Towing trailer with Toyota Highlander V6

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Larry Howard

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Jul 1, 2018
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What information can you tell us about our possible purchase of a 2018 Rockwood Geo Pro Model G17PR with a unloaded weight of 3161 pounds?  We would be towing this with a 2018 Toyota Highlander V6 with towing package.  We live in Michigan.  Our long trips would be to the US west coast and US east coast.  Trips planned, of course, in Michigan and Wisconsin. 

How would this 2018 Toyota Highlander perform with this travel trailer?

Thank you for any information.  I appreciate your time and knowledge.
 
The first advice is to forget the Unloaded Weight (UVW) and work wth the trailer GVWR (or UVW + Cargo Carrying Capacity, if that's all that Rockwood provides).  UVW is useless - the trailer will weight more than that when you tow it off the dealer lot. The GVWR is the weight you must be prepared to tow, and 10% of that is the trailer tongue weight the Highlander must be able to carry (in addition to you and your family).

Then get the Highlander towing rating (max tow) and Cargo Capacity and start comparing.
 
The best GVWR for the Highlander I can find is 5840 LBS  and the average curb weight of the Highlander is about 4300 lbs. That leaves you about 1500 lbs of stuff to put in or on the Highlander
I will assume a family of 4 and the combined weight of all those people is 550 lbs, but probably more
That leaves you 950 lbs of cargo.  the trailer will weigh in loaded at about 4400 pounds without anything in the water tank or grey/black tanks which gives a tongue weight of about 660 lbs if trailer loaded correctly.

290 lbs of capacity left . Got a dog then add in its weight.  Plug in the numbers you find on the highlander if they are different. Do not think you will not add a lot of weight to the trailer because you will,  even 4400 lbs gross may be an underestimate depending on size of family and its toys.


How it will perform through the mountains is another thing altogether.
 
The GVWR for that camper is 3161 dry wt + 791 CCC = 3952 lbs.  That is NOT much CCC!

Open the driver door on the Highlander and find the yellow border placard which includes ... the maximum weight of all passengers and cargo shall not exceed XXXX lbs.  This is exactly what it says.  This is the CCC or Payload for the Highlander as it left the factory.

Add up everything you plan to carry in and on the Highlander.  This includes the weight of all passengers, car seats, pets, toys, snacks, tools, etc. PLUS 450 - 500 lbs for hitch weight.  That must be less than the yellow label on the Highlander.

If the numbers work, then you should be okay.  It will not be the first vehicle up the hill, but it should get you there.  Note you will need a Trailer Brake Controller for the Highlander as well.
 
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