How Much Can Toyota SUV’s Tow?
There are many differing towing capacities across models and trim levels, so knowing your vehicle’s towing capacity is essential before you load up and head out for your next adventure. Towing too much weight can cause damage to your vehicle’s engine and may create dangerous driving conditions. Always make sure your trailer is below your vehicle’s towing capacity before even hooking up.
Understanding Towing Terminology
There are a few terms you should know before towing a trailer, in order to familiarize yourself with how the process of towing works.
Tongue Weight: Your vehicle’s tongue weight is the downward force applied to the hitch by the tongue of your trailer. Knowing your vehicle’s tongue weight is important – too much tongue weight can cause the back of your vehicle to sit too low, and too little tongue weight can lift the back of your vehicle, both causing dangerous driving conditions. The standard “safe” tongue weight is between 9-15% of your trailer’s gross trailer weight.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): This measurement is simply the maximum weight that can be put on your vehicle’s front or rear axles. The front and rear axles have their own individual GAWRs that are assigned to them by the vehicle manufacturer.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is also a measurement provided by vehicle manufacturers that indicates the maximum weight of a loaded vehicle, including all cargo and passengers inside the vehicle.
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW): The total weight of your trailer and all of its cargo is referred to as gross trailer weight. This can be measured by driving your fully loaded trailer onto a scale.
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR): This measurement is the maximum weight of the vehicle, all passengers inside, the tow trailer and all cargo within the tow trailer.
Toyota Towing Capacities:
4Runner: The 2018 4Runner has a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. and is SAE J2807 compliant. The 4Runner has a GVWR of 6,300 lbs and comes with an integrated towing hitch with 4- and 7-pin connectors.
Highlander: The 2018 Highlander has a towing capacity of 1,500 – 5,000 lbs. depending on trim level. See the table below for a full list of trim levels and their corresponding towing capacities.
Land Cruiser: With a GVWR of 7,385 lbs., the 2018 Land Cruiser has a towing capacity of 8,100 lbs. and comes with an integrated towing hitch receiver with 4- and 7-pin connectors.
RAV4: With many trim level options available, the 2018 RAV4 can haul up to 3,500 lbs and has a GVWR of 4,525 lbs. For a full list of trim levels and weight capacities for each, see the table below.
Sequoia: The rugged 2018 Sequoia has a GCWR of 13,600 lbs. and can tow between 7,000 – 7,400 lbs depending on trim level. See the table below for a full list of trim levels.
Click any of the vehicles below to see a full list of trim levels and towing capacities.
4Runner
+
What trailers you can haul: Most fiberglass and aluminum boat trailers, single and tandem axle utility trailers, up to 20 ft. toy haulers, up to 28 ft. gooseneck livestock trailers, 4 horse bumper pull trailer, up to 30 ft. campers.
LE FWD 3.5L V6 Direct Shift: 5,000 lbs.
What trailers you can haul: Most fiberglass and aluminum boat trailers, single and tandem axle utility trailers, up to 20 ft. toy haulers, up to 28 ft. gooseneck livestock trailers, 4 horse bumper pull trailer, up to 30 ft. campers.
What trailers you can haul: Most fiberglass and aluminum boat trailers, single and tandem axle utility trailers, up to 28 ft. toy haulers, up to 28 ft. gooseneck livestock trailers, 4 horse bumper pull trailer, up to 31 ft. 5th wheel.
RAV4
+
What trailers you can haul: Most fiberglass and aluminum boat trailers, single and tandem axle utility trailers, up to 16 ft. gooseneck livestock trailers, up to 2 horse bumper pull horse trailer, up to 17 ft. camper.
Sequoia
+
Limited 2WD 6-speed automatic: 7,100 lbs.
Limited 2WD 6-speed automatic: 7,400 lbs.
What trailers you can haul: Most fiberglass and aluminum boat trailers, single and tandem axle utility trailers, up to 28 ft. toy haulers, up to 28 ft. gooseneck livestock trailers, up to 4 horse bumper pull trailer, up to 26 ft. 5th wheel.
Your vehicle’s towing capacity is an important piece of information that you should always take into account before you set out on your next adventure. Make sure to avoid hauling more than your vehicle’s towing capacity in order to avoid damage to your vehicle as well as potential accidents. If you’re looking to have some fun outdoors and haul smaller boat trailers or campers, the RAV4 or Highlander might be the right fit for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more heavy duty to haul large horse trailers or large campers, a Land Cruiser might be the way to go.
10 comment(s) so far on How Much Can Toyota SUV’s Tow?
What about the chr?
Great question! While it is a crossover vehicle, it is not really an SUV. Toyota does not have a tow rating for that vehicle. Since the GVWR is only a few hundred pounds more than the curb weight for this car, by the time you add people and cargo, there’s not much capacity left for towing anything bigger than, well, an empty trailer. A really lightweight empty trailer.
what about a 2018 Trail?
Hi Linda,
A 4Runner Trail Edition can tow up to 5,000 lb. We hope this helps!
Can a RAV4 XLE pull a 2000 lb boat.
Thank you for leaving us a comment, Robin. Unfortunately, the RAV4 XLE has a towing capacity of 1,500 lbs. so a 2,000 lb. boat is outside of its tow range. Please let us know if you have any more questions!
This was very interesting to read. Keep up the good work.
What is the tongue weight capacity of a toyota highlander SE model that has tow capacity of 5,000 lbs?
Thanks for sharing
How much can a 2006 highlander hybrid pull?