Towing a TT with a Toyota Sequoia or Tacoma?

I also tow with a Sequoia, a 2010 Limited.

The 5.7L motor is an absolute beast, don't be fooled by people saying this SUV is better for smaller TT's or no TT at all. They have no clue.

That said, it's not a pick up truck and has a lower tow rating. But even the newest using the SAE towing standard it is rated for 7200lbs, which is a walk in the park for this SUV with a good set up.

MPG's everyday will be 15-17mpg and highway 18-19 tops.

Towing MPG, it will match what every other truck and SUV does. 8-12...heavily dependent on speed and wind resistance...not weight. My interstate speed (65-75mph) MPG while towing (box trailer or TT) is a solid 8-10mpg.

We currently have 120,000 miles on ours with the biggest trips being Badlands/Custer/Cheyenne/Yellowstone and the Smoky's. There are no signs of high mileage, it drives like new...and I say that because I've driven a couple new ones! In 3 busy years, I have only replaced the battery and all fluids. Nothing else...not even a light bulb. SOLID, BIG MOTOR SUV!

JohnG4706 wrote:
2010 Sequoia SR5 with the 5.7L engine, 2WD and Tow Package. Pulling a Puma 23FB with a ProPride WDH.

Just returned from my first trip. 16,000 miles total/12,000 miles towing. From Myrtle Beach, out through Yellowstone, up to Alaska and back. Towed great! Plenty of power. Averaged 10 mpg.

I prefer the SUV to the Thundra because of the ride and inside storage.

FWIW, I bought the Sequoia used. Had budgeted about $30k for a 2008 and found the 2010 with 88,000 miles for $22k. I used Cars.com and found the SUV in Columbia, SC. I drove to Columbia and being single, anticipated renting a U-Haul dolly to tow my auto back to MB. Dealer needed to pickup a vehicle in MB and had his driver deliver the Sequoia to me for no charge. Worked out for everyone.

Same experience here--great SUV tow vehicle if you have proper WD and sway control. We bought our 2008 Limited used with 130,000 miles and it drives like it is brand new. Headed to Washington State, Oregon, and Glacier this summer with a few stops along the way.

2010 Sequoia SR5 with the 5.7L engine, 2WD and Tow Package. Pulling a Puma 23FB with a ProPride WDH.

Just returned from my first trip. 16,000 miles total/12,000 miles towing. From Myrtle Beach, out through Yellowstone, up to Alaska and back. Towed great! Plenty of power. Averaged 10 mpg.

I prefer the SUV to the Thundra because of the ride and inside storage.

FWIW, I bought the Sequoia used. Had budgeted about $30k for a 2008 and found the 2010 with 88,000 miles for $22k. I used Cars.com and found the SUV in Columbia, SC. I drove to Columbia and being single, anticipated renting a U-Haul dolly to tow my auto back to MB. Dealer needed to pickup a vehicle in MB and had his driver deliver the Sequoia to me for no charge. Worked out for everyone.

jerem0621 wrote:

westend wrote:

jerem0621 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

westend wrote:
Before I paid $50K for gas guzzling suv, I'd buy a crew cab truck.

:h I certainly hope they don`t pay $50k for a used truck!!!!

Yea, that was kind of an interesting comment.

I seen some crew cabs touch 70k...maybe he was saying he would spend 70k before he spent 50k. Lol

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Nah, here's the deal Jer.
Look up what a new Sequoia costs and the expected unloaded MPG--13-17 MPG. Now look up what a crew cab truck runs, take your pick from this list--Ford trucks for sale Unloaded, a new F250 will get about the same MPG. Loaded, it will probably do better than a Sequoia but only by a GPM.

The OP is thinking about buying a Sequoia to replace the Forerunner, anticipating pulling a TT. Hence, my comment about $50K vehicles. I think they would be better off keeping the little Forerunner and getting a smallish trailer.

Jeremiah, you're a guy that has cut it both ways, big and little. What's your take on the deal?

Hi Westend, I hope you took my comment above in the spirit of fun, that's how it was intended.

You are right purely on price, often times you can purchase a new 3/4 ton truck cheaper than you can a new BOF full size SUV.

Then again, you can't do with a HD truck what you can do with a full size SUV. and vice versa (Excursion and Suburban 2500 are exceptions).

It comes down to compromise and what works best for each family/situation.

In my case, I feel like the story of the three bears, The dually was too hot, the minivan/pup was too cold, we are hoping the next set up is 'just right' for our family and based on experience it should be.

The full size SUV is a great compromise IF set up properly. Its a great every day vehicle, power, room, maneuverability (the short wheel base ones anyway). The Achilles Heel is payload on these vehicles. That can be managed with the right selection of trailer and vehicle loading.

So, IMHO.. a SUV is a great choice... You get room and climate controlled storage a true multi-use vehicle.

But between the 4runner and the Sequoia.. the only way to go if a trailer is in the mix is the Sequoia...just IMHO.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Jeremiah,
I got the humor intent and you can spend the dough I don't have anyway you see fit, lol. $70K gives me so much sticker shock, I'm going to put another coat of wax on the 250.

I liked your take on the TV situation. One size does not definitely fit all and a good SUV is a nice thing to own. FWIW, at one time I had an older Explorer Ltd, EB edition with all the bells. This was when they had a full box frame. That vehicle was a pleasure to tow with.

I threw that hardball about crew cabs and gas guzzling out there to at least show that there's more solutions for towing than just one or two.

Andy F wrote:
We've been towing with a Sequoia since 2008, first with our Roo HTT and then our 31 foot Bullet 281 TT since 2012. We've been out in the mountains to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons and then down to Florida this past fall. The Sequoia has been an awesome tow vehicle for us. We've had the 2nd generation Sequoia with the 5.7 liter since last spring and it has lots of power. We did upgrade our hitch to the ProPride for complete sway control. I'd highly recommend the Sequoia and suggest some skepticism towards cynics out there.

Thanks for the feedback... I'm looking at a full size SUV now and really appreciate your experience. I'm also consideringoing TT's that are light weight similar to the Bullet and the Coachmen Apex.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Drbolasky wrote:
Sequoia owner here....have used it to tow our 28' TT since May of 2009. Loaded and ready for the road the trailer weighs 6,000 lbs. and the Sequoia handles it with ease, so I'm a bit mystified about the reply to your post saying you should have a TT weight of no more than 4,500 lbs. Maybe with the smaller engine, yes, but the 5.7 L has plenty of power; it not only delivers better overall performance than our old TV (5.9 L Dodge gas engine) we get better gas mileage as well.

Weight distribution - wouldn't tow without it. Cost? I didn't pay anything NEAR $50,000 for it, new off the lot. They aren't too common on used car lots. Is payload a concern? Yes, and that is the "Achilles heel" for this platform but most of its service is as DW's daily driver. I've weighed our truck so I know an actual weight, and I use a scale to verify my tongue weight before we hit the road in order to ALWAYS stay within specs.

;)The 5.7 liter engine in the Sequoia is fantastic.

I own a 2008 Sequoia, which I began using to tow my 7000 lb TT (26') in 2010. The Sequoia 5.7L has plenty of power and a good tow rating. Its weaknesses are the low payload (1300 lbs) and the short wheelbase. After adding the tongue weight onto my Equal-i-zer hitch, two adults and some gear in the SUV, I was over payload consistently. I also noted that the relatively short wheelbase allowed more sway and porpoising, even with the WDH/anti-sway hitch. The rear suspension is not really made for towing larger trailers.

Mainly because of the low payload capacity, I now tow the TT with a F-250 Crew Cab short bed which has a payload of 3300 lbs, longer wheelbase and built in anti-sway. Much more pleasant towing experience.

We've been towing with a Sequoia since 2008, first with our Roo HTT and then our 31 foot Bullet 281 TT since 2012. We've been out in the mountains to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons and then down to Florida this past fall. The Sequoia has been an awesome tow vehicle for us. We've had the 2nd generation Sequoia with the 5.7 liter since last spring and it has lots of power. We did upgrade our hitch to the ProPride for complete sway control. I'd highly recommend the Sequoia and suggest some skepticism towards cynics out there.

NC is home and we've towed a 19' Scamp (modified gooseneck) from Fl to Canada and as far west as AZ multiple times. First with an 05 Tacoma and more recently with a 2012. Both were/are 4wd crew cabs with the TRD off-road option and the factory tow package. The camper goes around 3,500 lbs with all our gear and has a tongue weight of 350 lbs. Gas mileage is 14-15 when towing and 17-18 without the trailer. Plenty of torque for the mountains.

westend wrote:

jerem0621 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

westend wrote:
Before I paid $50K for gas guzzling suv, I'd buy a crew cab truck.

:h I certainly hope they don`t pay $50k for a used truck!!!!

Yea, that was kind of an interesting comment.

I seen some crew cabs touch 70k...maybe he was saying he would spend 70k before he spent 50k. Lol

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Nah, here's the deal Jer.
Look up what a new Sequoia costs and the expected unloaded MPG--13-17 MPG. Now look up what a crew cab truck runs, take your pick from this list--Ford trucks for sale Unloaded, a new F250 will get about the same MPG. Loaded, it will probably do better than a Sequoia but only by a GPM.

The OP is thinking about buying a Sequoia to replace the Forerunner, anticipating pulling a TT. Hence, my comment about $50K vehicles. I think they would be better off keeping the little Forerunner and getting a smallish trailer.

Jeremiah, you're a guy that has cut it both ways, big and little. What's your take on the deal?

Hi Westend, I hope you took my comment above in the spirit of fun, that's how it was intended.

You are right purely on price, often times you can purchase a new 3/4 ton truck cheaper than you can a new BOF full size SUV.

Then again, you can't do with a HD truck what you can do with a full size SUV. and vice versa (Excursion and Suburban 2500 are exceptions).

It comes down to compromise and what works best for each family/situation.

In my case, I feel like the story of the three bears, The dually was too hot, the minivan/pup was too cold, we are hoping the next set up is 'just right' for our family and based on experience it should be.

The full size SUV is a great compromise IF set up properly. Its a great every day vehicle, power, room, maneuverability (the short wheel base ones anyway). The Achilles Heel is payload on these vehicles. That can be managed with the right selection of trailer and vehicle loading.

So, IMHO.. a SUV is a great choice... You get room and climate controlled storage a true multi-use vehicle.

But between the 4runner and the Sequoia.. the only way to go if a trailer is in the mix is the Sequoia...just IMHO.

Thanks!

Jeremiah