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Old 09-05-2017, 09:25 PM   #1
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2017 Highlander XLE

Just ordered our new 2017 Highlander XLE. Has a 5000 lb tow rating. Working on the build sheet for our 19. One step at a time.
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Old 09-05-2017, 09:29 PM   #2
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Picking ours up tomorrow! Dealer was installing the Toyota factory hitch (couldn't find any left with one installed at the factory with the options we wanted) and all the wiring for the brake controller and 7 pin.

You will love it! I'm amazed at how much less tired I am at the end of a long day driving this than I was with the Tacoma. We traded in our 2016 to get the new engine, 8 speed transmission and 11,000# GCWR - (more than 1000# more than our 2016's)
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Old 09-05-2017, 09:45 PM   #3
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Remember we like pictures
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Old 09-05-2017, 10:11 PM   #4
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Congratulations on your choice of an Escape 19 !
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Old 09-05-2017, 10:40 PM   #5
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Picking ours up tomorrow! Dealer was installing the Toyota factory hitch (couldn't find any left with one installed at the factory with the options we wanted) and all the wiring for the brake controller and 7 pin.

You will love it! I'm amazed at how much less tired I am at the end of a long day driving this than I was with the Tacoma. We traded in our 2016 to get the new engine, 8 speed transmission and 11,000# GCWR - (more than 1000# more than our 2016's)
Congratulations! Looks like it also has one of the best features for towing... the ability to manually select any gear! If I didn't need a truck to maintain my property, the Highlander would be my choice instead of my 2016 Tacoma.
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Old 09-06-2017, 01:38 AM   #6
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Wow looks great I miss my. Toyota Highlander the new ones look awesome
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Old 09-06-2017, 08:10 AM   #7
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Congratulations! Looks like it also has one of the best features for towing... the ability to manually select any gear! If I didn't need a truck to maintain my property, the Highlander would be my choice instead of my 2016 Tacoma.
Arnie, we have 27 acres, but I use our little Kubota tractor for everything out on the land, and already had an old heavy duty utility trailer to haul stuff that didn't readily fit into the Tacoma (with the ARE topper on). As we were considering new vehicles I realized I could do most everything I had needed a pickup for with the utility trailer and Highlander. The 2016 we traded had essentially the same manual gear selection and it sure worked well in the mountains of BC when we picked up the 21 this spring and pretty much anytime we are towing.
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Old 09-06-2017, 06:21 PM   #8
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Arnie, we have 27 acres, but I use our little Kubota tractor for everything out on the land, and already had an old heavy duty utility trailer to haul stuff that didn't readily fit into the Tacoma (with the ARE topper on).
Eric, I envy your space. I live on a city lot and have rental property to maintain as well. I only have room for the Tacoma and the Escape in my driveway. If I had room for a utility trailer too, I might very well get the Highlander! Nice looking rig!
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Old 09-06-2017, 06:56 PM   #9
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Hi Eric
She's the modern combination, she's the badger cannonball. Can't wait to see it in person. I'm dissapointed in my 2102 Highlander, she starts to wander when I come across a bridge expansion joint if I'm cruising anywhere over 85 miles an hour.
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Old 09-06-2017, 10:01 PM   #10
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Congratulations on your new Highlander !!

We just completed a 3600 mile trip towing our 17B from Chilliwack to Orlando, Fl with our 5 month old AWD V6 Highlander XLE.

It was smooth sailing & this was the first time we towed anything .

I am sure you will like this Vehicle

Best
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Old 09-09-2017, 06:03 PM   #11
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Q. Do the middle seats fold down flat? The 2016 doesn't and I have not seen the 2017 but my sister who has claims they do. It was a deal breaker for me as the bench seat is only available in the lowest trim.
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Old 09-09-2017, 06:12 PM   #12
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Q. Do the middle seats fold down flat? The 2016 doesn't and I have not seen the 2017 but my sister who has claims they do. It was a deal breaker for me as the bench seat is only available in the lowest trim.
Our XLE has 2nd row bench seats that fold flat. They do have the bucket seats as an option. The same was true of our 2016.

The new safety features on the 2017 are quite impressive. We were out today working on getting in the suggested 500 break in miles before towing.
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Old 09-09-2017, 07:07 PM   #13
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Our XLE has 2nd row bench seats that fold flat. They do have the bucket seats as an option. The same was true of our 2016.

The new safety features on the 2017 are quite impressive. We were out today working on getting in the suggested 500 break in miles before towing.
Hmm, I read only the lower trims had that option. I'll look again. OK, standard in XLE, not available in SE, which is what I'm looking at. So still need to know if the "captain's chairs" lie flat.
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Old 09-10-2017, 08:38 AM   #14
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Hmm, I read only the lower trims had that option. I'll look again. OK, standard in XLE, not available in SE, which is what I'm looking at. So still need to know if the "captain's chairs" lie flat.
I have not seen it in real life, but my salesman said that the second row bucket seats fold flat, but have a gap between them when folded down. We wanted a flat full surface for storage when camping so the bucket seats were never really something we considered.
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Old 09-10-2017, 08:44 AM   #15
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The is a gap when the second row chairs are folded flat. We specifically made sure our XLE had the second row bench seat
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Old 09-10-2017, 08:48 AM   #16
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... We wanted a flat full surface for storage when camping so the bucket seats were never really something we considered.
Ditto for transporting pets. It's amazing how many SUVs leave big gaps when the rear seats are folded down - just right for snagging/injuring dog limbs. One can always lay down a heavy carpet and such, but that's something better addressed by better car design.
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Old 09-10-2017, 10:23 AM   #17
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The is a gap when the second row chairs are folded flat. We specifically made sure our XLE had the second row bench seat
I remember the gap in the 2016 but it also did not lie flat.
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Old 09-10-2017, 10:25 AM   #18
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Ditto for transporting pets. It's amazing how many SUVs leave big gaps when the rear seats are folded down - just right for snagging/injuring dog limbs. One can always lay down a heavy carpet and such, but that's something better addressed by better car design.
My dogs ride in crates so I can use a piece of plywood to cover a gap, but the floor has to be level- the 2016 bucket seats did not lie flat enough for that.
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Old 09-10-2017, 04:02 PM   #19
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I believe the latest remodel to the Subaru Outback added about a 3" to 4" drop from the folded rear seat backs down to the rear deck. Not sure why they did that, but flat it ain't.
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Old 09-10-2017, 06:12 PM   #20
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I believe the latest remodel to the Subaru Outback added about a 3" to 4" drop from the folded rear seat backs down to the rear deck. Not sure why they did that, but flat it ain't.
My bad.... My wife says it's the Forester that has the uneven rear deck with the back seats folded down. My apology to the Outback....
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