Lube Pump Pros and Cons

We towed a Toyota Highlander for 5 years equipped with a Remco lube pump. Never had a bit of trouble in 60,000 kms. of towing. Although we no longer tow the Highlander, we still drive it regularly. The lube pump is still mounted in the engine - never got around to removing it.

Dutch_12078 wrote:

FIRE UP wrote:
Just wondering, without starting a major debate, why do you keep buying vehicles that need modification in order to be towed when, you can buy several makes and models that are authorized by many manufacturers to be FLAT towed? Yeah, Toyotas for quite some time, have had a pretty good rep for dependability. But, again, there's other Manufacturers with reputable-dependable flat towable cars. Honda CRV comes to mind. That is unless it's a '15 and newer.

Jeep wrangler, anything primarily around '90 and later that's the 4WD models. Anyway, just wondering why you'd do that when it makes it harder to set up and, there's more to go wrong while you're towing.
Scott

I can't speak for anyone else of course, but when we were ready to start towing, we already had our very reliable 2002 RAV4 and really liked it as a daily driver. Given that, it was cheaper to just add the Remco pump than it was to trade it in on something else. When we wanted to update to a newer car, we found that our existing pump and tow setup could be swapped right over to a new 2011 RAV4 Sport that we liked except for the base plate. So that's what we did. Since I did all the labor, our only direct towing expense for the swap was the new base plate and probably a dozen or so wire ties. I should also mention that our 2002 RAV4 has had less than $300 in actual repairs since new, and we still use it as a second car when we're at our Adirondack vacation cottage. Our daughters also borrow it at times when their vehicles need to go in for service.

I like the Rav4, but would guess that it close to the CR-V in weight. It is interesting to note that Remco does not recommend a Lube pump for the newer Rav4s.

FIRE UP wrote:
Just wondering, without starting a major debate, why do you keep buying vehicles that need modification in order to be towed when, you can buy several makes and models that are authorized by many manufacturers to be FLAT towed? Yeah, Toyotas for quite some time, have had a pretty good rep for dependability. But, again, there's other Manufacturers with reputable-dependable flat towable cars. Honda CRV comes to mind. That is unless it's a '15 and newer.

Jeep wrangler, anything primarily around '90 and later that's the 4WD models. Anyway, just wondering why you'd do that when it makes it harder to set up and, there's more to go wrong while you're towing.
Scott

I like the reliability of Toyotas and I am looking at the Yaris which saves me a lot of weight over the ones you mentioned.

There have been a few reports of problems with the lube pump. But very few> It is a simple system and I have to wonder if those with problems had installation problems. 2 that I remember had pump failures. What I do not like is their warranty. If you had problems with your tranny and the shop determined it was due to the lube pump Remco requires you to send the tranny to them for inspection. I haven't checked lately to see if that is still true. I also wonder if the newer electronic trannies can benefit from that system?

Moisheh

FIRE UP wrote:
Just wondering, without starting a major debate, why do you keep buying vehicles that need modification in order to be towed when, you can buy several makes and models that are authorized by many manufacturers to be FLAT towed? Yeah, Toyotas for quite some time, have had a pretty good rep for dependability. But, again, there's other Manufacturers with reputable-dependable flat towable cars. Honda CRV comes to mind. That is unless it's a '15 and newer.

Jeep wrangler, anything primarily around '90 and later that's the 4WD models. Anyway, just wondering why you'd do that when it makes it harder to set up and, there's more to go wrong while you're towing.
Scott

I can't speak for anyone else of course, but when we were ready to start towing, we already had our very reliable 2002 RAV4 and really liked it as a daily driver. Given that, it was cheaper to just add the Remco pump than it was to trade it in on something else. When we wanted to update to a newer car, we found that our existing pump and tow setup could be swapped right over to a new 2011 RAV4 Sport that we liked except for the base plate. So that's what we did. Since I did all the labor, our only direct towing expense for the swap was the new base plate and probably a dozen or so wire ties. I should also mention that our 2002 RAV4 has had less than $300 in actual repairs since new, and we still use it as a second car when we're at our Adirondack vacation cottage. Our daughters also borrow it at times when their vehicles need to go in for service.

I towed an Oldsmobile for miles and miles for years and never had a problem. the pump was powered by the prime mover and had an alarm.
Having said that, I know nothing about your car but I suspect the Service guy was wrong.
Marvin

I've used the same Remco lube pump on two different RAV4 automatic 4WD's so far, a 2002 and our current 2011 toad, both with zero problems in 40,000 plus towing miles. The Toyota dealer where we bought the then new 2011 was quite interested in our Remco installation when I took the car in for routine service, and the last I knew they were going to contact Remco about offering the pumps and installations to their RV'ing customers where applicable. I did my own installations on both RAV's, and no Toyota dealer has given me any hassles with warranty issues. No transmission related repairs have been required though.

Just wondering, without starting a major debate, why do you keep buying vehicles that need modification in order to be towed when, you can buy several makes and models that are authorized by many manufacturers to be FLAT towed? Yeah, Toyotas for quite some time, have had a pretty good rep for dependability. But, again, there's other Manufacturers with reputable-dependable flat towable cars. Honda CRV comes to mind. That is unless it's a '15 and newer.

Jeep wrangler, anything primarily around '90 and later that's the 4WD models. Anyway, just wondering why you'd do that when it makes it harder to set up and, there's more to go wrong while you're towing.
Scott