Toyota Highlander Tow Vehicle

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Anyone out there use a Toyota Highlander for towing a CD22? If so, how does it perform at the ramp and on the road?
 
We used to own and tow a couple of travel trailers with a late model Rav4 sharing the same V6 as the Highlander. The motor was quite capable but we did have some stability issues with the larger trailer (22ft) at higher speeds when the cross winds picked up too much. The boat will have a bit less windage and the Highlander has a little wheelbase/weight over the rav4. That was with a good WD hitch as well.

The latest highlander can be rated for up to 5000lbs and I am guessing this vehicle would be up to the task. Loaded up heavy, the package may approach your max weight but if you watch it, you could be fine.

A big factor is how much you mind "feeling" the load back there and how long you will have to endure that "feeling" at a time. Are you a nervous tower and how far do you need to tow the load in what conditions?

Nicer to drive than a truck as well....
 
Although my vehicle is not a Highlander, my Toyota 3.4 V-6 performed very well. Much better than I was expecting. I'm pleased that I do not have to lay out more cash for a vehicle change.

Martin.
 
I tow a smaller and lighter (18') boat with the Highlander, but only when I have to. I love the car but it doesn't feel like it wants to tow anything much heavier. There's a slight odor from the rear end after about 75 miles through the hills. I'd never consider towing our 22 classic with the Highlander at all. The suspension seems too soft to handle the load in cross winds. We use the old '96 Dodge pick-up to make the 350 mile trek back and forth to Valdez from the Fairbanks area each summer.

I wouldn't mind it being summer right about now.

Pat
 
I just bought a 2012 Highlander V-6 -- I expect it to be a great tow vehicle for the 22. Of course, my last tow vehicle was a 1999 Sienna with 180000 miles on it. We tow about 3000 miles each summer.

I'll let you know how it goes!

Matt
 
That's a good point about the year and the model. We have a 2002 V6 LTD. Maybe they have a stiffer platform nowadays, not the Camry base they had back in 2002.

Still ... I wouldn't tow our 22 with it.

Pat
 
We are considering a new Highlander 2012 with V6 and tow package. I understand that bigger is better, however I was looking for responses from folks that have used the Highlander and what their experience has been.

Thanks
 
If you like Toyota, consider the 4runner. It does get a couple miles per gallon less and invoice is a couple thousand more. But it's built on a truck chassis, has a bigger engine (4.0 vs 3.5), and comes with both traction control and stability control standard. My son has an older model (90 something) and we pulled our 22 footer with ease. It rides like a car and has been trouble free.
 
We went over to the local Toyota dealer today and looked at the Highlander. Very nice vehicle, drives well and seems to have sufficient power. However, we discussed with the sales person our intended use and he did not think we would be happy with the vehicle in hilly or mountainous terrain. In addition, I read the owners manual, towing section, and the Highlander requires a trailer sway control for trailers over 3000 lbs. It does not appear our trailer configuration will accept a sway control. So for now we are looking at other vehicles.

Dick
 
dotnmarty":wpvoie1q said:
If you like Toyota, consider the 4runner. It does get a couple miles per gallon less and invoice is a couple thousand more. But it's built on a truck chassis, has a bigger engine (4.0 vs 3.5), and comes with both traction control and stability control standard. My son has an older model (90 something) and we pulled our 22 footer with ease. It rides like a car and has been trouble free.
Click to expand...

Here's one to look at. :thup :thup :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Jeep Grand Cherokee with 6 cyl is rated at 5000 pounds -- not sure how it will do in hill country but the Hemi will certainly handle it. Hemi cuts back to 4 cyls when not under load so good 20+ mpg same as the 6.

With 5.7L V8 it is rated at 7400 pounds.

http://www.jeep.com/en/2012/grand_chero ... ty/towing/

I bought mine in August with the intention of towing on the flats of the DelMarVa peninsula "one of these days".

Vehicle is much better than the ones I had back in the mid 1990s.

Bill Uffelman
Las Vegas NV
 
We looked at the highlander and it just wasn't big enough I went with Toyota Sequoia 07 for our cape cruiser 23 about 5000 lb towing weight that with an aluminum trailer very little fuel and h20 .
If you want an suv then their are lots of options
1 Nissan pathfinder 6500lb

2 honda pilot 3500lb-4500 depending on 4whl drive or 2whl drive

3 Toyota sequia 6500lb

4 toyota 4runner

5 older mazda mpv 95-98 4500lb

6 ford expedition 8500 lb

7 ford explorer 5000lb new one older one might tow more ?

8 chevy tahoe 7000lb

9 chevy surburban 7000-9000?

10 dodge durango 5000lb-7000lb depending on year

11 jeep 5000lb ?
 
For the towing I do, my Sienna is acceptable. Same engine & transmission as the Highlander but only a 3500 rating vs 5000 for the Highlander.

I only tow around Monterey bay (max 30 miles) which is mainly flat. No problem on the ramps. In fact the front wheel drive seems to have an advantage over the two wheel drive pick ups. Powers right up the ramps with less drama than many bigger tow vehicles. Braking seems fine and I have played emergency braking and the trailer wheels lock up while the Sienna antilock brakes don't. Don't know what coming down a 10,000 feet mountain range would be like. I don't plan on that kind of towing with the Sienna. I did add heavy duty shocks and rear air bags and they made a BIG difference in towing and dragging over drive ways.

Now, if I was towing up and down the Sierras or Rockies or in windy conditions out on the deserts I would want something on the order of a full sized pick up or SUV. Will probably rent the Ford 250 diesel from the U-haul commercial guys if wanderlust sets in.

But the Sienna works just fine for what I want it to do and the Highlander would be a step up. In a year I might tow 500-1000 miles so not very worried about wear and tear at the tow limit of 3500 lbs. Mine is an Angler and I keep it light for towing.

I guess it all depends on what you are doing.

Ron
 
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