rear-end failure concerns towing

[WARPed]

I have a 2006 SR5 Double Cab I have owned since new and now has 5000 miles on it (yes not 50k). Soon I will be using it to tow my 7500lb loaded car trailer but have been told that the rear end would have a high probability to fail under these kind of loads. Has there been any reports of such issues? I would not want to have something happen while out on a road trip. I am considering going to an 08 as they have a 10.5" rear gear upped from the 06 and earlier 7.5"(I was told) rears. I sure would like to stay with the 06 but don't want to tear it up needlessly but wouldn't want to dip into the racing funds if it isn't needed either. Any thoughts?

[SRT8TUNDRA]

I haven't heard of any.

Bump for some help!

[wildbill23c]

I don't know what the towing capacities were on the first gen tundras, but I did find the review on Consumerguide.com just now and according to it you would be right at the limit of the truck, so I think I would be getting a bigger truck just to be safe.

And by the way, I'm guessin you haven't driven your Tundra much to only have 5,000 miles on it.


Somewhat smaller than domestic-make full-size trucks, Toyota's newest pickup was the first import-brand challenger in that league, despite measuring nearly a foot shorter overall. Toyota used the same design for its full-size Sequoia SUV, introduced as a 2001 model. Tundras came with a regular 2-door cab and 8-foot cargo bed, or in Extended Access Cab form with a 6.5-foot bed and three-place 60/40 rear bench seat. Rear-hinged back doors on the Access Cab did not open independently of the front doors. No 4-door Crew Cab model was produced. Regular-cab trucks came in base or SR5 trim, while Access Cabs were SR5 or Limited. Base and SR5 trucks used a twin-cam, 190-horsepower, 3.4-liter V6 engine borrowed from the smaller Tacoma pickup, with manual shift or an optional automatic transmission. A twin-cam V8, shared with the Land Cruiser SUV, went into the SR5 V8 and Limited. Offered only with automatic, the V8 delivered 245 horsepower. Premium fuel was recommended for the V8 engine. Toyota's four-wheel-drive system could be engaged with dashboard buttons on V8 models, or a floor lever with V6 power. While incorporating low-range gearing, the 4WD system had to be disengaged for use on dry pavement. Toyota stated a maximum payload of 2000 pounds and a towing capacity of 7500 pounds--both figures competitive with the domestic trucks. Antilock braking was optional, but four-wheel discs were not available. Either bench or bucket front seating could be installed.

[nikita]

Just because the Nissan Titan had problems with the under-sized Dana 44, does not imply anything about the Toyota Tundra axle. The Titan issue gave Japanese-brand full size trucks a bad reputation in the towing community. So, for the 2007, Toyota over-compensated.

2000-2006 Tundra axle design is inherently stronger than the Dana, more like the much-revered Ford 9 inch. No, it is NOT a 7.5 inch.

I have towed a large car trailer with a big Chevy on it and my friend tows a 6400lb travel trailer in the mountains. No driveline problems of any kind.

[kit]

What model truck do you have original poster ^^^^?? Idealy you should have the lightest model DC because you have reached the maximum tow cap. The gas will be the only thing hurting you man. Make sure when you tow this load you have a weight-distributing hitch, air up the rear tires a little more. If you have a brake controller that's good but if not then just drive really carefully. Try not to put anything in the bed when you tow this, try putting it inside the cab. Your Tundra will do just fine. I have not hear of one Tundra's rear end having problems from towing 8000lbs or less. Now if you exceed the weight limits, you do so at your own risk.

[shatto]

I have experience with towing and, more importantly, overloading.
We had military jeep trailers towed by the Land Rover and Jeep. We loaded the trailer to the hight of the roof of the vehicles, loaded them until there was about 2" between the bumper and axle, then four or five of us got in.

Point?
The 88 Land Rover and M-38A-1 Jeep were rated at 1/4 ton. You can tell they had a bit more weight inside and pulled more.

Our trucks are rated that way too......sort of like off-ramp sign speed postings, where you know you are absolutely safe at that speed but know you can get away with 20 MPH more speed. Our Tundra can carry more than it is rated for.

So, I suggest your Tundra will handle the load fine. The question is not the vehicle, it is your skills.
Does a 7,000 lb trailer have brakes?
Can you back up and run over a quarter on the ground with the trailer wheels? Park between two cars?
Is your suspension/hitch up to the job?
Can you be gentle?

I'd upgrade to Amsoil inthe differential. Oh, heck the whole vehicle. Less wear, don't ya know.

[gadget05]

I have an o5 double cab 2wd with a limited slip and tow a 7400 lb travel trailer all the time, the towing capacity is 7000 but hey, its a toyota, no worries. i did put 75w90 royal purple in the diff though.

[SCoupe]

My 2000 Tundra v-8 came with a tow package. Part of that tow package is a very nice transmission cooler. I have worked it hard a few times and found that that it can get hot as a pistol. Therefore I would think these tranny's would be happy to have the cooler as part of a plan to tow the rated capacity of 7500 lbs. I don't know what came stock. The cooler would be a hell of a lot cheaper than early trans failure.

[apimpdad]

i blew out the rear end twice in my 02, once pulling out of a ditch in 4 wheel drive, and the second time i was driving down the road and it blew out when i turned a corner.

[thomasakehoe]

I'm going to make a guess but as machining isn't exactly perfect your rear end may have had issues in its build. My 02 although new to me has hauled a 7500 lb camper from VT to WV several times and has towed many cars and trucks on full car haulers from U-Haul with no worries does tend to hurt your wallet towing when you hit the pumps twice as often, but thats just the game take your truck add another vehicle plus trailer and you have the weight of 2 plus tundras to pay for in mileage LOL

[nikita]

The stock tranny cooler is the typical radiator tank type. Those are usually adequate, but tend to dump heat into the engine just when they are both working hard. Without tow package, the limit is 5100lb for my model, 4x4 regular cab.