Avoiding Sequoia Squat with an Airstream

Hello, I have a 2021 Sequoia TRD Pro, planning on buying an Airstream Basecamp 20x for road trips with the family.

The total payload for the Sequoia is about 1300. With about 600 lbs of people in the vehicle, plus ~500 lb tongue weight (assuming it's partially loaded, but has no propane), it will be about 200 lbs away from max capacity. This sounds pretty close to a maxxed out rig, and it's only a travel trailer that weights about 4000 lbs.

Any advice on anyone who has towed a travel trailer with their family, how to minimize any Squat? Is it necessary with such a set up to buy Timbren bumpstops, or a ProPride Weight Distribution Hitch?

Thank you in advance.

 

Air bags are probably your quickest and easiest solution. I had them on my 4runner for when we were fully loaded down, and they weren’t too bad. They did what they were supposed to do, which is eliminate squat and the poor handling that comes with it.

Check your manual out first though; I think for Tundras a weight distributing hitch is required for towing 5000lb or more. Not sure what that number is on the Sequoia.

 

I would do WDH and see how you can get it leveled out. That may be all you need. But, seem like the sequoia is like the 4runner, which will squat pretty bad with any real weight. I moved to OME suspension on my 4runner and it really helped towing because the springs are stronger.

Try the WDH and see. If still an issue you have airbags or could look into a little heavier duty coils.

 

I am not totally sure, but I think WDHs can cause more problems with lightweight trailers. I wonder if 4K lbs might be too light. Tundra manual says to use them at 5k lbs and over. Curious what the Sequoia manual says.

 

My trailer is 3900 lbs and I had a sag until I bought a WDH. A properly set up WDH should not have more than 3/4 drop.

 

We tow our hybrid camper with our 2018 Platinum 4WD. The tow package and air bags help with the squat, but I wouldn't tow it without the WDH. It's only 3,200lbs dry, but we're usually loaded down with 5 people plus gear. Get a WDH it will do wonders.

 

We pulled a 28 footer with our 2WD and only used a WDH. Family of 5 with a 75 lb lazy ass dog.

We had some sag but nothing too crazy.

 

We have a 2019 SR5 and put these in for our trailer. SUPER easy install and operation and I don't feel that it effected the ride at all when not towing. No squat when towing and we run around 6000lbs all loaded along with 6 people and a dog in the cab. We do use a WDH as well but still had squat before the bags. One thing I really like is that these are a low pressure bag that can be easily inflated with a bicycle pump.

https://www.airliftcompany.com/products/air-springs/air-lift-1000/

 

I have Firestone bags and have been dreading the install after the nightmare r&r of my Dobinsons springs. How did you get your bags in super easily?

 

I left the bags in the sun for a while so they became really pliable and then folded them like a hotdog bun or burrito and they slid into the springs without much effort. After that it was just a matter of running lines.

 

So no need to move the spring? Just between coils? HolEshit!

that’s genius!

Thanks!

 

I did the same thing with the airlift bags I put on my 4Runner.

You can get them to slip through the coils.

 

Yup, leave those springs in place!! I forgot to mention that helps if you lift the rear with a jack to allow the coils to expand and open up more.

 

You have made my day! No shortage of sun here & I see "cool" at the garage (hot) temp they are pretty pliable.

They are in the sun, how long did you leave yours?

 

I think the Dobinsons have more coils closer together than the OEM. I tried & tried, I can not get it past the 1/2 way point. Pushed down from the top bottom first, nope, pushed up from the bottom top going up, same.

I may be able to get more space if I remove the shock but it's 112 now and I just got too hot.

 

That does seem quite a bit coil-ier than what I was working with on my 4runner. But I bet if you remove the lower shock mount and jack up the frame for full droop (watch your brake lines), you can probably muscle it in there. I remember it not exactly being easy on my 4Runner.

 

Yup, I'm pretty sure the OEM springs had 1/2 the coils. I also know from muscling the springs out & in, I needed the shocks out, the right (3rd) spring compressor a jack pushing down and a ton of I'm not giving up. It ALMOST beat me, that's why I was in no hurry to try & wrastle them bastards out. Long weekend coming up, I'll give her a go Saturday morning when it's only 90.

 

That suuuuucks, I want to put bags in mine at some point........

 

I jacked up the rear to allow for a full droop. also i let out all the air from the bags and zip tied them into a hot dog shape which helped slip them in

 

Rear jacked, wheel off, jack pushing the suspension down, bags in the sun for an hour, no freaking way.

I might try taking the shock off tomorrow before it gets to 100.

 

4am, 92 degrees. nope.

 

Following. I have the squat also. Dobi 2.5s

 

UtahBlues - what trailer is that?

 

Maaan, it looks cool!

 

EliSeq, The trailer is Conquerer UEV 490

 

Just ordered Air Lift HD1000 and thinking off adding a 3/4 -1" spacers.