RAV4 Prime Towing

[CathyAndDon]

Anyone towing a 15' Escape or similar lighter trailer with a RAV4 Prime?

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by CathyAndDon

Anyone towing a 15' Escape or similar lighter trailer with a RAV4 Prime?

With an 1,134 kg (2,500 lb) towing capacity, even a 15' Escape could be too much.

[CathyAndDon]

Thanks Brian. I've weighed the 15A a couple times on different scales with most of our camp gear. 1760lbs and 1920 lbs. Tongue weight 180 and 190 lbs. We've been pulling it with a 2012 Outback (tow capacity 2700 lbs) but Outback tongue load is 200 lbs max. The Rav4Prime has tongue load of 250 lbs max so that combined with the extra HP and newer safety features seems like it could be a safer replacement for the 10 year old Subie.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by CathyAndDon

I've weighed the 15A a couple times on different scales with most of our camp gear. 1760lbs and 1920 lbs. Tongue weight 180 and 190 lbs.

That's lighter than I would have guessed - there probably isn't much gear in that. Now, check to ensure that the total combination of the SUV with passengers and cargo plus the trailer doesn't exceed the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) for the SUV... which is 8030 pounds according to the owner's manual. You may not be able to tow the maximum rated trailer weight while also carrying passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle, without exceeding GCWR... but with a curb weight of about 4300 pounds, trailer at about 2000 pounds, and GCWR over 8000 pounds, that leaves lots for passengers and cargo.

Originally Posted by CathyAndDon

We've been pulling it with a 2012 Outback (tow capacity 2700 lbs) but Outback tongue load is 200 lbs max. The Rav4Prime has tongue load of 250 lbs max so that combined with the extra HP and newer safety features seems like it could be a safer replacement for the 10 year old Subie.

Probably true.

[CathyAndDon]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

That's lighter than I would have guessed - there probably isn't much gear in that. Now, check to ensure that the total combination of the SUV with passengers and cargo plus the trailer doesn't exceed the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) for the SUV... which is 8030 pounds according to the owner's manual. You may not be able to tow the maximum rated trailer weight while also carrying passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle, without exceeding GCWR... but with a curb weight of about 4300 pounds, trailer at about 2000 pounds, and GCWR over 8000 pounds, that leaves lots for passengers and cargo.


Probably true.

Thanks! I think we're fine on the gross weight--2 0f us combined weigh 260 lbs. ANd we never tow with water in tank.
It took 4 months on a waiting list but finally purchased a Rav4 Prime (R4P). We just did 1200 mile round trip into Alberta and BC. Averaged 20 mpg towing the 15' with head winds and AC blasting at 65-70 mph. R4P gets 38 mpg w/o towing and Plug-In gives us 40 miles all electric before the internal combustion hybrid engine kicks in.

[Bobbie54]

I towed a lighter 15A- (no water tanks, no sink) with a 2012 Forester. Towing capacity 2400. No problem towing but I had to keep the tongue weight light and make sure I wasn't overloading the trailer- but not too light or I'd get sway. I weighed it just once at 2000 lbs. I carried about 220 on the tongue (supposed to be 200) that time. It's do-able but mine was a manual transmission which gave me a lot more pep on hills than some vehicles. Don't know about the new Rav4s. The V6 would have worked fine. I eventually got tired of calculating weights and carefully checking the tongue weight. If the Rav4 allows for 12-15% on the tongue it might be better. Doesn't the Rav4 Adventure allow 3500 lbs?

[Sean2a]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

. Doesn't the Rav4 Adventure allow 3500 lbs?

I believe yes the adventure does allow 3500 lb but I don’t think there’s any hybrid adventures and since these folks have a Prime aka, plug in hybrid, I’m guessing that’s pretty important to them