PopUpTom
West Tennessee
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Joined: 08/27/2005
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The tow package on the V6 Highlander increases the tow limit to 3500lb (from 2000lb if I recall correctly). To find out if you have the tow package, a clue is the blue trailer harness module. It's located near the spare tire, at about 11 o'clock when looking from the back bumper. If you don't have one, you likely don't have the upgraded alternator, radiator, and secondary transmission oil cooler which is all part of the package.
As far as a woman handling one alone, an 8', 9' or 10' box should be fine. I think the Sedona mentioned above is a 9'box, and is a good choice for a small family. I have a 12' box, and I know my wife wouldn't like to handle it by herself.
2001 V6 Highlander, 2002 Coleman Sun Valley, Single Bar WD, Tranny Temp Gage, Prodigy Brake Control
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4runnerguy
Glenwood Springs, CO
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Joined: 03/10/2003
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It seems everyone is referencing a 6 cylinder vehicle, but I've reread your post several times and you state that it is a 4 cylinder model. According to several sources on the internet (if you can believe them!  ) max towing capacity with the optional towing package is 3000# (I believe it's 1500# w/o the tow package). But your biggest drawback is the 160 HP rating of the 4 cylinder engine. We had an early '90s Toy Pickup that had the 150 HP, 180 ft-lb V6 and towed a Coleman Chesapeake with a dry weight right around 1500#. Loaded, it was around 2000#. It was a nice combination, but I wouldn't have wanted to pull anything much bigger power-wise. And it was just two of us in a lighter vehicle.
So you need to find out if your Highlander has a tow package or not. A Toyota factory tow package might typically includes an upgraded radiator, transmission oil cooler, and a larger alternator. The radiator and transmission cooler are important options needed to protect your vehicle if you're going to tow.
With a tow package, you can look at some of the smaller, lighter models offered by the various manufacturers. Some models with an 8' or 10' box have dry weights around 1500# to 1800#. I'd look into those.
Ken & Allison
2 Camping Cats (1 diabetic)
1996 4Runner, TRD Supercharger, Edelbrock headers
2007 Fleetwood Arcadia, Honda EU2000i
4 mountain bikes, 1 canoe, 4 tents, 8 sleeping bags, 2 backpacks
(You get the idea!)
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SuzieQ92
Alabama
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Joined: 09/20/2006
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Ken,
After my original post, I corrected myself and said that we have a 6 cylinder - not 4. We don't have a tow package, so I am not sure how much we could pull even with a 6. I am going to check with a local Toyota dealer.
Thanks for your post.
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oakmandan
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Joined: 10/23/2007
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SuzieQ92,
Though your Highlander is rated to pull 3000 plus pounds, I dont recommend it. There are PLENTY of nice Pop-Ups out there that weigh less than 2000 lbs. Not only is it dangerous to pull a rig close to your limit, it's also not good for your Highlander.
Dan
Dan and Janelle
Lily and Sherman the smelly Bassets
2005 Ford Escape XLT, AWD, V-6
1994 Skamper 22C Plan D
Nights camped in 2008 .... 16
Nights camped in 2009 .... 26
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AZJIM1
Phoenix, AZ
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Joined: 02/29/2004
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Check to find out your tow rating on your Highlander first then you will be able to judge what kind of camper you can safely tow. Also beware of the difference between unloaded (empty) weights and loaded weight ratings. A 2000 pound empty trailer might weight 3200 pounds loaded and ready to go camping. Many manufacturers don't include options, water, propane or battery weight in empty weight ratings as well. A full water tank and water heater can add over 200 pounds of weight. Also some trailers have lots of cargo weight capacity and others don't, you might come accross two different trailers with maximum (loaded) weights of 3500 pounds but the dry (unloaded) weights might be very different where one trailer might be able to carry 1400 pounds of cargo and another might only be able to carry 700 pounds.
It seems like the older Highlander V6 models were rated for 3500 pounds and some of the new models can tow up to 5000 pounds.
Like others have mentioned with a 3500 pound tow rating you should be able to tow a lot of different popup trailers. A very rough rule of thumb with a 3500 pound tow rating is virtually any popup up to a 12foot box without a front trunk or slide out should be fine. Weights vary a lot by different manufacturers though so look around.
You may want/need a Weight Distribution Hitch depending on tongue weight, etc. and some popups do not allow them, so yet another thing to check into!
Good Luck!
* This post was
edited 11/22/09 04:18pm by AZJIM1 *
1999 Coleman Westlake that replaced STOLEN!!! 1987 Coleman Sequoia
2006 Honda Odyssey
Me, Wife, Daughter, Son
A Pack (Two) of Australian Shepherds
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4runnerguy
Glenwood Springs, CO
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SuzieQ92 wrote:Ken,
After my original post, I corrected myself and said that we have a 6 cylinder - not 4. We don't have a tow package, so I am not sure how much we could pull even with a 6. I am going to check with a local Toyota dealer.
Thanks for your post. Sorry I missed your second post. The V6 will definitely open up more options. Adding a transmission cooler might be a worthwhile investment if you get a trailer that's closer to the towing capacity of your rig.
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Guest
USA
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Joined: 08/02/2004
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Consider using synthetic oil on that era Highlander. Certain parts of the engine get abnormally hot and synthetic will take the heat better than regular oil without coking, especially with the extra load of towing.
I'd limit pup choices to those with a dry weight of 2,000# max with that TV.
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