How do you know you're towing too much weight?

MargaretB wrote:
We've been told here that our Sequoia can only tow the standard rating of 7500 lbs, despite having the tow package which the manufacturer says can tow 9500. We'll never get near that number, of course, and intend to stick to as close to 6000 as we can.

But I wondered, as we drove the new TT baby home today, how you can tell if you're pulling too much weight. We were pulling an empty TT with full propane tanks and two batteries, and the tach showed 3100 rpms as we climbed the hills near out home. Is the tach the best way of telling? If so, how many rpms are too many? If not, what is?

My first issues were that the brakes would fade when in stop-and-go traffic and my transmission was blowing out fluid when I tried to back my rig up a slight incline.

If the tires spin when you step on the gas, add more weight.

Also it took a lot of practice to keep the 200 hp. motor rpm under 3000 rpm.

I think this is where most people get uncomfortable. The problem is there is no reason for it. Naturally aspirated engines make most of their power in the higher rpm range (ie above 3000). Don't be afraid to let them rev, it won't hurt it. Sure it can be a little noisy and annoying but it's not going to blow up.

When we first started the DW and I rented a 24 ft. trailer to try this RV thing. The specs. for the F-150 said I had said it could handle the load. I did not think about the little V6.

The first sign of trouble was a top end of 60 to 65 mph on the flat and 50 to 55 mph on anything that resembled a hill. Also it took a lot of practice to keep the 200 hp. motor rpm under 3000 rpm.

It was a fun, albeit slow trip, once we figured out the limits of the TV. The Ozarks that fall were at their color peek. We learned a lot about gas stations, turning around on country roads, wind buffing, floor plans and I host of other things the first time RVer has to learn.

Front wheels come off the ground, rear drags a little, you can't see ahead unless you weave, you look like one of these pics.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Overloaded+Car&FORM=IRTRRL&crslsl=0#view=detail&id=EF740A47E555D20DFDE0ECC79AEF7F45BC55505E&selectedIndex=41

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=overloaded+pictures&id=4F4521F4B1B2CDC4519E06F0B314131575FD0419&FORM=IQFRBA

At the end of the day, you need to decide what is comfortable for YOU.

I don't think you should exceed your payload rating of your truck. That is the first step, making sure that your loaded trailer attached to your loaded tow vehicle with a PROPERLY SET UP WDH are weighed and your numbers meet Toyota's specs.

Once you have made sure that you meet Toyota's specs and are at or below your maximum weight rating, you need to feel comfortable driving it. There is no chart or ratings to determine this... you have to know if you feel comfortable towing this weight.

Those are the two variables to know if you are towing too much weight or if you are light enough.

If you listen to the arm chair weight police on here, you will be calculating the weight of the extra bag of chips you have in the truck and subtracting the amount of liquid you evacuated at your last pit stop.

Ain't that the truth.

From the Forum Help and Support: How to post pictures

I took a picture of the door-jamb stickers, and tried to post them here, but the posting box asks for a URL for the image. It's on my hard drive, so I don't have a URL. Any suggestions?

(This is for those who have not believed me when I've said that we are total techno-boobs. My grandsons could probably post the picture for me, but they are 450 miles away.)

MargaretB wrote:

westend wrote:
In your former threads, payload capacity was explained. That is the be-all, end-all for towing capacity with your Sequoia and a travel trailer. The capacity weight number is printed on a sticker on the driver's side door jamb. Have you looked for it? It usually states," All passengers and cargo should not exceed....".

Yes, it's 1260.

1260-720 = 540 remaining for weight distributing hitch, cargo, and passengers. If you know the curb weight for your Sequoia, you can subtract that from the scaled gross weight and derive the weight of hitch, passengers and cargo.