sailor55330
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2013
- Messages
- 38
Hello-
I don't post often, but I do find that there's some great experience and info here. Here's my situation--
Tow Vehicle: 2008 Toyota Sequoia, 5.7l, 381hp, 401 ftlbs torque. 4wd. Heavy Duty Tow package, 122 in wheelbase.
Tow rating is 9100lbs "If properly equipped". The integrated hitch is good for 6000/600. The manual states that anything over 5000 requires a WDH. (slghtly confusing, huh?)
I am currently towing a 20ft bow rider on a tandem axle that weighs 4430 at the scales in trailering form. 11.6% tongue weight. No issues at all with surge brakes on the trailer and the truck squats about 1.25". I've towed safely for 20+ years with various trailers.
We are considering moving up to a larger boat, in the 23-25ft range. Most of them have dry weights around 3800-4800 dry, add 270 for fuel. figure another 1500 for trailer. That gets me very close to the max for the integrated hitch, but well under the max tow rating of the vehicle.
Here are the specifics:
GCWR---16,000 as per manual
Curb Weight--6030 as per manual.
Fuel: 175lbs (26X6.7)
Average cargo/passengers: 800 (2 people, 2 dogs, minimal gear,)
Total vehicle weight: 7004 lbs. If I subtract that from the GCWR of 16,000, I get 9,070lbs available, or very close to 9100 as the manual states.
Now, here's the rub--Toyota was an early adopter of the new more conservative towing limits for their vehicles. In 2010, nothing changed for the Sequoia, but the max tow rating dropped to about 7500lbs which changes everything.
So, my conundrum here is what I can safely tow? If I follow the manual, then I need a WDH because I am over 5k. As the community here knows, that is very uncommon on a boat. If I use the integrated hitch, then I'm over the limits, with capacity to spare. If I follow the newer specs, knowing that nothing has changed from 2008, then I'm probably over. My towing is usually within 40 miles, with the longest tow being about 120 miles on flat ground---the biggest hill is an overpass.
Any thoughts are appreciated, except for the ones that always seem to think it's funny to say "do it and post the results on Youtube"----remember, I'm the guy trying to be responsible and may be the one driving next to you when overloaded on your advice!
I don't post often, but I do find that there's some great experience and info here. Here's my situation--
Tow Vehicle: 2008 Toyota Sequoia, 5.7l, 381hp, 401 ftlbs torque. 4wd. Heavy Duty Tow package, 122 in wheelbase.
Tow rating is 9100lbs "If properly equipped". The integrated hitch is good for 6000/600. The manual states that anything over 5000 requires a WDH. (slghtly confusing, huh?)
I am currently towing a 20ft bow rider on a tandem axle that weighs 4430 at the scales in trailering form. 11.6% tongue weight. No issues at all with surge brakes on the trailer and the truck squats about 1.25". I've towed safely for 20+ years with various trailers.
We are considering moving up to a larger boat, in the 23-25ft range. Most of them have dry weights around 3800-4800 dry, add 270 for fuel. figure another 1500 for trailer. That gets me very close to the max for the integrated hitch, but well under the max tow rating of the vehicle.
Here are the specifics:
GCWR---16,000 as per manual
Curb Weight--6030 as per manual.
Fuel: 175lbs (26X6.7)
Average cargo/passengers: 800 (2 people, 2 dogs, minimal gear,)
Total vehicle weight: 7004 lbs. If I subtract that from the GCWR of 16,000, I get 9,070lbs available, or very close to 9100 as the manual states.
Now, here's the rub--Toyota was an early adopter of the new more conservative towing limits for their vehicles. In 2010, nothing changed for the Sequoia, but the max tow rating dropped to about 7500lbs which changes everything.
So, my conundrum here is what I can safely tow? If I follow the manual, then I need a WDH because I am over 5k. As the community here knows, that is very uncommon on a boat. If I use the integrated hitch, then I'm over the limits, with capacity to spare. If I follow the newer specs, knowing that nothing has changed from 2008, then I'm probably over. My towing is usually within 40 miles, with the longest tow being about 120 miles on flat ground---the biggest hill is an overpass.
Any thoughts are appreciated, except for the ones that always seem to think it's funny to say "do it and post the results on Youtube"----remember, I'm the guy trying to be responsible and may be the one driving next to you when overloaded on your advice!