First Airstream and I don't want a truck (!)

[switz]

We are towing our 2015 23D International Serenity with our 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI V6 diesel and using a Hensley Arrow weight distribution hitch. The car has been to CanAm in London Ontario to have the factory receiver reinforced and they cut five inches off the car end of the stinger to bring the trailer closer to the rear axle and pre-bent the stinger slightly to preload the weight distribution system.

We changed the stock 14" tires and wheels for the 15" SenDel T03-56545T wheels and 15" Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires set to 44 psi. That brought the 23D to the same elevation of our prior 25FB so all the those hitch settings work for the 23D.

[bobgoldstein]

The Sequoia is built on the same chassis as the Tundra. The engine is the I-Force 5.7 liter V-8 which has more than enough house power and torque to pull your AS. Just make sure it is set up properly as to hitch, anti-sway and brake controls. My TV is a Tundra 5.7, SR5, TRD and we towed a 9600 pound fifth wheel over 70,000 miles with it before we bought our 23 FB Silver Cloud. No problems at all flat land or mountains.
Have fun!

[kfrere]

We have a 2005 diesel Ford Excursion. Yes, it's 10 years old. Yes, they are out of production. But, you can still find them and there are actually a couple of companies that will convert a truck to one for you. This vehicle has been the perfect solution for us. It's a real workhorse, has three rows of fold down seating, has great access through all doors, pulls our 31' classic with ease, gets terrific fuel mileage, and has been cheaper than expected to maintain. It still looks great, and we will keep it until the end of days if possible. Why Ford quit making them is beyond me. At least 2 times a year someone asks us to sell it.

[HansF]

You may also want to look at the Suburban 1500 4x4. I have a 2014 Z71 model with towing package and skid plate. Towing capacity is 8000 lb which puts a fully loaded 23D right in the comfort zone. I live in Colorado and am looking to purchase a new 23D this spring to finally do some camping in our National Parks. Good luck with your tow vehicle search.

[budcolglazie]

i'm pulling my 24' with a ford expedition - 6 cylinder engine with tons of torque. i live in montana so most of our travels are in the mountains. i even put my drift boat behind and travel as a "threesome" sometimes.

[Urbanologist]

Talked with Andy regarding 2010 Tundra Limited V8 CrewMax short bed vs Seqouia. He actually felt the were equally top notch. Since I'd be towing a 34' PanAm, he reworked the WD hitch to be nearer to rear axle of towing vehicle's axle. The PLUS for the Tundra was the truck bed for STUFF! The Seqouia simply is TOO nice to use as a "dumping ground" for all your gear. Even with the PA "garage" we filled the TV bed. Either one will drink fuel; HOWEVER, they will be great to drive and LAST, LAST, LAST! Not sorry I own the truck. If I stopped needing the truck, I would swap to the Sequoia.

[Ziggy2]

I have a 2008 Sequioa 2 wheel drive. It's been a great tow vehicle for our 22ft International. Reliability is really important when your 300 miles from the nearest garage which is the point of camping. The Consumer Report for 2015 for vehicle brand reliability rates Toyota as number 2 at 54% above average for reliability, Jeep is the second worst with a reliability 98% below average, Dodge is 53% below average for reliability and Chevrolet at 49% below average reliability. Toyota is the only brand with a full size SUV that's above average in reliability.

[smlbob]

I tow my FC 27' with a 2015 Sequoia, 5.8L, V-8, 4WD (though I hardly ever put it in four wheel), with a tow package, Equalizer hitch, and it does a great job, even through the Rockies last spring. Gas mileage isn't great....about 10 mpg, but it's a comfy vehicle, and the rear holds plenty of equipment. One drawback is the rear hatch won't open with trailer attached, but I roll the rear window down to access what I need for parking and setup.

[Tom_T]

Originally Posted by RFP

Linda and I are so excited that we will be picking up our new-to-us 2014 23D International Serenity later this week. We are 99.99% sure that our trusty '96 Land Cruiser won't be satisfactory for the weight... sometimes it seemed to struggle a bit when pulling our Casita (~ 3,100 pounds on the road). The truth is that we don't want a truck, preferring a SUV. Right now, I'm thinking 2008~2012 Toyota Sequoia with the 5-point-something V8, six speed transmission and all the towing stuff. I've read a number of threads about this vehicle and all seemed pretty positive, but all I found were 'kinda old."

So, I thought that I'd post this question as to the suitability of the Sequoia with the 23D for current thought. We do like to travel frequently to the Rockies, if that matters, and it probably does.

Thanks so much,

Rob

Hi Rob,

You don't say what engine or tow rating your 96Gland Bruiser ;-) has, but if it's a V8 it may be okay to pull the 23 AS home at least, if no grades.

As for a used SUV - I'd suggest trying to get one with a factory backed CPO extended warranty, or else Fidelity has been recommended for a 3rd party warranty (they also do the factory CPO for VW, Audi & I think Porsche & maybe others). Others may recco other 3rd party warranty providers for Toyota & other makes.

Whatever the make/model/engine you settle upon, I'd also suggest looking for a 1-2 owner SUV at below 60,000 miles (or less) which has been well cared for - even babied, has all maintenance done on time always by either a dealer or good independent specialist, & has records of all work.

It's also a good idea for both you & your wife to go out & test drive the different ones to see which you actually like, since they've changed a lot since your 96. Any of the 3 Toyota SUVs from that era would be fine TV choises, but you may also want to look at some other options too - as others have said.

Also the smaller mid-size with the same V8 weighs less, ergo you have more power available to tow with the same engine. So that may be a consideration for you guys, if you don't need/want the big SUV.

We looked at the full range of mid-sized SUV options in the `06-12 MYs with a V8, before deciding what was right for us is the 08-12 Porsche Cayenne S, for which we're currently looking. The reason only mid-size is given our narrow driveway & streets - we just can't fit the full size SUV/Pick-up, nor will my wife drive one (unless emergency .... maybe).

One thing I ran up against is that most of the used SUVs on the market tended to be 100-200,000 miles at that 3-10 year age range, whereas it's fairly common to find a sub-60,000 mile Porsche Cayenne S which has been properly maintained & babied by their owners. Ditto with the other luxury brands tending to be better kept & lower miles - like Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus & Infinity.

The Toyotas & their Lexus cousins are great trucks with great reliability, but Sequoyah (correct spelling for the Cherokee man it & the tree/park was named after BTW - but it is just too big for us), & the 4Runner V8 & Land Cruiser V8 would work for you (& size-wise for us). I also looked at the full range of US, Euro & Asian options in mid-size SUVs, & many were dropped due to only offering a V6 (e.g.: Honda, Hyundai/Kia only V6), but most for the miles on them & the issues below.

From that 08-12 era mid-sized SUV with V8s & some with Diesel - there are some reliability & longevity issues which I heard/read about including, some of the Dodge/Ram Durango V8s, Chevy Trailblazer & GMC cousin, Ford Explorer V8 & Lincoln cousin (older body style), BMW V8 & Diesel.

While even a V6 Diesel will have plenty of torque to pull a trailer like yours - more than a V8 in some cases - you should be aware that the regular maintenance will cost more than on the gas vehicles, & you'll have to keep track of the extra emission control fluid, as well as fuel, oil & coolant.

The above is not a deal killer - just a consideration, but the current "VW diesel debacle" has spilled over into their V6 Diesel used in the Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg & Audi Q7 models. While they have the emissions equipment & fluid that their smaller 4 cyl TDIs lack - & why their "fix" for the smog test cheating program was needed, their software being questioned is apparently related to the cold running mode for the need to maintain temps to induce ignition in diesels. So I'd be cautious if you look at any of those 3 options - but I understand that at least Porsche is giving an extended warranty to 10/100,000 on their 2013-15 diesels (2016 is a different 3.2 or 3.6L Porsche only diesel motor & they only had diesels since `13 MY). There are a few topics on here about those TV options in V*, V6 & diesel flavors - if you're interested.

In the end, you'll have to pick what fits your needs & wants.

PS - FYI our rig is an older restored vintage kin 1960 Avion T20 which is about 3000-3500 lbs wet & loaded, with a Hensley Cub & we've been towing since we got it in July 2012 with various rented Nissan Pathfinder 4.0L V6 (mid-size, but we'd want a V8 version) & full size F150 & F250, Dodge 2500 in both V8 gas & diesel motors (but too big for us & our driveway).

Good Luck!
Tom
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[SCOTTinNJ]

This Toyota

Adventures of Dave and Ann: Re-deciding on a New Tow Vehicle

has seen a few miles towing a 25.

Adventures of Dave and Ann: 2015 Map and Stories

[WestieHouse]

Originally Posted by idroba

Also consider a Jeep Grand Cherokee, with the V8 or diesel.

This past spring and summer I towed our 2015 23 FB 13,700 miles with our 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel, including round trips across the northern rockies and through New England to St. John's, Newfoundland. (We didn't think it would float too well so we took a ferry from Nova Scotia.). The Jeep Ecodiesel handled fantastically in all kinds of wind, rain, light snow, hail, up, and down steep grades. We got 16.4 mpg overall for the trip. Used an Equalizer hitch.

The tongue weight on the 23 D is higher than the 23 FB and that may limit your options. The Jeep is rated to tow 7,200 lbs. (4x4 version), but tongue weight allowed is 720 lbs.

Happy travels!

[Danielle]

We have a 2015 FC 23D and a 2014 Sequoia Limited with tow package, which has the 5.7 L engine. We love the Sequoia, which we bought used with 24K miles on it--it's a very comfortable car to drive. Pulling the trailer was great. We have a Equalizer hitch and never had any sway while towing the trailer from Idaho, where we picked it up, back home to Santa Fe. And we could accelerate going up hills. The Sequoia is a gas hog, like every big vehicle, and a pain to park sometimes, but we really like it.

[johncook]

It always comes down to do you want the Airstream or the Tow vehicle to be the boss

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by johncook

It always comes down to do you want the Airstream or the Tow vehicle to be the boss

The answer is, get it hitched right and the Airstream will follow.

[larryglarson]

I had a Tundra with the 5.7 engine and pulled a 30' Classic. It did a wonderful job. I think it would have lasted 200,000 miles pulling the trailer.

[Lance M]

It always makes me shake my head when the OP asks one simple question and it always veers off course into the same old tow vehicle debate.

Just as a refresher, here is the question the OP asked-

So, I thought that I'd post this question as to the suitability of the Sequoia with the 23D for current thought. We do like to travel frequently to the Rockies, if that matters, and it probably does.

[Major Tom]

I tow my 22 FB Bambi sport with a new Land Rover LR4. It tows like a dream. However I generally only get about 14 mpg when towing. It is my daily driver as well.

[greghoro]

I didn't want a truck either, so we purchased a 2012 Sequoia Limited to pull our 25' 2013 Flying Cloud. SUV is equipped with 5.7L V8 and full towing package. Selected this over an equivalent Chevy Tahoe. Gas mileage could be better but I prefer driving a vehicle I like over saving a few dollars on gas with a less enjoyable ride.

Big test last fall was going up (and down) the huge grade on I70 in Colorado at the Eisenhower tunnel and kept up with traffic just fine.

Back end holds a 4' x 4' sheet of plywood and I built a sub-floor raised about 2' to increase functionality of the rear space.

Full disclosure, this is our first trailer and first tow vehicle.


Greg

[MelGoddard]

My Toyota 4-Runner, 6 cyl. towed a 6000 lb. Gross wt. Hi-Lo for 6 years, no hassle.
A Sequoia or another Land Cruiser should handle the 6000 lb. Serenity O.K.

[Silver.Sanctuary]

Originally Posted by RFP

Linda and I are so excited that we will be picking up our new-to-us 2014 23D International Serenity later this week. We are 99.99% sure that our trusty '96 Land Cruiser won't be satisfactory for the weight... sometimes it seemed to struggle a bit when pulling our Casita (~ 3,100 pounds on the road). The truth is that we don't want a truck, preferring a SUV. Right now, I'm thinking 2008~2012 Toyota Sequoia with the 5-point-something V8, six speed transmission and all the towing stuff. I've read a number of threads about this vehicle and all seemed pretty positive, but all I found were 'kinda old."

So, I thought that I'd post this question as to the suitability of the Sequoia with the 23D for current thought. We do like to travel frequently to the Rockies, if that matters, and it probably does.

Thanks so much,

Rob

You won't have any trouble with a Sequoia. You might want to reconsider, though. I was absolutely set on an SUV and had a lot of experienced people who worked for me strongly recommending a truck. I am glad I got a Tundra, since I have generators and gas cans etc that are separated from the cabin, and I don't have to worry about fumes.