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Old 12-20-2012, 06:42 AM   #1
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Toyota Highlander as a TV

Now looking at a 2008 Toyota Highlander with factory tow package. It is rated at 5000lb and I would be towing a Jayco 17Z.... does anyone have this TV and are their any comments or issues I should look for... many thanks as usual.

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Old 12-20-2012, 07:04 AM   #2
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I Looked at this vehicle, but passed on it in favor of the 4Runner.
The Highlander is built on a Camry chasis and I didn't think the tranny and suspension would hold up.
It's a nice ride though.
The 17Z a small and with a GVWR of ~3,500 the Highlander would definitely do it, just not well. Especially a V6

Personally, I would go with
1. something built on a truck frame/suspension
2. Longer wheelbase gives you more options. A full size truck is better TV than a SUV.
3. V8 gives you more options and if you keep your foot out of the accelerator, they aren't much different for MPG than a V6

Best regardsm
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Old 12-20-2012, 12:57 PM   #3
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As with most, we also have struggled with the never ending issue of matching a tow vehicle to the camper. Do I wish our truck was bigger? sure. But am I willing to get less MPG when I'm not towing, which is 80-90% of the time - no.

Most people will tell you - get a pickup, bigger is better, V8 is the way to go, etc. Maybe they are right, maybe not, my answer is "it depends". We tow our x17Z with a Honda Pilot (V6), rated for 4500 lbs. It has the load distributing hitch and sway control. We live in NJ, so we are familiar with the "mountains" of PA, northern, NJ, Vermont. We've also towed this combination from NJ through the mountains of Colorado and into Utah, as well as up to Vermont's NE Kingdom. Our truck did fine, the trailer towed and tracked behind us just fine. No sway, except when we hit 45 MPH wind gusts in Kansas - but with that much wind, everyone was swaying. The gas mileage wasn't stellar (10-12 MPG), but I think if you do the research, you'll find that is normal for towing a TT. When we aren't towing, the Pilot gets 20-22 MPG, which is nice.

As long as you realistically run the numbers on the tv capabilities (you may have to beef up the suspension), you should be fine.
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Old 12-20-2012, 01:51 PM   #4
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We tow our x17z with a 2007 4Runner with tow package rated for 5,000. It does a good job but we are looking to upgrade to a larger TV.

When towing the x17 with the 4Runner, you know it's back there at all times. When towing our 6,500 lb 28dsbh with our 10,000 rated Tundra you don't even know the TT is back there.

Another thing to consider is the miniscule cargo capacity of the x17z. You may have to end up carrying some stuff in your TV. A larger TV gives you more cargo capacity too.

In the end, it comes down to safety to me.
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Old 12-20-2012, 02:47 PM   #5
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Thanks gus all great advice, wife wont intertain a pickup, but going to look for a v8......
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Old 12-20-2012, 03:01 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by jepotts View Post
Thanks gus all great advice, wife wont intertain a pickup, but going to look for a v8......
The difference between the 4Runner V6 and V8 is 1 mpg highway.

All very good points for you to evaluate based on how you'll use it, with what coargo etc.

Happy camping,
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Old 12-20-2012, 09:32 PM   #7
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Thanks gus all great advice, wife wont intertain a pickup, but going to look for a v8......
She might when you tell her it's safer. The Tundra drives very smoothly. At least take a test drive. You also have the option of the Sequoia, which is the SUV based on the Tundra.
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Old 12-20-2012, 09:50 PM   #8
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She might when you tell her it's safer. The Tundra drives very smoothly. At least take a test drive. You also have the option of the Sequoia, which is the SUV based on the Tundra.
X2

For an SUV tow vehicle, I would love to have the Sequoia V8

I see a Tundra in my future :-)
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Old 12-21-2012, 07:54 AM   #9
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My wife's car is a 2012 Highlander with tow package. I would not want to tow anything more than a jetski or the like with the Highlander. Personally the Highlander simply doesn't feel stout enough to tow a TT or HTT.

We don't personally own a Sequoia, but a close friend does. I would consider the Sequoia, it just feels more solid...much more like a truck opposed to the Highlander which to me feels more like a minivan.

I know you say you aren't interested in a pickup...that is really too bad. We towed with a SUV, Chevy Tahoe, and found the SUV really inconvienient. We never had a good way to haul firewood, generator, fuel, bikes, etc. With a pickup all those issues go away.
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Old 12-21-2012, 08:26 AM   #10
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I have towed with an V8 Explorer for 12 years. The mileage difference was only 1 or 2 MPG between the V6 and the V8. There is less strain on the engine with the V8 when traveling in the mountains. My Explorer with the tow package is rated for over 7000 pounds and tow my 17Z without a problem.
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Old 12-21-2012, 04:52 PM   #11
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I can't really comment on the specific vehicle as I've never owned one. We did, however, tow our Jayco 1207 with a Chevy Trailblazer, that worked great. I would not want to tow a 17Z with it, even though it was within its towing capacity. The problem with smaller SUV's is that the suspension isn't really made for towing, they are fine for smaller trailers/popups, but you put something high profile back there, throw in a little wind, it can get a little scary. I also pulled a 6X12 cargo trailer with the Trailblazer, the 6cyl engine had plenty of power, but if it was windy I kept a tight grip on the steering wheel. As was mentioned, you also want to think about cargo capacity, we always had a struggle with firewood, we usually just bought some after we got to our campsite as we didn't have enough room for it, plenty of room with a pickup.

We now have a Silverado with a 5.3L V-8 with the full towing package, including a bigger front sway bay and heavier rear shocks. I pulled the cargo trailer in 25mph winds a while back, could not even feel that trailer back there. The difference isn't just the engine, its also the suspension and the transmission. As to MPG, the Silverado actually does slightly better than the Trailblazer(then again Trailblazer's get horrible gas mileage for their size), believe it or not.

We actually pulled the X17Z back from the dealer, which is about 120miles away, in a 25-35mph wind coming at us from the front and side and I could feel the wind hitting the trailer, but the pickup never "felt" like it was something it couldn't handle. Of course we also have a WDH and a sway bar with the 17Z. I would not have wanted to do this with the Trailblazer.

It really comes down to how far and how often will you be towing. Plus, if you have a bigger TV, you could always get a bigger trailer:hihi:
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Old 12-23-2012, 11:21 AM   #12
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We tow our 17Z with a 2004 Chevy Astro rated for 5000. It has the longer chassis and we do have a towing package and equalizer sway bar. We have absolutely no trouble towing the trailer, and like mtnbikers, do not want to lose the better gas mileage we get when just driving the vehicle.

When the Astro wears out we probably will buy a larger Van (probably a Chevy Express 1 ton), but that could be a long way off as Astros are known to last and last.
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Old 12-23-2012, 06:00 PM   #13
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I have done that song and dance, and with a larger TV than you are looking for. I pulled a 19ft TT with my 2010 4Runner (with heavy duty lift springs and airbags) as well as a three horse slant. I thought it was fine while doing it, but after purchasing my Tundra I realize how wrong I was. The Tundra pulls so much nicer, and feels much safer. Pulling home our 3000# tent trailer without trailer brakes you could not even feel it back there and the mileage did not change. Pulling my Jay Feather 19H is a breeze even without a WDH. Big winds, no problem. Semi trucks, no problem. It is not about the v8, its about wheelbase. Anything can pull a trailer, its about stopping and controlling it. If it were a popup it would be no problem, but I would not tow a TT with a Highlander. Just my $.02.
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Old 01-01-2013, 07:55 AM   #14
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We've been towing our 19H with our Toyota FJ Cruiser and have not had any issues. We've towed through pretty much every terrain and climate and it's been great. The FJ drivetrain, engine and frame are really a combination of the Tundra and the 4 Runner, with a retro body style that we love. It's a 4 litre V6 with 239 hp, with a 5000 lb towing capacity. We did struggle on one very steep hill in the Rockies between Jasper and Banff. I could tow at 35mph up the mountain, but couldn't gain anymore speed, but all the other mountains were fine. All in all, we're pretty happy with our choice of TV. Good Luck.
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