Mountain_Mamma
Aug 11, 2014Explorer
Help, please...newbie towing with a 2011 Toyota Highlander
Hi,
I'm a recently retired woman who wants to make my dream of owning a travel trailer a reality.
And, I'm going NUTS trying to figure this stuff out!
I bought my 2011 Toyota Highlander SE 3.5L V6 AWD with tow package because I thought it could comfortably tow a TT with a GVW of 5,000 pounds but now I'm hearing horror stories of it towing anything bigger than a small pop-up.
I would like to buy a regular travel trailer, possibly one with a slide, not a pop up or hybrid.
Can someone please help me understand:
Here are the numbers and tow pkg info:
V6 Tow Prep Package
-5000lb Towing Capacity
-Heavy Duty Radiator with Engine Oil Cooler
-200-watt Fan Coupling
-Supplemental Transmission Oil Cooler
-150-amp Alternator
-Prewired for 4-flat Trailer Light Plug (Basically it only includes wires going from the front to the rear of the car, and a socket under the dash. A trailer light converter and plug is still needed.
Tow cap: 5,000 lb
Curb weight 4,266 lbs
Payload: 1,734 lbs
GVWR: 6,000
GCWR: 11,000
I will be so grateful if someone can clear this up and tell me what I can tow (dry weight and GVW) and what I need to add on - hitch-wise, brake controller, etc – to COMFORTABLY and SAFELY tow a trailer across the country and through the mountains. I’d like a good margin of error. Also, I’ve been told all warranties are invalidated if you add a brake controller to a Highlander….
This is a LOT for a non-mechanical person to understand!!! LOL!
I'm a recently retired woman who wants to make my dream of owning a travel trailer a reality.
And, I'm going NUTS trying to figure this stuff out!
I bought my 2011 Toyota Highlander SE 3.5L V6 AWD with tow package because I thought it could comfortably tow a TT with a GVW of 5,000 pounds but now I'm hearing horror stories of it towing anything bigger than a small pop-up.
I would like to buy a regular travel trailer, possibly one with a slide, not a pop up or hybrid.
Can someone please help me understand:
Here are the numbers and tow pkg info:
V6 Tow Prep Package
-5000lb Towing Capacity
-Heavy Duty Radiator with Engine Oil Cooler
-200-watt Fan Coupling
-Supplemental Transmission Oil Cooler
-150-amp Alternator
-Prewired for 4-flat Trailer Light Plug (Basically it only includes wires going from the front to the rear of the car, and a socket under the dash. A trailer light converter and plug is still needed.
Tow cap: 5,000 lb
Curb weight 4,266 lbs
Payload: 1,734 lbs
GVWR: 6,000
GCWR: 11,000
I will be so grateful if someone can clear this up and tell me what I can tow (dry weight and GVW) and what I need to add on - hitch-wise, brake controller, etc – to COMFORTABLY and SAFELY tow a trailer across the country and through the mountains. I’d like a good margin of error. Also, I’ve been told all warranties are invalidated if you add a brake controller to a Highlander….
This is a LOT for a non-mechanical person to understand!!! LOL!