Towing with 2002 Sequoia

[bud4ya]

From doing a search it looks like a 2002 Sequoia can safely tow up to 6,400 pounds. Please correct me if I am wrong.

We are looking buying a 2000 30' foot travel trailer that weighs 4,650 dry. Now the guy selling the trailer said to add in about 350 pounds for the water holding tank, which brings it to 5,000 pounds. I then need to add in for the propane tank and the extras I will be carrying in the camper (Clothes, food etc). So I am guessing after I add all the extras and the weight of my wife, myself and our 2 young boys in the truck we are looking at about another 1,000 pounds on top of the 5,000 pounds. Does that sound too high or too low?

So with 4,650 for the trailer, 350 pounds for the water holding tank, extras in the camper and all of us in the truck I am guessing we will be at 6,000 to 6,500 pounds.

So from reading our 2002 Sequoia should pull it just fine as long as I leave OD off at all times while towing?

Plus I will need to go to a camping place and have then install a brake controller. I will have to check if the trailer has an anti sway bar installed on it already because that looks to be of concern when you get around 30'.

I just want to confirm before I go purchase the trailer that we will be able to tow it without burning the tranny up in the truck. Our towing will never be more than 2-3 hours at one time.

The current mileage on the truck is 60K. I guess the other option is trade in our 2002 and get a newer Sequoia if our 2002 will have problems with towing the 6,500 pounds.

Thanks

[04double4tow]

I tow about the same with our o4 tundra, it works hard but deems to be holding up fine, by the way I have found on low speed steep inclines its better to have th OD on as the moter achives higher rpms and pulls better without lugging down, seems to pull hard from 3.5 to 4 K

[bud4ya]

Thanks for the feedback. I am wondering if the 02 Sequoia will do as well as your Tundra. From the reading I have done the Tundra seems to tow more weight than the Sequoias do especially the 01 and 02's.

Originally Posted by 04double4tow

I tow about the same with our o4 tundra, it works hard but deems to be holding up fine, by the way I have found on low speed steep inclines its better to have th OD on as the moter achives higher rpms and pulls better without lugging down, seems to pull hard from 3.5 to 4 K

[bud4ya]

This is the travel trailer I am looking at if that helps. It is a 2000 Jayco Qwest 294J

Thanks

Originally Posted by bud4ya

From doing a search it looks like a 2002 Sequoia can safely tow up to 6,400 pounds. Please correct me if I am wrong.

We are looking buying a 2000 30' foot travel trailer that weighs 4,650 dry. Now the guy selling the trailer said to add in about 350 pounds for the water holding tank, which brings it to 5,000 pounds. I then need to add in for the propane tank and the extras I will be carrying in the camper (Clothes, food etc). So I am guessing after I add all the extras and the weight of my wife, myself and our 2 young boys in the truck we are looking at about another 1,000 pounds on top of the 5,000 pounds. Does that sound too high or too low?

So with 4,650 for the trailer, 350 pounds for the water holding tank, extras in the camper and all of us in the truck I am guessing we will be at 6,000 to 6,500 pounds.

So from reading our 2002 Sequoia should pull it just fine as long as I leave OD off at all times while towing?

Plus I will need to go to a camping place and have then install a brake controller. I will have to check if the trailer has an anti sway bar installed on it already because that looks to be of concern when you get around 30'.

I just want to confirm before I go purchase the trailer that we will be able to tow it without burning the tranny up in the truck. Our towing will never be more than 2-3 hours at one time.

The current mileage on the truck is 60K. I guess the other option is trade in our 2002 and get a newer Sequoia if our 2002 will have problems with towing the 6,500 pounds.

Thanks

[04double4tow]

ours is a jayco 26 bh, It seems as though it would pull more fine, had a toy hauler before --5600 dry and thst was more challenging but doable.

[bud4ya]

This is why I am concerned if the 02 Sequoia will safely handle the 6,500-6,800 pounds if the toy hauler was a challenge for your 04 Tundra.

Originally Posted by 04double4tow

ours is a jayco 26 bh, It seems as though it would pull more fine, had a toy hauler before --5600 dry and thst was more challenging but doable.

[04double4tow]

I think you will be close to your max for sure but I did alot of research before buying our and many other on this site and rv.net are towing these weif=ghts just fine, my only problem is I dont like to see my vehicle work so hard, but as long as you stay within the limits, hopefully slightly under you should be golden!!

[bud4ya]

Thanks again. From what I am reading the 02 Sequoia max towing is 6,200. I think this TT would weigh in with us in the truck at about 6,500-6,800 with all gear.

We do not plan to tow it anymore than two houres at a time. I may even try to find a place and leave it for a month or two.

So it sounds like if I stay around 6,500 pounds I should be good to go. Just keep OD off at all times.

I just know how hard it worked when I pulled my 20' Doral boat a couple times. I think that was probally around 5,000'.

Originally Posted by 04double4tow

I think you will be close to your max for sure but I did alot of research before buying our and many other on this site and rv.net are towing these weif=ghts just fine, my only problem is I dont like to see my vehicle work so hard, but as long as you stay within the limits, hopefully slightly under you should be golden!!

[04double4tow]

Try to pack lite, I know the OD towing issue has been covered many times, but can anyone chime in on whay my truck pulls better on steep inclines with OD on. On the freeway or flat ground I always pull with OD off, but sure helps on the hills alot to have it on.

[celica]

You will be overweight with the numbers you are throwing around.

You may be OK if the dry weight is realistic.
Be careful of what the dry weight of the trailer really is - often the labels don't include the options like the AC, awning , etc.

The Sequoia can really only tow about 5300 pounds legally because if the combined gross vehicle weight. We have a 2003 sequoia and a 30 foot ultra light travel trailer. It has a dry weight of 4890, but by the time we get everythin in there we are right close to 5300 pounds. we usually weigh in at 100 pounds under the 11,800 gross weight allowed.

I would be sure to do the calculations.

we have 2 adults and 3 kids (younger) when we go. we usually go with the fresh water full and the 2 propane tanks full.

Now in the real world the sequoia can tow more - just not legally. The last thing you want is to be in an accident and they weigh your rig & find that you are over - it is a huge ticket and you may not be covered by insurance.

with a 30 foot trailer you WILL have sway issues in the Sequoia - be sure to get a very good sway system liuke the reese or equalizer - I went all the way and got the Hensley after our first test tow - well worth the money - it has saved the trailer twice for use - one on a highway emergency move and another in a storm with 65-75 mph crosswinds.

[tomhole]

Simple math and some actual weights will tell you where you stand. Go weight your Sequoia and then weigh the trailer. Use actual weights, not guesses. You are pushing the limits of your vehicle, so you should be diligent.

Here's the simple math:

GVWR of Sequioa - empty weight of Sequoia - weight of cargo while towing = max hitch weight you can handle

GCWR of Sequioa - empty weight of Sequoia - weight of cargo while towing = max trailer weight you can handle

I would bet a dime on a donut that the trailer you are looking at weighs 5800 lbs ready to camp with no water. That's pushing the limits. You should closely manage the cargo in the Sequoia (i.e. none) and the hitch weight of the trailer (13% seems to work well). Or you can just hook up and go based on other folks advise.

Either way, get a good brake controller (Prodigy) and excellent weight distribution hitch w/ integrated sway control (Reese Dual Cam or Equal-i-zer). I tow about the same weight and length with my 2005 4x2 Tundra and it is a handful. It is weird driving up a 5-6% grade that is 11 miles long with the truck floored the whole time making 45 mph. That's gotta hurt the gas mileage. I tow with an Equal-i-zer but wish I had a Hensley Arrow. I also wish I had a 3/4 ton oil burner (just for towing).

Tom

[04double4tow]

so did you go for it???

[bilztrd]

pulled a 21 ft chapparrel deck boat 5200 plus 2 adults & 3 kids with my 02 and it did fine. Motor would spin between 3800 & 4200
up the Needles grade 40-55 Mph( Leaving Needles Ca) 118degree heat with AC on.
Airlift air bags helped the sag. upgraded to LT tires instead of the P mertrics.

[Only Toyota for me]

Originally Posted by 04double4tow

Try to pack lite, I know the OD towing issue has been covered many times, but can anyone chime in on whay my truck pulls better on steep inclines with OD on. On the freeway or flat ground I always pull with OD off, but sure helps on the hills alot to have it on.

I know exactly what you're talking about when you say it pulls better with OD on. Here's why:

On the highway with OD off, you lose the torque converter. So in other words, it is locked. It also means you lose 2-300 rpm's when it is locked, thus losing power. So when the OD is on, you gain that extra gear so to speak, and some extra rpm's. Try it next time you're on the freeway. Be sure OD is off before you attempt it or it won't work. On the hiway push the accelerator slightly, and then push the OD button & watch what happens. Yeah, an extra 2-300 rpm's.

I used the OD button a lot when i had my 02 sequoia while towing. In a lot of circumstances, it kept it from dropping to 2nd on most hills.
This is the way it is in the 4 speed's, don't know about the 5 speed's. It may be the same way, dunno.

[integraGSR]

Originally Posted by tomhole

It is weird driving up a 5-6% grade that is 11 miles long with the truck floored the whole time making 45 mph.

where in cali is this? and yeah, thats GOT to hurt mpg. i can't imagine that!