tow vehicle for 21' trailer

[thoer]

As mentioned a couple of times here, we tow our 21 with a 2017 Highlander XLE. I have posted many times about our experiences with the combo, but I long ago lost interest in participating in these discussions where folks who have never towed a 21 with a HIghlander claim expertise on why it won't work, etc. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

Dave and Leon have towed tens of thousands of miles with the combo and are both excellent sources of actual experiential knowledge.

[steve dunham]

While I prefer not to tow my 21 with a Highlander or with most SUVs on the market there is ample evidence that many have done it successfully and without issue .
We all have different experiences and expectations of what we want in a tow vehicle
What is satisfactory for me may be totally unacceptable to others .
I for one am uncomfortable towing at or near my vehicles tow limits but that doesn’t mean my opinion is correct .
Iowa Dave tows his 21 with a Highlander and from my observations ,I seriously doubt Dave would do anything that would endanger himself or others .

Just my opinion

[Mszabokc]

Drive that dodge here in Michigan. And it will be rusted out in 3 years.
How do I know? What do you think my last two truck were.
Love the hemi, hate the rust. Not again!

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Mszabokc

Drive that dodge here in Michigan. And it will be rusted out in 3 years.
How do I know? What do you think my last two truck were.
Love the hemi, hate the rust. Not again!

Is it not the same with any truck, metal and salt do not mix....I remember years ago getting Zeibart lifetime rust proofing on my vehicles, but they seem to have vanished, or rusted away, Zeibart that is!

[marktracie]

Ram 3500 dually deisel.. problems solved !

[Mszabokc]

That’s true Jim, don’t have any rust on my aluminum body yet.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Mszabokc

That’s true Jim, don’t have any rust on my aluminum body yet.

The body is cosmetic, it is the frame that would worry me and all frames are steel.

[marktracie]

But not the same steel as the older trucks.. just pressure wash under the truck when temperatures get above freezing the frame will last for the lifetime of the truck..

[marktracie]

And move to Texas.. no rusted frame here!!

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by marktracie

And move to Texas.. no rusted frame here!!

That seems like a rather drastic solution to the problem

[marktracie]

But the best solution !! Grew up in South Bend Indiana.. Never to return to that frozen mess !!

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by marktracie

But the best solution !! Grew up in South Bend Indiana.. Never to return to that frozen mess !!

I agree , South Bend doesn’t get cold enough in the winter and the snow doesn’t hang around long enough for my liking .

[marktracie]

Glutton for punishment eh!!

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Mszabokc

Drive that dodge here in Michigan. And it will be rusted out in 3 years...

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Is it not the same with any truck, metal and salt do not mix...

There have always been significant differences in corrosion resistance between brands, due to different alloys of steel, different surface treatments, and different levels of production quality.

Originally Posted by Mszabokc

... don’t have any rust on my aluminum body yet.

Metal corrodes, even aluminum; it's only called "rust" when the metal is iron or steel. There have been many aluminum-bodied vehicles, but none of them have been common in North America, and of course both alloys and treatments have changed over the years, so it will be interesting to see how recent vehicles hold up. Even steel-body vehicles now have negligible rust issues for a decade in this area (except for Mercedes Sprinters, which dissolve ). On the other hand, Land Rovers were traditionally built with aluminum bodies on steel frames, and traditionally had corrosion issues.

[Iowa Dave]

I like the concept of running them about 30 thousand miles a year, maintaining the mechanicals and buying a new one at about 6 or 7 years. Car dealers kids need shoes too.
My best luck has been with Hondas, Toyotas and Mercury’s. Hated to see them go, always liked the style. Pulled a 2900 lb fold down over the Beartooth with my 82 Buick. Sold it at 114k. Four years later I saw it in the gas station and the lady said it had been trouble free for 40,000 miles. You never know. Camped in NW Iowa Tonight. Breezy and cool. I like it.
Iowa Dave,

[jeffrow]

It will be interesting how the aluminum body f150 holds up to corrosion. Ford has had quite an issue with the leading edge of mustang hoods corroding and bubbling up the paint. It starts with a chip in the paint.

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by marktracie

But not the same steel as the older trucks.. just pressure wash under the truck when temperatures get above freezing the frame will last for the lifetime of the truck..

Originally Posted by jeffrow

It will be interesting how the aluminum body f150 holds up to corrosion. Ford has had quite an issue with the leading edge of mustang hoods corroding and bubbling up the paint. It starts with a chip in the paint.

In Iowa you’ll hit a deer and get a new hood before the paint chips and the hood gets corroded. I think this road brining in advance of snowfall or ice conditions I’d had on bodies and undercarriages too. I know my mechanic blames it for brake line rust out when he’s asked.
Iowa Dave

[marktracie]

Mechanics blame everything on anything.

[cpaharley2008]

I believe both hoods on my 2016 Mustang GT and 2014 Ram sport are fiberglass to save weight.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I believe both hoods on my 2016 Mustang GT and 2014 Ram sport are fiberglass to save weight.

The hood on your Ram is aluminum
The newer Rams also have aluminum hoods plus some body panels are aluminum (tailgate)
The Ram truck box is steel so it doesn’t dent like Ford’s when you drop a losd of bricks from 20 ft in the air