Sp76

Hi. I'm looking for advice on towing a small travel trailer with my 2010 RX350. I've checked the VIN and it has the tow prep package, so it should tow 3500 lb.

Has anyone here towed a travel trailer with an RX350? We would tow in some mountainous areas with elevation changes of about 6000 ft.

We are looking at several different travel trailers, including Aliner Expedition (1850 lb dry weight, 240 lb hitch weight), R-Pod 176 (2669 lb dry weight, 280 lb hitch weight), and Riverside Retro 166 (2500 lb dry weight, 260 lb hitch weight).

Recommendations for hitch or additional towing equipment welcome, too.

Thanks for any help!

Clutchless

You may learn more by doing some searching as I think this may have been asked before. Also check the www.toyotanation.com 2008-2012 Highlander forum as it is the same mechanicals with a different body.

Sp76

Thank for replying! I'll check that forum, too. Been searching online quite a bit.

Clutchless

I have rented U-Haul 8-foot and 12-foot trailers and towed them with my RX350 (with tow package) after filling them with furniture for a distance of 140 miles over generally flat terrain with no problems. I do not know the weights, but the U-Haul site requires your vehicle information and only shows trailers that are appropriate to tow with your vehicle.

Get the Curt hitch from https://www.etrailer.com/?gclid=Cj0K...MaAt7EEALw_wcB
That is what most of us purchased. Well made and easy to install. You do have to trim a little of the underbody plastic piece, but it is not difficult. You also need the wiring connector, it fits into a 4 pin connector on the left rear of the car, up inside the bumper and you will see it after removing the plastic trim.

There are threads about this if you search.

heshamos

Will this require having an ebrake or your vehicle's brakes should suffice for stopping the trailer?

Cheers

Sp76

I think the trailer would need electric breaks. From what I can figure it's possible to tow an r-pod, just really close to the max weights. Maybe too close for my comfort, not sure.

LS1

My personal opinion I wouldn't tow anything with a uni-body light duty cross over. Thats why I keep my old *** 99 Yukon collecting dust in the garage under the cover on a battery tender lol.

heshamos

I just don't think that towing a small trailer across town with a laundry set that would otherwise cost me over a $100 is an Overkill

Clutchless

I had no problems towing the 12 foot U-Haul trailer (which did not have brakes) 140 miles with it full of furniture and then returning with it empty. Went over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Annapolis with no issues.
I did this a couple of times.
The car drove fine, it just ate more gasoline.
I often towed my kayaks on an old jet ski trailer, but that weighed under 300 pounds loaded. When empty I could lift up the trailer to reposition it.

I used to tow lots of stuff with my old 1995 Explorer (with a tow package) and it had half the horsepower of the RX. Never had any problems. None of the U-haul trailers I ever rented had brakes. Just use common sense and allow more time to stop and remember you are much longer when changing lanes and turning.

cory143

FYI, Per your suggestion I bought the Curt hitch from etrailer.com. I already knew etrailer.com was the website to go to but wasn't sure which of the two hitches to choose from. thanks.

Knguida

Looking for some advice. My wife and I are planning on getting a camper this fall and the only vehicle we can tow with is our 2012 RX 350 with the tow package. Would it be safe to tow a camper that's dry weight is 3,031 lbs.? By looking at all the weight specs it appears to be okay?
Curb Weight = 4,343 lbs.
GVWR = 5,650 lbs.
GCWR = 9,150 lbs.
Towing Capacity = 3,500 lbs.

So if you take the curb weight + trailer weight it equals 7,374 lbs. that leaves us 1,776 lbs. under the GCWR. Does that mean we have 1,776 lbs. to add ourselves and cargo to both the vehicle and trailer?

tom93r1

Remember to include the weight of gasoline in your tank and water in the trailer as well, so many little things to add up. I personally feel that a trailer that size is pushing it at least as far as weight ratings go. Remember that even if the car can tow it, if you get in any kind of accident and you're over-weighted that can lead to lawsuits against you even if it's not your fault (somebody pulls in front of you then claims if you weren't over-weighted you could have stopped in time etc.).