kedrevs4037]

Great info, the airbag install would be great.

[@OfficialAing]

Such a good KZbin channel! I just got a 1794 Tundra, gonna be posting it on my channel! Love this truck! 🔥🔥

[@kedrevs4037]

Just a fantastically capable half ton.

[@Swindy1794]

As I’ve stated before, im keeping my 19’ Tundra 1794 till the wheels fall off! … probably be a long time. 😊

[@kedrevs4037]

Yes sir, right choice

[@johnmurray6820]

I completely agree! We love our 2018 Tundra and it tows our Rockwood travel trailer perfectly!! LOVE IT!

[@kedrevs4037]

IT's such a great half to for doing "truck work"

[@ShawnPatterson402]

absolutely no doubt your Tundra is a great truck and a great tow vehicle. Actually thinking about changing my 2015 F150 for a 2018 1794 that is available, but darn they want a lot of cash to do the change. I do think my 3.5 Ecoboost would match those speed and fuel economy numbers, but I think your Toyota V8 will probably vastly outlive my darn turbocharged thing. No issues at all yet after 90,000 miles, but nonetheless I think I would feel more comfortable long run with a V8 rather then a 6 cylinder turbo. time will tell I guess. Damn shame in my opinion that the new Tundra is what it is. No more V8, and a downgraded rear axle. Not too mention that the new one is as ugly as s***. Oh well. As always safe travels.

[@Swindy1794]

I’d trade in that Ford in a heartbeat!!! Buy the 1794, you wont be sorry. Btw, 2018 is the last year the Tundra came with the transmission cooler…. Don’t wait, buy it!

[@kedrevs4037]

Appreciate the comments. Depreciation of Tundras seems to be far more about miles than model years.

[@fire58372001]

I got a 2012 & used it for hotshot towing. It's the best truck out there. I used to drive across the USA 6X a year. It's the most reliable truck out there. Start getting parts foe COLD AIR INTAKE. It will go bad & suddenly. That's a $4K repair. I live in S.E.Ga. & the dealer told me that this is common in Toyota trucks. Drive safe. 🤠🤠

[@kedrevs4037]

Appreciate the great info

[@nonexistence7986]

The tundra is an impressive cruiser. Roadtrip from Maine to Georgia is just epic

[@kedrevs4037]

Yep, I do legs like that at last half dozen times every year.

[@ksbond7287]

I forgot to mention something else I learned recently. The new tundras have a 9.5” rear diff (except the trd pro). The 5.7 from 07-21 all have a 10.5”. My HD Duramax had the same size diff! I love towing with the tundra.

[@kedrevs4037]

Yep, most recognize the capability of the 5.7, But the 10.5” ring gear and 4.30 axle ratio are part of the reason this is such a reliable tow vehicle

[@somedayistodayrv]

It is the best ever, hands down and thanks for the video about the Tundra. Take care.

[@Danny-tk3rs]

Hello… I have been watching your videos.. Thanks for all of your helpful information for a travel trailer newbie! I have one question ( especially for your out west trips)… do you ever carry extra gas ( just in case)? And if you do… what kind of container is best and where do you carry them? ( if you addressed this in a video I may have missed… just point me there) Thanks again!😊

[@DC_PRL]

I was gonna get one with this engine, brand new.....but toyota decided to change the engine line up. I will buy F250 instead when the time comes. No turbos for me...I work on my equipment and don't need those complications.

[@kedrevs4037]

I hear you

[@MCatwar]

I'm in the market for a new truck and ugh I really do want to get a 5.7 tundra but I just don't know if I can if towing 2 cars is in the future for me. i currently have a 1997 f250hd with the 7.3 and besides the comfort etc I just don't see this as much of an upgrade. I was excited and then realized the camper trailer is only 6000lbs. with a car on a tilt deck trailer I'm at 7500lbs and I currently get about 16mpg at ~68mph, so I just don't know if a new tundra is feasible. I really do love them though

[@kedrevs4037]

If I were towing 2 cars at a time, I would stick HD.

[@Chuy00quiles]

Love my 21 platinum. Random question, where can I find that rear bumper step to get in and out of the bed? I can’t seem to find it anywhere.

[@duggydo]

What's your normal oil change interval? You may have mentioned in another video, but I don't remember. I have been going to 5000 on mine.

[@kedrevs4037]

its about 5k, I always do it within about500 miles of along towing trip( ~3,500 to 6,500k mile trips), then right when I get back. Rarely do I need to do it between trips

[@luigimorra2644]

Hey, another great video. I have a question about tires, I have a 21 Chevy with 20” rims. Tire size is 275/60/20. I tow a 7000lbs trailer , do you think it worth getting E load tires?

[@kedrevs4037]

I wouldn’t for that size trailer on a 20” rim. My go to tire is a Michelin Defender LTX M/S2

[@jilllang4074]

@kedrevs4037 we really need some advice and kind of quickly…we just bought a 2024 grand surveyor 253rls and it has a dry weight of 6632 and the GVWR of 7815 it has 2 axles 3500 and a hitch weight of 815. We are looking to tow it with a 2019 Toyota Tundra Platinum Crew Max with a payload of 1185, front axle 4000, rear axle 4150, and a GVWR of 7200. After watching many of your videos we feel like this tundra will tow this trailer but would like your opinion. Thanks!

[@kedrevs4037]

Didn't have any trouble towing the Lance that I had that was 6k dry with 7200 GVWR. I think you'll be fine as long as you have a good WDH with sway control. I have the same truck with the same 1185 Payload and 8800 lbs towing capacity.

[@mikethediverguy]

Kind of late - but take your rig loaded as you would on a trip and get it weighed at a CAT scale and get the real numbers... Guestimate (realistic upper limit) for tongue weight is 15% of the trailer's GVWR. So for your trailer that would be 7815*0.15=1172 lbs. Subtract that from your payload and you get 1185-1172=13 lbs. So that's how much driver, passengers, and stuff you have in the truck can weigh... Of course, you have to take the front and rear axle weights into consideration - but only a readout from a CAT scale will get you those. If you overload the truck and have an accident, your insurance company may reject your claim if they find out you overloaded it.

[@luigimorra2644]

Ok thanks for your input

[@coolftp]

The new Tundra pulls better, especially the hybrid version (its weight then probably exceeds 6k lbs), the Titan XD pulls better, the new version of Silverado after 2019 pulls at least the same, if not better. It is worth checking not only the first gear ratio (in this Tundra it is probably 4.30), but also the entire gear ratio, because the lowest gear ratios are important mainly when transmitting power at low speeds; then the frame, its spacing, height, stiffness, brakes and the length and weight of the car are important. - which you probably know. This version of the Tundra has a relatively far rear axle (compared to the first version of the Tundra, which, by the way, did not pull very well), which also translates into reduced trailer pressure. I think that by selecting (through trial and error) the optimal combination for towing this trailer, you could get closer to 14, maybe even 15 MPG.

[@kedrevs4037]

"Pulls better", hear this a lot. Powerboost, theoretically pulls better thank creates more HP and Torque than Ford's 7.3 Godzilla. Displacement matters when you talk about longevity of a work vehicle. More power out of lower displacement is less reliability.

[@coolftp]

"less reliability" - we don't know this yet, because not enough time has passed, but let's be honest: what percentage of users drive the same car until the engine stops? Something else in the car will probably fail first. When I say "pulls better", I mean not only the engine boost (which I personally don't like - I prefer a V8 with more gears), but also the truck's construction - frames, gearbox behavior, brakes, etc. The world has gone a long way - despite the pandemic - I think that it is worth trying many alternatives and - perhaps - ending the myth of the old Tundra. The new Chevy, new Tundra and Titan XD really do pull trailers better/more confidently and usually more economically (especially the V8 with the 8-10 speed and new frame designs, etc.).@@kedrevs4037

[@raulbueno4284]

My 2005 Toyota tundra

[@kedrevs4037]

I would probably argue same if I had the 4.7 gen 1

[@fbinseofficial]

Hello, sir, we have a CarPlay AI Box that may be fit for your Toyota, just wondering if you are interested in testing it for free?

[@marksr8784]

Certainly not my 95 Ram....I'm on fumes at about 190 miles towing a similar weight 🏕✌🏿

[@kedrevs4037]

If I had a ‘95 Ram that still towed, I’d be seeing how long I could push that ride around too.

[@Tailwind1]

And the next question is... what is the replacement when it's worn out... F-250 gas?

[@kedrevs4037]

That question haunts me everyday...and I probably shouldn't be worried for a decade.

[@Danny-tk3rs]

I have been thinking about this myself for a while… and since I have been home sick for a few days… I have been researching hard between a used ‘19-21 Tundra with low mileage ( add airbags, tranny cooler etc)… and thank you your videos have been SO informative and helpful… I WANT to buy toyota… but one factor is leaning me towards an F250 super duty… my trailer tongue weight is 700lbs ( could be a little more if loaded)… I plan to purchase a fiberglass cap ( maybe 100lbs)… a ladder rack around and over the cap ( maybe 100lbs) … 2 kayaks each 90 lbs)….so at that point my payload is 1100 and then add me and wife get to 1450…. dog…. 1500 … larger fuel tank and I am pushing the payload limits… without anything in the bed ( gear) or a grandson in the future… then I am over… so … as much as I love and want the Tundra… I would get double the payload in an F250 ….so I would not have to worry about that… and ( I don’t know this… as I have only towed small boats all my life)… but I have been reading that you feel more safe and planted when there is wind or a Trucker passes you… Would love to know your thoughts on my thinking. Again, finding your channel and watching has informed me so much … as this will be a huge investment and I don’t want to waste money either overdoing something or underdoing something ( by the way… Toyota made a super duty 250 size truck… that would be the winner … and if there was a bigger aftermarket tank for the Nissan HD… I would think of that too… sadly neither is an option) Thanks Danny, Nazareth, PA

[@Swindy1794]

Toyota F*@#ed up in my opinion deleting the V8… most were perfectly happy.. except for our “snowflakes” one thing and one thing only, MPG. This is a truck right? Heavy, 4wd, even the new ones aren’t so great. Personally, i think Mike Sweers should be fired for making basically No major improvements other than an ugly, overpriced (still) gas hog for us the customer.

[@mjuberian]

Ditto to that.

[@mjuberian]

Unbelievably ugly.. can not stand the "new" tundras... yuck!

[@duggydo]

The problem was Federal government rules. If they had not, they would have not met the requirements and been fined or not allowed to sell vehicles in the US. Don't give up a V8 truck if you've got one now. You won't be able to get one from any manufacturers soon.

[@francolopez8128]

@@duggydo We need to shut down the EPA or reign in their power. We are going backward on engines with their environmental requirements. We the consumers end up as the ones who pay for the lower reliable engines that need fixing/maintenance more often, whether it's a diesel or gas engine.

[@duggydo]

@@francolopez8128 as long as democrats keep getting elected, we are screwed.

[@Rottingboards]

You should now buy a 2024, make videos against your 5.7L and take the deduction off your taxes.

[@kedrevs4037]

Haha, I'd consider it, but I am not interested in that thing blowing up on me and ruining a trip.

[@dougsmith7195]

Not really, my 2017 Tundra gets 11 mpg towing my 19’ 3500lbs travel trailer. My 2017 4Runner got 15mpg towing my 17’ trailer, which I was happy with., note near sea level. Both Escape fibreglass trailers, similar to the Casitas. Best towing half ton, I would pick the 3.0 EcoDiesel or 3.0 Duramax. The Tundra wins in reliability for me but not best towing.

[@kedrevs4037]

Don't know why you do so poor with your tundra, and well with 4runner. Neither of our 4runners get those mpg's towing.

[@danielstairjr]

I had a 2019 4Runner TRD Off Road and it only got 10.5 - 11mpg pulling a 15-foot, 2,000-lb travel trailer. Because of the small fuel tank, I had to stop for gas about every 150 to 175 miles. The poor thing sounded like it was really struggling to deal with the wind resistance of the trailer. It did fine with a heavier utility trailer, but not a travel trailer that sat up a lot higher. So, when I took it in for an oil change, I ended up trading it for the 2018 Tundra that I have had for the last three years. The Tundra actually did a little better on fuel economy, likely because it wasn't as much of a strain on the engine compared with the V6. And, it will go twice as far between fill-ups, which I love. I liked the 4Runner a lot, but not for towing. And, my hopes that the new generation of Tacoma's might be a better option have now been cancelled since those now have a smaller tank than before and a little less towing capacity. Apparently, Toyota has no understanding of what Truck people really want or need. If they are making so many bad decisions about functionality, it will be interesting to see how the reliability of this new generation of stupid trucks turns out. I won't be buying a new Tundra or Tacoma. They'll probably ruin the new 4Runner also.

[@dougsmith7195]

@@danielstairjr When they redesigned the new Tundra they chose the tank size based on 4 hours of towing. Both the old Tundra tow a similar load for 4 hours so the tank size is irrelevant in a comparison, it’s a tie.

[@dougsmith7195]

@@kedrevs4037 We towed from Toronto to Los Angeles and back, I kept all the receipts and put them in a spreadsheet, worst through Utah at 14 MPG, best was Illinois at 17MPG. That was with my Escape 17B and 4Runner. Regret I ever sold that trailer. They build the best trailers on the planet. I love this Tundra but don’t get your fuel economy numbers. I have the TRD exhaust and try to drive slow, I call it whisper mode and still get poor economy. The 2017 Tundra has 40,000 miles.

[@danielstairjr]

@@dougsmith7195 That is based on the idea that the EPA estimated MPG is accurate and the new generation V6 Tundra gets better fuel economy when towing than the outgoing V8, which,. from what I have seen, is just not the reality of the situation. Toyota's 4-hour towing claim is likely their way of making excuses for their disappointing new Tundra...that and, "oh, we engineered it for horsepower rather than fuel economy", which is likely marketing B.S. in a world where they have been coerced into the smaller engine by climate alarmists and ESG terrorists. I worked in advertising and marketing for many years, and frankly, Toyota is not very good at it. They are insulting the intelligence of their customers, which is a bad plan and will drive people to shop elsewhere.