Forum Discussion

craigandsusan's avatar
craigandsusan
Explorer
Jun 20, 2015

Slanted Driveway

We currently have a small popup (Coleman Newport Pioneer) and are looking to upgrade to a small travel trailer - 18 - 22'.

We do have a slanted driveway, and we are able move the pop-up around fairly easily, though it does get close to clearing the lower part where the driveway meets the street due to the slant.

Before we go out and buy the travel trailer, we'd like to figure out:

1) Will the TT, with the heavier weight still clear the slant
2) Will our Toyota Sequoia SR5 (2004) have any trouble backing a small TT up the slanted driveway.

It's probably not easy to answer without seeing the slant (which I'd say is moderate, but not extreme), but we figured we'd ask for any advice or ideas.

I have seen a video with a big rig utilizing RV Casters on an extremely slanted driveway. Not sure if we'd need those, or if they are even appropriate for a small TT.

Thanks for any info.

Craig and Susan
  • JimNH's avatar
    JimNH
    Explorer
    Jun 25, 2015
    I have a toyota SR5 V6 pickup with the same tow capacity. I can easily back up our 17' camper - our driveway is steep, not moderate. I have to take off the WDH springs as it helps to have the rear end of the camper high, and put the truck in 4WD - but it works. You should be fine, but I wouldn't push the 6500 lb towing limit. Our unit is a 17' hybrid, and weighs about 2800 lbs, but you still know it's back there. I would guess that you'd be happy with anything up to about 3500 lbs or so. The bigger issue is leveling it at the top of the driveway if you don't have a flat spot. I don't, so I don't park it in the driveway except for using the driveway to turn around on our street, or for loading, unloading or maintenance. Even then, I use chocks, blocks and anything I can to make sure it stays put.
  • FyrFytrDad's avatar
    FyrFytrDad
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2015
    You can also switch hitches and go with a greater drop when you come in your driveway. My driveway is up a hill and I actually stop at a nearby park, pull out the WD hitch and throw in a drop hitch to get the nose down another 3" or so.

    Remember geometry - lower nose = higher rear
  • 93Cobra2771's avatar
    93Cobra2771
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2015
    hershey wrote:
    Ask the dealer to have someone tow it to your location and give it a try. Obviously you want to assure them that its a done deal if it will ramp up your driveway. I'm betting they will oblige.


    Winner.
  • ctabailey's avatar
    ctabailey
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2015
    I find if I disengage my WDH spring bars, I can back up my inclined driveway much better. By keeping the WDH engaged, the hitch would not allow enough vertical "hinge" rotation.

    So, I wait until I have the TT at the curb before I engage the WDH.
  • buzzard616's avatar
    buzzard616
    Explorer
    Jun 22, 2015
    A quick lookup showed a tow rating of 6500 lb for your Sequoia. That should be in the size range you mentioned in your post. Something that length should not have enough rear overhang to cause a lot of concern.
  • BigSkyTrailer_G's avatar
    BigSkyTrailer_G
    Explorer
    Jun 22, 2015
    We have a flat V dip in our driveway, and it used to rub the bottom of the spare tire, especially loaded. The low clearance made me crazy, so I had the axle "flipped" (from the factory the leaf springs were hung under the axle with U bolts; now the leaf springs sit on top of the axle with U bolts.) That got me an extra 4" clearance. You might want to check out the axle orientation on your new rig; maybe the dealer would flip it? ($100 project).
    Also I went from 13" wheels to 14" LT tires... another 1/2 inch.
  • RVcircus's avatar
    RVcircus
    Explorer II
    Jun 22, 2015
    Ours is pretty extreme and if our trailer was much longer it would drag. We have a 25' TT and needed to do a spring over lift to make it possible. We also need to use 2x8's at the base of our driveway, remove the tounge jack and remove the rear stabilizers to get it in and out. Doing all this we get maybe an inch or less of clearance at the rear of the trailer, but it clears it.
  • hershey's avatar
    hershey
    Explorer
    Jun 21, 2015
    Ask the dealer to have someone tow it to your location and give it a try. Obviously you want to assure them that its a done deal if it will ramp up your driveway. I'm betting they will oblige.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Jun 20, 2015
    It may be necessary to put down a couple of wood planks at the start of the driveway (at the worst). Your new rig may back in perfectly. We really have no way to know, do we?

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