Anybody Tow a Mac with a Toyota Tundra?

[richandlori]

oh, I often borrow my brothers 2004 Toyota Tundra "V8" to tow my Mac and frankly, I don't think the low wheel base of the Toyota is the best Mac towing truck. If not careful, it can get pretty "white knuckle" at 65 mph on the way to Oxnard from Bakersfield.

I would want something bigger if I was to get a truck specifically for towing.

Just my .002 cents.

[richandlori]

Holy Smokes! Those are some horror stories!

Here are my thoughts when I barrow either my dads or brothers truck to tow my Mac:
My insurance covers me, in any car I drive, so ANY damage that happens between the time that I take the truck until the time I take it back is MY responsibility. Even if it could have happened to anyone.

If this means an insurance claim, then it does. For example, if the vehicle was totaled (yikes) and the insurance payout didnt cover the cost of my brother getting A NEW IDENTICAL TRUCK, then I will make up the difference. Even a small scratch, gets a trip to the dealer body shop for repair, even if he says dont worry about it.

If you have this mindset when you factor in the cost and risk of barrowing, then you are ready to deal with the ugliness.

Oh, and by the way, always take the truck to the car wash for a premium wash and even if the truck had 1/64 of a tank of gas, it is always returned FULL.

[Compromise]

I know I'm dragging up an old post but............... the Tundra 4.7L V8 is rated for 7000lbs tow capacity.
I would say, to answer the original question, yes, the Tundra could very well tow a Mac

[Frank C]

My son had a Toyota Tacoma V-6 with factory towing option. It also had the factory-installed supercharger, so horsepower was never in question. However, in spite of the factory towing option, the truck was simply inadequate to handle the tongue weight (~280#) of my Mac trailer. He endured a 1,200-mile, white-knuckle round-trip to Lake Mead, where every passing rig induced scary tail-wagging. The tongue weight clearly held the pickup "nose high," probably leaving too little weight on the front tires. He was doing the research on installing air-lift springs for the rear when he decided to sell it.

I'm not Toyo-bashing, since they build great equipment ... but the Japanese are relatively recent entrants into the "real truck" biz. I confirm this failure of the Tacoma (4 years ago). Rich seemed to have a similar problem with the more recent (and much larger) Tundra model. Perhaps Japan is still in-progress on how to fully compete, across the service envelope, with USA trucks?

That's not to say that I'd simply reject a Toyota ... just that I'd suggest challenging the Toyota dealer to a real-life Mac towing test, before signing on the dotted line. I think if the truck handles the tongue weight, it should be fine at towing, so could be as quick as hitchin'em up in the back lot.

[Compromise]

My son had a Toyota Tacoma V-6 with factory towing option. It also had the factory-installed supercharger, so horsepower was never in question. However, in spite of the factory towing option, the truck was simply inadequate to handle the tongue weight (~280#) of my Mac trailer. After a 1,200-mile, white-knuckle round-trip to Lake Mead, he was doing the research on installing air-lift springs for the rear of the Tacoma pickup when he decided to sell it.

No disrespect intended, but the original question was about a Toyota Tundra, Tacoma is their smaller truck.
Having said that, I did tow the Mac with a 4 cylinder Tacoma and although it by far, exceeded the Tacomas' tow rating, it easily retrieved from the ramp many times. Granted, I never towed more than 10-20 miles and always used back roads. I was wary at driving it and the Mac over 50 mph.

[Tahoe Jack]

Wow! 5k miles per year....I do that every three months or less. Things are just further apart here in Nevada. Couple months ago I chose the 2005 Toyota V8 4rnr for my new tow rig. The V8 4rnr is designed for towing and rated at 7000#. They come with heavy hitch and elec hookup. The mid-trim model, Sport Edition, comes with a standard towing suspension enhancement. My non-towing mileage, half urban, half freeway, is 17mpg. I recently towed the Mac over Spooner Summit (3000' climb), to Tahoe in the Sierras, at the 50mph speed limit. Too short a trip to figure mileage, but expect it may be about 15mpg. Considering that towing is a small part of my total use, and the 4rnr ideally suits my other needs, it works for me. My '96 4rnr V6 may have done the job in Kansas or Florida, but the Sierras require a bit more torque. BTW, the '96 gave me 20mpg for mixed urban-freeway use....and as much as 23mpg on easy cruise control freeway trips. All 4rnr models are Japanese made....and the '96 was hands down, the most reliable vehicle I ever owned...over 250k and still running strong. Re the Sequoia...they are US made, available with the same engine, weigh 500# more, and are tow rated at 500# less. Jack

[Mike Ford]

I was not impressed with 2005 Tundra V8 towing the Mac until I added a rear Hellwig Anti-Sway Bars. With this upgrade I think it tows quite well.

[Frank C]

I was not impressed with 2005 Tundra V8 towing the Mac until I added a rear Hellwig Anti-Sway Bars. With this upgrade I think it tows quite well.

In my opinion, the Toyota Tacoma was inadequate relative to the factory's rating of its towing capacity. Two other memberss here are of same opinion about the larger Tundra ... that its rear suspension is less capable than the factory rating.

WADR, that's precisely the point I was making by relating my Tacoma experience. Perhaps Toyota's designers have yet to figure out this important element of truck design, vis-a-vis Detroit. I'm sure they WILL eventually, and improve yet again on USA smokestacks, but perhaps not quite yet. That's why I politely suggested a towing test for anyone considering a major investment.

[kmclemore]

OK, so I was looking for that old thread on tow vehicles where everyone was competing for the biggest or bestest rig, but I couldn't find it so I'll post this here.

I have *finally* found the ULTIMATE TOW RIG.

BEAT THIS.



Think the Mac will fit?



Even comes with a few winches...



Same dude has a 1945 DUCK for sale, plus another amphib and a lot of other big iron.

[Frank C]

Yeppers, it'll fit my Mac, plus Mac trailer, plus maybe my Sierra tow veh too. Can't back it around at my driveway tho.

Think neighbors at end of my street will mind the tire tracks thru their front yards?

(I'm pretty sure that undercarriage won't flinch as it yanks a half dozen mailbox posts)