Towing 25ft Bigfoot

[Fullbooker]

Hi Everyone,
I'm currently towing my 1995 B17CB with my beloved 2006 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4x4 4.7 V8. Thinking of upgrading to a Bigfoot 25ft primarily for the queen bed and dry bath. Really don't want to purchase another TV.
Does anyone have experience towing the larger Bigfoot with a 4.7 Tundra?
Already use WDH and have air bag suspension to cover heavy loads.
Thanks,
Phil

[oldwave]

Check your payload, it may be inadequate. Tongue weight can be 1000 lbs plus depending on the model. The engine would do it, but I imagine the payload on your truck is about 1500 lbs. I sold a 2004 f150 that had a payload of 1800 lbs to get a Ram 2500 with 3200 lbs of payload for my upcoming 25. You’d want a payload close to 2000 lbs with a Bigfoot 25. Even the newer tundras have a low payload.

[ken_c]

Yeah, payload would be tough. I tow with a 22 Toyota Tundra, power isn't an issue, but you have to watch the weight. My truck has a little over 1400 for payload, but a 25RQ with no front cargo box with full propane/battery is close to 750lbs for tongue weight. Plus the 1000lb equalizer4 weighs in at almost 100 pounds. That puts about 850lbs on the back of the truck and subtracts from the payload of the truck. Also keep in mind that the fresh water tank on the 25RQ is located between the front axle of trailer and the hitch, so adding fresh water to the trailer can increase the hitch weight by some too.

[CharlesinGA]

My 21RB has about 850 tongue weight the last time I checked it (plus almost a hundred for the hitch). The trailer is squirrely if the tongue is lighter than this.

I tow with a diesel (see my signature) and actually cannot imagine towing with much less than this.

Charles

[John in Santa Cruz]

Everyone I've met on the road with a Bigfoot 25 footer was using a F250/2500HD class truck, usually diesel, and based on the trailer weight and payload, I wouldn't use anything else.

[ShelbyM]

FWIW, the only BF 25 posted in the TWRW thread has a tongue weight of 1420#. Half again what would be appropriate for any Tundra. Treat yourself to a new truck!

[ken_c]

One thing to keep in mind that everyone loads trailers based on their lifestyles. I primarily stay at campgrounds, no boondocking. So carrying more than 10 gallons of freshwater isn't necessary for me. You want to ensure you are over 10% on tongue weight, around 12-13% I think may be ideal. Heavy items should be centered on the trailers axles if possible. I bought a Sherline scale (2000lb) to check hitch weights and go to Catscales to check weights. Last time I weighed my total trailer weight was under 6700lbs. If towing with half-ton, fully expect you won't carry anything heavy in the bed. I have less than 50lbs in the bed (sewer hoses, grill). For me it is a compromise as it's the only vehicle we have. But believe me, I do eyeball an F250/F350 SRW with a 7.3 Godzilla engine all the time :P. I'll probably upgrade to an F250/2500 down the road when we get a second vehicle. After economy settles and I become a millionaire.

[buellfire]

I tow a 2021 25b25rt with a 2016 Tundra 5.7 crew max and while the truck does great I wouldn't want any smaller of a truck. I had two of the first gen Tundra's and while a great truck not designed for this type of work. I'm a Toyota guy and would have a hard time buying any other truck, the 7.3 Godzilla f250/350 look good.

[oldwave]

I really wanted a new Tundra but looking over the payload (inspected the payload stickers not the advertised specs) I quickly determined we’d have to compromise on what we carry. Most were 1400 to 1500 lbs. really marginal for a 25rq without a front box. We wanted a front box ergo the ram gasser. Didn’t want the diesel for maintenance costs as this is a tow vehicle for the trailer only. I owned a first gen tundra and loved the truck but it wouldn’t tow a 25 RQ in my opinion. If you want a half ton you can carefully order an f150 with max payload and max tow package. I looked at one earlier in the year. The Ram was cheaper has more payload and has the brakes and suspension to safely tow. I wish Toyota made a 3/4 ton tundra, I’d buy one.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Fullbooker

Hi Everyone,
I'm currently towing my 1995 B17CB with my beloved 2006 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4x4 4.7 V8. Thinking of upgrading to a Bigfoot 25ft primarily for the queen bed and dry bath. Really don't want to purchase another TV.
Does anyone have experience towing the larger Bigfoot with a 4.7 Tundra?
Already use WDH and have air bag suspension to cover heavy loads.
Thanks,
Phil

Hey! You already know what that B17CB tows like with that truck....
Its a real load as fiberglass trailers go!

Increasing the trailer size is always greater than the difference in difficulty.
At best you"re gonna turn a pleasure trip into a tedious chore.

[BillE]

Originally Posted by floyd

Hey! You already know what that B17CB tows like with that truck....
Its a real load as fiberglass trailers go!

Increasing the trailer size is always greater than the difference in difficulty.
At best you"re gonna turn a pleasure trip into a tedious chore.

Floyd you got a point there

[John McDonald]

Small Is Beautiful

[John in Santa Cruz]

There is such a thing as too small. We had a 16 foot Casita Spirit Deluxe. I'm 6 feet tall, and simply could not sleep in the bed with my wife comfortably. It was fine if I was solo, and it would have been OK if we were both under 5' 10 and skinny. Also the water tank and grey holding tank were simply too small for our usage, where we often dry camp 4-7 days between dumping stations. The fridge was so small as to be useless.

[oldwave]

After 4 years in an Escape 21, we thought it was a bit claustrophobic. Ergo the 25 RQ. We are getting older and boondocking in back country is not much on the radar anymore. However off grid is good for the music festivals I like to attend. Larger fresh, grey, and black tanks are attractive now. There’s a trailer for everyone’s taste.

[John in Santa Cruz]

yeah, the Strawberry Music Festival in Grass Valley, CA (formerly in Camp Mather) is one of our annual trips. Coming up this Memorial Day Weekend.

[John McDonald]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

There is such a thing as too small. We had a 16 foot Casita Spirit Deluxe. I'm 6 feet tall, and simply could not sleep in the bed with my wife comfortably. It was fine if I was solo, and it would have been OK if we were both under 5' 10 and skinny. Also the water tank and grey holding tank were simply too small for our usage, where we often dry camp 4-7 days between dumping stations. The fridge was so small as to be useless.

Right. If you have size 11 feet then size 10 shoes are not beautiful!

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by John McDonald

Right. If you have size 11 feet then size 10 shoes are not beautiful!

12E here. :-D Some brands I have to go to a 13 to get them to fit.

[John McDonald]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

12E here. :-D Some brands I have to go to a 13 to get them to fit.

No wonder! = :-) Uff Da.

[oldwave]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

yeah, the Strawberry Music Festival in Grass Valley, CA (formerly in Camp Mather) is one of our annual trips. Coming up this Memorial Day Weekend.

I attend old time music festivals in North Carolina, West Virginia, and Virginia once a year where I meet up with some excellent players. For 9 years I was the director for a large Folk Festival in Ohio. Big fun. I’ve played a few also.

[Tony O]

Originally Posted by Fullbooker

Hi Everyone,
I'm currently towing my 1995 B17CB with my beloved 2006 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4x4 4.7 V8. Thinking of upgrading to a Bigfoot 25ft primarily for the queen bed and dry bath. Really don't want to purchase another TV.
Does anyone have experience towing the larger Bigfoot with a 4.7 Tundra?
Already use WDH and have air bag suspension to cover heavy loads.
Thanks,
Phil

OK, you came to the right place. I've had a Toyota Tundra 4.7 V8, purchased a Bigfoot 21 and drove from Colorado to Portland, OR to get it. By the time I got home with my prize I had already made the decision that the 4.7 was inadequate for this trailer. (I sold my Casita 17 to buy the BF21.)

Back home I immediately put the 4.7 TV up for sale, sold it in a matter of days and bought a newer Toyota Tundra with the 5.7L V8. That was the right decision. It handles the 21 very well even the the Colorado high country where I live.

I also had a 25B25RQ that I've pulled with the 5.7L. It does handle it but it's right on the very edge of what I consider a comfortable performance level. As others here may agree, you really do need a heavier duty truck for the 25B25 - especially if you like to travel with a full complement of accessories, full water tank, multiple toys, etc.