2023 Toyota Sequoia Towing Review: Huge Improvement! But With Compromises 

Glad it was helpful!

yes need a low spec 2 row SR model for more payload ,max tow load cargo space

We're really excited to get behind the wheel and try towing with the new Tacoma. Same with the Colorado/Canyon twins! No concerns about towing with a turbo four, really, though it'll be interesting to see how it feels in the real world vs numbers/specs.

It really depends on what you're towing. We got about 10 MPG towing this trailer.

About 7,000 pounds and yes, with the car inside. 30' is long for the Sequoia and all other SUVs of its class, assuming that's 30' plus the length of the trailer tongue. You will absolutely want a hitch with weight distribution and sway control and even then... a longer wheelbase will add stability. That pushes you to a Suburban/Expedition Max, or a pickup truck. Length is more a challenge than weight in your case, though you will also want to be mindful of payload between trailer and people in the tow vehicle.

Thanks so much for all the helpful info here and your reply. I also saw your video where you towed using the Expedition Max. That was very helpful. So after towing with both the Sequoia and the Expedition Max, you would go with the Ford Max for better stability given the length of the travel trailer, correct? Especially at 65 mph speeds for highway travel ? Recommend any specific weight distribution. sway control hitches and set up ? I like the look of the new Sequoia so much and I have had plenty of Toyotas over the years, so its hard to go with Ford since I have never owned one, but it does seem that might be the better choice here. @@OutMotorsports

@@caseysikes3569 Always happy to help! You've got a few options here - Sequoia, Expedition Max, or Suburban/Yukon XL twins. The Expedition Max and GM twins will both be longer wheelbases: Sequoia: 122" Expedition Max: 131.6" Suburban: 134.1" The Ford EcoBoost V6 is a fabulous drivetrain for towing. If you go GM - the diesel or 6.2L gas V8 are both great options, the 5.3L will feel slow. The other issue with the Sequoia is how its rear cargo area is packaged - the hybrid battery means the cargo floor isn't flat. I use a Blue Ox TrackPro hitch and it works *very* well. You'll likely want the 8k setup given the trailer weight: amzn.to/3RUqbbv With Ford or GM, make sure to get their heavy duty/max trailer tow package as it does make a big difference. And highway tires > all terrains so avoid FX4, TRD Pro, Z71 type of trims/packages for maximum stability.

Around 10.5 MPG with the enclosed trailer. It's interesting, in doing this with the same trailer and same load across so many tow vehicles, the turbo V6s do not seem to have much MPG advantage over a V8, assuming it's got 8-10 gears to play with. Most new gas V8s will also do 9.5-10 so not a really big difference.

@@OutMotorsports I just towed my boat (about the same 7500 lbs) with a 2022 Ram 3500 diesel and only saw 11mpg so I would say the Toyota does pretty well.

I also am interested in the towing MPG of the Sequoia. I have become spoiled towing a 3,200 lb. travel trailer with a Toyota Sienna Hybrid and we get anywhere between 17 to 22 MPG (depending on terrain, headwind, speed, etc.). We get about 37 MPG when not towing. That said, the Sienna is no where near an ideal tow vehicle. The gas engine portion is only 4 cylinders which produces only about 245 HP. Unlike what was mentioned in this video, we can use only the electric motor while towing but normally not when power is needed. On flatter surfaces or when descending, we can run off the electric motor only (it just switches over automatically). We certainly use a weight distribution hitch primarily because the Sienna already sits low to the ground and it also helps with stability. Towing flat to moderate upslopes is not a problem but steeper upgrades are a challenge. It may sound crazy but we just completed a cross country road trip from FL to WA state, and back, covering almost 13,000 miles through 24 states and reached elevations of over 11,000 feet. Going up some of these steeper upgrades, we only had speeds of 35-45 MPH (we normally don't exceed 55-60 MPH when towing). Do we need another tow vehicle, yeah! Just trying to find an adequate non-pickup truck tow vehicle that gets excellent gas mileage close to the Sienna (I know, it is probably a pipe dream).

Not sure if you can officially remove the third row! Anything is possible with some sockets and a ratchet but Toyota doesn't support removing it from what we saw.

@Out Motorsports I very much meant the 'sockets and don't tell Toyota' version lol

yes a low spec 2 row for more payload and towing

When ur towing it doesnt use the battery at all and i think that torque comes from the battery

@@youtubecarspottersguide1so…. A tundra?

@@boss133749 well base is to long on the tundra and most are crew max and 5.5" box need the 7' cargo space

He does! 12:25

Learn how to drive

Payload matters and it's not something most people consider!

Every new truck/SUV is meeting SAE J2807. It’s a standardized process/series of very difficult tests to attain a tow rating and that’s how Toyota certified the Sequoia. Not sure how location of towing matters but we towed from Washington DC to Virginia International Raceway and back. 600 mile round trip and less grueling than the J2807 testing but a good practical test. Was just me (Jake) in the Sequoia with my weekend bag and nobody else, well within payload and tow rating.

@@OutMotorsports I tow over high Mt passes the cont divide on I-40 , doner pass on I 80 I15 to Vegas from so calif now when I was in the flats of kansas , Texas Idaho Nevada flats I could do 75 all day

@@youtubecarspottersguide1 TFL channel is based in the Denver area and they do towing testing in the mountains. I'm pretty sure they tested the Tundra and Sequoia on their test loops, so I might be beneficial to give them a look as it fits your usage profile better.