Toyota Highlander V6

Thanks for the website @wing_zealot lot of good stuff there, I'm going to bust out the Highlander manual and use the calculators.

Understood coolmom42. I have a class B and drive big vehicles so I'll be comfortable with following/stopping distance etc. I will ensure I have a good sway, brake controller and possibly a weight distributing hitch. Wife and I have also discussed if the trip will be long, we will take two vehicles to not overload the Highlander.

You are well below the max tow weight IF you don't load the trailer too much. You will need to travel light.

The hitch weight looks ok, but it will be higher with a battery and full propane tank. Thats OK.

The main thing you are going to run out of is cargo capacity on your Highlander. The hitch weight of the trailer is part of the cargo. Check the Highlander max loaded weight.

You are going to know that trailer is back there for sure. Shift down going up or down grades. Get in the right lane and stay there. Don't get in a rush. The single biggest safety issue is STOPPING the trailer, not pulling it. You MUST have a good brake controller set up correctly, and a good sway bar. You need to get used to travelling on fairly level routes before doing big hills and mountains.

Fowleffect wrote:
This is what I'm looking at. I do have the tow package options on the vehicle including transmission cooler. Is this too much? It would be tandem axel so I'm hoping that would help with stability.

Dry Weight

3,721 lbs.

Payload Capacity

1,278 lbs.

Hitch Weight

371 lbs.

So it's actually a 5000lb pop up. I'd do it, but I wouldn't want to and I wouldn't push a high mile vehicle with marginal capacity unless it was just occasional short local trips, no mountains and no altitude.

This is a good place to go to learn about towing, based upon facts, not opinions. Clicky

This is what I'm looking at. I do have the tow package options on the vehicle including transmission cooler. Is this too much? It would be tandem axel so I'm hoping that would help with stability.

Dry Weight

3,721 lbs.

Payload Capacity

1,278 lbs.

Hitch Weight

371 lbs.

timmac wrote:

Fowleffect wrote:
I'm new as it gets to this. Haven't even purchased yet. I have a 2013 Toyota Highlander V6 rated at 5k tow weight. I'm currently looking at a tandem axle pop up between 3100 and 3700 lbs. I am set up to pull, with a hitch and lights. I need to get trailer brake hookup installed.

Thoughts on my rig pulling this weight? Should i look at aftermarket transmission cooler as well to preserve the vehicle/tranny?

Have a shop install the trailer brake kit and have them show you how it works, its easy after you know, yes on the tranny cooler and your towing weight is fine but what about camping gear, supplies, etc, you could easily go beyond 4000 lbs.

My wife owns a 2019 Highlander 6 cly, I would not go much beyond 4000 lbs towing on these Highlanders even though Toyota says 5000 lbs.

I'm looking at something like this, so you're saying bad idea?

Dry Weight

3,721 lbs.

Payload Capacity

1,278 lbs.

Hitch Weight

371 lbs.

rexlion wrote:
Looks to me that in 2013 Toyota started including tow prep pkg as standard equipment. Better cooling and higher alternator output were the main features of that package. Not certain how many years they kept this as standard, though.

True! I found this in a toyota forum yesterday and confirmed it by spotting the transmission cooler. Good news!

Someone mentioned running 65 mph.... check the speed rating on your trailer tires. It's probably 60 mph.

The right place for a RV is in the right lane and stay there.

Looks to me that in 2013 Toyota started including tow prep pkg as standard equipment. Better cooling and higher alternator output were the main features of that package. Not certain how many years they kept this as standard, though.

Fowleffect wrote:
I'm new as it gets to this. Haven't even purchased yet. I have a 2013 Toyota Highlander V6 rated at 5k tow weight. I'm currently looking at a tandem axle pop up between 3100 and 3700 lbs. I am set up to pull, with a hitch and lights. I need to get trailer brake hookup installed.

Thoughts on my rig pulling this weight? Should i look at aftermarket transmission cooler as well to preserve the vehicle/tranny?

the 5k towing capacity is IF it has the factory tow package. do you have it because asking about a trans cooler sounds like it doesn't have the factory tow package.
if it doesn't, then it doesn't have a 5k towing capacity.
and are those 3100-3700 numbers "dry" weights? if so, those are fictional numbers. use the GVWR numbers.