Hi! New here. Lots of questions! :)

[Lisle]

Thanks Kip. Good information and suggestions. Lisle

[Gerry]

Hey Lisle, Welcome to the gang and you'll get loads of advise from all the experts here.
I want to take this time to invite you personally to the Spring Fling in New England Rally in Chocorua NH in May of next year.
This will be our 3 annual rally and a great time is had by all.
It is held from the 16 - 19 of May 2019 at the Chocorua Camping Village KOA and you can go to the rally page and click onto the link to my thread for the rally and if you any other questions that is not on the site let me know and I will be glad to help.
Gerry

[Kip in Ga.]

Originally Posted by Lisle

Thanks Kip. Good information and suggestions. Lisle

Lisle, Sorry bout misspelling your name above. My Bad!

kip

[Lisle]

So I was intimidated about driving a Highlander after 17 years with my Fit. Went to the dealer and test drove one. Surprisingly easy to drive! Nice to feel the power. I think I found my tug. Should be big enough to pull anything i'm going to want. The dealer is looking for a hybrid with a manufacturer tow package. Hope I can find one in the next couple months.

[Glenn Baglo]

If you're going to get a hybrid, why not just keep the Fit?

[John in Santa Cruz]

I don't think a hybrid is a good fit for towing... the electric part is optimal for in town stop and go driving, and providing brief boosts of power when accelerating. thee gas engine is intentionally under-powered for high efficiency and won't have much sustained torque which you need to haul a load up a grade.

[Lisle]

Hi John, My cousin recommended it to me. With the tow package it's rated for 5000#. My cousin hauls landscape equipment and even a bobcat on a trailer behind his Highlander hybrid. Is on his second one. He says it gets superior gas mileage when not towing. And not bad mileage when it is towing. Hope it's true.

[John in Santa Cruz]

how far does he tow his landscaping gear? thats usually just a cross town thing, not interstate distances. our 3 week summer Escape vacattion, we drove 2000 miles.

[Glenn Baglo]

A Google search turned up 3,500# tow capacity for the Highlander Hybrid for me. Best check that number. My recollection is that the hybrid was only 2,000 in recent years. That could have changed, but I doubt the 5,000# capacity.

[John in Santa Cruz]

2018 Highlander Hybrid 18, max tow 3500 per https://www.toyota.com/highlander/fe...6964/6965/6966

and note 40 has lots of disclaimers.

I checked the Limited, the hitch reciever is optional and optionally comes with FOUR pin trailer connector, thats not suitable for a electric brake trailer, so it will need rewiring for a 7-blade, this will require running wire to the dashboard for the brake controller, as well as wiring to the battery for the trailer charging circuit

the rest of the tow package is standard, so you easily could get aftermarket hitch reciever and wiring from a trailer shop.

[Lisle]

You're right about that. But my cousin also takes his trailer with stuff on it to several states for his wife's custom drapery business. He does the installing. But I will ask him about that. Good thought. Lisa

[GingerB]

Originally Posted by Lisle

You're right about that. But my cousin also takes his trailer with stuff on it to several states for his wife's custom drapery business. He does the installing. But I will ask him about that. Good thought. Lisa

It was nice meeting you yesterday, Lisa. Good luck on your hunt! When you find your perfect camper, you’ll feel like Charlie at the Chocolate Factory, clutching your golden ticket.

[Lisle]

Thanks, Ginny. You and your husband were most gracious to show us your little Scamp! Hope you love the new Escape.
Lisa