2004 Toyota Sequoia...What can I tow?

That Flagstaff Micro Lite looks pretty good to me! They pack a lot of sleep space into it. Go easy on the water, drive 60 mph, and you should be ok.

If looking for a pickup, an F150 3.5L turbo with max tow and max payload packages would handle quite a bit of trailer. Or go to a 3/4 ton, but like Old-Biscuit said, you have to check the payload numbers for each one because they vary according to the truck's options.

Baja Man wrote:
So, assuming that we want a 4K dry, 24' long TT, what models will fit my needs?

Have you looked at the Forest River Micro Lite 23LB? (That's what Mrs. S. and I settled on.) It fits all your parameters. Granted, it would be a little small for two teens and two adults, but how much time do you plan to spend inside it? When we bought ours, it was 2 years old, in perfect condition, and the out-the-door price was less than $14K. I think it would work well with your Sequoia.

I'd recommend getting inside one of them rather than just looking at floorplans. Oh, and by the way, if a Rockwood dealer is closer to you than a Forest River dealer, the exact same trailer is available as a Rockwood. I just can't remember the model number.

-Speak

Unless you get a NEW 150/1500 with MAX TOW package you will be right where you are.

So if buying a truck.....go 250/2500 minimum and then you still need to check what THAT trucks payload is.....even 250/2500 can have VERY low payloads

Smart thinking on your part to back up a bit, its gotta work for everyone in your family , you all need the comfort you deserve. Its everyone's 'get-a-way' time.


For me, buying used vehicles never worked out. This is what i do now :

Would leasing a new 1500 crew cab with a tow pack work for you ? You don't need any other special truck towing equipment (except a
WD hitch) to tow many brands of TT in your desired floorplan.
For $500/mo. you get a new truck every 3 yrs that you never have to repair out of pocket.
Its not too expensive to prepay extra miles if you need them.

Buy a good used TT in the floorplan that you and your DW would like. After all, if she is happy, you'll be happy.
You can then get the extra room in a larger TT with an island queen and bunks at the rear .
A used TT will be less expensive than laying out $40k cash plus for a new truck and you'll be gaining the payload, tow capacity and a more reliable vehicle for over the road towing with less worry about breakdowns on the road.

Or you could trade in the wife . . . .

Just kidding, of course.

But let her know that lots of us are not roughing-it people. We have a very small trailer that is really luxurious (at least when compared with tent camping) -- shower, queen bed, etc.

The real luxury is being able to stay wherever you want in your own clean little box, with your own good food.

So seriously -- rather than spending a lot of money on a new truck, maybe try out trailering with a suitable used unit. If you and she really love it, that would be the time to spend money to get exactly what you want.

I have a 2005 GMC Sierra 1500, regular cab, short bed with the 5.3L (a little over 300hp) and 4 speed auto and .323 gears. According to GMC, I can pull a 7500 pound trailer. My trailer has a dry weight of 3215 and my truck struggled bringing the trailer home yesterday. Where my gas gage didn't move going down, I used almost a 1/4 tank coming back and even with the Tow Mode engaged, the truck spent most of the time in 3rd gear bucking a 16 mph head wind on flat ground.

My point? Those tow ratings are usually a joke. Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

It appears after reviewing what I can safely tow, the floorplans are not what the DW had in mind! She's not the roughing it type, so tents, pop ups and small cramped floorplans are not going to work for her.

So, that being said, I may have to bite the bullet and purchase a truck. I've been researching them...from 1500s-3500s.... GAS only...Tundras, Dodge, Ford.....new they are expensive ($35-$40K)! Most used ones are near new costs!

What's a guy to do??!!

Here's a link to Forest River's web site. They build RV's under several brand names. Many of which, have models that fit your needs.

Here's a link for Keystone. They also build under several brand names.

If you're looking at used units, all you can do is look for trailers under 25 feet, then ask the sellers for weights. If the weights meet your needs, go look at the unit and verify those weights.

Jayco J-Feather x213 is about all I could find, or for an easier tow something like my trailer.

Look at Winnebago Micro Minnie, or Jayco SLX.