Trailer Pulling

[WJTONER]

Hello,
Looking to buy a new truck and trailer for the upcoming lawn season.
Just wondering if anyone had any advice on truck towing capabilities to have when pulling a 12x5 trailer holding a rider, few push mowers trimmers gas , you know all the other good stuff we carry around. I am considering a Tundra with towing capability of 5000 lb. Payload 1565 lb. gvw lb.
5000 , 6 cyl.

Any advice appreciated !
WJT

[LLandscaping]

The Tundra will pull the trailer easily but I would get the V8. I would get a 16ft trailer because this will give you plenty of room to grow. We have a 7X16 trailer and our next trailer will be an 18ft. I dont think you can have too much room on trailer because you will always be adding equipment or hauling things like mulch, fertilizer,etc.

[WJTONER]

Thanks for the reply. I agree the 16 footer would be great to have.
One problem being here in Baltimore Maryland is that some of the streets are tough to get through even with just a truck. May consider getting a smaller trailer for these types of accounts or just steer away from them. Best of luck to your business !

[jgc8fan]

I'd suggest you get a 6' wide trailer. It makes a HUGE difference. I have a 6 X 14, and it JUST holds a 44" ZTR, 21" push and a 36" walk behind w/ sulky.

As far as trucks... As long as it pulls... I just got a 2000 Explorer for mine w V6 engine. 5000 lb towing capacity which is more than double the trailer weight fully loaded. Since I won't have the walk behind I'll have half the trailer to keep things in so I opted not to have a truck bed (tired of being cooped up in a pickup truck).

5,000 lbs might seem low when you watch TV commercials, but a new F-150 only has a 5,200 lb capacity (unless you buy the top of the line model w/ 8000 lb cap.) The truth is that what you see on TV is usually the max for the highest end super duty pickup a mfr sells. a perfect example of this is my partner's truck... '95 Dodge Ram 3500 duelly diesel that has a 16,500 lb max capacity with a hitch that only handles 10,500 lb max... Never pulled more than 4,000 lbs with it.

[KLC]

I agree with getting a larger trailer. I bought a 6.5' x 10' to start with and wish that I had gotten a 12' or longer. As far as the truck goes, I opted for a GMC Sierra 1500 W/T. V6, 5 spd, 2x4, max tow of 6200 lbs. I live in a hilly area but this is working out so far.

Best of luck.

[WJTONER]

I am have an 01 GMC Savanna v8 would probably pull just fine but thought it may be a little tough parking at times being that there are lots of blind spots.
Ive always seen pick-ups used . Yeah ,an Explorer sits fairly high and has plenty of glass to see whats going on behind you. Yeah if it pulls why not.
Standard Tow capacity for the Tundra is 5000 with 7100 max.
Ford F-150 Standard Tow capacity is 2400 with 8400 max.

Silverado1500 pulls 3800 8200 max

according to Yahoo Auto website 2005 models.

Once again thanks for everyone's input !

[Bulldog26]

I started the year using a SUV, to haul my equipment. It's not the pulling power you need to be concerned with, it's the brakes. Trust me. So be prepaired to replace pads and rotors once or twice a year or get brakes on the trailer. My two cents. It cost me almost $800.00 so I bought a truck.
bt

[jgc8fan]

I am have an 01 GMC Savanna v8 would probably pull just fine but thought it may be a little tough parking at times being that there are lots of blind spots.
Ive always seen pick-ups used . Yeah ,an Explorer sits fairly high and has plenty of glass to see whats going on behind you. Yeah if it pulls why not.
Standard Tow capacity for the Tundra is 5000 with 7100 max.
Ford F-150 Standard Tow capacity is 2400 with 8400 max.

Silverado1500 pulls 3800 8200 max

according to Yahoo Auto website 2005 models.

Once again thanks for everyone's input !

I was actually going to get a van rather than an SUV, but couldn't find one that was in decent condition in the price range I was looking at... I know someone who got a class V hitch put on, and hauls a 14,000 lb travel trailer with a Ford E-150 van with 5.7L V8. The only times I would think visibility would be an issue is backing up... As far as that goes... I can count the times we've backed the trailer up out on the road on my hands over the last 2 years... The only regular backing up we do is putting the trailer away every night.

I wouldn't trust the specs you find on auto review sites... They are always different from site to site. I only trust the specs off the mfrs sites. The 2400lb on the F-150 is probably using the step bumper as a hitch. With a real hitch the lowest V6 model can haul a 5200 lb trailer, and the top of the line V8 can handle 8400. This is off Ford's 2005 trailer towing chart.

[Scaper-S2k]

You may want to consider something that you could plow with later.

The V6 in the Tundra would be okay for your trailer, but it might not be a bad idea to look for a used V8 Tundra. Maybe a 3-4 years old? They hold their value good and are good trucks, especially if you don't need to drag around a skid steer all the time.

[WJTONER]

Thanks for the advice. Decided to hang on to the GMC. Its a 2500 series and has a towing capacity of around 5700 lbs. Plenty there , just will have to see how the backing up goes. I figure you can always have someone help direct , unless you are a do-it-yourselfer.

WJTONER

[AAffordable]

I use a 98 Chevy Tahoe 4WD 5.7L Auto and pull a 6 by 12 trailer with more than enough extra power pluss I get around 15 to 16 MPG in the mountains. Brakes have done very well even going up and down mountains with 5000FT elavation.

Spring please come back!!!

[Blake]

Get an F-350 with a powerstroke diesel, you can pull anything then.

[Jack D.]

Jack D. pulls his mow blow trailers w/V6 Tacomas and Rangers.

Go compacts.

[cjm2783]

do most of you guys use your personal truck for work? that's a big petpev of mine. the company vehicles are seprate, but i guess you have to do what you have to do when the choices are limited.

cjm

[Richawa]

Help Someone.....
I Am Trying To Change The Wheel Bearing On My 5x12 Single Axle Trailer And I Am Having Trouble Putting The New Bearings And Hub Back On The Bar. I Have Been Trying To Do Th4e Work Myself But I Have Been Out Fo The Trailer For A Week Now Still Not Fixed, I Have 2 Bearings One Small And One Larger, The Larger Goes On The Inside Of The Trailer But I Can't Get The Hub All The Way Back On, I Need Help Please Advise If Anyone Knows What Could Be Wrong, I Also Need A Wheel Bearing Seal, And Can't Find One For This Hub, Please Advise Asap Thanks