trailer weight

Thanks Slate, that helps

A 4Runner is a mid size SUV, smaller than a Seqoia or Tahoe. But is still built on a frame. I found info that says towing capacity for a 6 cylinder is 5000.

The seller did send us the weight off of the rating plate, printed in the cabinet and off of the 2001 Sierra catalog. they all say around 3200 pounds. Since it hasn't been actually weighed, I know I just can't be sure. I don't think the lady selling it would want to go to the trouble of towing it to a weigh station. That's why I'm wondering how much weight a Toyota 6 cyl 4-Runner will tow, or if anyone here has ever owned a 2001 22ft Sierra Lite and have any idea how much it weighed. I assume the 4-Runner is rated as a half ton?This would give me clue.

The 292 engine in the van has lots of power, that's not the problem, I just don't like to be towing a trailer that's heavier than the tow vehicle. the 292's were used in wreckers before the big block Chevy V-8 was available, like I said torque and towing power is what the 292 was built for. I've been towing with it since 1988 and it's now got 90,000 of towing miles on it. Has never failed me.

I am well aware that the weight ratings on trailers built before the manufacturers had to weigh the TT's as the leave the factory are not at all accurate, that's why I'm hesitant to drive 6 hours to see it. I'm still very interested in this TT it's just that the floor plan we want is hard to find in a small older trailer. I haven't been able to find anything on the internet about the older Sierras. So I'm turning to my fellow RV'ers.

I don't think you can rely on the PO's prior experience and statements about towing, nor interpolate that to get anywhere close to accurate weight information. You'll have to either data mine the Internet (like this post) or take the trip out for a visit to the scales.

IMO, the seller should be able to offer the weight of whatever they are selling, either as scaled or information off the rating plate. My '71 Starcraft has a rating plate so it's not a matter of age.

If the Sierra is actually close to 3200 pounds unloaded as stated on the tag in the cabinets, then the van will tow it safely. What I need is a trailer than weighs no more than a true 3500 lbs unloaded. That's what all of our prior trailers weighed. My concern, is that after driving 300 miles, we will find that it weighs a lot more than the 3200 lbs claimed by the manufacturer. I thought if I could get an idea from you Toyota owners how much weight a 4-runner will tow with the 6 cyl. engine, then that would give me an idea how heavy the trailer really is.

We travel light with no water in the tanks including the hot water tank, only one propane tank full and keep the amount of junk in the TT to a minimum.

In the 60's the transmissions would make nearly as much heat towing as the engine did and a 3~4K# trailer was considered pretty heavy. The 4 Runner will have a better tow rating so I would not go by that either.
Sorry but I think that TT is going to be too heavy for your power train even on the flats.

LVJJJ wrote:
anybody had a 2001 Sierra Lite 22ft. travel trailer? I'd like to find out how much this unit actually weighs, UVW

I tow with a '65 Chevy Van so knowing the actual weight is very important

also, when were TT manufacturers first required to weigh their trailers as they left the factory?

I have a 2000 22' Nomad. There is a sticker inside an upper cabinet that has all the figures of my unit "as bulit".

I've come to the conclusion that TT's from that era that were marketed as a "LITE" are much heavier than those built today of similar size.
My UVW is 4,180 lbs & GVW is 5,500 lbs. The tag on the outside of the coach reflects information of the coach as standard equipped, not "as built"

You might find the information in the RV section of the NADA price list on the internet.

If you really want the information, look on the left front corner of the trailer. There will be a tag there with axle, tire, and gross weight numbers. UVW is pretty meaningless as you will never ever tow it without food,clothes, batteries, or propane.

As the old van weighs about 3500 pounds, I don't want my TT to be much more than that. Our last TT, a pristine 85 Wilderness weighed that much and it was very nice towing combination. Both were weighed at a local scale. We stupidly sold it cause DW didn't like setting up the gaucho for bed everynite and wanted a made-up-bed TT. So, we bought a 98 Wilderness "Lite" based on the manufacturers estimated weight of 3600 lbs, I weighed it and it was 4170, just too much for the van. The 292 inline 6 would pull it, but it was like the tail wagging the dog, didn't feel safe. I do feel like an idiot. I've been towing for 25 years and have bought a lot of trailers and should have known better than to believe estimated weights.

Finding a small TT with a front bedroom, center couch and a dinette has proven to be very difficult. Plus, I really need the front to slope back a lot for good aerodynamics. We've located a 22' Sierra 330 miles away from us (Blaine to Pasco in Washington state). I actually don't mind water damage or other broken things cause I enjoy fixing them up, its the weight and floor plan that's all important. So, I was hoping someone on the forum had had one and tell me what they towed it with, or had ever had it weighed. I hate to drive that far and find that it is too heavy.

The lady selling the TT towed it over Snoqualmie pass with a 2013 Toyota 4-Runner with the 6 engine and said it did fine. Can anyone towing with one tell me what towing capacity it has? What size TT do you tow with it? Is it as big as a pick-up? I'm a Chevy only guy, I am not familiar with any Japanese vehicle.

We have towed TT's all over the western US, over the Cascades and Rockies and down to the desert southwest a lot, so the van can do the job if the TT is not too heavy. In 1965, there were no tow ratings available, just carrying capacity. It's a half ton, but vehicles were built much stronger in those days, they used thick heavy duty steel. I'm curious how the van compares with a 4-Runner.

One would think after 69 years of walking around on this earth, one should be done making mistakes. Guess not.