Can I tow an Oliver LE2 with a 2006 SR5 Tundra Double Cab?

[Dirt Duff]

Can I tow an Oliver LE2 with a 2006 Toyota Tundra Double Cab?

I have a first generation, 4x4,Tundra SR5 with a 4.7L V8 engine, and the Tow Package that includes the oil cooler and upgraded alternator.  I ascend (and descend) the Pacific Northwest mountains.  The truck has a an aftermarket electric brake controller and an Andersen WDH.

Tundra Specs from Owner’s Manual:

• GVWR = 6600 lbs. (2994 kg)
• GVAW Front =3500 lbs. (1588 kg)
• GVAW RR = 3760 lbs. (1706 kg)
• Max Gross Trailer Weight = 6700 lbs. ((3039 kg)
• Hitch Carrying Weight = 670 lbs (304 kg)
• Max Cargo Weight = 600 lbs. (272 kg)

Oliver Specs:

• GVWR = 7,000 lbs
• Dry Weight = 4.900 lbs
• Tongue Weight = 490 lbs.

Looks like the DRY weight of the Oliver (4900 lbs)  is little below the "80% Towing Rule" with 460 lbs to spare.   (Tundra Max Trailer Weight= 6,700 lbs x .8 = 5,360 lbs.)

However, the GVWR weight of the Oliver (7,000 lbs) is 300lbs more than the Tundra's Max Gross Trailer Weight (6700 lbs). 

Assuming that I add air bags and beefier brakes to the Tundra, can I safely tow an LE2?

Thanks in Advance,
 

 

 

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 06:05 PM by Dirt Duff

[rich.dev]

This is a good start providing us some specs of your truck! Based on that you will be able to tow it, but what is the cargo/payload capacity of your truck? Cargo/payload capacity is the maximum weight your truck can carry, this includes passengers, cargo and the tongue weight of the trailer. Sometimes a full fuel tank is included in the cargo/payload capacity, not sure on your tundra.

Look inside your driver side door jam, there should be a sticker with the cargo/payload capacity, should look something like this..

You will probably run out of cargo capacity before towing capacity with your truck. We had a VW Touareg TDI with 7600lbs towing capacity and 1200lbs cargo capacity. It towed like a champ but we ran out of cargo capacity. For example the cargo capacity from the above picture is 1390lbs, so minus tongue weight of an Oliver (mine is 700lbs ish), now you’re left with 690lbs for passengers and cargo. 

**FYI, our Ollie fully loaded (we’re full timers) is 6380lbs

Edited Thursday at 02:35 AM by rich.dev

[Steph and Dud B]

The trailer dry weight posted online is for a fully stripped down LE2 with no options. As delivered, ours actually weighed 5565 pounds. That's still without water and gear. Also, subtract the weight of any passengers and any cargo in your truck from the Tundra's tow rating. You'll probably be over the limit when set up to camp. I wouldn't do it, personally, and I'm positive you wouldn't enjoy it if you were towing in the mountains. I've towed trailers on the edge of my truck's limit before. It struggled on step grades and I eventually had to replace the torque converter.

[jd1923]

15 hours ago, Dirt Duff said:

Can I tow an Oliver LE2 with a 2006 Toyota Tundra Double Cab?

Simple answer, NO.

When we purchased our Oliver EII two years ago, I was hoping to pull it with our ‘08 Lexus GX470. So, same engine with some frame differences and ours has completely rebuilt Eibach suspension, new springs shocks, CV axles, everything.

I installed a Redarc brake controller and this GX has the tow package. I pulled the Oliver around town. The Oliver was tossing the rear of the GX left and right, up and down, btw with the Andersen WDH attached.

Came home and I looked at Chris, “Honey, we need to buy a truck.” She nodded, yes in agreement.

Several owners do this, that or the other to make their half-ton truck or even an SUV work. Do yourself a favor and get a 3/4 ton truck with long bed so you can carry what you need now and through the years. Our Oliver was 6400 LBS first camp out, thinking we must be a couple hundred more today. Our truck has 8,800 LB GVWR.

BTW, when I did my test drive, third row seats in the GX were removed, rear cargo area empty. The Oliver was also pretty much empty, fridge closet cabinets pantry, were all empty. It’s better to feel you have AMPLE capacity, not close to advertised limits. Sorry.

Edited Thursday at 07:59 AM by jd1923

[routlaw]

I used to own the 04 version of your exact same Tundra, it struggled to tow our T@b back in those days. I'm not making this up. If memory serves me correct dry weight for the T@b was around 1600 lbs. With that in mind not in my wildest imagination would  I think about towing the LE2 with this truck. The transmission alone would be woefully lacking from what I recall. Good luck with your decision on this. 

[Dirt Duff]

Sounds like it would be unsafe to tow an Oliver LE2 with my 2006 Tundra.  Darn, I was hoping that someone would find a way to bend the laws of physics a bit for me.

In a related question - Why is there a difference between the max cargo load in the Tundra's Owners Manual (600 lbs) and the cargo load on my door sticker (1421 lbs)?  (See photos)

 

 

[jd1923]

5 hours ago, Dirt Duff said:

Darn, I was hoping that someone would find a way to bend the laws of physics a bit for me.

Why is there a difference between the max cargo load in the Tundra's Owners Manual (600 lbs) and the cargo load on my door sticker (1421 lbs)?

Most of us suggested no but you can just make it, if that's what you want. However, the mountains of the Pacific NW is not an easy traverse. I have an older Ram Diesel and wish it had more than a 4-speed trans and an exhaust brake like modern diesel trucks have today. The mountains we travel through are not an easy climb for the trans and not as easy descend on the brakes. I also upgraded wheels an inch larger to upgrade to larger brakes of the next gen Ram, big help.

I believe the 600 LB number is subtracting the average weight of a full 5 passenger load from the total available 1421 LBS.

Another thing from your tire pressure label. Same on our GX, Toyota puts P-rated tires on these trucks, P stands for passenger cars. It's a must with towing to upgrade to LT tires. Our GX now has LT265/70R17 Load Range C tires and if I was going to tow with it regularly I would have purchased Load Range E instead.

[Rivernerd]

On 6/11/2025 at 10:40 AM, Dirt Duff said:

I have a first generation, 4x4,Tundra SR5 with a 4.7L V8 engine, and the Tow Package that includes the oil cooler and upgraded alternator.  I ascend (and descend) the Pacific Northwest mountains.  The truck has a an aftermarket electric brake controller and an Andersen WDH.

We struggled with the same question when we bought our Elite II in 2022.  We ultimately chose to stick with the Gen. 2 (2019) Tundra 4.7L Double Cab we already owned.  We have towed our 2022 Elite II with that 2019 Tundra with the 4.7L engine, a transmission oil cooler and an Andersen weight distribution hitch, without trouble.  We live in Idaho, and have towed it over mountain passes in the Pacific Northwest many times.

I know that some on this forum will disagree, but my experience is that at least Gen. 2 Tundras are not true "1/2 ton" pickups.  They fall somewhere between the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups offered by their competitors, and so are up to the task of towing an Elite II with an Andersen WD hitch.  Your Gen. 1 Tundra may be different.

15 hours ago, Dirt Duff said:

In a related question - Why is there a difference between the max cargo load in the Tundra's Owners Manual (600 lbs) and the cargo load on my door sticker (1421 lbs)?  (See photos)

 

Your specific door sticker controls over the more generic owners manual.  The door sticker on our Tundra also reads 1421 lbs. payload capacity. 

On 6/11/2025 at 10:40 AM, Dirt Duff said:

Assuming that I add air bags and beefier brakes to the Tundra, can I safely tow an LE2?

We initially towed our Elite II from Hohenwald to central Idaho without airbags.  The addition of airbags helped reduce jounce, so I would recommend them. 

We have not upgraded the already substantial 4-wheel disc brakes on the Tundra, yet with the gain properly set on the brake controller, the Elite II braking system has enabled us to safely make a couple of panic stops (such as for a deer in the road) without incident.

Edited Thursday at 05:13 PM by Rivernerd

[Steph and Dud B]

22 hours ago, Rivernerd said:

at least Gen. 2 Tundras are not true "1/2 ton" pickups

Is there a significant difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2?

[Geronimo John]

I had a 2005 Sequoia with the 4.7L.  It worked pretty well on the flat lands.  But in the hills not so well.  In fact, my son and I got passed by the US Olympic Cycling time seven times north of Denver when we were goin up-hill (Not mountain, hills).  My son was handing out free ice cold waters to the Cycling Team as they passed, we picked up their empties on subsequent down-hill runs.  We all were laughing our heads off.  That 4.7 will work, but just not enough power for even hills let alone mountains.  

Once we finally got to flat lands we were fine and smoked them all!  But my son said, "Dad, you need a truck".  

It would have been ok  (Not OK) if I had he 5.7.  But in the mountains it was sketchy.  The next year I bought a F-150 Crew Cab 4x4 FX tow package.  With the addition of Bilstein 5500s shocks on the back and Firestone airbags I could not be happier.  Since we USE our truck off road hauling free flying (No motors) glider pilots up to mountain launches, for us, getting a F250 or larger was not practical.  Besides we use our TV as a daily driver as well.  So the F-150 SuperCrew was and is out ticket.

PS: By the time you get decked out, your OE2 will most likely be around 6,000 pounds. With your mountain use, I am with the above owners.  Get a truck.  In your case one with four wheel drive and off road package (Something like the Ford FX4).  Then there is the tire swap on the TV to meet your style of travel.  I have Nitto Recon's on mine.