2008 Toyota Highlander V6 towing 16'ft. Casita SD?

[koy]

Hello, everyone - I recently got this 2008 Toyota highlander V6, it said that the towing capacity is 2000 lb. My 16' ft. Casita SD' gross weight is 2100 lb. plus three people on the car. I do used a Weight Distribution Hitch and a Brake Control on my Toyota Highlander. The one thing that I'm concerning is - can I "over-kill" the towing on my Toyota Highlander ? any suggestion will be helpful. Thank-you.

[Glenn Baglo]

You can sell your Highlander now and buy a tow vehicle rated to tow your trailer, or you can wait until your Highlander breaks from the abuse and then trade it in on a proper tow vehicle.

[gordon2]

Sorry... look for a tow vehicle rated to tow 3500. Then you can look at the other specs including gross combined weight rating and tongue weight rating, etc... That Highlander is no good for you. Other Highlanders will work but not that one.

PS. what was wrong with the Odyssey van?

[Jon in AZ]

The reason your tow rating is so low is the lack of the factory tow prep package, which includes upgraded engine cooling, a larger alternator, and an auxiliary transmission fluid cooler.

I'm skeptical that the gross weight of your Casita 16 SD is 2100#. That sounds more like a dry weight. Loaded weights in our database indicate that the loaded weight is likely closer to 3000#. That, combined with the extra people in the car (tow ratings often only include the driver and no cargo), means you're not just a little over.

Our first tow vehicle was a 2000 Toyota Sienna V6, no tow prep package, rated 2000#. We used it to pull an 1800# Scamp 13 with four people on board (2 were small children). We overheated the transmission on the first long grade on our first trip. It didn't kill the vehicle, thanks to sensors that detected the overheating condition, but it was clear the vehicle wasn't up to the task as equipped.

We might have made it work with the addition of a transmission cooler, upgraded hitch, and trailer brake wiring, but as the vehicle was already 13 years old at the time, we decided to start over with a more capable vehicle. Enter a used Honda Pilot with full towing upgrades and rated for 3500#.

You've got some hard choices ahead. I'd say of the 3 deficiencies, the transmission cooler is the most important, and that can be added easily.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

... I'd say of the 3 deficiencies, the transmission cooler is the most important, and that can be added easily.

I had a 08 Highlander and had discussions about adding a tranny cooler. Long story, but I have some serious doubt that it is a reasonable possibility.

I used it to tow a 1500 lb pop-up camper and it barely got the job done. And then the timing belt cover gasket started to leak oil and the repair est. was over $2,000. No, the OP should not use a 2008 Highlander (W/O tow package) to tow his Casita. A replacement vehicle is the only option.

[Jon in AZ]

I was not familiar with the timing belt cover gasket issue. That makes the lack of upgraded engine cooling more concerning. Any idea what was causing it? I know the 3.0L and 3.3L engines both had issues with restricted internal oil circulation, finally resolved in the 3.5L. Our Sienna had the 3.0L, and I'm guessing the '08 Highlander had the 3.3L?

As to the ATF cooler, are you saying it can't be done, or that it won't help?

I do think we made the right decision not to try to patch up a marginal vehicle.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

I was not familiar with the timing belt cover gasket issue. That makes the lack of upgraded engine cooling more concerning. Any idea what was causing it? I know the 3.0L and 3.3L engines both had issues with restricted internal oil circulation, finally resolved in the 3.5L. Our Sienna had the 3.0L, and I'm guessing the '08 Highlander had the 3.3L?

As to the ATF cooler, are you saying it can't be done, or that it won't help?

I do think we made the right decision not to try to patch up a marginal vehicle.

My 2008 Highlander had the 3.5-liter 2GR-FE motor. I have no clue as to why the gasket failed but the cost to repair it was mostly due to the fact that the entire engine had to be removed to get to it.

Now my 2015 Sienna has the same 3.5-liter 2GR-FE motor and its a time-tested and highly reliable machine. I even use the oil filters I had left over when I sold the Highlander. I don't know if the same gasket failure in a Sienna would require the engine to be removed, and the exorbitant costs of doing so, but there is more room to work in the engine compartment so maybe not. At any rate, I expect I will never find out.

So I am not knocking (no pun) the engine even if there was an issue with the gasket at one time, but for towing anything more than a small pop-up with a Highlander, a higher tow rating is needed.

Memory is starting to fade but I will say that I was talked out of adding a tranny cooler (not engine cooling) to my 2008 Highlander. Risk of over-cooling when not towing was one thing. Perhaps there was limited room. Maybe something else too, there may have been other limitations such as the rear end strength.

[thrifty bill]

Since you already have the Casita, take it to your nearest truck stop and weigh it. 2100 pounds sounds very light to me.

[koy]

Thank-you everyone for the advice,and it is a hard decision to make trading a new car (cost more money) or down side to a 13' ft. Casita or Scamp ?

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by koy

Thank-you everyone for the advice,and it is a hard decision to make trading a new car (cost more money) or down side to a 13' ft. Casita or Scamp ?

Well since the Highlander is ten or eleven years old, I would personally go with a new or newer vehicle rated to tow a minimum 3,500 lbs.

[Jon in AZ]

Main downside of a 13'er is giving up the bathroom. Other than that you'd have everything you now have in your 16' Casita.

We camp at developed campgrounds- state parks mostly- with toilets and (usually) shower facilities. Occasionally, they will be less than satisfactory, but generally it has not been an issue. We enjoy camping in our 13' Scamp with 4 people.

My experience and Gordon's still stand as a caution, however. Towing without the cooling upgrades may be marginal even with an under-2000# trailer.

[steve dunham]

I’ve towed my trailer with a V6 vehicle and it never worked well for me
It always felt like the vehicle was struggling

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

I’ve towed my trailer with a V6 vehicle and it never worked well for me
...

I’ve towed my trailer with a V6 vehicle and it worked well for me.

Its not about the number cylinders.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by gordon2

I’ve towed my trailer with a V6 vehicle and it worked well for me.

Its not about the number cylinders.

Ditto.

[Wayne Collins]

I would challenge that 2000 lb rating.
We had a 2007 Highlander Hybrid V6 with aftermarket hitch.
It towed our 2000 Scamp Deluxe (2800 lb) with no problems.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Wayne Collins

I would challenge that 2000 lb rating.
We had a 2007 Highlander Hybrid V6 with aftermarket hitch.
It towed our 2000 Scamp Deluxe (2800 lb) with no problems.

And, what was the tow rating of your Hybrid, and how was it equipped? Crucial information.
OP says their specific vehicle is rated 2,000 lbs.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Wayne Collins

I would challenge that 2000 lb rating.
We had a 2007 Highlander Hybrid V6 with aftermarket hitch.
It towed our 2000 Scamp Deluxe (2800 lb) with no problems.

My Sienna was rated 3500# with the factory tow prep package, 2000# without. I took it that the OP probably lacks the tow prep package.

[John in Santa Cruz]

unless that 16' Casita is a really old stripped down non-deluxe one, the GWR of all 16 and 17 foot casitas is 3500 lbs. My 2008 16 SD CURB (or dry) weight is about 2000-2100 lbs, the 17's maybe 100 or 200 more. the real world weights with food, bedding, clothing, cooking gear, water, propane, etc are typically in the 3000-3500 lb range.

To tow a 3500 lb trailer distances on a regular basis, I would want a tow vehicle with a 5000 lb rating. I towed ours with a 2008 Tacoma 4x4 V6 6-speed stick-shift, it did very nicely for 1000s and 1000s of miles through all sorts of terrain, this Tacoma had a 6500 lb tow rating.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by gordon2

I’ve towed my trailer with a V6 vehicle and it worked well for me.

Its not about the number cylinders.

From my experiences I find that hard to believe but I will take your word for it
If your talking about the Ford V6 Ecoboost then that’s a horse of a different color.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

From my experiences I find that hard to believe but I will take your word for it
If your talking about the Ford V6 Ecoboost then that’s a horse of a different color.

2015 Toyota Sienna.

By the way.. here is a V-8 that I would not suggest towing even a kids wagon with....even though it has two more cylinders than a six cylinder engine...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zefup2AtN14