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12-13-2017, 11:32 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Flowery Branch, Georgia
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21'
Posts: 27
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Highlander and Escape
I am planning on replacing my Lil Snoozy with an Escape (have not decided on size yet).
I also plan to buy a Toyota Highlander as the TV.
Will I need a weight distribution hitch or sway bars?
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12-13-2017, 11:43 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Kamloops, British Columbia
Trailer: 2024 Bigfoot 21RB
Posts: 254
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We have a 2013 Escape 19 and tow it with a 2011 Highlander and use an antisway/weight distribution hitch. I have towed a boat of similar weight without a WDH with the Highlander and it tows better with one (greater sense of control, less rear sag on vehicle, less cross wind effect). I would get one for an Escape 17 or larger when towing with this vehicle.
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12-13-2017, 11:55 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Placerville, California
Trailer: 2018 Escape 17A double dinette
Posts: 1,520
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Are you planning on v6?
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12-13-2017, 12:01 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
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A properly equipped Highlander is rated to tow 5000 lbs.
I see no reason why a Highlander would not be a suitable tow vehicle for an Escape 15 or an Escape 17B.
I believe several members of this forum tow with a Highlander
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12-13-2017, 12:01 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Trailer: 2016/ 5TA Spirit Bear
Posts: 322
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Would strongly recommend a V6!
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12-13-2017, 12:09 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Upstate, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19 - June 27, 2017
Posts: 279
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gharper
We have a 2013 Escape 19 and tow it with a 2011 Highlander and use an antisway/weight distribution hitch. I have towed a boat of similar weight without a WDH with the Highlander and it tows better with one (greater sense of control, less rear sag on vehicle, less cross wind effect). I would get one for an Escape 17 or larger when towing with this vehicle.
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Have 2017 Escape 19 and 2012 Highlander with tow prep package to give us 5,000# capacity. We use a Fastway E2 Trunnion WDH and our experience was that it towed great - a definite sense of control and solid feel.
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12-13-2017, 12:12 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Flowery Branch, Georgia
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21'
Posts: 27
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Yes, I plan to get the V6, AWD - tow rating of 5000 lbs
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12-13-2017, 12:13 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Placerville, California
Trailer: 2018 Escape 17A double dinette
Posts: 1,520
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If you are not buying new check on tow capacity. Earlier years it was 3500 now 5000.
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12-13-2017, 12:14 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Upstate, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19 - June 27, 2017
Posts: 279
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ripple
Yes, I plan to get the V6, AWD - tow rating of 5000 lbs
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You will be all set for everything Escape but the 5.0 TA.
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12-13-2017, 01:22 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,234
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We tow our 2017 Escape 21 with a 2017 Highlander XLE and are very happy with the combination. The Highlander is the most comfortable long distance driving vehicle I have ever owned and even in the mountains of BC, towing performance was excellently for us.
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)
"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
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12-13-2017, 04:15 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 -- The Skylark. Towed by a 2014 Highlander
Posts: 1,159
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We are like Eric and Mary -- Happily towing our 21 with a 2014 Highlander XLE. In the current generation Highlander, you need to get the XLE or Limited trim level to get the towing capacity. Also (Eric please correct me if I am wrong here), the 2018 Highlanders and above have an extra 25 HP and a few more feet of torque. So if you are considering used, take that into mind. I haven't ever felt the need for more torque or HP, but I know Eric is a bit happier with them. My last piece of advice is to get the AWD model rather than just front wheel drive. Usually it isn't a big deal, but we often take the trailer out in February when the ground is a bit slippery in the storage yard where we keep our trailer. We have always made it out with only a bit of work, but if I had to do it over again, I would definitely get the AWD model. It hasn't been a problem elsewhere.
Hope that helps.
__________________
Camping: Where you spend a small fortune to live like a homeless person.
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12-13-2017, 05:01 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fremont, California
Trailer: 2016 21/ '16 Tundra 4.6L Dbl. Cab
Posts: 1,562
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Eric and Leon, Thank-You for the frank and honest assessment of your towing experiences using a Highlander and Escape 21 combination.
__________________
Steve and Debbie
2016 - 21'
“Get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down” -Indigo Girls
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12-13-2017, 05:23 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,234
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Only change I would make to Leon's is that the new engine with extra HP started in 2017. Two other big changes to the 2017 were the new 8 speed transmission and raising the GCWR to 11,000#. That's how they sucked my into trading in my 2016 on a 2017.....
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)
"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
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12-13-2017, 05:33 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Trailer: 2016/ 5TA Spirit Bear
Posts: 322
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Toyota Highlander is a great vehicle. You might also want to look at 4 Runner
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12-13-2017, 05:36 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
Posts: 743
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The toyota.ca site shows wiring for a 4-pin trailer harness as an option, but doesn't talk about a 7-pin harness at all. Has anybody gotten a 7-pin harness and brake-controller wiring installed by a Toyota dealer?
(I haven't been impressed by the work our local after-market trailer shop has done for me, so if I end up with a new tow vehicle I'm looking to have the dealer install the towing gear...)
__________________
Doug
2013 Escape 19 ("The Dog House") , 2018 Ford F150
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12-13-2017, 05:40 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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I didn't go with Toyota hitch receiver so my Toyota dealer brought in an after-market installer to do hitch receiver and wire 7-pin and brake controller, so I suppose it would depend who they brought in.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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12-13-2017, 05:54 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Galesville, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2017 21 "Blue II" & 2017 Highlander XLE (previously 2010 17B "Blue" & 2008 Tacoma)
Posts: 4,234
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbailey
The toyota.ca site shows wiring for a 4-pin trailer harness as an option, but doesn't talk about a 7-pin harness at all. Has anybody gotten a 7-pin harness and brake-controller wiring installed by a Toyota dealer?
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My dealer did the install of the wiring, 7 pin and brake controller. I negotiated the price as part of my trade in deal. I did the same with our 2016. This time they also did the factory hitch install for the same price as getting it done from the factory as none of the ones they could find had it installed already. The service dept wasn't overly happy with the prices I negotiated, but they did a great job.
__________________
Eric (and Mary who is in no way responsible for anything stupid I post)
"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance." George Bernard Shaw
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12-13-2017, 06:16 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Trailer: 2016/ 5TA Spirit Bear
Posts: 322
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My 2006 4 Runner came standard from the factory with a 7 pin adapter and a converter for a standard 4 pin adapter. Brake controller was optional. Works well when towing small utility trailers.
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12-13-2017, 06:22 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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I don't know what the current situation is with Toyota and Highlander, but when I got my RAV4, Toyota only offered a Class 2 hitch receiver.
I would ask if the factory hitch receiver is a Class 3 for Weight Distribution and if not, specify that.
Also note, the factory hitch was a $900 option. I paid $650 for a better hitch, with 7-pin and brake controller wiring included ( and I specified #10 wire ).
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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12-13-2017, 06:41 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Redwood City, California
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19
Posts: 286
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We use a 2015 Highlander V6 AWD XLE with a WDH and sway bar to tow a newer 19' and it works very well so far (~1K miles).
Going with the V6 and the XLE trim or higher is important to get the towing prep package, which raises capacity from 3500Lbs to 5000Lbs. I don't think this can really be added after-market easily.
The AWD supposedly has stiffer suspension in the rear, which probably helps slightly with stability but not a big difference
The WDH and sway bar are helpful overkill, but not necessarily required
I went with the Toyota hitch. It's a bit more expensive, but because of the way it sort of goes through part of the bumper rather than under it sacrifices a bit less ground clearance. Turned out to be a good thing, since with the WDH the clearance can be a problem.
The Highlander is pre-wired for a 4-pin connector, so you just need a little harness for the last few feet. You'll still need to have someone add wiring for a brake controller and charging plus the 7-pin socket.
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