Just bought Travel Trailer. Time to test Sequoia's towing

hayesb2 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-27-2009, 06:30 PM

I got a good deal on a 32ft Rockwood Travel Trailer which is 6,000lbs dry.
I also placed an order for a 3P Propride Hitch to help compensate for the lenght of the trailer.

I should receive the trailer and hitch in about 3 weeks and I plan to post reviews of how this towing combination works with my 08 Sequoia.

Anyone else out there towing a trailer this long or heavy with their Sequoia?

Geodude · #2 (**permalink**) 03-28-2009, 08:41 PM

Our trailer is 33' long, 5300 lbs on the axles, loaded, and we use a Hensley Arrow, pulling with a 1st gen Sequoia. It pulls very well, in our four years experience with this setup. I can imagine that the new Sequoia's motor will be great for pulling your trailer. Congrats on the ProPride hitch -- for me the Hensley Arrow has been a critical ingredient in our sway-free towing experience.

TheUnexplained · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-2009, 10:56 AM

We have a 27 foot trailer and the first pull is planned for the may long weekend. Have had the trailer for 2 years and finally have a vehicle to pull it with now! The trailer has a gvwr of 7500lbs. Got a tekonsha P3 and it is installed and ready to go. I don't know what the dry weight is on this thing as I have never taken it to a scale. I expect the Sequoia should not have a problem with it.

hayesb2 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-30-2009, 12:39 PM

Its good to know there are others out there doing the same thing. I get my doubts as there are so many 3/4 truck nay-sayers out there, that it can raise questions in my mind of the Sequoia/Tundra's abilities...

I'm feeling pretty confident the Sequoia and Pro-Pride will handle 6000 dry pound 34' TT reasonably well.

Geodude - I checked out your site prior to deciding on my trailer. You have a great informative site and it did help give me some extra confidence in my decision. How is the turns/cornering with a trailer that long using the Hensley? Since I have zero towing experience, I have fears of trying to make a sharp right-hand turn without tearning something down

Blaque · #5 (**permalink**) 03-30-2009, 09:07 PM

I'm ashamed to say I have been reading tundrasolutions for about 3 mos now and have just registered today. I have a keystone outback 32bhds which actual length is 35' 1" long and a dry weight of 7895 lbs. Pulled it with my 2003 yukon denali and was very disapointed with its pulling capabilities. In september '07 we bought a beautiful 2007 tundra double cab and the towing capabilities of this beast were nothing short of awesome. Ok well december rolls around an toyota decides to redesign the sequoia. Well I'm stuck now, as much as me and my family loved the space of an suv we just bought a new truck. Long story short this past january even though we took a little hit trading in a 16 month old truck, we got a very good deal on a 2008 sequoia and couldnt be happier. But to answer your question, you will have absolutely no problems pulling a 6000 lb 32 foot trailer, trust me. Next camping trip last week in april will post pics of my (tractor trailer) sequoia and camper.

hayesb2 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 08:12 AM

Blaque - Wow. Now thats a serious trailer you have there

And your Sequoia pulls this with no problems?
Have you ever taken it on any steep up/down grades?
Posting Pictures would be great!!

It makes me feel much better about my decision reading of others who are doing similar setups. I know the Sequoia/Tundra's are towing beasts, and I shouldnt let my fears worry me....(the only reason I have such fears are from rv forums where are I think the 3/4 truck crowd likes to beat their drums and claim our trucks cant tow much of anything)

I will most definately post pictures of my setup. I plan to hopefully setup a website which will have pictures of the pro-pride installation and the final rig.

celica · #7 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 12:33 PM

I tow alsmost the same trailer as Geodude and I also have the Hensley. The truck towes great, no problems ever. I haven't met a grade that I can't keep the speed limit on yet - so you with the 5.7 will never have a power problem. I live in the rockies, so we have some big grades here. I also have the Hensley brake controller wich is a lot like the P3 and it is awsome as well. I have towed a ton of miles in my life. The hensley helps a lot in the tight spaces for turning - it acts a lot more like a 5th wheel.

In terms of weight - don't worry about it. I have pulled a full size bobcat on a tilt deck. the truck handled it no problem and the weight was somewhere between 10,000-12,000 pounds. the brakes weren't working right on the tilit deck and on one trip i even forgot to plug them in.

Blaque · #8 (**permalink**) 04-03-2009, 08:02 AM

Hayesb2, I not only have pulled it on steep grades....but I accelerate up those grades and grin

from ear to ear while I'm doing it, Something my Yukon could never do. Stay tuned for the pics end of this month.

hayesb2 · #9 (**permalink**) 04-03-2009, 09:34 AM

Very good info! I feel so much better after reading the posts from this topic and no longer have worries about being able to pull my trailer.

Please do post pictures, and I plan to post my own pictures of my rig setup once I receive the trailer and propride hitch in a few weeks....and a full review once I've tested everything.

SE2000 · #10 (**permalink**) 04-03-2009, 10:41 AM

I've read those rv forums and for all those self proclaimed experts, they for the most part do not know what they are talking about. They really know very little about trucks, And they dislike Toyota without having knowledge of the subject.
Granted a 3/4 ton that has been OPTIONED to max capacity will have greater capability but the standard 3/4 won't. As far as down hills. If your trailer brakes give out and you have a 4 ton trailer, the 3/4 tons are going to get pushed around. Skill and luck is the only thing that will help you.

Heatwave3 · #11 (**permalink**) 04-07-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SE2000

I've read those rv forums and for all those self proclaimed experts, they for the most part do not know what they are talking about. They really know very little about trucks, And they dislike Toyota without having knowledge of the subject.
Granted a 3/4 ton that has been OPTIONED to max capacity will have greater capability but the standard 3/4 won't. As far as down hills. If your trailer brakes give out and you have a 4 ton trailer, the 3/4 tons are going to get pushed around. Skill and luck is the only thing that will help you.

I would take my Sequoia over any of my previous tow vehicles for heavy loads (above 7500lbs). These include:
1/2ton Suburban
3/4ton Suburban
1/2ton Denali XL

No comparison IMO that my 2008 Sequoia is far superior from a towing perspective and I do a fair amount of towing in the warmer months with a 6500-8500lbs boat load (depends on how much fuel and gear I have on board).

mikerat · #12 (**permalink**) 04-22-2009, 05:40 PM

Blaque: What's that like pulling in a crosswind? Any sway? Does the vehicle feel stable?
Do you have auto levelling airbags? If so, Do you let the bags pump up to level before you hook up the WDH bars or do the bars first?

That's quite the unit that your pulling.

Blaque · #13 (**permalink**) 04-23-2009, 04:43 AM

Depends on how bad the crosswind. Last year on my way to Daytona when I still had the tundra we actually pulled in to a service station to fill up the fresh tank with water. Winds were so bad, I wanted all the help I could get to keep the trailer stable. I find that with the sequoia, I guess cause of the added weight the ride seems a bit more stable but I still will add water if I see that its going to be a windy day. And no leveling air bags on my rig, the reese wdh takes care of sway and ride height.

hayesb2 · #14 (**permalink**) 04-23-2009, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blaque

Depends on how bad the crosswind. Last year on my way to Daytona when I still had the tundra we actually pulled in to a service station to fill up the fresh tank with water. Winds were so bad, I wanted all the help I could get to keep the trailer stable. I find that with the sequoia, I guess cause of the added weight the ride seems a bit more stable but I still will add water if I see that its going to be a windy day. And no leveling air bags on my rig, the reese wdh takes care of sway and ride height.

Thats pretty impressive. Thats the biggest TT setup I've read for a Sequoia. I'd love to see some pictures of your setup/rig...

mikerat · #15 (**permalink**) 04-23-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blaque

Depends on how bad the crosswind. Last year on my way to Daytona when I still had the tundra we actually pulled in to a service station to fill up the fresh tank with water. Winds were so bad, I wanted all the help I could get to keep the trailer stable. I find that with the sequoia, I guess cause of the added weight the ride seems a bit more stable but I still will add water if I see that its going to be a windy day. And no leveling air bags on my rig, the reese wdh takes care of sway and ride height.

Thanks Blaque.
I have an Outback 300BH (6700 lbs dry and 32'8"), I pull it with an '09 Platinum. The Sequoia has all kinds of power to pull it with, but on the trip home from the dealer it wanted to move around quite a bit. It was completely empty at the time. I've since upsized my WDH and added sway bars as well. I'm hoping with that and our gear and maybe water that it will quiet down.