I've been using the Search function and reading the threads where Sequoia's are mention but I cannot find any discussion on the viability of towing a race trailer with this vehicle.

I have a 20ft enclosed trailer hualing a 996 Cup and guess the total weight is less then 8,000 pounds (trailer is supposed to be 3500 empty). My concern is not so much the towing capacity - the Sequoia has a rating on 10,000 lbs, biggest in the SUV class but rather the stability in towing. Currently I tow with a 2004 F150 which is a bit of a strain power wise but pretty stable (with air shox) due to it's 134 wheel base.

I want to move to a SUV for a varity of reasons but the Sequoia much shorter wheelbase (122") gives me pause. The Yukon XL and Surburan are longer - 132" I think.

I would much prefer to go to the Toyota product - does anyone have experince towing an enclosed race trailer with one - was it ok?

 

I'd also be concerned with payload on the Sequoia. I believe it is only around 1300 lbs which is way too low to be a useful tow vehicle.

 

Depending on the model you get, the rating varies. The limited with 4 wheel drive is 9100#s, 2 wd drive is in the ~ 9300 range. The other model is lower - in the 8's

My 08 Limited with towing tows like a dream

 

I wouldn't want to tow any enclosed trailer with a "short" wheelbase SUV. If you want an SUV to tow an enclosed trailer with, go with a diesel Ford Excursion. Sure, the Toyota will get the job done most of the time...it's the .01% of the time when things go way wrong (like when an 18 wheeler runs you off the road and into the grassy median at 70 mph with a fully loaded trailer) that it's going to suck a lot. If you want to use a small/medium SUV, I would step down to an open trailer.

 

You really need to read the fine print on things like maximum towing capacity. The manufacturers are trying to come to grips with towing capacity as everyone likes to measure it differently. Most trailer hitches are only good to 5,000 lbs unless you are using some type of leveling system. I have a long wheel base F150 and wouldn't touch an enclosed trailer.

Good Luck.

 

My girlfriends parents use a '08 Sequoia to tow their RV. It is 34' long and over 8000lbs when loaded. They'd towed down from Yorktown to NJMP (rolex race) as their first big trip this year and her dad said it towed great. His previous tow vehicle was a 2500 suburban and he said they were nearly equal stability wise. A big difference was the tires (load range E's on the Chevy) vs. stock Bridgestones on the Toyota. Same crap all season tires my Tundra has. With better tires the Toyota will be even better. It gets much better mileage in daily driving too. He was most worried about the IRS on the Toyota, but it did fine. He was even able to use 5th (out of 6) gear much of the time on mostly level roads.

Look for an SR5, as they have a higher tow rating than a limited or a platinum. You can get a SR5 with the leather and bells and whistle stuff too.

The Sequoia has the highest tow rating of any new SUV. yes, higher than any GM product, including 2500 suburbans.

 

Just read some work done on Wheelbase vs trailer length. Wheelbase of 122 is good for a trailer up to 22 ft.
I tow with a Reese Staight line hitch - load levelling and anti-sway

 

last time I looked, the Limited has a higher tow rating than the SR5

 

That doesn't seem logical to me. When you start loading the trucks up, the rating goes down. hence why 4x2's rated higher than 4x4's etc..

My gf's parents choose the SR5 for the higher rating. He also wanted to avoid the air suspension package.

 

Get good inertia based brake controller, a weight distribution/ sway control, (I like the Equalizer) and you will be fine. Tongue weight with enclosed trailers and rear engine Porsche makes this much easier than it would be with say, a similarly weighted horse trailer...ask me how I know Just keep 10 + % on the ball and it should pull straight.

I have a 2006 Nissan Armada and I just bought a 24 foot enclosed trailer for my 930. Does not sway at all, even empty on a 100 trip. I also have an F350 diesel duallie, and yes it is a better tow vehicle, but I wouldn't think you need to run out and drop more $$$$ and run out and buy one. My wife needs to tow and if she is using the F350, I feel fine with the Armada, properly setup.

 

I tow a 24ft ATC carrying GT3 with 08 Seq Plat.Tows like a dream. Weight dist hitch with sway control and brake controller. I use a tongue weight scale to stay at 10%. I haven't used it in the mountains but in midwest I can run70-75 without problems.
Joe

 

Get the trailer weighed!!! Dont guess at what it is "supposed" to be. I ran into the same issue and my Denali cant tow the trailer I bought. Now I got a nice used 2005 F350 Diesel. Cant wait to tow w/ it!

Like mentioned above, payload and GRVWR is important too.

 

If possible, borrow the scales used to corner balance our cars from a friend or your mechanics shop, that is what I used. For tongue weight you only need one scale and the head unit, you don't need to even hook up the others. As far as your trailers tongue weight, I bet even by hand you will be able to tell that the tongue weight of an empty 20ft enclosed trailer isn't much. I can get some upward movement in my 24'er, as opposed to my horse trailer where I can't even budge it. Right away, before even towing, I new the race trailer was going to be much easier from a tongue weight standpoint.

You would also be surprised at how much a few inches in hitch height can effect tongue weight. In the past I have gotten a trailer to go form 1200lbs of tongue weight to just about 900lbs by dropping the ball a few inches...that's a pretty big difference in my book. I never would have guessed the difference until I monkeyed around with the scale. Set the trailer just barely nose down and you will be at the lower end of the tongue weight scale. If it gets too nose light raise it to even. Fine tune the load by playing with how much you dial in the weight distribuition setup and after a few test runs you'll have it feeling like a single unit.