Weight Distribution Recommendations for 2002 Toyota Sequoia Towing 26 Foot Travel Trailer

Updated 07/08/2014 | Published 07/05/2014

Products Featured in This Question

2-5/16" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-3/4" Long Shank - Chrome - 12,000 lbs

(2637)

$19.67

2" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-5/8" Long Shank - Chrome - 10,000

(3994)

$20.94

Question:

I have a toyota sequioa 2002 SR5 2Wheel,drive...Im planning to tow a travel trailer 26 footer aljo... The weight of the trailer is 4800 lbs dry.... Do you think I could pull the trailer with no problem? Do I need to install an air bag ? Thanks

asked by: Mexfil

Expert Reply:

According to my research, the 2002 Toyota Sequoia has a 6500 lb towing capacity, but I recommend you confirm this for yourself by consulting your owner's manual or Toyota dealer.

Air helper springs are designed to suspend cargo carried in the cargo area of an SUV or the bed of a truck, but they won't be effective combating the squat caused by the trailer tongue weight being applied to the rear suspension. A weight distribution system would be much more effective in leveling your ride height between the front and rear axles. Due to the length of the trailer, I'd recommend a system with a sway control component, as well.

I've linked you to an FAQ article that explains how a weight distribution system works. We recommend using weight distribution any time the trailer weight is greater than half the weight of the tow vehicle.

In order to choose the correct system, you'll need to determine what we refer to as the TTW or total tongue weight of the trailer. The TTW includes the fully loaded and ready to tow tongue weight of the trailer added to the weight of anything stowed in the cargo area of your Sequoia behind the rear axle. I'll link you to another article that explains a few methods of finding your TTW.

Ideally, you'll want your trailer TTW to be pretty close to the center of the effective range of the w/d system you choose. Once you determine your TTW, you can go to the weight distribution product category page I've linked to. On the left hand margin of the page, click on the number that comes closest to your TTW, and the available choices will be shown.

Let's say your TTW is about 700 lbs. In that case, the Reese Steadi-Flex # RP66560 would be a good choice for you. The system combines sway control with weight distribution that's effective on trailers with tongue weights ranging from 600-1200 lbs. If your TTW is closer to 600 lbs, going with a lower rated system like # RP66559, which is rated from 500-1000 lbs would be better.

Both systems include the weight distributing shank, but the properly sized trailer ball is sold separately. For a 2 inch ball, use part # A-90, or # 19286 for a 2-5/16 inch ball.