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Mountain_Mamma's avatar
Mountain_Mamma
Explorer
Aug 11, 2014

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!

29 Replies

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  • Mountain_Mamma's avatar
    Mountain_Mamma
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2014
    Bumpyroad wrote:
    I would limit the dry weight of the trailer to be about 3500 lbs. at most. then when you lightly pack it, add some water, etc. will be under 5,000 lbs.
    check out the Ascend line, they have several units that would work for you. much more liveable than a Casita which I looked at one time, stopped by the factory but the bath was too tight for me. also little storage.
    an Aliner would also work for a low profile with no canvas to worry about.
    bumpy


    Aliners feel a little claustrophobic to me unfortunately. And I plan to winter in it - at the least.

    Did your Highlander tow your Ascend smoothly, including up - and down - steep grades? And can you tell me what kind of mpg you got? My 2011 does about 22 at its best, pretty much hwy only.
  • Mountain_Mamma's avatar
    Mountain_Mamma
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2014
    In general, would you all agree that 3500 pounds should be the max? And that I'd need a WDH, Brake Controller and ????

    I found an online calculator on Changing Gears at: http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-trailer-weight-tt.shtml
    and neither myself nor a more knowledgeable friend could make heads nor tails of it! You're all welcome to tell me what I did wrong! LOL!
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2014
    I would limit the dry weight of the trailer to be about 3500 lbs. at most. then when you lightly pack it, add some water, etc. will be under 5,000 lbs.
    check out the Ascend line, they have several units that would work for you. much more liveable than a Casita which I looked at one time, stopped by the factory but the bath was too tight for me. also little storage.
    an Aliner would also work for a low profile with no canvas to worry about.
    bumpy
  • Mountain_Mamma's avatar
    Mountain_Mamma
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2014
    Thanks, FrankShore and Ed6713! Both the Lancer and Casita look great. What I'd like to add that neither has, however, is sleeping for a tall guest. Most of the dinette configurations don't accomodate 6'2"!

    I've seen a few floor plans that I like but am not sure what dry/gross weights are the maximum I can comfortably pull, and what stuff I can add to make the towing smoother, easier and safer. ie, can I actually PULL 5,000 pounds, or does it need to be more like 2000? If I know my maximums with all appropriate accessories, it would help a lot!

    Thanks!
  • 2012Coleman's avatar
    2012Coleman
    Explorer II
    Aug 11, 2014
    I realize that you state dthat you don't want a pop-up, but Trailmanor makes a nice hard sided pop-up. Worth checking the website. Good luck!
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2014
    Mountain Mamma wrote:
    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!


    you are hearing hog wash. I have a 2011 Highlander with towing package. it easily tows my A171RD Ascend trailer. 3459 dry weight. I have had warranty work done on my Highlander and they did not say a thing about my brake controller.
    I use a reese WDH that my dealer said I didn't need.
    bumpy
  • ChooChooMan74's avatar
    ChooChooMan74
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2014
    Forest River R-Pods could be towable for you. I would consider one for my TV.

    But, you really don't want anything high profile. I bet in your owners manual, there is something pertaining to frontal area of a trailer. Travel trailers are huge bricks. I have to pull downhill on the highway with mine, because of the massive amount of wind resistance.
  • ed6713's avatar
    ed6713
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2014
    One of the "egg" campers like a Casita weigh well under 3,0000#. They are quite popular. No slides, but plenty of room for one person.

    http://casitatraveltrailers.com/spirit-16-17/

    You will have a wonderful time traveling.
    Enjoy.

    Most of the nonsense about voiding warranties is just that. Urban legend.
    Read your owners manual. It lists the exclusions from your warranty.
  • FrankShore's avatar
    FrankShore
    Explorer
    Aug 11, 2014
    Look at a Lance 1575. Lightweight, huge slide, perfect fit for your truck.

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