Mommame
America
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Please bear with me, but I am paranoid with 2 little kids. I've looked up all the numbers and I think it is okay, but we are new to TTs so I am a bit nervous. We are looking at buying a 25DS Skyline Koala. We have a 2003 Toyota Sequoia. Here are the numbers:
Trailer:
Dry tongue weight: 600
GVWR: 5940
Sequoia:
Maximum towing capacity: 6500
Maximum payload: 1430
I know there are other numbers that are important but I don't know what they are or have been able to wrap my head around what they mean.
Of course, we aren't going to be towing with full tanks and will be using a WD hitch, but does this sound ok? Sorry, I'm sure these threads pop up all the time, but any help is appreciated! Just want to be safe 
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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Looks like you'll be OK ... Most of the time with 1/2 ton trucks and SUV's you run out of GVWR first...
The Sequoia's GVWR will be posted on the drivers side B-pillar... GVWR = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and is the maximum your truck can weigh when loaded with fuel, all occupants, all cargo carried in it, and any applicable trailer tongue and hitch weight... Trailer tongue weight MUST be added to the tow vehicle's GVWR as the truck is carrying this load...
If you would load the trailer to it's max GVWR of #5940, you can expect a tongue weight of about #772 which is 13% (recommended) of the total trailer weight... This amount of tongue weight will of course require a weight distributing hitch, and I would seriously recommend some form of trailer sway control as well... Hitches like the Reese Dual Cam or the Equal-i-zer have built in sway control and should work well for this combination...
Other numbers you should be concerned with are truck GCWR or Gross Combined Weight Rating and this is the maximum your fully loaded truck and trailer can weigh... See your Sequoia owners manual for this or contact Toyota for it...
Good luck with the new Skyline - I've had two of them now and have been well satisfied with them...
And lastly, welcome to the RV.Net Forums 
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
Sold Trailer - not RV'ing at this point in time
HUNTER THERMOSTAT INSTALL
HOME MADE WHEEL CHOCKS
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Mommame
America
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Yes, the manual says sway control and brake controller are required. I found the other numbers...
GAWR, FT:3160
GAWR, RR:3550
Sequoia GVWR: 6500
GCWR: 11,800
Is there a place where it tells you the Sequoias dry weight? It is just us (200, 125, 45, and 40 lbs) and the 2 car seats in the car, no cargo. I'm sure once my boys put on some real weight we'll be in a different vehicle . Also, in the manual it says the tongue load should be 9 to 11% of trailer weight and not to exceed 620 lbs ...EEK. So would you follow the TV recommendation or that of the WD manufacturer.
Thanks so much for the input!!!
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Mommame
America
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Ok, so the curb weight says 5070, so I see what you are saying about that...
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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That's a good starting point but don't depend on the published curb weight - that is for a bone stock vehicle... If you added options at the time of purchase or afterwards, the Sequoia will be heavier - take it to a scale and weigh it... Scales are available at moving companies, material yards, truck stops, etc... Much more accurate to do it this way...
Once you have your TT home and it is loaded, take it to the CAT scales and weigh the rig - this is the ONLY sure way of knowing what you have in terms of weight and your specs...
Your axle weights are good information to have, but most of the time you need not worry about those unless you are pulling a fifth wheel whose pin sits right over the rear axle of the truck...
Your GCWR of #11,800 is the maximum that the fully loaded truck and trailer can weigh...
Les
* This post was
edited 01/18/12 06:53pm by LAdams *
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rexlion
Broken Arrow OK
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so you're towing a bear with a tree...  Sounds to me like you're in good shape on the weight.
Mike & Sherry
2000 Mercury Mountaineer
2008 Toyota Highlander
2011 KZ Spree Escape E14RB
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Mommame
America
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so you're towing a bear with a tree..
This has occurred to me too. Pretty funny!
Thanks for the reassurance! I am pretty sure we will be alright, and if not, my husband would looove an excuse to get rid of the SUV for a big truck.
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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I've never ridden in one but that Sequoia looks pretty nice... I can practically guarantee you that even a modern 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck will not ride nearly as nice as the Sequoia does...
That said, the Sequoia will never even come close to the towing power of a modern 3/4 or 1 ton truck... Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice 
Les
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Mommame
America
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^^Very true.
More than giving up comfort, it would be my third row I don't want to give up. Well, that and the fact that it is paid for!
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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paid for is a biggie - mine are too and I really understand that
Les
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