Don White wrote:
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:27:12 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

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

Any idea about that 45 MPH limit of Highlander? Is a Nissan PathFinder
a better choice?

Thanks in advance for any suggestion.
I think Toyota is covering their backside from possible legal issues.
Do they offer a "trailer towing package" as an option that will permit
full highway speeds? If so, that's what you want. If not, why not
consider a crew-cab Toyota Tundra with a rear cap? It's about the
same price, will carry almost as many people, a lot more
luggage/cargo, and will pull your trailer with ease at any speed you'd
care to drive.
Speaking of towing, I think I have a trailer problem.

My youngest took the Ranger out today towing behind a Dodge 2500 4X4
with tow package and he said he had a hell of a time with the trailer.

I wonder if I have some kind of brake problem - or even more to the
point, have had for a while.

I told him to take it to the local trailer shop and have it looked at.

Everytime I stop on the highway I carefully touch the wheel rim and the hub
to check for excess heat buildup.




A "hell of a time with the trailer" could be a descriptor of all manner
of problems, or none, depending upon what the driver was doing at the
time. As an example, if I try to back up my trailer without the
electrical cord plugged in and without the brakes locked out, it won't
back up. There's nothing wrong with the trailer; the surge disk brake
actuator either needs the complete electrical circuit or the lockout.

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:27:12 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

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

Any idea about that 45 MPH limit of Highlander? Is a Nissan PathFinder
a better choice?

Thanks in advance for any suggestion.

I think Toyota is covering their backside from possible legal issues.
Do they offer a "trailer towing package" as an option that will permit
full highway speeds? If so, that's what you want. If not, why not
consider a crew-cab Toyota Tundra with a rear cap? It's about the
same price, will carry almost as many people, a lot more
luggage/cargo, and will pull your trailer with ease at any speed you'd
care to drive.

Speaking of towing, I think I have a trailer problem.

My youngest took the Ranger out today towing behind a Dodge 2500 4X4
with tow package and he said he had a hell of a time with the trailer.

I wonder if I have some kind of brake problem - or even more to the
point, have had for a while.

I told him to take it to the local trailer shop and have it looked at.

Maybe he has the wrong drop on the ball. I understand torsion axle trailers
have to be towed level, or brake and bearing problems appear.

On Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:30:15 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

Speaking of towing, I think I have a trailer problem.

My youngest took the Ranger out today towing behind a Dodge 2500 4X4
with tow package and he said he had a hell of a time with the trailer.

Was it fishtailing at speed ? Braking problems ?

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

Any idea about that 45 MPH limit of Highlander? Is a Nissan PathFinder
a better choice?

Thanks in advance for any suggestion.

I think Toyota is covering their backside from possible legal issues.
Do they offer a "trailer towing package" as an option that will permit
full highway speeds? If so, that's what you want. If not, why not
consider a crew-cab Toyota Tundra with a rear cap? It's about the
same price, will carry almost as many people, a lot more
luggage/cargo, and will pull your trailer with ease at any speed you'd
care to drive.



Toyota shows a tow package for the highlander sport, and a towing cap of
5000 pounds.

--


John McCain - Same old politics, same failed policies.

On Aug 4, 6:27*pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On Mon, 4 Aug 2008 13:05:48 -0700 (PDT), "

wrote:
Any idea about that 45 MPH limit of Highlander? Is a Nissan PathFinder
a better choice?

Thanks in advance for any suggestion.

I think Toyota is covering their backside from possible legal issues.
Do they offer a "trailer towing package" as an option that will permit
full highway speeds? *If so, that's what you want. *If not, why not
consider a crew-cab Toyota Tundra with a rear cap? *It's about the
same price, will carry almost as many people, a lot more
luggage/cargo, and will pull your trailer with ease at any speed you'd
care to drive.

Toyota offers a towing-prep option for their Highlander. But that
doesn't seem to affect the 45 MPH towing speed limit based on how I
read their owner manual.

Toyota Tundra is a really lovely pickup truck. I have sit in one of
their Crew Cab model in a show room, and the leg room in its rear seat
is HUGE -- as big as the leg room in the front row seat of many cars.
It can carry at most 6 persons with enough leg room for every one (on
the other hand, the third row in Highlander is kind of tight, and we
need to have our knees at my chest to sit on the third row in a
4Runner). Therefore, I was very interested. But its fuel economy is
the worst among the 3 of the full size pickups that I have reviewed
(may be it is heavier than others (not sure)), and its cash rebate is
either low or none (I don't remember) as comparing to other offers. I
figure that it is probably overkill for towing my boat. Thanks for
the suggestion though.

As mentioned in another reply, I have decided to drop Highlander from
the list. I will consider Nissan Titan, Nissan PathFinder, or GMC
Sierra, and in this order.

Jay Chan

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