4Runner or Sequoia: Which is better for towing a travel trailer?

[Darth Gilbert]

I'm planning to make a transition soon to a larger vehicle, one that will be a good tow vehicle, and a good family vehicle. I'm looking at a used 4Runner(2004 or later) or a used Sequoia. My question is which one of these SUVs would be best equipped for towing a camper. I'm looking to eventually get a camper in the neighborhood of 5-6k GVWR at say 25 foot length. The 4Runner has a higher towing capacity, 7k to 6.5k for the Sequoia, but the Sequoia has a longer wheelbase, which it seems would be better for towing longer camper.

Any suggestions from the experts or the experienced?

[Only Toyota for me]

Originally Posted by Darth Gilbert

I'm planning to make a transition soon to a larger vehicle, one that will be a good tow vehicle, and a good family vehicle. I'm looking at a used 4Runner(2004 or later) or a used Sequoia. My question is which one of these SUVs would be best equipped for towing a camper. I'm looking to eventually get a camper in the neighborhood of 5-6k GVWR at say 25 foot length. The 4Runner has a higher towing capacity, 7k to 6.5k for the Sequoia, but the Sequoia has a longer wheelbase, which it seems would be better for towing longer camper.

Any suggestions from the experts or the experienced?

I've been towing trailers for 22 years and i would recomend the sequoia for what you want to do.
I had an 02 sequoia that i used to tow our 23' TT that weighed 4000 lbs dry. It handled that trailer very well in almost every aspect. The sequoia has a 410 rearend gearing which is better for towing & it will more than likely outweigh the trailer. Which is a must IMO.
I would recomend at least an 03 sequoia or newer. They upgraded the brakes in 03, and i think they added the 5 speed tranny as well. It will already have a tranny cooler on it (the v-8 4runner might also).
Also the sequioa would be much more comfortable on trips than the 4runner.
All the seats recline, you have more room, and i think it will be the safer tow vehicle.
And FYI, the v-8 4-runner is all wheel drive, the sequoia is not.
I own a V-6 4runner now, but we don't tow much with it & the wife likes to drive too much. So we downgraded to the 4runner for better mpg.
When comparing mpg between the V-8 4runner & the sequoia, they should be about the same.

We do miss our Sequoia quite a bit, and would buy another one in a heartbeat. Everytime i drove it, it just begged for me to just keep on a driving.

[Darth Gilbert]

Thanks for the info, OTfm. I'm pumped for the Sequoia now. I have to do some research and figure out how I can afford to make this happen before spring...

[Bakemono]

Id agree that the Seqouia is the better choice for towing. When it comes to towing, a bigger, heavier vehicle is almost always the better choice.

[dkizerian]

Go for the extra wheelbase.

My wife has an 07 V6 4runner, and my dad has a 97 t-100, and the t-100 was always the tow vehicle of choice because of the extra stability offered by the extended wheelbase (just over a foot IIRC) the 4runner stopped FAR better, and had way more power, but even with an empty 18ft car hauler the t-100 felt better...

P.S. the new tundra with a doublecab or crewmax would be even better!