2020 Sequoia TRD Pro Options

Posting here for more visibility.

Wife drives a 2020 Sequoia TRD Pro that we will be taking on a family trip this summer. We are a family of 6 or we would be taking the Tundra. We are looking into storage options and have narrowed it down to these two:

https://www.curtmfg.com/part/18153

https://www.rolaproducts.com/products/cargo-management/cargo-carriers/cargo-carrier-trailer-hitch-mount/uHvTF2JB0IMsVeSPeizRYfJ2j2F5iRgd

Before we pull the trigger, wanted to see if anyone has any experiences with these on a Sequoia or similar vehicle. Wife said roof storage is not an option. My only concern with hitch storage is that the exhaust comes out the back right of the vehicle and could potentially heat up whatever we have back there. Looks like both of these mount high enough to cause any real issues though.
Thoughts?

 

Either of those choices would probably be fine. I like that Curt one, and am actually about the pull the trigger on it myself since I have a Minivan....err Crewmax. Also, FYi, it's available for much cheaper on Amazon:

$182 CURT 18153 60 x 24" Basket Hitch Cargo Carrier, 500 lbs Capacity, Black Steel, 2-In Folding Shank

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-18153-B...rds=curt+cargo+carrier&qid=1621610444&sr=8-13

It looks like they also make another version that does not flip up, but otherwise looks to have similar dimensions.

When I was much younger, my father had a 1999 Ford Expedition that we used to travel all over the country with 3 annoying kids with a large steel cargo carrier just like this. It was extremely useful. What he normally did, was find the absolute largest plastic tub/tote he could find, and strap it on there.

As for the exhaust concern, you could probably DIY some heat shielding if you really needed to. Maybe a small piece of sheet metal with some reflective heat tape on one side, simply attached to the bars closest to the exhaust. That may do the trick.

 

Leaning Curt right now since it folds up. I will definitely be searching around for the best price once we finalize our decision. Tried looking at the Yakima options but can't justify 1k+ for something I will only use 1-2 times a year.

 

I vote for yakima. They make really good products, more expensive but it makes for a really versatile setup.


https://yakima.com/products/exo-swi...9.1354394286.1621611487-1565322305.1621280097

https://yakima.com/products/exo-gea...9.1354394286.1621611487-1565322305.1621280097

 

That is a good call. And I agree, I wouldn't want to spend a ton of money on something that will spend most of its life living in my shed. I'm sure the Curt unit will do the trick for you. It looks like some people complain about weak hardware, but if that's a concern it would be easy to spend just a few bucks at Home Depot and swap them out for stronger ones.

 

I love the Yakima hitch storage solutions, but hard to justify the price. I can always ask the boss (wife).

 

Yeah I know what you mean. I've used their roof rack systems and I have the longarm currently for the tundra for putting longer stuff in the bed and for my kayak. I just think they make really well made, well thought out products.

By the looks of some pictures on that exo swing arm you can even do like multi layer setups which would make it so you could haul quite a bit of stuff on the hitch. I like the versatility too, but yeah it's crazy expensive. I'd only go that route if you plan on using it at least a good amount, but the nice thing about these hitch mount solutions is you could use them for many years on pretty much any future vehicles with a hitch.

 

We bought EXO system with two storage boxes for wife's TRD PRO Sequoia. I'm also cannibalizing my battle wagon (2005 Volvo XC70), lights went off to Tundra, ARB awning and Yakima LoadWarrior basket + 2 length extensions will go to Sequoia.

EXO is darn heavy by itself. Looking at what I had to bring with me to northern part of Quebec, we need to take twice of that for five of us for Newfoundland and Labrador family trip. I'm sure Sequoia will handle it, but what people do about sagging rear end? With at least 300 lbs on the hitch alone it will lower its butt for sure.

I see there's a couple of interesting Dobinson springs, one is +1.75" lift and the other riding at stock height, but handling +600 kg. I did HD springs in Volvo, didn't like them at all. Empty vehicle ride quality was compromised a big way.

Air bags are not a real option, I think, since the expected driving conditions will be too harsh for them (many miles of gravel roads). Gravel grinds everything. On Volvo I had to replace eaten plastic and rust proof suspension parts bombarded to a shiny metal after every week-long trip.

Currently learning towards Timbren bump stops. They appeal a lot that they are not interfering with stock suspension while driving an unloaded vehicle on paved roads, which is 99% of all driving. Anyone having them on their gen2 Sequoia? How good or bad are they on a loaded vehicle?

 

airbags are the ticket if it’s just for a random trip 1x a year