Toyota Sequoia Towing an Airstream SE 23'?

[moosetags]

I also think that you are probably at the edge of uncomfortable towing with Sequoia/23' Safari combo.

Remember that an insufficient tow vehicle is the primary cause of perfectly good Airstreams becoming very expensive pieces of yard art.

[CanoeStream]

Tow capacity is kind of like EPA mileage -- put a teaspoon of gas and a driver the size of my dog (okay, she's a big dog) and you could reasonably tow the 6200#.

Originally Posted by SlimJim

I believe another important parameter for your Toyota is the payload capacity. It's not just how much it can pull but how much it can carry. With 600 pound tongue weight, four people and cargo, you probably don't have much capacity left. Do you know the payload?

Right on Jim!

For starters -- does the Sequoia have a Class II hitch (eg, look to see if it has a 7-pin umbilical connector) -- and was that OEM for your model vehicle? If so, the added weight of this hitch receiver is factored into your TV's payload capacity.

You will need to add weight distribution to the trailer. You will fill the propane tanks. Are you going to go with the valuable (in my opinion) LS package? Does that add a spare tire up front? This is all leading in the direction that you'll be lucky if the actual tongue weight the way you are going to use the trailer is less than 800#. This isn't like buying pants; "I promise to lose weight."

Everything you put in or on the Sequoia -- options over the baseline model, gasoline, driver, other passengers, pets, games, luggage, hitch bar and tongue weight all must be figured against the 2002 4x4 Sequoia's rated load capacity. It would be most safe if you didn't exceed 85% of either TV payload or tow capacity. GCWR is nearly an academic exercise -- you'll be okay on GCWR if you have the other two right.

Edmunds says the maximum payload is 1330#. For best accuracy you should rely on the vehicle's manual. 1330# minus 15% and minus 800# gives a remaining useful capacity of 330#.

The Sequoia could get the trailer home from the dealership. Would it be enough to do lightly loaded local camping this fall? I won't make that call. Trailer first or tow vehicle first? You're going to need a bigger tow vehicle ASAP.

[Ray Eklund]

Leetimes:
We bought a 23 foot Safari LS 2006 and drove a 1994 Land Cruiser and a 2000 Land Cruiser (4.7 Liter engines). They have plenty of power, WITH no trailer. The AS sales people said the Land Cruiser would pull with out a problem, but after checking around either Toyota would not be able to pull a 23 foot trailer... safely. A 2007 Land Cruiser would also be marginal, and the Sequoia is a lighter version.

We sold the 1994 LC and bought a 2006 Tundra, four door (now called a Crew Max in the 2007/2008 models). A 4.7 liter engine and it EASILY pulls a 23 foot trailer with equalizer attachments. With a full 30 gallon water tank, you can tell there is more weight behind you upon gaining grade on the road. And this is with an improved engine and drive train that is tuned for trailer towing (also has the modern trailer connector as standard).

We will soon be checking out the 2008 Tundra 5.8 liter Crew Max or Double. This should be more than what we need for a 23 foot tow vehicle, but as mentioned earlier, more truck than needed is better. I would consider something that will give you a better chance of staying on the road without problems. I saw one trailer behind a car this year, jack knifed and rolled on the interstate. You could tell the old car was not capable of towing this trailer and this one got away. With the "weight" of just the family aboard, you are at your present MAXIMUM.