Can a Toyota Highlander 2wd tow a 17B without a weight distribution hitch? - Escape Trailer Owners Community
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Old 09-26-2016, 07:34 PM   #1
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Question Can a Toyota Highlander 2wd tow a 17B without a weight distribution hitch?

If a Toyota Highlander can tow a 17B without a wdh, are there any other concerns?
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Old 09-26-2016, 07:40 PM   #2
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All you can do is try it. My RAV4 can tow mine without WDH, but with WDH is more comfortable and secure feeling.
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Old 09-26-2016, 07:48 PM   #3
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If a Toyota Highlander can tow a 17B without a wdh, are there any other concerns?
We have a 2011 Honda Pilot 2WD (very similar to the Highlander), and tow a 2015 17A with no problem, without a WDH. On the 17's the trailer axle is 12 feet from the coupler, so the trailer is extremely stable. On the way from ETI with our new trailer, I experimented with trying to induce sway, and also watched the trailer in the mirror when semi's passed us going the other way on the two-lane road. No sway or movement was detected. Again, I find the 17 a very, very stable tow.
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Old 09-26-2016, 08:20 PM   #4
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If a Toyota Highlander can tow a 17B without a wdh, are there any other concerns?
The Highlanders have evolved greatly over the years. Newer ones are very capable. Which year are you considering?
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Old 09-26-2016, 09:52 PM   #5
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Thanks Glenn. I'm weary of wrestling with it. Even though it is good exercise to hook and un-hook it.
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Old 09-26-2016, 09:53 PM   #6
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The Highlanders have evolved greatly over the years. Newer ones are very capable. Which year are you considering?
2017 as they will have sonar for parking...which I have on my Sienna and it has sved my bacon more than once.
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Old 09-26-2016, 10:08 PM   #7
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Have to say, my buddy bought a Highlander recently and he is still using his WDH with his 19. I think it's just a more comfortable ride.
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Old 09-26-2016, 10:41 PM   #8
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2017 as they will have sonar for parking...which I have on my Sienna and it has sved my bacon more than once.
Can hardly believe that they did not put sonar on a Highlander all of this time. We have it on our 2011 4Runner. Can't do without it now. I never turn it off. It can beep with the ball mount on because, if you turn it off then, you will likely forget to turn it back on.
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Old 09-27-2016, 12:09 AM   #9
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Even within the current model year, there is a choice of powertrains (engines and transmissions):
  • The 2.7L four-cylinder has a towing capacity of only 1500 pounds, so is not suitable for any Escape. This isn't a concern in Canada - we don't get the 4-cylinder Highlander here.
  • The hybrid (with 3.5L six-cylinder) has a towing capacity of 3500 pounds, so it may be suitable for a 17' Escape, depending on how much in-vehicle passenger and cargo load can be combined with the trailer; however, there is no 2WD hybrid Highlander (they're all 4WD).
  • The 3.5L six-cylinder (non-hybrid version) has a towing capacity of 5000 pounds, so it can certainly handle a 17' Escape... even in the 2WD (which is front-wheel-drive) version.
It looks like the rear parking assist sonar only comes on the Limited trim level. In the U.S. that is available with 2WD, but in Canada a Limited is AWD only.

The distance from the Highlander's rear axle to the towing ball is probably roughly 40% of the wheelbase. The tongue weight of a loaded-to-the-max Escape 17' (4000 pounds total, including about 1800 pounds of options, water, propane, and your stuff) with 12% tongue weight (higher than necessary, but the same ratio as a typical empty Escape) would be about 480 pounds. That is within the vehicle's hitch weight rating, and would reduce front axle load by about 190 pounds... about 8% of the empty Highlander's front axle load. Is that enough to need WD? I don't think so.
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Old 09-27-2016, 08:28 AM   #10
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Brian hits on an important point for those who commonly ask if they "need" a WDH. The purpose of a weight distribution hitches is just that -- to distribute weight, from the rear to the front of the tow vehicle. If the rear axle load of your setup will far exceed the front axle load, a WDH is "needed". The fact that you sometimes get a better ride or less sway depending on the setup is a secondary benefit. We don't "need" a WDH with our 19 and our pickup, but we like the feel when using it vs not.

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Old 09-28-2016, 03:58 AM   #11
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The rule of thumb is if the trailer is more than 50% of the weight of the vehicle, you should have one.
I would suggest you may enjoy your towing experience way more if you have one. I have a Tacoma and had one to tow my 14' Tent Trailer and it was night and day. I am considering buying one to tow my 17B.
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Old 09-28-2016, 07:00 AM   #12
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Good luck on your trip home, nice running into you yesterday at Escape Trailers.
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Old 09-28-2016, 08:36 AM   #13
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Can hardly believe that they did not put sonar on a Highlander all of this time. We have it on our 2011 4Runner. Can't do without it now. I never turn it off. It can beep with the ball mount on because, if you turn it off then, you will likely forget to turn it back on.
Cathy, I don't know about Toyota, but when we turn OFF the sonar on our Explorer, it stays off only until we turn off the engine. When we restart the engine, the sonar has defaulted back to ON. For me, the silent backing with the trailer is much less nerve wracking.........
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Old 09-28-2016, 03:24 PM   #14
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Cathy, I don't know about Toyota, but when we turn OFF the sonar on our Explorer, it stays off only until we turn off the engine. When we restart the engine, the sonar has defaulted back to ON. For me, the silent backing with the trailer is much less nerve wracking.........
I just checked ours and it does not default to "on." 2011 4Runner

By the way, the sonar on ours will let you know when you have the ball under the coupler. Some find that a good feature. Does not necessarily means that it is exactly in the place needed though.
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Old 09-28-2016, 06:05 PM   #15
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That camera view of the ball and coupler is great. Makes hitching up a snap!
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Old 09-29-2016, 04:45 PM   #16
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The rule of thumb is if the trailer is more than 50% of the weight of the vehicle, you should have one.
What is the origin of this rule of thumb? I've never heard of it before, and it doesn't make sense to me.
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Old 09-29-2016, 05:20 PM   #17
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What is the origin of this rule of thumb? I've never heard of it before, and it doesn't make sense to me.
I used a WDH to tow my 14' tent trailer behind my Tacoma. It was a 2004 Fleetwood Redwood at 3300lbs. When I purchased my 2007 17b, I started reading up on the WDH hitches to decide if I should add one. The 17b was really bouncy when I first picked it up. After loading up for a trip and strategically placing the gear, I decided against the WDH. The Tacoma is known for its soft rear suspension.

As far a the rule of thumb, I read that a couple of times of the square box trailer forums, maybe the Forest River forum. They really do make a difference, and if you know the trick to setting them up, there no hassle.
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Old 10-01-2016, 12:21 PM   #18
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As far a the rule of thumb, I read that a couple of times of the square box trailer forums, maybe the Forest River forum.
Thanks Doug. I would think that with the typical travel trailer lineup, that rule would mean that every tow vehicle other than a full-sized pickup would need to use WD, which is one reason that it doesn't make sense to me.
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