Newbie with general tow questions

3HappyCamperz wrote:
I called a different Toyota dealership and the parts guy told me I DO have the tow package according to my VIN. It's called "tow ready" if you don't pay extra for the hitch, which I did not. He says I have enhanced features on the radiator and alternator and I have a fan and an oil cooler.

With the max at 5,000 lbs with the tow package, can I reasonably buy a 3,000 lb pup up, or should I stay in the 2,000 weight range?

If you do have the larger radiator, alternator, and oil cooler, then all you'd need would be hitch and wiring to tow 5,000 lbs. 3,000 lbs is a heavy pop-up trailer, but you do need to allow for camping gear, which, BTW, is probably best put in the trailer rather than in the TV. The reason for this is that for most SUVs and half-ton pickups, the TV payload will be the limiting factor. If you add up the weight of a tank of fuel, driver & passengers, hitch and tongue weight, you will likely find yourself with nothing left for camping gear, let alone food and clothing.

Here's how this goes. My SUV has a payload of 1295 lbs. With a 22 gallon fuel tank (7.2 lbs x 22 = 158 lbs), weight of myself and my wife (400 lbs, we're big people), tongue weight (600 lbs max, according to TV mfg.), we're at 1158 lbs. The remaining 137 lbs goes to our dog, at 80 lbs, a few maps, bag of snacks and drinks for the road, the emergency flares, tire inflator, tow rope, etc. always in the car, and you see where this ends. You are likely in the same boat.