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Old 08-10-2017, 09:49 AM   #1
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New RAV4 coming / tow vehicle

This just arrived in my email from Toyota.
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Old 08-10-2017, 10:14 AM   #2
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is it a V6
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Old 08-10-2017, 10:20 AM   #3
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I see a new car in the Baglo household future....
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Old 08-10-2017, 10:25 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jxoco View Post
is it a V6
I know nothing, other than what you see.
I would expect that it is a V6 to achieve the tow rating.
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Old 08-10-2017, 10:38 AM   #5
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It's gotten our attention. I just hope they don't add standard third row seating like almost every other SUV has. Anything with third row seating should be classified as a station wagon - not an SUV - IMHO.
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Old 08-10-2017, 10:43 AM   #6
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I'm in. Can't wait to see it.
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Old 08-10-2017, 10:46 AM   #7
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Apparently it's called the "RAV4 Adventure" in the US, and the "RAV4 Trail" in Canada. From the Toyota US website:

RAV4 Adventure
The active lifestyle-inspired RAV4 Adventure will be available in front-wheel drive with an Automatic Limited-Slip Differential, or with Dynamic Torque Control all-wheel-drive. Both versions feature a standard Tow Prep Package that includes an upgraded radiator and supplemental engine oil and transmission fluid coolers, as well as a suspension system with a higher ride height. As with all RAV4 models, the Adventure grade will come standard with Trailer Sway Control (TSC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), and TSS-P. Exterior styling features exclusive to the RAV4 Adventure includes:
Large overfender flares
18-inch five-spoke black alloy wheels with 235/55R18 tires
Lower body guards
Black headlight bezels
Black fog lamp surround, roof racks and Adventure badging
The RAV4 Adventure will be available in five exterior colors including Black, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Silver Sky Metallic, Super White, and one new color for RAV4 models, Ruby Flare Pearl.

The sporty exterior features of the RAV4 Adventure are mated to exclusive interior features that include:
Unique interior trim panels
Leather-wrapped shift knob
120V/100W power outlet in the cargo area
Adventure door sill protectors
All-weather mats floor and cargo mats with Adventure logo
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Old 08-10-2017, 10:50 AM   #8
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Apparently, it doesn't have an engine.
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Old 08-10-2017, 10:51 AM   #9
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Apparently, it doesn't have an engine.
Yeah, I noticed that. I'd assume it's a V6, for the reason you mentioned. But, Car and Driver as well as some other sites state that it will be the same 4 cylinder:

"Although powered by the same 176-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder found in today’s non-hybrid RAV4 models, the RAV4 Adventure’s Tow Prep package brings an upgraded radiator, an engine oil cooler, and a transmission cooler. So equipped, the RAV4 Adventure is rated to tow up to 3500 pounds when equipped with all-wheel drive, or more than double the standard RAV4’s 1500-pound figure."

So you need both the Adventure/Trail trim level, and the AWD option apparently to achieve the 3500 lb tow rating.
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Old 08-10-2017, 10:53 AM   #10
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The alloy wheels and floor mats look nice !
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Old 08-10-2017, 02:21 PM   #11
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Too bad the new 17's require 4000lb tow capacity.
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Old 08-10-2017, 02:31 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by yardsale View Post
Too bad the new 17's require 4000lb tow capacity.
What's your source for that info? Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is not the determinant!
E17 Specifications from ETI's site, as of today (8/10/17):
Approx. Total dry weight 1970 lbs (Plan A)
2170 lbs (Plan B)

Add 800-1000 lbs. for water, propane, gear, food, etc., and you're still comfortably under the 3500 lb. rating.
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Old 08-10-2017, 02:46 PM   #13
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What's your source for that info? Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is not the determinant! E17 Specifications from ETI's site, as of today (8/10/17): Approx. Total dry weight 1970 lbs (Plan A), 2170 lbs (Plan B) . Add 800-1000 lbs. for water, propane, gear, food, etc., and you're still comfortably under the 3500 lb. rating.
Which is what the current ETI website recommends, V6 with 3,500 towing capacity. It seems a V6 RAV4 3,500 lb towing would be a good match for general towing (ie., not continuous alpine) of a new generation 17', IMO.
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Old 08-10-2017, 04:36 PM   #14
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The V6 part is irrelevant really. A 4 cylinder with around 175 hp can pull a 17. The relevant spec is the towing capacity, and provided you watch the weight on a 17, it should be within that. And as always, another one to watch out for is the payload capacity of the tow.
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Old 08-10-2017, 04:48 PM   #15
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I don't consider a vehicle safe if you can't get up to the speed of traffic to merge.
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Old 08-10-2017, 05:54 PM   #16
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I don't consider a vehicle safe if you can't get up to the speed of traffic to merge.
+1.

We towed our 17' Casita - i'm guessing roughly the same weight as a 17' escape - with our 300 hp, 273 lbs torque engine. 5000 towing capacity, 500 hitch, so plenty.

We had plenty of power to be safe, but i personally would not want to decide to but a new tug that just got me *just enough* power to get by.

if i was shopping for a new tug, and a new trailer, i'd want to have more than plenty, if i had that choice.



just my 2c.

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Old 08-10-2017, 05:55 PM   #17
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Thanks for the news! I don't get e-mail from Toyota, and had not heard of this package.

Robert has pinned down the important part: the variance in towing capacity of RAV4 variants was never about engine size or power, it was simply what engine and transmission came with sufficient cooling capacity for the sustained higher power load of towing.

While adequate performance to keep up with traffic is important, big rigs are horrendously underpowered compared to our rigs (in power per unit weight), so anything rated (as per SAE J2807) to tow an Escape will not be the slowest rig on the road. Even a 400-horsepower big diesel pickup doesn't have all that much power compared to a 176-hp RAV4, especially if the pickup is towing a 5-ton trailer in addition to its own 4 tons. My V10 motorhome has a bit more than double the RAV4's power, but weighs more than twice what a RAV4 plus Escape 17 weigh... and its performance is fine. It's all about proportionality.

While the fringes of auto designs continue to ever more ridiculous levels of power, the larger current trend in the auto industry is to fewer cylinders. Volvo has gone to 4-cylinders across the board (abandoning the six-cylinders which were common there), Mercedes has a new series of inline six-cylinders to replace the lower-power end of their V8 range, BMW changed from four cylinders to three for their smaller models (such as the Mini line and 1-series), Ford promotes V6 F-150's and 4-cylinder Mustangs on their performance. A lower cylinder count helps efficiency, and is made possible by improved technology and more use of turbocharging.

I would be surprised to see a six-cylinder engine in any variant of the RAV4 in the foreseeable future. The Lexus version of the RAV4 is the NX; the turbocharged 2.0 L 4-cylinder available in the NX seems like a more likely higher-power option, if anything is offered.
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Old 08-10-2017, 06:46 PM   #18
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Well, I'm at 95,600 kilometers ( 59,400 miles ), with a fresh wax job, so it's gonna take a lot more than fender flares and a leather wrapped shift knob to get me into the showroom.
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Old 08-10-2017, 07:01 PM   #19
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Well, I'm at 95,600 kilometers ( 59,400 miles ), with a fresh wax job, so it's gonna take a lot more than fender flares and a leather wrapped shift knob to get me into the showroom.
Yep, ur still 200,000 miles away from needing to look.
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Old 08-10-2017, 10:13 PM   #20
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Rav4 Towing

My 2008 Rav4 Limited with the V6 pulls 3500 lbs. What's old is new again. Sounds like they want to try it with a 4 banger. Good luck.
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