New 30ft Trailer Towing Experience
Picked up our 2016 Sunset Trail 270BH from Manteca and towed it back to Reno using our 2014 Toyota Sequoia Platinum with 113t P rated Michelin LTX Defenders aired up to 42psi (max 44) and an Equalizer...
Forum Discussion
I don't see where the hitch rating was ever de-rated. It obviously had to be at least 1000 lbs prior to J2807 to support a 10,000 max tow rating which would equate to a 10% tongue weight, the lightest I have ever seen specked out. The above link is for a 2015. My 2014 has the same spec rating.
The de-rating for j2807 tow ratings made it clear that something didn't meet the standard. What that was we don't know, handling, over temp climbing the hill, ability for the parking brake to hold the load on the specified slope, etc. But as far as I know Toyota was the only manufacturer to apply J2807 to an existing design. The others only applied them to newly designed vehicles. So much so that the new Suburbans still aren't 2807 because they are waiting for the new Expedition which is supposed to be 2807 certified.
In theory towing 9500 lbs with a 2008 or 2009 Sequoia is no different than towing within specs on a brand new Suburban or a 2016 F250, since neither of those were 2807 compliant either. All within published manufacturing specs.
So now towing at 7000, assuming you can stay within payload numbers which admittingly is a challenge, in theory should be "safer" then towing close to max load on a 2016 f250/350 since those weren't 2807, and nobody will ever know how much 2807 would of reduced those older designs capacity by.
I hear a lot about the "tail wagging the dog". The Sequoia is a 6000 lb vehicle empty. Towing a 6500 lb load shouldn't be a problem. A F250 that is 7000 lbs empty towing a 12,000 load doesn't seem any "safer" to me. Let alone a 5500 lb empty F150 towing 10,000-11,000 lbs. "Feeling" safer doesn't mean safer. Again, I would argue that lots of dangerously set up rigs are being masked by the larger trucks. Maybe the truck would stay in better control if the trailer fishtails, but that does nothing to protect the other drivers on the road.
I weigh my tongue every trip out. 750lbs tows great and falls in about 11-12% tongue weight. Highest I towed at was 850lbs to see if there was a difference when I was the only one in the truck taking it back to storage. I couldn't tell a difference.
After watching what my friend went through with a brand new F150 and a new 7000 lb empty airstream, I feel even better about my set up. He jacked around with settings, installed airbags, And was about to get LT tires when he decided a Propride was only twice the cost of new tires. Now he is satisfied, but I never had nearly the issues. But he has payload to spare, I don't.
Again, if I was a full timer, I'd have a f350, but towing exclusively in the Sierras, I can say I have zero hesitation.
The de-rating for j2807 tow ratings made it clear that something didn't meet the standard. What that was we don't know, handling, over temp climbing the hill, ability for the parking brake to hold the load on the specified slope, etc. But as far as I know Toyota was the only manufacturer to apply J2807 to an existing design. The others only applied them to newly designed vehicles. So much so that the new Suburbans still aren't 2807 because they are waiting for the new Expedition which is supposed to be 2807 certified.
In theory towing 9500 lbs with a 2008 or 2009 Sequoia is no different than towing within specs on a brand new Suburban or a 2016 F250, since neither of those were 2807 compliant either. All within published manufacturing specs.
So now towing at 7000, assuming you can stay within payload numbers which admittingly is a challenge, in theory should be "safer" then towing close to max load on a 2016 f250/350 since those weren't 2807, and nobody will ever know how much 2807 would of reduced those older designs capacity by.
I hear a lot about the "tail wagging the dog". The Sequoia is a 6000 lb vehicle empty. Towing a 6500 lb load shouldn't be a problem. A F250 that is 7000 lbs empty towing a 12,000 load doesn't seem any "safer" to me. Let alone a 5500 lb empty F150 towing 10,000-11,000 lbs. "Feeling" safer doesn't mean safer. Again, I would argue that lots of dangerously set up rigs are being masked by the larger trucks. Maybe the truck would stay in better control if the trailer fishtails, but that does nothing to protect the other drivers on the road.
I weigh my tongue every trip out. 750lbs tows great and falls in about 11-12% tongue weight. Highest I towed at was 850lbs to see if there was a difference when I was the only one in the truck taking it back to storage. I couldn't tell a difference.
After watching what my friend went through with a brand new F150 and a new 7000 lb empty airstream, I feel even better about my set up. He jacked around with settings, installed airbags, And was about to get LT tires when he decided a Propride was only twice the cost of new tires. Now he is satisfied, but I never had nearly the issues. But he has payload to spare, I don't.
Again, if I was a full timer, I'd have a f350, but towing exclusively in the Sierras, I can say I have zero hesitation.
