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

[Jay Moeller]

Can I tow an Oliver LE2 with a 2006 Toyota Tundra SR5 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.) and (5,360 lbs - 4,900 lbs = 460 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,

[Jon in AZ]

Dry weight doesn't include options. Seems marginal. Towing upgrades help prevent a melt-down, but you will be working the smaller engine hard on grades. Personally I would want the 5.7L for towing a larger trailer like the OE2. I live in the mountains, and Toyota didn't even stock the smaller engine (past tense, since Toyota has now abandoned the V8s altogether).

[ShelbyM]

Check your door sticker for your actual payload. Check the Oliver Owners forum for actual tongue weights. If that doesn't discourage you, it seems most Oliver owners end up with 3/4 or one ton trucks, regardless of how they started out.

[stratos119]

I would say NO, if you want a comfortable, safe towing experience. As you mentioned you are right at the 80% rule and that is with empty tanks and an empty trailer.

[ROBERT ONEILL]

Originally Posted by Jay Moeller

Can I tow an Oliver LE2 with a 2006 Toyota Tundra SR5 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.) and (5,360 lbs - 4,900 lbs = 460 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,

All of those numbers look great on paper but you will find none of them are the actual weight of any of them. The manufactures weights can not be trusted unless there is an actual legal weight ticket issued.

The best thing to do is load up the trailer, water, propane, food, coolers, camping chairs, bicycles, clothes, dog, and tow vehicle and hitch them up just as you plan to go traveling. Now go to a truck scale that has a segmented scale, CAT SCALES are one of the ones that has that type and they are at most large truck stop travel centers. When you park on the scale position each axle on a different segment. If you have a 2 axle trailer both of those axles can be on the same segment. Now have them weigh you and go and get your weight ticket. Those are the number you will need when adding or removing items for either vehicle.

A first weigh at a CAT Scale costs $14.75, and reweighs within a 24-hour period at the same location cost $5.00, according to CAT Scale.

All of this is with my assuming the you have a WDH and it is set up properly because if not your axle weight can be off.

An additional note is to make sure that your tires are inflated to the proper cold pressure based on the actual weight on that axle and what the tire manufacture says to have them inflated to.

[Steve Outlaw]

Originally Posted by Jay Moeller

Can I tow an Oliver LE2 with a 2006 Toyota Tundra SR5 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.) and (5,360 lbs - 4,900 lbs = 460 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,

This vehicle is far from optimal for an OEII. Many of us (owners) have long since moved up to heavy duty diesel trucks. A 3/4 ton is usually sufficient although I tow with a 1 ton Silverado for the extra payload it provides. We regularly have over 3000 pounds of cargo and people and dogs in the truck. Our entire rig, ready to camp with a full tank of fresh water, weighs in at just under 18,000 pounds.


Your posted tongue weight of 490 pounds is far from accurate. The tongue weight for an average OEII will be in the neighborhood of 600-650 pounds. That is pushing the limits of your light duty 1/2 ton truck. A fully loaded OEII with all your gear should tip the scales at about 6000 pounds, maybe more or maybe slightly less. Ours always weights around 7200 pounds but it was originally equipped with larger than standard (3500 pound) 5200 pound axles and heavy duty 12 inch disc brakes with 12 ply commercial light truck tires.


Your truck's cargo weight of 600 pounds is dismal. By the time you take into consideration the weight of two passengers and the tongue weight of the trailer, you're already overloaded.


Now you see why many of us tow with large diesel trucks. And, incidentally, most of us get 13-14 mpg. Nobody was ever sorry they had a tool that surpassed the needs of the job.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Steve Outlaw

…Your truck's cargo weight of 600 pounds is dismal. By the time you take into consideration the weight of two passengers and the tongue weight of the trailer, you're already overloaded...

I noted the listed specs from the owner’s manual included a separate 670# hitch weight rating. Since that’s greater than the rated 600# cargo capacity, I concluded that it must not include tongue weight. A total payload of 1270# makes more sense than 600# for a half-ton truck. The OP should be able to verify that on the door jamb.

Since the OP will be using a WDH, a trip to the scales with the fully loaded combined rig to check final axle and gross vehicle weights is necessary to determine if the rig is within specs.

Even so, I agree with your bottom line- very marginal. “Within specs” and “comfortable towing” with some margin for severe conditions are two different things.

[John in Santa Cruz]

A modern full size 1/2 ton truck should have a payload of around 1500-1700 lbs. My old 2008 Tacoma 4*4 access cab was about 1200 lbs. You really need to weigh the actual truck with a full tank of fuel and subtract that from the GVWR.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Oh, double cabs often take quite a lot away from the payload as they start with a higher curb weight.