BlackJohnny wrote:
Hi,
I'm looking for an educated & deconstructive analysis of the following calculations that I performed regarding a 2008 2WD 5.7L Toyota Sequoia with tow haul mode & factory integrated hitch. The specs for the Sequoia are as follows:
GVWR: 7,300 lbs
GCWR: 16,000 lbs
GVW: 5,985 lbs
TW: 1,000 lbs
LTWR 10,000 lbs
Wheelbase: 122"
HP: 381
TORQUE: 401
The specs for the 2013 Salem 33' model 30KQBSS are:
GTW: 6,884 lbs
TW: 899 lbs
CC: 4,137 lbs
L: 33'0 Feet
H: 11'2 Feet
The TT will be hooked up to a HUSKY weight Distribution Hitch with anti-sway bar & a Tekonsha P3 electric trailer brake controller.
Taking into consideration the TT's specs & a 12% Tongue weight percentage override and adding a 10% level of safety margin of the tow vehicle's maximum ratings, I came up with the following operating capacities for my Sequoia.
Maximum Trailer Weight Loaded with Gear: 8,333 lbs
Maximum Trailer Weight Loaded with Gear & Safety Margin: 7,500 lbs
Maximum Tongue Weight with Safety Margin: 900 lbs
Maximum Passenger Weight with No Cargo: 1,315 lbs
The revised figures suggest I can only carry a maximum of 1,449 lbs of cargo in the TT. If I want to play it safe the calculations suggest I only load 616 lbs of gear. Naturally the trailer will not be filled with fresh or waste water when traveling. My total combined passenger weight is 605 lbs well within the 1,315 lbs max. The cargo & gear weighs 894 lbs, again well within the 1,449 lbs max.
I took the rig out for a test spin on the highway and county roads yesterday with no gear and 2 passengers. The conditions were very windy and ideal to test the set up. There was some sway due to high wind gusts, overall the trailer tracked well and did very well when passed by Tractor Trailers. I did not go beyond 60 MPH/100 KM.
The question begs itself:
Taking all things into consideration, can the Sequoia with 122" wheelbase handle the length of the TT? IE is trailer sway going to be a concern with the current set-up or do I need to upgrade to a Hensley Arrow or Pro-Pride 3P trailer hitch?
Thanks
I'm going to start fresh with your numbers.
Now you didn't say how you obtained all your vehicle data. Was it from the correct source, the actual tread act sticker that shows your actual tire loading and payload specs?? Then you have your white sticker stating the GVWR and GAWRs.
I looked up your specs
here and
here (p.233). You state your weight is 5985 lbs for your 2008 "2WD" Sequoia. For a payload of 1315 lbs, the towing capability is 9100 lbs, not 10,000 lbs. Your GCWR is 16,000 lbs.
For a full size SUV, 1315 lbs is pretty low. Lower than many midsize vehicle payloads so you must really be careful of what you can tow with this. When not useing a 3/4 ton truck or above, your towing capability is based more on payload, GAWRs, and hitch weight ratings than the overall tow rating.
Also you stated a 12% tongue weight which is low. From what I have seen over the years on here, is that most have a 13% tongue weight. 12% is closer to what single axle pop ups have.
I've also seen that most people have at least 1300 lbs loading over the trailer's brochure speced weight. This is for food, water, clothes, and camping gear.
Also over the years, I've seen average weight distribution equalize the vehicle at 80% of the total tongue weight (with hitch weight included in that 80%), and 20% go back to the trailer axles. This is an average and can change according to loading and hitch adjustment obviously. The same can be said of the 13% of total trailer weight for the hitch weight. It's an average that can change according to loading and even the way the trailer was made.
But for an average, with correctly adjusted hitch and loaded trailer, I'd use 13% for hitch weight and 80% for weight distributed from the hitch to the SUV's suspension that goes against payload.
6884 lbs for your Salem would have a minimum loaded weight of 8184 lbs going by loading just 1300 lbs over the brochure weight.
With a total loaded weight of 8184 lbs, you'll have a tongue/hitch weight of 1064 lbs. which is already over your 1000 lbs hitch capacity rating. The distributed weight of that 1064 lbs is 851 lbs going to your vehicles suspension. With a payload of only 1315 lbs, that leaves only 464 lbs. So that's basically about 100 lbs gear in the truck meaning everything down to your wifes purse, and the 2 of you.
Then to top it off, you only have a 122" of wheelbase with a 33' trailer. That's a combination for destruction! You'll need to get one of heavy duty hitches to combat sway, as a Hensley or Propride. Those hitches are heavy so take at least another 100 lbs away from your 464 lbs and pay about $3000 for that hitch.
That'll leave you no room at all for any gear including a toolbox. You'll just have enough weight capacity for you and your wife. Then you'll still be overloading your receiver hitch on your truck.
This camper demands a 3/4 Ton truck, not a SUV with a short wheelbase and one of the lowest payload capacities in the industry.
Since Toyota doesn't make a 3/4 ton truck, you'll have to pick from GM, Ford, or Dodge.
With a payload that low, you'll have to go down to a trailer with a total bumper to ball length of around 22' to even come close to being within the capacities of your SUV and still be able to have gear in it.
Good luck
