Maximum Tow Weight For SUV

Your RX350 is a CUV, not an SUV. Basically, it is a Camry station wagon. Car based vehicles are CUV's. A different vehicle, capable of towing safely would be the way to go if you want to tow even a small travel trailer. If you are dead set on not buying an American vehicle, the Toyota Sequoia will be a much more capable platform to tow with.

Thank you for the feedback. Much appreciated.

I think that Starcraft would be over the limit, or at very least pushing the limit. Yep, if you want to have more and better trailer choices, trade it for a GX460 or a Sequoyah. You don't want to exceed the hitch weight and risk having the hitch receiver detach at highway speed. :o

I've since asked for the stickker weight of the specific trailer I am looking at. Regardless of the classification of the RX350, will it be safe to tow a trailer with the sticker tow weights below.

Dry: 2880
Payload: 358
Hitch: 262
GVWR: 3500

We are only planning on 250 to 500 km 3-4 day trips so I am not overly concerned about exceeding payload.

PAThwacker wrote:
Your first mistake is calling the RX 350 a SUV. Marketing has some potent koolaid
Most of the current car based utility vehicles are missing key attributes a SUV had: Tow ratings, class 3 hitches, transfer cases, and the ability to go off road.

Spot on...a RX350 is a CUV. 'Crossover Utility Vehicle' derived from the
Camry...AKA "Toyota K Platform". Same class as the CRV (Civic), Rav4 (Corolla),
Highlander (Sienna), Pilot (Odyssey), etc

Think of towing with a Camry and you will be closest to the mark

There are differences and mainly in the suspension

Your first mistake is calling the RX 350 a SUV. Marketing has some potent koolaid
Most of the current car based utility vehicles are missing key attributes a SUV had: Tow ratings, class 3 hitches, transfer cases, and the ability to go off road.

Depends on how far you plan to tow it. Short distances pretty close to home, you can go closer to the 3500 limit. If you're planning on towing long distances (like into BC or the USA), I'd consider lighter, smaller RVs.

bus25682 wrote:
The trailer I was considering is a 2009 STARCRAFT TRAVEL STAR 18RB.

This is the manufacturers weight info:

Dry: 2490
Payload: 711
Hitch: 262
GVWR: 3500

as was said, you need to look at the factory weight sticker. in 2009, i believe the yellow sticker was out yet. it was a white sticker on the inside of an interior cabinet door.

you don't seem to know how fantasy brochure/website "dry" weights work.
a common problem that new owners find out about the magic 3500lbs. GVWR trailers, is that the actual payload amount is lower when the trailer leaves the factory.
that's because that "dry" number is for a stripped-down version of the trailer. doens't include the weights of things common. like the oven, a/c, microwave, spare tire, awning and so on.

you'll probably find, after looking at the factory weight sticker, that the actual payload could be around 411lbs.
and then you have to subtract the weight of the battery and propane, which puts it down to around 340lbs. for cargo and water.
this is a common issue with these 3500lbs. GVWR TT's made for the CUV and minivan crowd.
VERY POOR CARGO CAPACITY.

Here's the problem for naturally aspirated V6s like in your SUV. It takes a lot of power to pull two sheets of plywood through the air at 65mph. You'll be cruising at 3000ish rpm and higher on hills. So while the vehicle may be happy and just consume more fuel, most people especially those who have little towing experience are not pleased with performance.

Are the weights from a brochure or from the the yellow build sticker on the door frame? Does the trailer have electric brakes? If it is a single axle it may not and that would be a concern.