I'm wondering about my towing capability with the Highlander. I've got a 2010 Limited with tow prep and factory hitch/harness. I want to tow my 19' boat...total weight of boat, motor, trailer, fuel & gear is 3700#, tongue weight is 300#. There are no trailer brakes (state of NC does not require trailer brakes <4000# so consequently not many boat trailers in this size range have brakes.) The distance will be from my house to the boat ramp and back...25 mile round trip.
Any one else have similar tow loads/circumstances?
For reference, my previous vehicle was a '95 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It towed the boat (and stopped it) just fine.
I really like to tow stuff. Here's the toy I have towed for the last 5 years.
4' x 8' utility trailer (about 400 pounds unloaded):
And a 18' travel trailer we just bought, brand new (we will get it at the end of april 2010). Weight is about 3500 pounds and I can't wait to hook it on the HL!
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2009 Blizzard White Highlander V6 Sport
2004 Infiniti G35 Coupe M6 (Summer toy)
I tow a 10' hardtop that is likely 1800-2000lbs loaded. I have the OEM hitch and wiring. I don't even notice it when it is on the back and can use cruise control with no downshifting issues...even on some small hills. I am looking to upgrade next year to a hybrid trailer that will likely weigh 4800 lbs loaded...I am a bit nervous about going that close to the towing limits.
Oh, and that reverse camera is a definite timesaver...I don't know how I got along without it. Actually, yes I do...an extra ten minutes and lots of swearing.
__________________ 2009 Highlander Limited
2005 Corolla CE, Canadian Edition, Silver with grey interior, automatic transmission, CD changer, cruise control, rear bumper protector.
Last edited by TrailDust; 03-24-2010 at 11:14 AM.
Reason: Photo link edited to make image viewable.
Thanks for the comments so far...anyone else have anything similar in weight that they are pulling & stopping?
I guess I wasn't worried as much about the pulling as much as the stopping.
Funny thing, I pulled the boat with my "ex" Grand Cherokee for 10 years and never gave it much thought. But with the Highlander I am a little more worried. Guess the Grand Cherokee just felt a little more rugged and truck-like...even though it was actually 300# lighter than my Highlander. The Highlander is so refined feeling when I drive it that I just assume it has a more fragile drive train than the Grand Cherokee had.
I pull a 25ft ultralite camper with my 08 Highlander. The GVWR is 4500 lbs. When I have everything loaded I'm probably close to that weight. The HL pulls it fine. I have a weight distribution hitch and a Valley class 3 receiver. I use a Tekonsha Voyager brake control system that works well and the HL and camper stop without any problems. It holds it own on the highway. I put the tranny in manual mode in 4th and runs about 2600 rpm at 100k. Does anybody know if this is the best gear for pulling or can you go to 5th?
This past summer I towed my 19 foot open bow Sea Ray about 200 miles each way up to the north shore of Lake Tahoe. I live at sea level and to get to Lake Tahoe, I had to cross Donner Summit which is elevation 7200 ft. My trailer is equipped with surge brakes, which I assume help. I was able to cruise on the freeway at ~ 60 MPH no problem, and was able to power up the mountain easily. The only part that got a little bit hairy was descending from the mountains for the trip back home. I was using engine braking as much as possible so as not to overheat the Highlander's brakes, and the boat was actually pushing us down the steeper hills. I didn't feel unsafe at any point, but it definitely felt like I was at just about the limit of what was comfortable. On the flats, I had no problems at all. Typical towing caveats apply of course (take it slow, give yourself plenty of room to stop, easy on the brakes...)
The one feature that I really like about towing with the Highlander is that the backup camera makes hitching up the trailer very easy.
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2008 Highlander Limited 4WD
2003 Tundra SR5 4x4 TRD
Gone, but not forgotten: 1999 Tacoma PreRunner TRD, 1985 2WD Pickup, 2002 Camry LE
It will soon be a 2007 Skeeter ZX190 I can't wait. I just have to figure out what hitch to go with. Frankly, the OEM parts might be out of my price range at this time
This past summer I towed my 19 foot open bow Sea Ray about 200 miles each way up to the north shore of Lake Tahoe. I live at sea level and to get to Lake Tahoe, I had to cross Donner Summit which is elevation 7200 ft. My trailer is equipped with surge brakes, which I assume help. I was able to cruise on the freeway at ~ 60 MPH no problem, and was able to power up the mountain easily. The only part that got a little bit hairy was descending from the mountains for the trip back home. I was using engine braking as much as possible so as not to overheat the Highlander's brakes, and the boat was actually pushing us down the steeper hills. I didn't feel unsafe at any point, but it definitely felt like I was at just about the limit of what was comfortable. On the flats, I had no problems at all. Typical towing caveats apply of course (take it slow, give yourself plenty of room to stop, easy on the brakes...)
The one feature that I really like about towing with the Highlander is that the backup camera makes hitching up the trailer very easy.
Thanks, you're boat sounds similar in size/weight to mine I think. Do you know its gross weight and tongue weight by chance? I don't have trailer brakes, but I'm also not planning to tow it very far (25 mile round trip) or fast.
How does the Highlander do on the boat ramp? Any issues pulling the boat out of the water and up the ramp, tire spin/slip?
And a 18' travel trailer we just bought, brand new (we will get it at the end of april 2010). Weight is about 3500 pounds and I can't wait to hook it on the HL!
I already have the WDH, that I used with my pop-up. These are 600 Pounds bars. My TT tongue weight is 290 pounds according to the manufacturer. Add LPG tanks, battery and 3 bicycles and I'll be close to 450 pounds. I'll put a standard friction anti-sway.
I appreciate your excitement - we're picking up our Shamrock 19 on May 7th too. I went with the Equal-i-zer hitch, more money but it provides decent sway control, I also towed years ago with one and liked it very much - good idea to consider some sway control device too by the way. It's pretty scary when a semi passes you on the highway and you get sucked in!
Bike rack: I've seen those before, but cannot get my head around the price... my 2 bikes are worth less much less...
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I can't wait. I just have to figure out what hitch to go with. Frankly, the OEM parts might be out of my price range at this time 
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