On Mon, 4 Aug 2008 13:05:48 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

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

Simple answer - yes, you can tow your rig with a Highlander.

Sway bars are a nice addition to any vehicle that will do any towing
at all. You have to remember that it's not so much the weight, but
the environment you are towing through. Heavy rain, wind, etc., all
affect towing and the sway bar will help control the load. Even
highways have problems with crown and pitch and the sway bar will help
in manuevering at relatively high speeds. They aren't necessary by
any means, but they are a big help.

With respect to speeds, 45 mph is a little extreme in the caution
department. I tow just under 5,000 pounds and will not go over 60 mph
under any circumstances. I stay around 2200 rpm and 60 mph with
overdrive off. Depending on terrain, those figures will change - rpm
up and mph down, but on average, 2200 and 60 seems to work just fine.

Any new rig with a tow package will work as well - I would opt for the
sway bar (as I did with the F-150) just to be that much more cautious
in varying driving conditions.

Good luck.

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 4 Aug 2008 13:05:48 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

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

Simple answer - yes, you can tow your rig with a Highlander.

Sway bars are a nice addition to any vehicle that will do any towing
at all. You have to remember that it's not so much the weight, but
the environment you are towing through. Heavy rain, wind, etc., all
affect towing and the sway bar will help control the load. Even
highways have problems with crown and pitch and the sway bar will help
in manuevering at relatively high speeds. They aren't necessary by
any means, but they are a big help.

With respect to speeds, 45 mph is a little extreme in the caution
department. I tow just under 5,000 pounds and will not go over 60 mph
under any circumstances. I stay around 2200 rpm and 60 mph with
overdrive off. Depending on terrain, those figures will change - rpm
up and mph down, but on average, 2200 and 60 seems to work just fine.

Any new rig with a tow package will work as well - I would opt for the
sway bar (as I did with the F-150) just to be that much more cautious
in varying driving conditions.

Good luck.

Don't forget the brakes, you guys. It might have some bearing on Toyota's
recommendation

"Jim" wrote in message
...


Don't forget the brakes, you guys. It might have some bearing on Toyota's
recommendation


Something that has always been a question in my head:

Most states require brakes on trailers over 3000 lbs. Now, that, to me
is dumb to begin with. I can't think of a typical light duty truck, car,
SUV or whatever that has brakes designed to stop itself *plus* an additional
3000 lbs in an emergency stop. That could easily be almost twice the weight
the brakes were designed for. Wouldn't brakes on *all* trailers make
sense? At least surge brakes for emergencies.

Over 3000 lbs, the trailer is supposed to have brakes designed to stop the
*trailer* weight in a specified and reasonable distance.
The tow vehicle's braking capacity really doesn't come into play in meeting
this requirement.

I am not sure how it really works with surge brakes, but I know every
trailer I've towed with electric brakes, from a 7000 lb car trailer to a
15,500 lb fifth wheel were capable of locking up all the wheels equipped
with brakes. The 7k car trailer had brakes on all four wheels. I can't
remember how many of the 6 wheels (triple axle) were equipped with brakes on
the fifth wheel, but regardless, it didn't depend on the tow vehicle's
brakes to stop it.

I *do* remember (as you probably do) towing that water logged, 27' Century
on a trailer with non-functioning surge brakes with a 2500 series Dodge
Ram. The damn boat and trailer pushed me right through a red light and
into an intersection and I was only doing about 10-15 mph, slowing down as I
approached the light.

Eisboch

Eisboch wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message
...

Don't forget the brakes, you guys. It might have some bearing on Toyota's
recommendation


Something that has always been a question in my head:

Most states require brakes on trailers over 3000 lbs. Now, that, to me
is dumb to begin with. I can't think of a typical light duty truck, car,
SUV or whatever that has brakes designed to stop itself *plus* an additional
3000 lbs in an emergency stop. That could easily be almost twice the weight
the brakes were designed for. Wouldn't brakes on *all* trailers make
sense? At least surge brakes for emergencies.

Over 3000 lbs, the trailer is supposed to have brakes designed to stop the
*trailer* weight in a specified and reasonable distance.
The tow vehicle's braking capacity really doesn't come into play in meeting
this requirement.

I am not sure how it really works with surge brakes, but I know every
trailer I've towed with electric brakes, from a 7000 lb car trailer to a
15,500 lb fifth wheel were capable of locking up all the wheels equipped
with brakes. The 7k car trailer had brakes on all four wheels. I can't
remember how many of the 6 wheels (triple axle) were equipped with brakes on
the fifth wheel, but regardless, it didn't depend on the tow vehicle's
brakes to stop it.

I *do* remember (as you probably do) towing that water logged, 27' Century
on a trailer with non-functioning surge brakes with a 2500 series Dodge
Ram. The damn boat and trailer pushed me right through a red light and
into an intersection and I was only doing about 10-15 mph, slowing down as I
approached the light.

Eisboch




The redneck crowd fights brakes on all trailers, regardless of size. I
kid you not.

"hk" wrote in message
. ..

Eisboch wrote:


The redneck crowd fights brakes on all trailers, regardless of size. I kid
you not.



I seriously doubt it has anything to do with lobbying rednecks.

Eisboch

Eisboch wrote:
"hk" wrote in message
. ..

Eisboch wrote:

The redneck crowd fights brakes on all trailers, regardless of size. I kid
you not.



I seriously doubt it has anything to do with lobbying rednecks.

Eisboch




I wouldn't discount the redneck influence on state regulations that
involve "sporting goods" and expenditures of money.


--


John McCain - Same old politics, same failed policies.

"HK" wrote in message
...
Eisboch wrote:
"hk" wrote in message
. ..

Eisboch wrote:

The redneck crowd fights brakes on all trailers, regardless of size. I
kid you not.



I seriously doubt it has anything to do with lobbying rednecks.

Eisboch


I wouldn't discount the redneck influence on state regulations that
involve "sporting goods" and expenditures of money.


My state (MA) has the typical "no brakes required" under 3000 lb. rule.

I don't know very many lobbying rednecks up here.



John McCain - Same old politics, same failed policies.

Barack Obama - He's for change .... before he changed

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Jim" wrote in message
...


Don't forget the brakes, you guys. It might have some bearing on Toyota's
recommendation


Something that has always been a question in my head:

Most states require brakes on trailers over 3000 lbs. Now, that, to me
is dumb to begin with. I can't think of a typical light duty truck, car,
SUV or whatever that has brakes designed to stop itself *plus* an
additional 3000 lbs in an emergency stop. That could easily be almost
twice the weight the brakes were designed for. Wouldn't brakes on *all*
trailers make sense? At least surge brakes for emergencies.

Over 3000 lbs, the trailer is supposed to have brakes designed to stop the
*trailer* weight in a specified and reasonable distance.
The tow vehicle's braking capacity really doesn't come into play in
meeting this requirement.

I am not sure how it really works with surge brakes, but I know every
trailer I've towed with electric brakes, from a 7000 lb car trailer to a
15,500 lb fifth wheel were capable of locking up all the wheels equipped
with brakes. The 7k car trailer had brakes on all four wheels. I can't
remember how many of the 6 wheels (triple axle) were equipped with brakes
on the fifth wheel, but regardless, it didn't depend on the tow vehicle's
brakes to stop it.

I *do* remember (as you probably do) towing that water logged, 27'
Century on a trailer with non-functioning surge brakes with a 2500 series
Dodge Ram. The damn boat and trailer pushed me right through a red light
and into an intersection and I was only doing about 10-15 mph, slowing
down as I approached the light.

Eisboch



I need to correct/clarify something here. Trailers with brakes (3k lbs
and up) must, by DOT regulation, have brakes that are capable of stopping
the fully loaded trailer GVW (not just the trailer, as I originally wrote)
in a specified distance.

Eisboch

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Jim" wrote in message
...


Don't forget the brakes, you guys. It might have some bearing on Toyota's
recommendation


Something that has always been a question in my head:

Most states require brakes on trailers over 3000 lbs. Now, that, to me
is dumb to begin with. I can't think of a typical light duty truck, car,
SUV or whatever that has brakes designed to stop itself *plus* an
additional 3000 lbs in an emergency stop. That could easily be almost
twice the weight the brakes were designed for. Wouldn't brakes on *all*
trailers make sense? At least surge brakes for emergencies.

Over 3000 lbs, the trailer is supposed to have brakes designed to stop the
*trailer* weight in a specified and reasonable distance.
The tow vehicle's braking capacity really doesn't come into play in
meeting this requirement.

I am not sure how it really works with surge brakes, but I know every
trailer I've towed with electric brakes, from a 7000 lb car trailer to a
15,500 lb fifth wheel were capable of locking up all the wheels equipped
with brakes. The 7k car trailer had brakes on all four wheels. I can't
remember how many of the 6 wheels (triple axle) were equipped with brakes
on the fifth wheel, but regardless, it didn't depend on the tow vehicle's
brakes to stop it.

I *do* remember (as you probably do) towing that water logged, 27'
Century on a trailer with non-functioning surge brakes with a 2500 series
Dodge Ram. The damn boat and trailer pushed me right through a red light
and into an intersection and I was only doing about 10-15 mph, slowing
down as I approached the light.

Eisboch

It's a miracle you survived. ;-)

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Jim" wrote in message
...


Don't forget the brakes, you guys. It might have some bearing on
Toyota's recommendation


Something that has always been a question in my head:

Most states require brakes on trailers over 3000 lbs. Now, that, to
me is dumb to begin with. I can't think of a typical light duty truck,
car, SUV or whatever that has brakes designed to stop itself *plus* an
additional 3000 lbs in an emergency stop. That could easily be almost
twice the weight the brakes were designed for. Wouldn't brakes on
*all* trailers make sense? At least surge brakes for emergencies.

Over 3000 lbs, the trailer is supposed to have brakes designed to stop
the *trailer* weight in a specified and reasonable distance.
The tow vehicle's braking capacity really doesn't come into play in
meeting this requirement.

I am not sure how it really works with surge brakes, but I know every
trailer I've towed with electric brakes, from a 7000 lb car trailer to a
15,500 lb fifth wheel were capable of locking up all the wheels equipped
with brakes. The 7k car trailer had brakes on all four wheels. I
can't remember how many of the 6 wheels (triple axle) were equipped with
brakes on the fifth wheel, but regardless, it didn't depend on the tow
vehicle's brakes to stop it.

I *do* remember (as you probably do) towing that water logged, 27'
Century on a trailer with non-functioning surge brakes with a 2500
series Dodge Ram. The damn boat and trailer pushed me right through a
red light and into an intersection and I was only doing about 10-15 mph,
slowing down as I approached the light.

Eisboch


The weight limit allows those small utility trailers. The ones they sell at
Home Depot, etc for $800 and you assemble. Odd thing in Calif. Trailers
require brakes at 1500# except for boat trailers that require brakes at
3000#.