Anyone towing a 17B with a hybrid Toyota Highlander?

[mkem]

Hi all,
We are first time RV buyers and thinking of the Escape 17B for our family of four.
We would prefer not to upgrade our vehicle but our hybrid highlander with tow package has a towing capacity of only 3500lbs.
Is that cutting it too close?
Thanks so much,
Marta

 

[gbaglo]

I'm towing my 17B with a 2008 RAV4 V6 with tow prep.
Rated 3,500 tow / 350 tongue.
I slow to 85 kph approaching the Coquihalla summit, but I use the available revs.

 

[rbryan4]

You can keep a 17B under 3500 lbs, provided you pack sensibly, and depending on your options, water tank, etc. Your GCWR (Toyota doesn't like to list that spec) is probably the GVWR plus the towing capacity, or 9760 lbs.

You will probably have around 500-550 lbs of payload capacity in your Highlander left over after accounting for all passengers. That's doable, again provided that you pack sensibly.

Can it do it? Based on the numbers I would say yes.

But I'm in the camp that likes more of a margin, and that has the power needed to easily pass on a grade, etc.

 

[Brian B-P]

You can keep a 17B under 3500 lbs, provided you pack sensibly, and depending on your options, water tank, etc. Your GCWR (Toyota doesn't like to list that spec) is probably the GVWR plus the towing capacity, or 9760 lbs.

In the era when our Sienna was built, Toyota clearly showed the GCWR in the owner's manual. They went through a dark period of lacking information, but now the 2017 Highlander Hybrid manual says that the GCWR is 9760 pounds.

 

[rbryan4]

They went through a dark period of lacking information, but now the 2017 Highlander Hybrid manual says that the GCWR is 9760 pounds.

Well there you go. GVWR plus towing capacity, just as I thought.

 

[mkem]

Thanks all. Definitely have to rethink this. It looks like 17B with the bunks might be a good choice. Will be looking at Trillium outback too.
thanks again for the quick replies and helpful info!
Marta

 

[gbaglo]

You might best do a search on Trillium Outback on the FGRV Forum.

 

[Brian B-P]

Definitely have to rethink this. It looks like 17B with the bunks might be a good choice. Will be looking at Trillium outback too.

The Escape design started with a variant of the original Trillium, so they're very similar... although there are important construction differences. If you're interested in smaller models, Escape made both 13-foot (the size of the original smallest Trillium and the current Outback) and 15-foot (the size of the larger Trillium 4500). Since these smaller Escapes are no longer produced, you would need to be willing to buy used... and they're hard to find.

If considering an Outback, you presumably understand that it is basically the same design but from an entirely different manufacturer than the various incarnations of Trillium RV, which is now gone (again).

Personally, I don't see much benefit in going smaller than the Escape 17 with that tow vehicle and for a family of four, but that's an individual call. The trailer weight difference between each size step isn't huge, and the smaller trailers have just as much aerodynamic drag. Restraint in equipment choices (avoiding heavier options and cargo) seems wise.