How To Load A Trailer The Right Way

Can Your Truck Handle It?

The first consideration when towing is simple: Can your vehicle handle the weight?

The 2025 Toyota Tundra can tow up to 11,175 pounds, making it capable of handling a wide variety of loads. That said, when you start approaching the upper limits of a half-ton truck’s towing capacity, you should be using either a gooseneck trailer or a weight distribution system. For this setup—a standard hitch and a sports car—there’s more than enough headroom to tow with confidence.

Why Weight Distribution Matters

Once you're hitched up, the most important part of loading is proper weight distribution. Ideally, around 60% of the cargo should sit in front of the trailer axle, and the remaining 40% should sit behind. This helps keep the trailer stable and ensures the truck remains balanced and controllable.

But rules of thumb only go so far. For the most accurate setup, you’ll want to measure your tongue weight. Some modern hitches, like the one used here, feature built-in scales that allow you to dial in that number precisely.

Let’s Talk Numbers

Here are the key figures used in the example:

• Max tongue weight: 1,170 lbs
• Max payload: 1,605 lbs
• Gross trailer weight: 5,389 lbs (Supra + trailer)
• Target tongue weight (10-15%): 539 to 808 lbs
• Payload used: 739 lbs (including Fredric's 200 lbs and 539 lbs tongue weight)

As long as the tongue weight and overall payload stay within your truck’s specifications, you're in the clear.

Choosing the Right Hitch

Make sure you have the right ball mount for your setup. In this case, the Tundra has a 2-inch receiver, which pairs with a 2-inch ball on the trailer. Importantly, the ball mount must be rated to handle the trailer’s total weight. This one’s rated to 12,500 lbs, comfortably over the total being towed.

Hook Up Before You Load

It’s important to connect the trailer to your truck before loading any cargo. Loading beforehand can cause the trailer to tilt backward or become unstable, leading to potential damage or danger.

The Tundra’s built-in panoramic-view and hitch-view cameras make backing into position easier—even without a spotter.

Once the ball and tongue are aligned, you can:

1. Lower the tongue onto the ball
2. Engage the tongue lock and secure it with a pin
3. Raise the trailer jack to its minimum height
4. Cross and connect safety chains to form a cradle
5. Plug in the trailer wiring harness

If your trailer has electric brakes, you’ll also need a 7-pin connector. The Tundra comes with an integrated brake controller, but aftermarket Bluetooth options are available.

Loading and Balancing

To illustrate why balance is crucial, Aasbo shows what happens when the car is loaded too far forward or backward. Too far forward causes the truck to squat and reduces steering traction. Too far back increases sway risk. A properly balanced load avoids both.

In this example, 659 lbs of tongue weight (just over 10% of the gross trailer weight, plus compensation for driver weight) is spot on.

Securing the Load

When it comes to strapping down the vehicle, there are two main methods:

1. Preferred method: Wrap straps over the tires and through D-rings on a trailer with track systems.
2. Alternative: Attach straps to the lower control arms and secure them to the trailer's D-rings.

Avoid crossing straps. Straight-line tension provides redundancy—if one fails, the others still hold. Compression-based methods (like through the wheels) can loosen on bumpy roads.

Use four points of contact—two front, two rear—for a secure hold. At the back, wrapping around the axle is another safe option if it aligns properly with the tie-downs.

One Last Touch: Load-Leveling

One new feature Aasbo highlights is the air suspension system on the 2025 Tundra. This allows the rear of the truck to self-level under load, improving overall balance and handling.

Wrapping It Up

And that’s how you load a trailer the right way. From calculating capacity to securing your load, every step matters. Stay tuned for more in-depth towing tips in upcoming videos—including how to calculate towing capacity for different setups and how to use alternative towing methods.

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