2008 Sequoia payload looks too low

[cartrucknut]

srock,
good question. yes it is possible but still better than putting all of the tongue weight just on the back axle. in fact it turns out without a WDH you actually put more weight on the back axle. and thats the danger. as you push down on the hitch you take weight off the front axle (transferring it to the rear) which significantly affects steering and braking. also the hitch rating, i.e the chunk of steel, is not what matters. it is the vehicle rating. that's why you see the ratings on the factory hitches that always step at 5000 pounds from weight carrying to weight distribution.

[cartrucknut]

el madmaster,

my yukon is what you describe. at the limit (very heavy loading) everything works absolutely perfect except for engine. definitely wish it had more on the big mountain climbs and it would be really cool to put the Sequoia engine/trans in it to see how it would perform. i think it would be strong. but still gas (especially aluminum) is the wrong thing. this truck would be amazing with a diesel. they are doing a small verion of the Duramax and Allison trans. As Heatwave3 mentions, it won't be good for going to dinner, but man for those magical trips with our families - perfect. as an aside, i was going to write earlier about the payload thing. we added an onboard between-frame air compressors, a 2000W 110V inverter, a TravcVision DirecTv satellite, and 4 DVD player/screens. that stuff weighs alot. then the kids load their X360,PS3 and Wii to use on the trip. all before the people and the luggage. it all sounds crazy but it's what makes trips with little kids possible. all stuff to consider if that's what you are going to do.

[cartrucknut]

Heatwave3,
missed your post on boating. the actuator looks something like your surrge actuator and is mounted on top of the frame in about the same place so control wiring only goes about 1 foot onto the top of the tongue so water never gets to it and it's all water proof. the rest is of the system is hydraulic i run salt water exclusively although went to Havasu once. iit's a 35' Formula offshore cigarette with twin 8.1 litre H.0. Mercs. the trailer is powder coated aluminum. other than 1 Havasu trip, i only tow this local.

[Heatwave3]

Originally Posted by cartrucknut

Heatwave3,
missed your post on boating. the actuator looks something like your surrge actuator and is mounted on top of the frame in about the same place so control wiring only goes about 1 foot onto the top of the tongue so water never gets to it and it's all water proof. the rest is of the system is hydraulic i run salt water exclusively although went to Havasu once. iit's a 35' Formula offshore cigarette with twin 8.1 litre H.0. Mercs. the trailer is powder coated aluminum. other than 1 Havasu trip, i only tow this local.

Sounds like a great toy. Definitely not your average tow load. A 35' Formula is probably around 10,000lbs dry not including the trailer. I'm guessing with a full tank of gas (150gals? - 1200lbs) plus all your gear (800lbs?) plus a triple axle aluminum trailer (2000lbs?) that your tow load is close to 14,000lbs. Definitely pushing the limits of a 2500 Sub well past its tow weight rating of 9100lbs and its GCWR which is around 18,000lbs. Given these weights, I don't even think there is a trailer offered with surge brakes, so I have to agree with you that at this weight level going with electric-servo actuated brakes is not only the best choice, it may be the only choice.

The 2500 Sub is probably OK for short local towing with this weight but its still well beyond the rating of the tow bar, ball and hitch on the Sub, even with a weight distributing setup. Your CGW is probably around 22,000lbs with a fully loaded Sub, your boat/trailer and a full tank of gas in the boat. Definitely wouldn't want to try towing this weight with a Sequoia or for that matter a Sub for any significant distance.

All that being said, I have to agree with you that with a boat of this size, I would definitely want a leaf spring rear suspension and a diesel engine. Didn't realize you were trailering such a large boat. You're just about at the very limit of reasonable boat trailering on a regular basis and I would guess that 99.99% of all boats being trailered are lighter and smaller that your twin 8.1L, 35' Formula on a triple axle trailer.

Sounds like a job for a F350 Crew Cab or a Silverado 3500 Crew Cab pickup. Both of these vehicles with Turbo diesels would have CGWRs of around 22,000-24,000 lbs which is what you have when you're towing the Formula.

[cartrucknut]

i would term my local trip more of a pull. less than 7 miles from the yard to the launch no freeway. it works and is uneventful. i will not do the Havasu trip again with this although i would say a diesel in the 2500 would fool you into thinking you could do it cross country. it all felt good once you got it going - until we hit the mountains. but our boating is really all ocean so it's not that much of an issue. as i said in an earlier thread, the F250/350 with PowerStroke is the right vehcile but not good to put your family in for long trips. I have a 2006 F150 for taking the kids montain biking and dirtbiking. i could go on and on about that truck which i really like but I don't really tow with it. pickups are just tough on interior space but fantastic for throwing things into the bed, without all the hook up hassle. then you have the Sienna which is awesome for interior space, comfort, ride quality, handling and manuverability but not good at towing or "thing" hauling. for us, each of these have their place and while i would luv to find something that does all of this, but it's pretty easy to understand that it's not possible. but it is exciting to see all of the great choices in trucks these days. I am always impressed when i see women driving pickups pulling the giant horse trailers. talk about a nasty load (8K,10K,12K of shifting weight). but they do it because trucks are available now that make it easy and safe. Toyota is definitely making everybody work harder and causing everyone to build better trucks. ultimately we as consumers benefit.

[tinik]

Originally Posted by Heatwave3

Sounds like a great toy. Definitely not your average tow load. A 35' Formula is probably around 10,000lbs dry not including the trailer. I'm guessing with a full tank of gas (150gals? - 1200lbs) plus all your gear (800lbs?) plus a triple axle aluminum trailer (2000lbs?) that your tow load is close to 14,000lbs. Definitely pushing the limits of a 2500 Sub well past its tow weight rating of 9100lbs and its GCWR which is around 18,000lbs. Given these weights, I don't even think there is a trailer offered with surge brakes, so I have to agree with you that at this weight level going with electric-servo actuated brakes is not only the best choice, it may be the only choice.

The 2500 Sub is probably OK for short local towing with this weight but its still well beyond the rating of the tow bar, ball and hitch on the Sub, even with a weight distributing setup. Your CGW is probably around 22,000lbs with a fully loaded Sub, your boat/trailer and a full tank of gas in the boat. Definitely wouldn't want to try towing this weight with a Sequoia or for that matter a Sub for any significant distance.

All that being said, I have to agree with you that with a boat of this size, I would definitely want a leaf spring rear suspension and a diesel engine. Didn't realize you were trailering such a large boat. You're just about at the very limit of reasonable boat trailering on a regular basis and I would guess that 99.99% of all boats being trailered are lighter and smaller that your twin 8.1L, 35' Formula on a triple axle trailer.

Sounds like a job for a F350 Crew Cab or a Silverado 3500 Crew Cab pickup. Both of these vehicles with Turbo diesels would have CGWRs of around 22,000-24,000 lbs which is what you have when you're towing the Formula.

I would definately agree with statement above

[pagemaster]

Sequoia SR5 5.7L 4X4 payload spec. is 1250lb, Honda Pilot 4X4 is 1322lb

Payload in the 1822lbs for Highlander 4wd v6.