Towing Coleman Lantern 17B with 17 Toyota Highlander?

[Jack61]

Bought a Coleman Lantern 17B travel trailer (~3,000lbs), live in CO traveling with my wife and 2 small kids (350lbs total) and normal cooler weekend trip gear, won’t be filling up water until at site. Looking to buy a reliable tow vehicle for around 25k-30k. Will a V6 2017 Toyota Highlander (5,000 tow capacity, 1,400 payload) with tow package work for this? Let me know anyone’s thoughts.

[mistercee]

I think you are right on the bubble for trailer length...at least according to the attached chart. Wheelbase on the Toyota is 112", trailer length is 21.5'.

Also, for your calculations, keep in mind that the trailer dry weight is not very useful. That trailer's GVWR is 3850, which would make the tongue weight in the neighborhood of 500 lbs @ 13%. This, plus people and gear would put you in the 900-1000 lb range of payload used. I'd double-check the underside of the hitch receiver and see if it has a sticker listing weight restrictions. Ditto goes for that 1400 lbs of payload you mentioned. Is that verified thru the yellow/white door sticker on that specific vehicle? Payload is unique to each vehicle, a lightly equipped Highlander might have 1400 lbs of payload, where a highly optioned one will have a lot less, as it will be much heavier. (Payload = Vehicle Weight subtracted from GVWR)

You will also need to see if the Highlander allows for use of a weight distribution hitch - if you are interested in using one, that is. Some SUVs with unibody construction state in the manual that they should not be used. If the Highlander does allow for one, and you elect to use one, add another 75-100 lbs. to payload used.

[Stableduck]

Originally Posted by Jack61

Bought a Coleman Lantern 17B travel trailer (~3,000lbs), live in CO traveling with my wife and 2 small kids (350lbs total) and normal cooler weekend trip gear, won’t be filling up water until at site. Looking to buy a reliable tow vehicle for around 25k-30k. Will a V6 2017 Toyota Highlander (5,000 tow capacity, 1,400 payload) with tow package work for this? Let me know anyone’s thoughts.

Something to think about. The Highlander has a strut type suspension on the rear. Which is not great for carrying weight.
I had a highlander and I towed a 16’ casita with it. The highlander had plenty of power to tow it and handled pretty well. But the rear suspension would bottom out a lot while traveling.
I don’t remember the year of the highlander, maybe the change the suspension. But if they didn’t I would look for a vehicle with leaf or coil springs instead

[tuffr2]

Why not look for a Ford F-150 with the 2.7 litre Eco-Boost? A crew cab can carry 5 people in comfort without adding up the weight. Plus at higher elevations the Eco-Boost will perform better than a non- turbo engine.

The kids would like riding in a truck vs a SUV. Oh, the F-150 will ride as good as the Highlander IMHO.

[Jack61]

Originally Posted by Stableduck

Something to think about. The Highlander has a strut type suspension on the rear. Which is not great for carrying weight.
I had a highlander and I towed a 16’ casita with it. The highlander had plenty of power to tow it and handled pretty well. But the rear suspension would bottom out a lot while traveling.
I don’t remember the year of the highlander, maybe the change the suspension. But if they didn’t I would look for a vehicle with leaf or coil springs instead
Attachment 385575

This is interesting and maybe a Toyota 4Runner is a better option.

[Jack61]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Why not look for a Ford F-150 with the 2.7 litre Eco-Boost? A crew cab can carry 5 people in comfort without adding up the weight. Plus at higher elevations the Eco-Boost will perform better than a non- turbo engine.

The kids would like riding in a truck vs a SUV. Oh, the F-150 will ride as good as the Highlander IMHO.

I've thought a lot about this, I could really use a 3rd row for all other times we're not towing, and even in the trip. Wife thinks the Truck is too tall and can't access anything while driving. So going 3-Row SUV route. I would look into Ford Expedition and other similar large SUV's, I'm nervous about reliability of domestic auto makers and Sequoias are crazy pricey.

[Jack61]

Originally Posted by mistercee

I think you are right on the bubble for trailer length...at least according to the attached chart. Wheelbase on the Toyota is 112", trailer length is 21.5'.

Also, for your calculations, keep in mind that the trailer dry weight is not very useful. That trailer's GVWR is 3850, which would make the tongue weight in the neighborhood of 500 lbs @ 13%. This, plus people and gear would put you in the 900-1000 lb range of payload used. I'd double-check the underside of the hitch receiver and see if it has a sticker listing weight restrictions. Ditto goes for that 1400 lbs of payload you mentioned. Is that verified thru the yellow/white door sticker on that specific vehicle? Payload is unique to each vehicle, a lightly equipped Highlander might have 1400 lbs of payload, where a highly optioned one will have a lot less, as it will be much heavier. (Payload = Vehicle Weight subtracted from GVWR)

You will also need to see if the Highlander allows for use of a weight distribution hitch - if you are interested in using one, that is. Some SUVs with unibody construction state in the manual that they should not be used. If the Highlander does allow for one, and you elect to use one, add another 75-100 lbs. to payload used.

Good point about weight distribution hitch, am open to getting whetever safety mechanisms are available. I agree with this vehicle (and maybe a 4Runenr would be better) seems to line up exactly with towing this trailer, didn't want to miss anything.

[bross]

Originally Posted by Jack61

Good point about weight distribution hitch, am open to getting whetever safety mechanisms are available. I agree with this vehicle (and maybe a 4Runenr would be better) seems to line up exactly with towing this trailer, didn't want to miss anything.

Just a thought but 3rd row seating is only available on 2 trim levels in the 4Runner and that 3rd row is going to eat into your payload as well. Not saying it couldn't be an option, but typically higher trim levels also eat into payload sometimes as much as 4-500lbs.

Find a 4Runner optioned to your liking and check the door sticker payload ratings. That could determine how big a trailer (based on tongue weight) that you could comfortably hook up.

Good luck on your search.

[carybosse]

Originally Posted by bross

Just a thought but 3rd row seating is only available on 2 trim levels in the 4Runner and that 3rd row is going to eat into your payload as well. Not saying it couldn't be an option, but typically higher trim levels also eat into payload sometimes as much as 4-500lbs.

Find a 4Runner optioned to your liking and check the door sticker payload ratings. That could determine how big a trailer (based on tongue weight) that you could comfortably hook up.

Good luck on your search.

Not sure what Toyota does for 3rd row seating on the 4Runner, but my 2001 Tahoe was an early SUV with the 3rd row seating (without going to the Suburban or maybe a Ford Expedition/Excursion.)

On my Tahoe, GM beefed up the payload capacity to handle the 3rd row seating over versions without the 3rd row seating options. How do I know, the rear brake rotor and pads were larger, had 2 sizes that year. Since I think they pretty much all come with 3rd row seating now, I guess there is only one payload.

For grins, I checked the 2022 Tahoe specs. You can get a payload anywhere from 1600 to 1800 pounds depending on engine, of course the door label may take a hit based on the trim and options. Tow capacity ranges from 7600 to 8400 pounds, with the highest value coming with the 5.3L V8 that has higher specs than the 6.2L gasser or 3.0L diesel.

When I look at these values for a Tahoe, a pretty capable SUV, I worry about what a crossover SUV would be able to handle. Suburban numbers were slightly less, but similar.

[bross]

Originally Posted by carybosse

Not sure what Toyota does for 3rd row seating on the 4Runner, but my 2001 Tahoe was an early SUV with the 3rd row seating (without going to the Suburban or maybe a Ford Expedition/Excursion.)

On my Tahoe, GM beefed up the payload capacity to handle the 3rd row seating over versions without the 3rd row seating options. How do I know, the rear brake rotor and pads were larger, had 2 sizes that year. Since I think they pretty much all come with 3rd row seating now, I guess there is only one payload.

For grins, I checked the 2022 Tahoe specs. You can get a payload anywhere from 1600 to 1800 pounds depending on engine, of course the door label may take a hit based on the trim and options. Tow capacity ranges from 7600 to 8400 pounds, with the highest value coming with the 5.3L V8 that has higher specs than the 6.2L gasser or 3.0L diesel.

When I look at these values for a Tahoe, a pretty capable SUV, I worry about what a crossover SUV would be able to handle. Suburban numbers were slightly less, but similar.

A bigger issue with an SUV may be fuel tank size. Our son pulls his small 17' TT with his Honda Ridgeline and he's pretty much looking for gas as soon as he pulls out of the driveway! He's done with the Ridgeline and is shopping for an F-150 with the big 36g tank like I have on my truck.

He had no issues with how the Ridgeline handled his trailer just got fed up hauling 2 jerry cans of gas, just so he could make it to the next gas station.

[tuffr2]

I would not worry too much about reliability as all reliability IMHO has improved. I know people the love the GM products as well as Ford and Ram.

I had a Honda Accord that was more trouble than a older Mercury car that I had. Also a Mitsubishi was less trouble.

I gravitate to Ford products personally.

[tuffr2]

In 2024 Toyota is going to build a 'Grand Highlander'. You see that yet? It looks bigger with more room in the 3rd seat.

[ArtJoyce]

Just make sure it has the tow package to get the 5k tow capability. Highlander started having only one of the highlanders trim packages having the tow package of 5k back 2010.. Otherwize it had a much lower capability.

I towed 3023 traillmanor for years with a 2012 highlander using a 600 lbs WDH. It worked well.