I've had my 2010 Sequoia for 6.5 years, going from 91k miles to 193k. It's been fantastically reliable and is a great tow rig. I wish it was a bit bigger though. Very disappointed the third gen Sequoia is smaller rather than larger than the second gen. For my next vehicle I think a domestic full size is where I'm headed -- though after a great experience with Toyota I'm worried about reliability. I test drove a '22 Expedition Max and didn't love the way it drove. Felt like a lumbering submarine compared to the relatively tight Sequoia. Haven't driven a GM option yet to compare, but have read reviews saying the GM's feel more planted. Sounds like the GM's have significant transmission issues with both the six and eight speeds which may be enough to move the needle in the direction of a Ford. I may end up keeping the Sequoia for another year or two as spending megabucks on a domestic that I worry about breaking is not appealing, but the Sequoia has a couple rust spots that won't be cost effective to fix, and I hate rust...
Any personal experience good or bad racking up miles on either one of these? It will be a family hauler, regularly hauling six people and weekend gear. Tow about 1500 miles a year, 4k lb boat trailer combo.
Thx.
The GM 6 speeds do have significant issues, also depending on the year they can have lifter failures. I know a local shop that pretty much constantly replaces the cam and lifters on GM 1/2 tons of the 2015ish generation. He says he doesn't usually see 3/4 ton trucks with the same problem, possible because they run a 5w-30 rather than 0w-20, and they don't have displacement on demand. The Expedition is only available as a turbo 6, correct? If you can live with the size of the Sequoia, maybe it's wise to just go south to find a clean one from the same generation you have now.
The GM drives around town better. The Expedition tows better. I think reliability is a wash between the 2
I currently tow 5020lbs with my 2015 Expedition EL, which is the same platform as the Expy Max. With no gear or passengers, a 660lbs tongue weight, and a weight distributing hitch, I am within 370lbs of the max rear axle rating.
My payload rating is 1493lbs.
6 people at 150lbs average is 900lbs, plus 200lbs of gear, plus 400lbs minimum safe tongue weight for that trailer: 1500lbs
Your payload is exceeded even with very conservative estimates, and the fact is that you may exceed the rear axle rating well before you exceed the payload.
Sir or madam, you need a 3/4t truck.
YoursTruly said:
Sir or madam, you need a 3/4t truck.
To tow 4000lbs? I respectfully disagree, even with a full load in the vehicle.
We towed our 7k pound (dry weight) travel trailer all over the US with 4 humans, 2 dogs and a full load of gear in our 2015 Expedition EL. We were still well under the GCWR of 15300 lbs. I know that because I weighed the whole rig on a certified scale and we were a touch over 14k. In 5000-plus miles of towing in mountains, desert, plains, high winds, and everything else, we never had an issue, no white knuckle moments, no overheating, no problems other than using a whole lot of gasoline.
In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :
But with what sounds like 1300-1400lbs of payload, most of which on th rear axle, you were almost certainly over the rated capacity for the rear axle and probably the payload capacity of the vehicle in general. I think that was the point.
There's no denying a larger truck feels much better towing large and especially enclosed trailers. But do you want to deal with driving a large truck everyday, fuel etc...Everything is a trade off.
What I ended up with -- 2018 Suburban premium. Loaded including max trailering package, but no sunroof or TV's 70k miles. Had it a week and happy so far. Haven't towed with it yet.
Interested to see how it treats you and what you think of it
In reply to PeterAK :
Does the 'premium' mean top of the line with the 6.2, or is it just interior amenities and chrome and such added? I've got a longing for a current 3.0 diesel suburban, but unfortunately the prices are way out of what I could fathom spending/afford.
Good choice, i have an 08 Yukon Denali (wish it was the XL) and its a great daily/family hauler/tow vehicle. Domestics get a bad rap for being unreliable but its usually neglected ones that are the worst. I've put some money and work in mine but it still runs great at 215K miles and i wouldnt hesitate to drive it cross country. Some aftermarket shocks and sway bars makes handling better, intake exhaust and tune make a decent bit of power but none of that is necessary, I just cant leave stuff alone. A weight distro hitch and air bags makes towing a piece of cake, about 6000# or more for me.
