2017 Toyota Tundra Towing Capacity and What it Can Tow

Understanding the towing capacity of your 2017 Toyota Tundra will allow you to safely be able to tow your travel trailer or a boat to your destination. This number determines how much weight your truck and its configuration can safely handle, and matching it up to the trailer weight makes it easy to determine this.

The maximum towing capacity of the 2017 Toyota Tundra is 10,500 lbs. when the truck has the 5.7L V8 engine. Tundras with the 4.6L V8 engine have a towing capacity of 6,400 lbs.

It was pretty cut and dry on these, the towing capacity depended on what engine you have. There are small variations based on the configuration of the truck but they are not significant that Toyota didn’t specify them and just generalized them in these 2 categories.

Just like everything else in these trucks, as the new generations came out, their towing capacity increased with all the other improvements. The most capable trucks are year models from 2007 all the way to 2023, they all are right around the 10,000 lbs. mark.

This 2017 Tundra is in the same towing group as the following year trucks:

About the 2017 Toyota Tundra

The 2017 Toyota Tundra came in 6 trims; SR, SR5, Limited, TRD Pro, Platinum and the 1794 Edition. Although different in comfort options, all can have the 5.7L V8 engine. Only the SR and SR5 trims have an option to have the smaller 4.6L engine.

Toyota first introduced the Tundra, a full-size truck for their line back in 1999. What set them apart was a full-size truck that had great towing capacity while having an unmatched fuel economy. They had the first in its class low emission vehicle classification from the EPA.

This truck was also made famous when Victor Sheppard crossed over 1,000,000 miles on his Tundra, that Toyota offered him a brand new Tundra in exchange for his so they can dissect it and learn how it held up that long.

These trucks are just known for their excellence and reliability. Want to know more about this truck? Here is a link to the Owner’s Manual. and a Quick Reference Guide.

What Does Towing Capacity Mean?

Towing capacity refers to the amount of weight that your vehicle can pull safely. For instance, if your truck had a towing capacity of 1,000 lbs., you could safely pull a trailer weighing up to this limit. However, if you started to tow a trailer over 1,000 lbs., you would run the risk of your trailer swinging uncontrollably, or causing your truck to lose control. The brakes will likewise also be compromised.

What Determines Towing Capacity?

Towing capacity is normally affected by a number of factors. For instance, the more horsepower and torque your engine has, the more you’ll be able to pull. This generally means that a truck with a bigger engine will be able to tow more than a truck with a smaller one.

Other factors that affect the towing capacity of a vehicle include the vehicle’s overall weight and braking power. Again, this makes a lot of sense if your truck is extremely heavy, the engine will be preoccupied with pulling the truck itself, and won’t have much power left for anything else. And if your brakes are terrible, you won’t legally be able to tow very much, as your stopping distance will become extremely poor.

This truck comes with a standard automatic transmission but for those that want more control, especially while towing, there is a manual transmission option available. The transmission type does not affect the towing capacity but the difference between a truck with a four-wheel drive or not will. The 2 WD Tundras will be able to tow more than the 4 WD models because these systems make the truck heavier taking away from the capacity.

The difference between Regular Cab, Double Cab and Crew Cab models will affect the maximum trailer weight ratings. The same story goes for the longer truck bed, the longer the bed length, the more weight it adds to the truck and takes away from the tow capacity.

It’s important that you understand the factors that determine towing capacity, so you can ensure that you are always acting responsibly and safely. Your vehicle handbook might say that your towing capacity is 10,000 lbs., but if the brakes are worn or you already have 500 lbs. worth of gear in the bed, your towing capacity isn’t going to be as high.

2017 Toyota Tundra Capacity by Trim Level

There are six different trim levels for the 2017 Toyota Tundra models. None of them make a difference in the towing department, the engine type is the only thing that will make the towing capacity increase or decrease. Any Tundra truck can have a TRD and SR5 package upgrades. The TRD upgrades the outside of your truck while the SR5 package upgrades the inside of the truck.

2017 Toyota Tundra SR Towing Capacity

The base Tundra trim is a comfortable truck that does the job even though it’s the basic version, and it comes with a 6,400 lbs. towing capacity. Perfect if you’re on a budget. When you upgrade to a 5.7L engine the towing capacity goes up to 10,500 lbs.

2017 Toyota Tundra SR5 Towing Capacity

The SR5 trim is where you leave the basics and have a comfortable truck. This truck comes with the standard 4.6L V8 engine, and has the towing capacity of 6,400 lbs. When upgraded to the 5.7L V8 engine, the towing capacity goes up to 10,500 lbs.

2017 Toyota Tundra Limited Towing Capacity

The Limited gets you even more comfort. You get some leather seats and other bling. This truck comes with the standard 5.7L V8 engine, and has the towing capacity of 10,500 lbs.

2017 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Towing Capacity

The TRD Pro is focused more on the off-roading so many upgrades in that department will be found in this trim of the truck. This truck comes with the standard 5.7L V8 engine, and has the towing capacity of 10,500 lbs.

2017 Toyota Tundra Platinum Towing Capacity

Just when you thought you couldn’t go any further on the luxury and chrome, the Platinum delivers. This truck comes with the standard 5.7L V8 engine, and has the towing capacity of 10,500 lbs.

2017 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition Towing Capacity

If you are a cowboy and like the western theme, the Tundra comes in a 1794 Edition which gives you exactly that. This truck comes with the standard 5.7L V8 engine, and has the towing capacity of 10,500 lbs.

What the 2017 Toyota Tundra with 6,400 lbs. of Towing Capacity Can Tow

If your 2017 Toyota Tundra towing capacity is 6,400 lbs., you will be able to tow the following:

Small to Medium Campers: Many smaller campers, travel trailers, and some medium-sized ones fall well within this weight limit. For example, smaller Airstream models weigh under 3,500 lbs, and many other travel trailers fall in the range of 2,000 to 4,000 lbs.
Boats: The Tundra could tow many types of boats such as small fishing boats, jet skis, and even some larger powerboats depending on their weight.
Utility Trailers: You can also tow a utility trailer filled with things like ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, personal watercraft, or other recreational vehicles.
Horse Trailers: A lightweight, single horse trailer usually weighs between 2,000 to 3,000 lbs empty, so you could likely tow one horse with the Tundra.
Small to Medium Car Trailers: The Tundra could potentially tow another car on a trailer, depending on the weight of the car and the trailer. Many compact and subcompact cars weigh less than 3,000 lbs, so with a lightweight trailer, you might be within the Tundra’s towing capacity.
Construction Equipment: Small construction or landscaping equipment could also be towed, like a mini excavator, skid steer loader, or small tractor.

What the 2017 Toyota Tundra with 10,500 lbs. of Towing Capacity Can Tow

With 10,500 lbs. of towing capacity, you can pull the following:

Medium to Large Campers: The Tundra can tow larger travel trailers, fifth-wheel campers that fall within this weight range.
Boats: Larger boats such as cabin cruisers, larger powerboats, or sailboats can be towed within this limit.
Horse Trailers: A Tundra with this towing capacity could handle a larger horse trailer, potentially capable of carrying two horses, plus equipment and supplies, as long as it doesn’t exceed the total towing capacity.
Car Trailers: You could tow a heavier car or even a light truck, given the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer doesn’t exceed 10,500 lbs.
Construction Equipment: Larger pieces of construction or landscaping equipment, such as a mid-sized excavator or a larger tractor, can be towed given their weight and the trailer’s weight don’t exceed the capacity.
Utility Trailers: This Tundra can handle a larger utility trailer filled with heavier items like multiple ATVs, snowmobiles, or personal watercraft.

The Takeaway

This truck, the Toyota Tundra, is a powerful beast. Some trims only let you have the more powerful engine but on the more basic trims, upgrading to the 5.7L engine will let you have the maximum towing power to haul pretty much anything you need to tow. With 10,500 lbs. of capacity an average homeowner or a construction worker can count on the truck to be able to handle whatever needs to be towed.

Valik Rudd

Valik loves tinkering in the garage and is currently restoring a 2000 GMC Sierra 1500 truck. He also writes about the progress on this blog. When not in the garage, Valik is also a web developer and a blogger. I know, strange, a hand in two completely different worlds. And that is the way he likes to keep it.