Forest River 19.5BH & 2008 Toyota Highlander 6 cy 3.5 with Tow Package?

[Momatude]

My husband just bought both... the new travel trailer 19.5 BH Wildwood X-lite ( dry weight of 3003, Hitch weight of 403, Cargo of 881). the Highlander has tow package and a tow weight of 5K.

I have been reading online about this and I think he made a big mistake- too much trailer for the towing vehicle.

He assures me the Highlander will pull the trailer and it will all be fine/safe and within range of towing/hitch capacity. He's having some sort of brake put in but the salesman assured him that the Highlander is fine to pull this side and he doesn't need the sway bar attachment.

Anyone have a Highlander and pulling a trailer? We pick it up tomorrow and I'm nervous about it. Thanks in advance.

[bikendan]

Well, he's made some newbie mistakes by looking at fictional dry weight numbers and not researching the Toyota ' s towing numbers closer.

And for believing the salesman. He's VERY wrong.
You'll need the WDH and sway control.

The car's hitch max is probably 500lbs WITH a WDH. You don't want to tow a TT with a car like yours, without one.
The car's owners manual should say.
The 403lbs hitch weight doesn't include battery, propane, water and cargo in the trailer.
It could easily be over the Toyota ' s 500lbs max hitch weight.
Passengers and cargo in the car will reduce the 5000 number by their weights.

[Momatude]

I will print this and bring it to his attention AND the salesman today.

[rvb]

hard for me to consider any FWD vehicle a "good" towing choice... something like a 4runner would at least be more reasonable, but still pushing it. My buddy has a Taco and a trailer about that size, maybe a few hundred pounds heavier, and he says he is really at the truck's limit, he has to work it hard and any grade is a killer..


-rvb

[JustB_Rad]

I posted this in another thread, but it's the same situation, so I'll cut and paste it here again.

The biggest issue trying to pull a hard sided camper with a unibody SUV is that the wind profile KILLS you.

Whether its 16ft long or 23ft long really makes no difference.

I had a 23ft R-Vision Crossover that we bought specifically because it only weighted 3300 lbs dry and was "SUV Towable". It was only 90" wide and it was under 9' off the ground in height. I tried towing it with a 2011 Ford Explorer with the 3.5L V6 (5K towing capacity). We took it on 2 trips and I traded the Explorer in. Honestly, I was afraid I would have ended up blowing up the motor at some point. Trying to stay at 60-65MPH was a chore for it....and then add a 20MPH head wind, and on our longest trip with it, it never dropped under 3500 RPM on a 4 hour drive.

Ultimately, I think it depends how far from home you are planning on going as well. If they're shorter trips, you can make it work. You might not enjoy the ride, but you can make it work. If longer trips are what you're planning....you will be highly disappointed.

[jerryinky]

I have a 2014 Highlander and tow a Rockwood Minilite 1906. Trailer has dry weight of about 3000 lbs and gross weight around 4000 lbs. We keep the speed around 60mph and use a weight distribution hitch with a sway bar. We have traveled about 15000 miles in the last two years. The Highlander pulls the trailer just fine. Of course, "your mileage may vary".

[CaptnJohn]

Since 2013 builders are required to include propane in the published hitch weight.

[JustB_Rad]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

Since 2013 builders are required to include propane in the published hitch weight.

My understanding is that they were required to include weight of the cylinders, not weight of the propane.

[Cfritts]

We have a 2013 Highlander and had power electric brakes/hookup added. Our trailer at a GVWR of 3,500#. Yes the Highlander is rated for 5,000#. We have sway bars and pack more to the light side than then heavy. The weight of cargo is included in the 3,500#. Let me say this: it pulls okay but we can tell we are way under powered. Despite my search for a trailer fully loaded to be at or under 3,500# and ours is under 19 feet long, it is not enough vehicle for the trailer. Yes we go okay and yes it climbs the passes adequately but neither of us feel we are well covered.

We just bought a new Forester because we didn't want to upgrade our vehicle and we felt we couldn't go down in size and be comfortable.

You won't make any speed records and if you do remember it's not all about going but stopping or control in an emergency. Good luck

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by JustB_Rad

My understanding is that they were required to include weight of the cylinders, not weight of the propane.

That changed in 2013 to include propane...

[checkmate99]

CaptnJohn is correct.....so many posting here still saying, "it doesn't include propane." Since 2013, the dry weight does include full propane tanks.

[jjrver]

READ your HIGHLANDER OWNERS MANUAL it states do NOT use a WDH. Went thru the same problem with my 2012 Highlander V6 awd. One dealer actually wanted to alter the frame some how to accept the WDH would have voided the vehicle warranty. Did further reasearch and found you should not use WDH with any unibody constructed frame.




2016 Coachmen Freelander 26 RSF
2015 Wrangler sport toad

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by jjrver

READ your HIGHLANDER OWNERS MANUAL it states do NOT use a WDH. Went thru the same problem with my 2012 Highlander V6 awd. One dealer actually wanted to alter the frame some how to accept the WDH would have voided the vehicle warranty. Did further reasearch and found you should not use WDH with any unibody constructed frame.




2016 Coachmen Freelander 26 RSF
2015 Wrangler sport toad

Any auto manufacturer that tells their customers NOT to use a WDH to tow a full height TT, is saying that their vehicles are not capable tow vehicles.
This includes Honda.

[jlgail4309]

It should pull the trailer. I would buy a nice sway hitch. Maybe E4 or Anderson. Something about a single axle trailer sways more than a dual axle needs some more sway control.