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Use 2008 Toyota Highlander to Tow a Fiberglass Boat?
On Aug 8, 12:25*pm, "
wrote: On Aug 4, 4:05*pm, " wrote: I need to buy a new car to replace my PathFinder (it is too old). I am considering many difference choices. The top one on my short list is 2008 Toyota Highlander. This new model can tow 5,000 pounds. More importantly it has great fuel efficiency (17 City / 24 Hwy). However, according to the owner manual PDF file available online, this car should only drive no more than 45 MPH if it is towing thing. The owner manual doesn't say if it is applicable to a certain towing weight or above. Seem like it is across the board regardless how much towing weight involved. This makes me worry because 45 MPH is too slow a driving speed on a highway. I am hoping to be at least 50 or 55 MPH. I believe this restriction may have something to do with avoiding swaying. According to the owner manual of my old PathFinder, it recommends to use "sway control device" if I use it to tow anything over 2,000 pounds. The total weight of my boat and trailer is close to 3,000 pounds. I am wondering may be the same recommendation is also applicable for Toyota Highlander: Can I drive above 45 MPH with Highlander if I equip it with anti-sway bar? Please note that Highlander owner manual doesn't suggest or recommend the user of sway control device; it is sounding like "Don't go above 45 MPH when towing, period." Is this 45 MPH limit a definite thing? Or is it more like a lawyer talk? There are several posts in the net from Highlander owners saying that they didn't have any problem towing at 60 MPH. There was trailerboat magazine article did road test on Highlander in towing a 4,020 pounds boat/trailer combo, and it didn't say anything about the 45 MPH limit or any swaying problem during towing; actually the author was driving it at 55 MPH with a boat behind it; the only negative thing that the author expressed had to do with towing the boat up a steepest hill at 55 MPH requiring the engine to spin at 4000 rpm (the heavy 4,020 pounds may have something to do with this). The article didn't say anything about sway control device either. Doesn't sound like negative real world towing experience to me. I am confused. The other alternative is to get a new PathFinder and add the recommended "sway control device". Then, I am not better off or worse off than what I have now. The other alternative is to get a full size truck such as GMC Sierra or Nissan Titan. According to Nissan Titan owner manual, it doesn't have this 45 MPH restriction, and the "sway control device" is an optional "nice to have" item. But I am afraid that it is an overkill for my 3,000 pounds boat/trailer combo, and its fuel economy will be worse than what I have now. Any idea about that 45 MPH limit of Highlander? Is a Nissan PathFinder a better choice? Thanks in advance for any suggestion. Jay Chan I have changed my mind. *I believe that the Highlander 45 mph limit for towing is just "lawyer talk" to limit any potential liability. *I have found PDF versions of the owner manual of Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, and Tundra. *They all say to limit to 45 mph while towing (saying this has something to do with avoiding swaying). *This just doesn't make sense considering the fact that Toyota Tundra is a heavy full size pick up truck; I just cannot imagine people will drive at 45 mph or lower in highway while using a Tundra to towing a boat. *This surely sounds like Toyota is just trying to limit their legal liability. I didn't notice this when I was looking for the reference of 45 mph in an interactive owner manual for Tundra (called iGuide). *I only find this when I read the PDF version. With this said, I put Highlander back to the top of my list. Jay Chan Told ya. ;-) |
Use 2008 Toyota Highlander to Tow a Fiberglass Boat?
JimH wrote:
On Aug 8, 12:25 pm, " wrote: On Aug 4, 4:05 pm, " wrote: I need to buy a new car to replace my PathFinder (it is too old). I am considering many difference choices. The top one on my short list is 2008 Toyota Highlander. This new model can tow 5,000 pounds. More importantly it has great fuel efficiency (17 City / 24 Hwy). However, according to the owner manual PDF file available online, this car should only drive no more than 45 MPH if it is towing thing. The owner manual doesn't say if it is applicable to a certain towing weight or above. Seem like it is across the board regardless how much towing weight involved. This makes me worry because 45 MPH is too slow a driving speed on a highway. I am hoping to be at least 50 or 55 MPH. I believe this restriction may have something to do with avoiding swaying. According to the owner manual of my old PathFinder, it recommends to use "sway control device" if I use it to tow anything over 2,000 pounds. The total weight of my boat and trailer is close to 3,000 pounds. I am wondering may be the same recommendation is also applicable for Toyota Highlander: Can I drive above 45 MPH with Highlander if I equip it with anti-sway bar? Please note that Highlander owner manual doesn't suggest or recommend the user of sway control device; it is sounding like "Don't go above 45 MPH when towing, period." Is this 45 MPH limit a definite thing? Or is it more like a lawyer talk? There are several posts in the net from Highlander owners saying that they didn't have any problem towing at 60 MPH. There was trailerboat magazine article did road test on Highlander in towing a 4,020 pounds boat/trailer combo, and it didn't say anything about the 45 MPH limit or any swaying problem during towing; actually the author was driving it at 55 MPH with a boat behind it; the only negative thing that the author expressed had to do with towing the boat up a steepest hill at 55 MPH requiring the engine to spin at 4000 rpm (the heavy 4,020 pounds may have something to do with this). The article didn't say anything about sway control device either. Doesn't sound like negative real world towing experience to me. I am confused. The other alternative is to get a new PathFinder and add the recommended "sway control device". Then, I am not better off or worse off than what I have now. The other alternative is to get a full size truck such as GMC Sierra or Nissan Titan. According to Nissan Titan owner manual, it doesn't have this 45 MPH restriction, and the "sway control device" is an optional "nice to have" item. But I am afraid that it is an overkill for my 3,000 pounds boat/trailer combo, and its fuel economy will be worse than what I have now. Any idea about that 45 MPH limit of Highlander? Is a Nissan PathFinder a better choice? Thanks in advance for any suggestion. Jay Chan I have changed my mind. I believe that the Highlander 45 mph limit for towing is just "lawyer talk" to limit any potential liability. I have found PDF versions of the owner manual of Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, and Tundra. They all say to limit to 45 mph while towing (saying this has something to do with avoiding swaying). This just doesn't make sense considering the fact that Toyota Tundra is a heavy full size pick up truck; I just cannot imagine people will drive at 45 mph or lower in highway while using a Tundra to towing a boat. This surely sounds like Toyota is just trying to limit their legal liability. I didn't notice this when I was looking for the reference of 45 mph in an interactive owner manual for Tundra (called iGuide). I only find this when I read the PDF version. With this said, I put Highlander back to the top of my list. Jay Chan Told ya. ;-) Considering your history of ignoring mfg'ers recommended maintenance schedule it would be hard to imagine you telling him anything else. By the way, did you print out Volvo's recommended maintenance schedule so you will know which ones to ignore? While Glastron doesn't set up the recommended maintenance schedule for Volvo, they do provide all boat owners with a copy of the list. I would have thought an experienced boat owner such as yourself would have known that. |
Use 2008 Toyota Highlander to Tow a Fiberglass Boat?
JimH wrote:
On Aug 8, 12:25 pm, " wrote: On Aug 4, 4:05 pm, " wrote: I need to buy a new car to replace my PathFinder (it is too old). I am considering many difference choices. The top one on my short list is 2008 Toyota Highlander. This new model can tow 5,000 pounds. More importantly it has great fuel efficiency (17 City / 24 Hwy). However, according to the owner manual PDF file available online, this car should only drive no more than 45 MPH if it is towing thing. The owner manual doesn't say if it is applicable to a certain towing weight or above. Seem like it is across the board regardless how much towing weight involved. This makes me worry because 45 MPH is too slow a driving speed on a highway. I am hoping to be at least 50 or 55 MPH. I believe this restriction may have something to do with avoiding swaying. According to the owner manual of my old PathFinder, it recommends to use "sway control device" if I use it to tow anything over 2,000 pounds. The total weight of my boat and trailer is close to 3,000 pounds. I am wondering may be the same recommendation is also applicable for Toyota Highlander: Can I drive above 45 MPH with Highlander if I equip it with anti-sway bar? Please note that Highlander owner manual doesn't suggest or recommend the user of sway control device; it is sounding like "Don't go above 45 MPH when towing, period." Is this 45 MPH limit a definite thing? Or is it more like a lawyer talk? There are several posts in the net from Highlander owners saying that they didn't have any problem towing at 60 MPH. There was trailerboat magazine article did road test on Highlander in towing a 4,020 pounds boat/trailer combo, and it didn't say anything about the 45 MPH limit or any swaying problem during towing; actually the author was driving it at 55 MPH with a boat behind it; the only negative thing that the author expressed had to do with towing the boat up a steepest hill at 55 MPH requiring the engine to spin at 4000 rpm (the heavy 4,020 pounds may have something to do with this). The article didn't say anything about sway control device either. Doesn't sound like negative real world towing experience to me. I am confused. The other alternative is to get a new PathFinder and add the recommended "sway control device". Then, I am not better off or worse off than what I have now. The other alternative is to get a full size truck such as GMC Sierra or Nissan Titan. According to Nissan Titan owner manual, it doesn't have this 45 MPH restriction, and the "sway control device" is an optional "nice to have" item. But I am afraid that it is an overkill for my 3,000 pounds boat/trailer combo, and its fuel economy will be worse than what I have now. Any idea about that 45 MPH limit of Highlander? Is a Nissan PathFinder a better choice? Thanks in advance for any suggestion. Jay Chan I have changed my mind. I believe that the Highlander 45 mph limit for towing is just "lawyer talk" to limit any potential liability. I have found PDF versions of the owner manual of Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, and Tundra. They all say to limit to 45 mph while towing (saying this has something to do with avoiding swaying). This just doesn't make sense considering the fact that Toyota Tundra is a heavy full size pick up truck; I just cannot imagine people will drive at 45 mph or lower in highway while using a Tundra to towing a boat. This surely sounds like Toyota is just trying to limit their legal liability. I didn't notice this when I was looking for the reference of 45 mph in an interactive owner manual for Tundra (called iGuide). I only find this when I read the PDF version. With this said, I put Highlander back to the top of my list. Jay Chan Told ya. ;-) I wouldn't be concerned about being advised to tow no faster than 45 mph behind a 4runner, tacoma or tundra. I think the highlander is a neat vehicle, but I like the 4runner better for several reasons, one of which being that it has a separate frame instead of unibody construction. -- Republicans - They Take Special Pride in their Ignorance. |
Use 2008 Toyota Highlander to Tow a Fiberglass Boat?
On Aug 8, 1:19*pm, "Sir Grand Duke of Marmalade, Reginald P. Smithers
III The Great, Esq. LLC" wrote: JimH wrote: On Aug 8, 12:25 pm, " wrote: On Aug 4, 4:05 pm, " wrote: I need to buy a new car to replace my PathFinder (it is too old). I am considering many difference choices. The top one on my short list is 2008 Toyota Highlander. This new model can tow 5,000 pounds. More importantly it has great fuel efficiency (17 City / 24 Hwy). However, according to the owner manual PDF file available online, this car should only drive no more than 45 MPH if it is towing thing. The owner manual doesn't say if it is applicable to a certain towing weight or above. Seem like it is across the board regardless how much towing weight involved. This makes me worry because 45 MPH is too slow a driving speed on a highway. I am hoping to be at least 50 or 55 MPH. I believe this restriction may have something to do with avoiding swaying. According to the owner manual of my old PathFinder, it recommends to use "sway control device" if I use it to tow anything over 2,000 pounds. The total weight of my boat and trailer is close to 3,000 pounds. I am wondering may be the same recommendation is also applicable for Toyota Highlander: Can I drive above 45 MPH with Highlander if I equip it with anti-sway bar? Please note that Highlander owner manual doesn't suggest or recommend the user of sway control device; it is sounding like "Don't go above 45 MPH when towing, period." Is this 45 MPH limit a definite thing? Or is it more like a lawyer talk? There are several posts in the net from Highlander owners saying that they didn't have any problem towing at 60 MPH. There was trailerboat magazine article did road test on Highlander in towing a 4,020 pounds boat/trailer combo, and it didn't say anything about the 45 MPH limit or any swaying problem during towing; actually the author was driving it at 55 MPH with a boat behind it; the only negative thing that the author expressed had to do with towing the boat up a steepest hill at 55 MPH requiring the engine to spin at 4000 rpm (the heavy 4,020 pounds may have something to do with this). The article didn't say anything about sway control device either. Doesn't sound like negative real world towing experience to me. I am confused. The other alternative is to get a new PathFinder and add the recommended "sway control device". Then, I am not better off or worse off than what I have now. The other alternative is to get a full size truck such as GMC Sierra or Nissan Titan. According to Nissan Titan owner manual, it doesn't have this 45 MPH restriction, and the "sway control device" is an optional "nice to have" item. But I am afraid that it is an overkill for my 3,000 pounds boat/trailer combo, and its fuel economy will be worse than what I have now. Any idea about that 45 MPH limit of Highlander? Is a Nissan PathFinder a better choice? Thanks in advance for any suggestion. Jay Chan I have changed my mind. *I believe that the Highlander 45 mph limit for towing is just "lawyer talk" to limit any potential liability. *I have found PDF versions of the owner manual of Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, and Tundra. *They all say to limit to 45 mph while towing (saying this has something to do with avoiding swaying). *This just doesn't make sense considering the fact that Toyota Tundra is a heavy full size pick up truck; I just cannot imagine people will drive at 45 mph or lower in highway while using a Tundra to towing a boat. *This surely sounds like Toyota is just trying to limit their legal liability. I didn't notice this when I was looking for the reference of 45 mph in an interactive owner manual for Tundra (called iGuide). *I only find this when I read the PDF version. With this said, I put Highlander back to the top of my list. Jay Chan Told ya. *;-) Considering your history of ignoring mfg'ers recommended maintenance schedule it would be hard to imagine you telling him anything else. By the way, did you print out Volvo's recommended maintenance schedule so you will know which ones to ignore? While Glastron doesn't set up the recommended maintenance schedule for Volvo, they do provide all boat owners with a copy of the list. *I would have thought an experienced boat owner such as yourself would have known that. I did not ignore anything. I relied on a mechanic who gave me bad advice. I no longer use that mechanic or dock my boat there. Mistake made. I learned from it and moved on. You, however, cannot do the same....a common flaw in the personalities of trolls. |
Use 2008 Toyota Highlander to Tow a Fiberglass Boat?
JimH wrote:
I did not ignore anything. I relied on a mechanic who gave me bad advice. I no longer use that mechanic or dock my boat there. Mistake made. I learned from it and moved on. You, however, cannot do the same....a common flaw in the personalities of trolls. No, I don't think you did learn from your mistake. I was trying to help you KNOW what is the recommended schedule instead of relying on others, who may or may not KNOW what they are talking about. If you had a copy of the Volvo manual, easily downloaded for free from Volvo, you would not believe it when a mechanic tells you to use the wrong thermostat for your engine, just because he has the incorrect one in stock. I guess some people never learn from their mistakes, even though I do try to help. |
Use 2008 Toyota Highlander to Tow a Fiberglass Boat? (attn JimH)
JimH wrote:
I did not ignore anything. I relied on a mechanic who gave me bad advice. I no longer use that mechanic or dock my boat there. Mistake made. I learned from it and moved on. You, however, cannot do the same....a common flaw in the personalities of trolls. Jim...you realize, I hope, that when you respond here in any way to Reggie's and ****ty posts, you are doing precisely what he wants you do to. You owe him nothing. Put him in your bozo bin and leave him there. The ****head has absolutely no interest in boats or boating, but only in seeing how much he can provoke, here or at Chuck's. He's just a cowardly turd...and when you engage him, some of his stench rubs off on you. Flush him...and leave him there. |
Use 2008 Toyota Highlander to Tow a Fiberglass Boat? (attn JimH)
"hk" wrote in message . .. JimH wrote: I did not ignore anything. I relied on a mechanic who gave me bad advice. I no longer use that mechanic or dock my boat there. Mistake made. I learned from it and moved on. You, however, cannot do the same....a common flaw in the personalities of trolls. Jim...you realize, I hope, that when you respond here in any way to Reggie's and ****ty posts, you are doing precisely what he wants you do to. You owe him nothing. Put him in your bozo bin and leave him there. The ****head has absolutely no interest in boats or boating, but only in seeing how much he can provoke, here or at Chuck's. He's just a cowardly turd...and when you engage him, some of his stench rubs off on you. Flush him...and leave him there. WAFA the balsy coward calling someone else a coward. Now that's rich. Tell us again how you outsmarted the draft board, Harry. |
Use 2008 Toyota Highlander to Tow a Fiberglass Boat? (attn JimH)
hk wrote:
JimH wrote: I did not ignore anything. I relied on a mechanic who gave me bad advice. I no longer use that mechanic or dock my boat there. Mistake made. I learned from it and moved on. You, however, cannot do the same....a common flaw in the personalities of trolls. Jim...you realize, I hope, that when you respond here in any way to Reggie's and ****ty posts, you are doing precisely what he wants you do to. You owe him nothing. Put him in your bozo bin and leave him there. The ****head has absolutely no interest in boats or boating, but only in seeing how much he can provoke, here or at Chuck's. He's just a cowardly turd...and when you engage him, some of his stench rubs off on you. Flush him...and leave him there. Harry, do you disagree with my recommendation that one should have the engine mfg'ers recommended schedule and you follow the recommended schedule? If you really had JimH's best interest at heart, you would at least email him to let him know you agree with me. |
Use 2008 Toyota Highlander to Tow a Fiberglass Boat?
On Mon, 4 Aug 2008 13:05:48 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote: I need to buy a new car to replace my PathFinder (it is too old). I am considering many difference choices. The top one on my short list is 2008 Toyota Highlander. This new model can tow 5,000 pounds. More importantly it has great fuel efficiency (17 City / 24 Hwy). However, according to the owner manual PDF file available online, this car should only drive no more than 45 MPH if it is towing thing. The owner manual doesn't say if it is applicable to a certain towing weight or above. Seem like it is across the board regardless how much towing weight involved. This makes me worry because 45 MPH is too slow a driving speed on a highway. I am hoping to be at least 50 or 55 MPH. FWIW, I have a 2008 Toyota 4Runner. My book also says the max towing speed is 45 mph because if swaying, etc. occur, 'loss of control may result'. I tow a boat, and I tow a travel trailer. With the travel trailer I use a weight distributing hitch. It is much heavier than the boat (an 18'er). I have no problem pulling either at 60 mph, which is 'my' max towing speed. |
Use 2008 Toyota Highlander to Tow a Fiberglass Boat? (attn JimH)
On Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:08:05 -0400, hk wrote:
JimH wrote: I did not ignore anything. I relied on a mechanic who gave me bad advice. I no longer use that mechanic or dock my boat there. Mistake made. I learned from it and moved on. You, however, cannot do the same....a common flaw in the personalities of trolls. Jim...you realize, I hope, that when you respond here in any way to Reggie's and ****ty posts, you are doing precisely what he wants you do to. You owe him nothing. Put him in your bozo bin and leave him there. The ****head has absolutely no interest in boats or boating, but only in seeing how much he can provoke, here or at Chuck's. He's just a cowardly turd...and when you engage him, some of his stench rubs off on you. Flush him...and leave him there. Jimh, the man has spoken. Don't **** him off. Remember, if he goes, Donnie goes. I'm telling you this only because you're such a nice guy. |
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