Hello All!I'm totally a newbie to Travel Trailers (except towing a small pop-trailer of 1500lb 15 years ago). Me and my wife are looking next year for a light weight travel trailers for 2, under 4700lb and about 24'.I’m aiming for a Kodiak 200QB GVWR 5400lb(UVW= 4100lb + 2 batteries 140lb + propane 2 x 20lb + 100lb WDS) or a Premier 19FBPR GVWR 6500lb (UVW = 4200lb + 2 batteries 140lb + propane 2 x 20lb + 100lb WDS). I don’t expect to carry water.Can you tell me if a 5000lb TV such as Toyota Highlander would be ok to tow above TT, considerately they fall under 5000lb? Both of them or only the Kodiac which is the lightest or none of them....?Would we need to get a bigger SUV such as Chevy Traverse (5200lb towing capacity) or Dodge Durango (6200lb towing capacity) to tow above TT?If I decide to stick to the Toyota Highlander, what would be maximum weight of the RV considering XXXX lb would be the UVW weight? (XXXXlb + 2 batteries 140lb + 2 x 20lb + 100lb WDS.Any thoughts or comments will be greatly appreciated!!Thanks,

You ask about TT's under 4700 pounds, and immediately post your desire to buy one 800 pounds over that! I'd add that your determination to "not haul that much" will likely prove futile- most trailers run at or very near gross weight once even the simplest of add-ons are accounted forIn my opinion, only the Durango's capacity is likely to be up to pulling the unit you name, assuming the capacity numbers you give are correct. This due to the fact that tow capacities given are upper limits, and must be reduced to allow for actual payload of the tow vehicle. For this reason, many folks think it prudent to look for trailers with gross weights no more than 80% of stated capacity of the tow vehicle.In order to venture an opinion as to what weight trailer would be appropriate for any of the vehicles you name, we'd need more info such as year/model of the tow vehicle(s). Capacities/specs vary a LOT.

Towing near or above any (payload, GVWR, hitch) of the tow vehicle ratings, is a recipe for white knuckles, neck aches, back aches, and leg cramps. In some cases, it can be dangerous. That said, you need to look closely at all of the ratings, considering all your passengers and cargo, and match up the TT and TV accordingly. You will run out of payload, long before reaching that mythical payload number.Tow capacity numbers are set, considering the vehicle has NO passengers, NO cargo, little tongue weight, and a driver that weighs only 150 lbs. Every pound added to the vehicle, since it left the factory (aftermarket accessories or dealer options), every pound of passengers, every pound of cargo, and every pound (over 150) of driver, deducts from payload and tow capacity. If the vehicle has 5200 lbs tow capacity and 1200 lbs payload, and you add 600 pounds of occupants and cargo, the vehicle now has 4600 lbs tow capacity and 600 lbs payload available for a trailer, and it would be at max capacity.If you stick with the Highlander, a trailer with loaded weight under 4200 lbs, might be in the ballpark.

Look at a Lance Travel Trailer, you can pull easily with your Highlander!

I see Highlanders with a towing capacity of 3500 lbs. Is there a towing package that raises that capacity?

I have a 2008 Highlander with 5000 lb tow capacity (500 lb hitch weight capacity) with 170K miles on the odometer. About 140K of those miles have been put on with a trailer in tow. The Highlander is a good tow vehicle. I tow a cargo trailer for work, about 16' overall length and 3500 lb. My TT until recently was 2700 lb loaded, 7' wide and 99" high (KZ Escape 14RB).One thing you really need to watch is the hitch weight. My KZ dry tongue weight was spec'd at 260 lb IIRC, but it was over 350 when loaded for camping, and nearly 400 with a full tank of water. The TT's you are considering are lighter on the hitch, in fact the Kodiak is way too light for safe towing. Rule of thumb is, you need to have at least 10% of the trailer's weight on the tongue but preferably a little more. 10% to 15% is considered to be the proper range. By the time you are loaded for camping, you will be very close to the 5000 lb limit. And you will have to try to hit 10% hitch weight right on the nose... too little and the rig is unstable, too much and you exceed your hitch rating (you don't want to have that receiver tear off at 60 mph, right?). So you would need a special scale to use while you load up, to get it just right every time... and don't change anything at the campground! On top of that, being right at the limit and having such a large frontal area means your HL will perform sluggishly. Wind resistance is huge, and you are looking at about 35% more frontal area than what I was towing. You'll really hate it on long climbs, especially at elevation. Mine had the trans temp light come on several times during my trip from OK to Yosemite and back in 2013.I would recommend a lighter trailer with a smaller profile (20' length should be fine). Or get a Durango or Grand Cherokee with the V8 or diesel. These can handle the greater hitch weight and you won't be close on the overall weight, either.

TT selection for Highlander SUV | Good Sam Community

mikeinaz
Explorer
Oct 08, 2014
Not sure how you are calculating the math w/ 300lbs, as you mentioned its 800lbs on average we carry. It includes 4 bikes, clothes for 3 days(we don't stay out a long time), fridge full of food, cooler full of ice and drinks, several chairs, generator and all the other fun stuff we all carry in our kitchens and storage areas. I think 800-1000 lbs is about what most people haul. We have an SUV so its just the family and dog in there, everything else is in the TT.
jtludwig
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
keymastr wrote:
In my opinion you should never tow anything over 3000# with a vehicle that has a unibody. A full frame SUV or truck makes a far better platform. Much stronger attachment points for suspension, hitch and drivetrain.

Have seen extreme cases where unibody vehicles would no longer close rear doors. Made for transporting passengers, not working like a truck.

Do you have any facts to back up your "opinion"? Probably not.
bmj11
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
keymastr wrote:
In my opinion you should never tow anything over 3000# with a vehicle that has a unibody. A full frame SUV or truck makes a far better platform. Much stronger attachment points for suspension, hitch and drivetrain.

Have seen extreme cases where unibody vehicles would no longer close rear doors. Made for transporting passengers, not working like a truck.

I think that extreme. Many Unibody are very capable of tracking many small TT.
bmj11
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
Sorry bobvilla
I tow My lance with a Ford Explorer 2013 , 5000 lbs capacity
keymastr
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
In my opinion you should never tow anything over 3000# with a vehicle that has a unibody. A full frame SUV or truck makes a far better platform. Much stronger attachment points for suspension, hitch and drivetrain.

Have seen extreme cases where unibody vehicles would no longer close rear doors. Made for transporting passengers, not working like a truck.
PAThwacker
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
mikeinaz wrote:
My current TT is a StarCraft 26BHS, loaded up it weighs in at 6000lbs.Dry weight is 5200lbs. The HTT we had was a 23' and weighed in at 5200lbs loaded up. 4500 dry. Again the Durango pulls both fine, I just need to work on getting a hint of sway out of the new one and it may be that the WDH was not adjusted correctly by the dealer when I bought the new one. The short wheelbase of the Durango does not help but we camp 10 times a year so for us, having a vehicle we really enjoy driving and that gets good gas mileage for our other 98% of life is a tradeoff we are ok with.

I have the R/T model and it has the blacktop package so everything is blacked out, grill, wheels and paint and I get more looks and comments on it than I do my Corvette! Again the new ones have the 8 speed transmission so that is also a plus. You could also look at getting one a year or two old to save some money(stay away from the 2011 models) but I think the hemi engine would serve you well for towing. They do have cylinder deactivation so once you get off the gas pedal (not applicable when towing)the eco light comes on and it cuts off 4 cylinders. I also have the awd so my mileage is a tad worse than say a 2wd. I get 22mpg on regular freeway driving and about 14 around town. Towing, everyone gets about 9mpg (gas) regardless of TV or engine. Hope this helps.

2 trailers averaging 800lbs of cargo. Who camps with 300lbs and packs zero gear in a truck?
mikeinaz
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
Current TT is a 2015, sorry.
mikeinaz
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
My current TT is a StarCraft 26BHS, loaded up it weighs in at 6000lbs.Dry weight is 5200lbs. The HTT we had was a 23' and weighed in at 5200lbs loaded up. 4500 dry. Again the Durango pulls both fine, I just need to work on getting a hint of sway out of the new one and it may be that the WDH was not adjusted correctly by the dealer when I bought the new one. The short wheelbase of the Durango does not help but we camp 10 times a year so for us, having a vehicle we really enjoy driving and that gets good gas mileage for our other 98% of life is a tradeoff we are ok with.

I have the R/T model and it has the blacktop package so everything is blacked out, grill, wheels and paint and I get more looks and comments on it than I do my Corvette! Again the new ones have the 8 speed transmission so that is also a plus. You could also look at getting one a year or two old to save some money(stay away from the 2011 models) but I think the hemi engine would serve you well for towing. They do have cylinder deactivation so once you get off the gas pedal (not applicable when towing)the eco light comes on and it cuts off 4 cylinders. I also have the awd so my mileage is a tad worse than say a 2wd. I get 22mpg on regular freeway driving and about 14 around town. Towing, everyone gets about 9mpg (gas) regardless of TV or engine. Hope this helps.
bobvila
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014
mikeinaz wrote:
I towed a 4800# trailer around w/ a Dodge Durango and it towed great. Mine is a 13 so it does not have the 8 speed trans, just the 6 but it does have the hemi and pulled that TT up hills fine. I recently went to a little larger and heavier TT and although the Durango pulls it fine, the short wheelbase does allow a bit of sway, I didn't have it on the shorter and lighter TT.

I LOVE our Durango and have had two friends w/ Highlanders actually buy a Durango after driving ours. Toyota's are great vehicle's just boring. The newer Durangos are a perfect size SUV and very reliable unlike the old ones. For us, we like it on a daily basis and although a truck would be better for towing, its a compromise for now I am willing to make. Check out the Durangos, the payload is 1200 lbs which would keep you well under your limits with hitch weight. Not sure how well that 6 cylinder will pull, as others mentioned you are not pulling a flatbed trailer and will have a lot of wind resistance to overcome, having the extra hp and torque will make pulling easier.Do get a WDH w/ sway control as well. Best of luck.

Hello Mike,

Thanks for your comments! Can you tell me what TT and year you own?
mikeinaz
Explorer
Oct 01, 2014
I towed a 4800# trailer around w/ a Dodge Durango and it towed great. Mine is a 13 so it does not have the 8 speed trans, just the 6 but it does have the hemi and pulled that TT up hills fine. I recently went to a little larger and heavier TT and although the Durango pulls it fine, the short wheelbase does allow a bit of sway, I didn't have it on the shorter and lighter TT.

I LOVE our Durango and have had two friends w/ Highlanders actually buy a Durango after driving ours. Toyota's are great vehicle's just boring. The newer Durangos are a perfect size SUV and very reliable unlike the old ones. For us, we like it on a daily basis and although a truck would be better for towing, its a compromise for now I am willing to make. Check out the Durangos, the payload is 1200 lbs which would keep you well under your limits with hitch weight. Not sure how well that 6 cylinder will pull, as others mentioned you are not pulling a flatbed trailer and will have a lot of wind resistance to overcome, having the extra hp and torque will make pulling easier.Do get a WDH w/ sway control as well. Best of luck.

Forum Discussion

TT selection for Highlander SUV

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

The Highlands

Toyota Highlander V6

Mirada Select Steering

Toy Hauler Toy Selection

Selecting portable compressor