BenK wrote:


If I take the 7,400 + 10,000 MTWR = 17,400. Which is way more than the 16,000
GCWR. Then if I do load up to the 8,600 GVWR + 10,000 = 18,600...even more than
the 16,000 GCWR.

skipnchar wrote:

Apparently Toyota is "moving forward" again and has changed the means of establishing tow ratings

GBlack wrote:

Actually I'm still trying to find the published GCWR. Believe it or not, I called two different people at Toyota's 1-800 number and nobody could tell me (after checking with "other" people there also). They finally told me to ask my local dealer (which I did and am waiting for a reply). Supposedly Toyota's "Customer Care" department (1-800 number) doesn't talk to their engineers. And GCWR is not on the door sticker, in the manual, or even in the Toyota Towing Guide. The only number I could find was on ToyotaNation internet forum where somebody said the GCWR was 11000 lbs. But since that's an AWD, I reduced my estimate to 10800 lbs since the GVWR of my FWD Highlander is 200 lbs less (5800 lbs) than the AWD Highlander (6000 lbs). I cannot believe that finding a simple GCWR number is so complicated.

Benk wrote:

I'll not tow at my listed MTWR of 10,000 lbs. The real one is my actual TV weight
subtracted from 16,000 lbs. I then must watch the GVWR & rear GAWR, which
includes the trailer tongue weight.

Caddywhompus wrote:

The hard-core weight police have a real hard time accepting vehicles such as the Highlander. They are SO USED to the over-stated, unattainable way their full-size trucks are all rated, that anything which steps away from the same gotchas as they are used too is strange and weird.

Toyota rates the Highlander, the Sienna, the Rav4 and a few other vehicles differently than the norm. As mentioned above, most vehicles (esp full-size trucks) are rated using base-model trucks with only a driver. I won't get into the why of this, it's just fact.

On the other hand, a Toyota Highlander owner gets a little fudge room here, because the smaller vehicles are rated at a towing capacity allowing for a modest amount of people and gear to be included in the vehicle. It's not quite maximum payload, but it's about 1200 pounds which is PLENTY.

So the answer to your question is, according to Toyota, you can pull 5000 pounds EVEN WHILE carrying up to 1200 pounds of people/stuff in the vehicle. It's a really nice cushion, enjoy it.

And for the record, Toyota isn't alone here. While they rate their larger trucks (Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner...etc.) consistant with industry standard using the base model + drive model, the smaller vehicles get a tow rating without the footnote. Other car companies that also do this (off the top of my head) Subaru, Volvo, Saab, M-B, Kia and Hyundai. I know my Subaru is rated to tow 2400 pounds (North America) even while the car is loaded to maximum payload. And my Freestar can pull 3500 pounds with about 1200 pounds of people and gear in the van as well and never exceed a rating.

So knowing this, you would think people would start to see that a vehicle like the Highlander is much more capable than first glance would indicate, but few on these forums actually know the facts, and are so used to vomiting out the same old rules of thumb that they don't notice something like this. The assume because their 1/2 ton SUV have all these caveats attached to it's tow rating, that every other vehicle on the road is so handicapped.

The new Highlander should be an impressive tow vehicle, the platform-sharing Sienna sure is.

GBlack wrote:

I thought I had this stuff figured out, but now I'm wondering. I read somewhere I can compute my ACTUAL towing capacity (rather than stated tow capacity) by subtracting the loaded tow vehicle weight from GCWR. My 2009 Highlander has a stated tow capacity of 5000 lbs and GCWR of 10800 lbs. It weighs 4600 lbs loaded. So does that mean my ACTUAL towing capacity is 10800 - 4600 = 6200 lbs, which is 1200 lbs more than the stated tow capacity? I realize I also need to meet the tongue weight limit and GAWR & GVWR limits of the tow vehicle and trailer. But assuming I do, is my real tow capacity 6200 lbs? Don't get me wrong, I don't even plan to tow a full 5000 lbs, but am just wondering how much REAL "reserve" tow capacity I'll have.