Why not utilize your Highlander to tow when you’re not towing it?
The 2022 Highlander’s hybrid variants can tow a maximum of 3,500 pounds. Your Highlander has a 5,000-pound towing capacity if it has the regular V6 gas engine.
Your Highlander can tow a lot of weight in either situation. Let’s examine a few instances.
In This Article...
What can you tow with a hybrid Highlander?
There are two drivetrain options for the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid engine from Toyota: front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Both vehicles can tow a maximum of 3,500 pounds.
Despite having less power than a V6 gas engine, you can still haul a lot. Just a few instances are shown below:
- ATVs
- Trailer Campers
- Snowmobiles
- a jet ski
The ideal type of camper to tow behind your hybrid Highlander is a teardrop trailer. These are often the lightest campers, and many of them now have excellent design elements.
There are several fantastic versions that utilise clever, lightweight designs if you like a more traditional camper.
Scamp is only one illustration. Only 1,500 and 1,900 pounds, respectively, are the dry weights of their 13- and 16-foot trailers. Simply remember to account for the weight of your cargo.
What can you tow with a V6 Highlander?
A Highlander powered by a V6 engine has a 5,000-pound towing capacity, which is more than enough to tow everything the hybrid Highlander can.
For campers, the additional 1,500 pounds of towing capacity will open up more options, including many models from the most renowned camper manufacturers.
Consider the 16RB Airstream Bambi. It has the traditional design of an Airstream trailer in a more compact, lighter form that is suited for a Highlander with the necessary equipment.
Another excellent alternative for a Highlander with a V6 engine is the Winnebago Micro Minnie 1700BH. This fantastic camper provides everything you would anticipate from a Winnebago RV in a compact design.
Watch the Micro Minnie in action in the following video, which comes from from Winnebago RVs:
Can you use a tow dolly to haul a Toyota Highlander?
Can a flat trailer tow a Toyota Highlander? In general, you can’t haul your Toyota Highlander flat. It’s best to dolly tow it or tow it the old-fashioned way using a towing rig. Always check that the vehicle being towed is equipped and has the capacity to manage the Highlander’s size.
A Toyota Highlander AWD can be towed.
Unfortunately, the Highlander does not support flat-towing, which is a bummer for RV fans. The transmission would suffer as a result, and AWD vehicles’ torque control and vectoring systems would also be harmed.
Instead, Toyota advises towing the Highlander with a flatbed truck or trailer.
As a result, the transmission and AWD systems are protected from damage and the wheels are kept off the ground.
How to tie down a vehicle in a flatbed
When using a flatbed trailer, it is crucial to firmly tie down your Highlander or any other car.
Make sure all of your equipment is in excellent working order before beginning. Verify sure your straps don’t have any visible fraying or damage. If so, you need to swap them out.
Should the car be in neutral when being towed?
Make sure you know what to do to protect your car’s transmission if it breaks down and you have to be towed. The layout of the vehicle dictates how it should be correctly hauled to prevent gearbox damage. In particular, whether your car is front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, automatic or manual, matters. Here are some tips for towing your car from the experts at Matt’s Transmission in Murfreesboro, Tennessee:
Consult the owner’s handbook first. There will be a segment focused on towing your car safely. Some vehicles can be simply towed, while it’s advised never to tow others. In this case, your manufacturer is advisable to follow their advice. Simply park the vehicles on the trailer or truck if all four wheels are going to be immobile while being towed, like on a trailer or the back of a truck.
If your car has front-wheel drive and an automatic transmission:
The front two wheels will be elevated if utilizing a vehicle dolly. Just put the car in park and start the tow. Your car must have a suitable towing system if all four wheels are on the ground in order to prevent the transmission from turning without the required lubrication. No amount of shifting the car into neutral will stop it from getting hurt. In an emergency, you can start the car and leave it running while it is being towed while the transmission is in neutral. While doing so will keep the transmission oiled, prolonged towing is not advised.
If your car has front-wheel drive and a manual transmission:
Put the car in first gear and tow it if it’s on a dolly. Put the car in neutral and tow if all four wheels are on the ground. Manual transmission cars may often be hauled without the engine running, with no danger to the transmission.
If your car has automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive:
The most challenging vehicle to properly tow is this one. Unless you leave the car running or have a vehicle with the necessary equipment installed, you must disconnect the driveshaft whether you are using a dolly or “flat towing” with all four wheels on the ground.
If your car is manual, rear-wheel drive:
Leave the transmission in neutral while towing, whether you’re flat towing or utilizing a dolly. You don’t need to leave the engine running or use any specialized equipment.
Before towing your car, truck, or SUV, be careful to check with your owner’s manual or the manufacturer as there are some cars that are an exception to these guidelines. Come to Matt’s Transmission whenever you need maintenance or repairs. Our highly skilled mechanics are capable of servicing any transmission and are committed to giving the best possible customer service.
We appreciate you coming to Matt’s Transmission in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. You can rely on our ASE-certified Transmission professionals to keep your car, truck, SUV, or van operating safely and longer on the road.
Dolly or a flat tow is preferable, right?
Choose a flat-tow configuration without a doubt if space is your primary issue. Car trailers are more difficult to carry and store than tow dollies, although neither are particularly tiny or light. This can make finding a spot to keep your equipment at home and parking into a small campsite difficult.
Which models of Toyota can be flat towed?
For instance, Toyota has a number of vehicles that appear to be perfect for flat towing. The Land Cruiser and the 4Runner are available for intrepid off-road travelers.
How well does the Toyota Highlander tow?
When properly outfitted, the 2019 Highlander can tow an astonishing 5,000 pounds. Depending on the engine you select, you can tow a certain amount of weight. And that’s still another fantastic feature of this SUV. A gas engine or a hybrid engine are your options.
What does a Toyota Highlander towing package entail?
The 2021 Toyota Highlander can pull up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with the optional 3.5L V6 engine and tow package, making it simple to transport supplies and equipment around Georgetown. Performance characteristics like the following help to support all this power: 3.5L V6 engine with 295 horsepower is an option.
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is capable of towing, right?
A Toyota Highlander with a hybrid powertrain is able to tow. Yes! You can anticipate 243 horsepower, 175 lb-ft of torque, and a Toyota Highlander towing capacity of 3,500 pounds from the 2.5L L4HV 4-cylinder engine and two electric motors.
The Highlander Hybrid’s towing capacity.
A revised 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque serves as the Highlander’s base power source. It is coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly under computer supervision. All-wheel drive is an option in addition to the conventional front-wheel drive.
When properly equipped, the V-6 powertrain in your Highlander offers an excellent towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. Additionally, this SUV has exceptional fuel efficiency. The Highlander’s stop-start engine system allows it to get up to 21 mpg in the city and up to 29 mpg on the highway.
A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine powers the Highlander hybrid variants. Two front-mounted synchronous electric motors are coupled to the engine in front-wheel drive variants. An additional electric motor is fitted on the back axle in conjunction with the available electronic on-demand all-wheel-drive system. Gear changes are effortless thanks to the continuously variable transmission.
The Highlander hybrid boasts exceptional fuel efficiency and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds with its overall power output of 243 horsepower. Up to 36 mpg is possible on city streets in Tyler, while up to 35 mpg is possible on highways in East Texas, resulting in fewer trips at the gas station.
How can I keep my transmission safe when towing?
You will need to install a towing kit if the car you are towing has an automatic transmission. Installing a transmission fluid temperature warning that will alert you if your transmission or coolant becomes too hot is another option for automatic transmission towing.
With a tow dolly, is the steering wheel locked?
The steering wheel of the towing vehicle needs to be secured. The steering wheel must be fastened down firmly if the vehicle does not have a locking steering column.
Which vehicle is the simplest to tow behind a motorhome?
Towing behind our camper is easy and convenient with our Honda CR-V.
We have to start with the Honda CR-V because, well, we’ve been towing the exact same one behind our RV for almost 20 years, and it’s been the ideal tow vehicle for us. We still adore the brand-new RV that we purchased particularly to travel in an RV full-time.
How Great They Are: This midsize SUV provides reasonable space (for passengers and/or cargo), comfort, good fuel economy, and simple agility on city streets or over more difficult terrain. It works well for day excursions and running errands. Depending on the year and drivetrain, the Honda CR-V can be flat, dolly, or trailer towed. All-wheel-drive models must be flat towed or trailer towed, whereas front-wheel-drive models can use all three options. Be sure to check tow guides and the owner’s manual for the particular model year to be sure.
They are useful, practically indestructible, and reasonably priced. Ours has never failed to deliver. Anywhere. Ever. Never once. You’d be shocked… or frightened… at some of the places we’ve taken ours! And when fitted with all-wheel-drive, are a remarkably capable all-weather and off-road vehicle, though they undoubtedly have their limitations.
ONE MASSIVE, DARK CAVEAT
Be warned that Honda CR-Vs manufactured after the 2014 model year are NOT flat-towable owing to changes made to the powertrain (Continuously Variable Transmissions). Come on Honda, we’d love to get a new CR-V as our toad, but we can’t get behind something that can’t be flat-towed. Even so, if you can find a decent pre-2015 model or don’t intend to flat tow, a CR-V can be the perfect vehicle for you.
Can you go backwards while flat towing?
When repositioning a motor home, such as when pulling into gas stations, can you use reverse or do you also need to unhook the towing vehicle?
Expert Reaction:
You are completely unable to reverse the configuration when flat towing a vehicle. Prior to reversing the motorhome, you would have to disengage the tow vehicle and have it go backwards on its own. The tow bar and vehicle would likely be damaged if you tried to do this.
Do tow dollies harm automobiles?
How safe is a car tow dolly? is a frequently asked question by customers that we’d like to answer before going into our tow dolly safety tips.
We want to put your mind at ease once and for all by stating categorically that tow dollies are a perfectly secure and safe technique of transporting vehicles. In actuality, compared to conventional flat-towing, automobile tow dollies are a more secure mode of transportation. Your automobile will be shielded from highway damage by a tow dolly, but it isn’t their only benefit. Driving a tow dolly is considerably safer and more pleasurable thanks to additional security features like safety chains, tire straps, and our very own galvanized disc brakes.
The tow dollies we manufacture at Car Tow Dolly are 100% secure and simple to assemble, load, and operate. Our tow dolly is the best of its kind thanks to features like galvanized disc brakes, wheel restraints, and reinforced safety chains.