Toyota RAV4 Towing Speed: Your Opinion?

Hello,

Please, share your opinion about what speed could I use to tow a 1500
lbs (750 kg) trailer by Toyota RAV4 1999?

Any special recommendations?

On 6 Apr 2006 13:56:59 -0700, "Alex" <toledomanager@yahoo.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Hello,
>
>Please, share your opinion about what speed could I use to tow a 1500
>lbs (750 kg) trailer by Toyota RAV4 1999?
>
>Any special recommendations?[/color]


1500 lbs is pushing it for a 2 liter engine. I would limit speed to 60
and down shift on long hills and keep rpm around 4000 or so when
climbing them and not tow floorbaorded at any time. Watch engine heat
and if it get warm, throttle back and let it cool. I personally would
suggest you keep it under 1000 lbs if you are trtaveling any real
distance or ground is not fairly flat if you plan to drive that Rav4
for a while yet with having to rebuild it.
-----------------
The SnoMan
[url]www.thesnoman.com[/url]

"Alex" <toledomanager@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1144357019.561984.234300@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hello,
>
> Please, share your opinion about what speed could I use to tow a 1500
> lbs (750 kg) trailer by Toyota RAV4 1999?
>
> Any special recommendations?
>[/color]

Flat ground and reasonably straight, Id stay under 75 for sure, more likely
about 65 would be ideal. Is it the 2.2 Rav or 2,0litre?

On Fri, 7 Apr 2006 17:27:13 +1000, "Scotty" <scoter1@warmmail.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Alex" <toledomanager@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:1144357019.561984.234300@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>> Hello,
>>
>> Please, share your opinion about what speed could I use to tow a 1500
>> lbs (750 kg) trailer by Toyota RAV4 1999?
>>
>> Any special recommendations?
>>[/color]
>
>Flat ground and reasonably straight, Id stay under 75 for sure, more likely
>about 65 would be ideal. Is it the 2.2 Rav or 2,0litre?
>[/color]

You are kinding right?? I are going to pay for his repairs or wreck if
it get away from him at the speed or he cannot stop in time?
-----------------
The SnoMan
[url]www.thesnoman.com[/url]

"SnoMan" <admin@snoman.com> wrote in message news:l8lc32pjamvmftmvbqi6l8js2jupjeg7rp@4ax.com...
[color=blue]
> On Fri, 7 Apr 2006 17:27:13 +1000, "Scotty" <scoter1@warmmail.com>
> wrote:
>
[color=green]
>>
>>"Alex" <toledomanager@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>news:1144357019.561984.234300@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
[color=darkred]
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> Please, share your opinion about what speed could I use to tow a 1500
>>> lbs (750 kg) trailer by Toyota RAV4 1999?
>>>
>>> Any special recommendations?
>>>
[/color]
>>
>>Flat ground and reasonably straight, Id stay under 75 for sure, more likely
>>about 65 would be ideal. Is it the 2.2 Rav or 2,0litre?
>>
[/color]
>
> You are kinding right?? I are going to pay for his repairs or wreck if
> it get away from him at the speed or he cannot stop in time?
> -----------------
> The SnoMan
> [url]www.thesnoman.com[/url]
[/color]

Yes, you is! <g>

On Fri, 7 Apr 2006 10:53:19 -0400, "karinhall" <ah@nsdap.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"SnoMan" <admin@snoman.com> wrote in message news:l8lc32pjamvmftmvbqi6l8js2jupjeg7rp@4ax.com...[color=green]
>> On Fri, 7 Apr 2006 17:27:13 +1000, "Scotty" <scoter1@warmmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>
>>>"Alex" <toledomanager@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>news:1144357019.561984.234300@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> Please, share your opinion about what speed could I use to tow a 1500
>>>> lbs (750 kg) trailer by Toyota RAV4 1999?
>>>>
>>>> Any special recommendations?
>>>>
>>>
>>>Flat ground and reasonably straight, Id stay under 75 for sure, more likely
>>>about 65 would be ideal. Is it the 2.2 Rav or 2,0litre?
>>>[/color]
>>
>> You are kinding right?? I are going to pay for his repairs or wreck if
>> it get away from him at the speed or he cannot stop in time?
>> -----------------
>> The SnoMan
>> [url]www.thesnoman.com[/url][/color]
>
>Yes, you is! <g>[/color]


You have a typo, you mean yes you are. The brake on that RAV4 do not
have that much reserve and stopping from 75 in a hurry would not be
possible and even from 65 it would be tuff. Need to keep speed down.
-----------------
The SnoMan
[url]www.thesnoman.com[/url]

in article [email]t97d3296phitsl33sohqeibbsvlenm5prm@4ax.com[/email], SnoMan at
[email]admin@snoman.com[/email] wrote on 4/7/06 10:13 AM:
[color=blue]
> On Fri, 7 Apr 2006 10:53:19 -0400, "karinhall" <ah@nsdap.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>> "SnoMan" <admin@snoman.com> wrote in message
>> news:l8lc32pjamvmftmvbqi6l8js2jupjeg7rp@4ax.com...[color=darkred]
>>> On Fri, 7 Apr 2006 17:27:13 +1000, "Scotty" <scoter1@warmmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Alex" <toledomanager@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:1144357019.561984.234300@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> Please, share your opinion about what speed could I use to tow a 1500
>>>>> lbs (750 kg) trailer by Toyota RAV4 1999?
>>>>>
>>>>> Any special recommendations?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Flat ground and reasonably straight, Id stay under 75 for sure, more likely
>>>> about 65 would be ideal. Is it the 2.2 Rav or 2,0litre?
>>>>
>>>
>>> You are kinding right?? I are going to pay for his repairs or wreck if
>>> it get away from him at the speed or he cannot stop in time?
>>> -----------------
>>> The SnoMan
>>> [url]www.thesnoman.com[/url][/color]
>>
>> Yes, you is! <g>[/color]
>
>
> You have a typo, you mean yes you are. The brake on that RAV4 do not
> have that much reserve and stopping from 75 in a hurry would not be
> possible and even from 65 it would be tuff. Need to keep speed down.
> -----------------
> The SnoMan
> [url]www.thesnoman.com[/url][/color]

Wow. The pot calls out the kettle!

-jeff

"SnoMan" <admin@snoman.com> wrote in message
news:l8lc32pjamvmftmvbqi6l8js2jupjeg7rp@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Fri, 7 Apr 2006 17:27:13 +1000, "Scotty" <scoter1@warmmail.com>
> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>>"Alex" <toledomanager@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>news:1144357019.561984.234300@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=darkred]
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> Please, share your opinion about what speed could I use to tow a 1500
>>> lbs (750 kg) trailer by Toyota RAV4 1999?
>>>
>>> Any special recommendations?
>>>[/color]
>>
>>Flat ground and reasonably straight, Id stay under 75 for sure, more
>>likely
>>about 65 would be ideal. Is it the 2.2 Rav or 2,0litre?
>>[/color]
>
> You are kinding right?? I are going to pay for his repairs or wreck if
> it get away from him at the speed or he cannot stop in time?
> -----------------
> The SnoMan
> [url]www.thesnoman.com[/url][/color]

Id tow a braked trailer at 75 no worries in a RAV, esp if its the 2.2
version. Drive to the conditions and youd be fine.

"SnoMan" <admin@snoman.com> wrote in message news:t97d3296phitsl33sohqeibbsvlenm5prm@4ax.com...
[color=blue]
> On Fri, 7 Apr 2006 10:53:19 -0400, "karinhall" <ah@nsdap.com> wrote:
>
[color=green]
>>
>>"SnoMan" <admin@snoman.com> wrote in message news:l8lc32pjamvmftmvbqi6l8js2jupjeg7rp@4ax.com...
[color=darkred]
>>> On Fri, 7 Apr 2006 17:27:13 +1000, "Scotty" <scoter1@warmmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Alex" <toledomanager@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:1144357019.561984.234300@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> Please, share your opinion about what speed could I use to tow a 1500
>>>>> lbs (750 kg) trailer by Toyota RAV4 1999?
>>>>>
>>>>> Any special recommendations?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Flat ground and reasonably straight, Id stay under 75 for sure, more likely
>>>>about 65 would be ideal. Is it the 2.2 Rav or 2,0litre?
>>>>
>>>
>>> You are kinding right?? I are going to pay for his repairs or wreck if
>>> it get away from him at the speed or he cannot stop in time?
>>> -----------------
>>> The SnoMan
>>> [url]www.thesnoman.com[/url]
[/color]
>>
>>Yes, you is! <g>
[/color]
>
>
> You have a typo, you mean yes you are. The brake on that RAV4 do not
> have that much reserve and stopping from 75 in a hurry would not be
> possible and even from 65 it would be tuff. Need to keep speed down.
> -----------------
> The SnoMan
> [url]www.thesnoman.com[/url]
[/color]

Typo? My response was in response to the sentence, "I (are) going to pay for his repairs or wreck, if it (get) away from him at the speed or he cannot stop in time"?
That was where the typo was, did you not notice the <g> after my response??
LOL

Hey all...I just came here looking for some similar advice; was
wondering if the 2.0L RAV would be sufficient a vehicle to tow a
boat(and motor).
Not a cabin cruiser or anything like that..just your average 16-18ft
fishing\water-skiing type boat. Not sure what average weights are
for that type of boat/motor/trailer ,,, any experienced advice here
will be much appreciated!

Paco

On Sat, 8 Apr 2006 19:08:21 +1000, "Scotty" <scoter1@warmmail.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"SnoMan" <admin@snoman.com> wrote in message
>news:l8lc32pjamvmftmvbqi6l8js2jupjeg7rp@4ax.com...[color=green]
>> On Fri, 7 Apr 2006 17:27:13 +1000, "Scotty" <scoter1@warmmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>
>>>"Alex" <toledomanager@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>news:1144357019.561984.234300@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> Please, share your opinion about what speed could I use to tow a 1500
>>>> lbs (750 kg) trailer by Toyota RAV4 1999?
>>>>
>>>> Any special recommendations?
>>>>
>>>
>>>Flat ground and reasonably straight, Id stay under 75 for sure, more
>>>likely
>>>about 65 would be ideal. Is it the 2.2 Rav or 2,0litre?
>>>[/color]
>>
>> You are kinding right?? I are going to pay for his repairs or wreck if
>> it get away from him at the speed or he cannot stop in time?
>> -----------------
>> The SnoMan
>> [url]www.thesnoman.com[/url][/color]
>
>Id tow a braked trailer at 75 no worries in a RAV, esp if its the 2.2
>version. Drive to the conditions and youd be fine.
>[/color]

"Paco" <not@home.com> wrote in message
news:t67j325ltcgi1bbk3ft9bunt7jla4efm16@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> Hey all...I just came here looking for some similar advice; was
> wondering if the 2.0L RAV would be sufficient a vehicle to tow a
> boat(and motor).
> Not a cabin cruiser or anything like that..just your average 16-18ft
> fishing\water-skiing type boat. Not sure what average weights are
> for that type of boat/motor/trailer ,,, any experienced advice here
> will be much appreciated!
>
> Paco[/color]


There's no such thing as the "average" 16-18 ft boat. Initially, you said
"1500 lbs", but I get the feeling you don't already own the boat or you
would've KNOWN the weight, instead of saying "average". It depends on
whether it's basic 3-bench boat with no superstructure or interior
"furniture", or something more elaborate. Looking at the Lund boat catalog
on my desk, I see 18 ft boats ranging in weight from 2600 lbs down to around
600 lbs, depending on design.

I have a 14' boat, very basic. Including trailer, and fully loaded with
fuel, motor, too much paraphernalia and maybe a stripper borrowed from a
local club, it weighs about 1100 lbs. I used to tow it with a 1992 Taurus (6
cylinder, front wheel drive). The car had enough power, but in any kind of
turbulent situations (crosswinds, or behind tractor trailers), things got
interesting. Lots of shimmy, due to the car's muddy suspension. As far as I
was concerned, the smart thing to do was to double my predicted braking
distance. My trailer had no brakes, so that's a factor here. Someone else
mentioned doing 75 mph with a braked trailer. I can't address that, never
having driven with one.

So, multiple factors to contend with:

Suspension: Will the car be overly affected by the trailer? I don't know how
a RAV 4's suspension compares to that of a normal sedan. If you've driven
both, you should be able to determine this.

Drive train: Is the RAV 4 a front wheel drive vehicle? In theory, that's
less than ideal for towing, since the trailer tends to pull down the rear of
the car, taking some weight off the front wheels. I suspect that the design
of the entire suspension determines how much of a factor this is. If the
rear end is pretty stiff, the car should remain level. And, if it's got rear
wheel drive, this whole factor is a little less important.

Brakes: Someone else here mentioned that the RAV 4 might not have enough
reserve braking power for high speeds. You'll find that out quickly on your
own, after going through some somewhat scary stopping experiences, or
replacing brakes & rotors more often. What is the rated towing capacity of
the vehicle?

Transmission: Auto or manual? You'll want to do the scheduled maintenance
earlier than the book recommends. If manual, and you tend to be sloppy with
the clutch, you'll want to stop that behavior while towing, and drive as if
you were teaching a kid how to use a stick shift. By the book, in other
words.

You might consider having a transmission oil cooler installed. Any competent
mechanic can do this, as well as most U-Haul places, although I'm not sure I
trust the help they hire.