Towing with a Toyota Highlander, 2016

zelda

Another newbie, so excited to pick up my Tab . I have my hitch and brake controller (7 pin) installed. I still need a sway bar attached to the Tab, will have that done at the dealer before I pick it up. Does it matter which side the sway bar is on? I am thinking the left side would work best for me , not sure I will remember to unhook it if it’s on the right side. What I really want to know is how does the Highlander perform as a TV? I have towed a small Aliner before, but not with this vehicle. Thank you so much for our awesome forum, I have learned so much already.

AirBoss

Can't speak to TV issue.

Doesn't really matter which side for the anti sway bar but practically speaking the passenger side is safer as you are on the opposite side of traffic in the event you have to work with it on the side of the road or in a campground.

Depending on length of travel in the bar and considering the much preferred method of backing is to angle back on driver side instead of passenger (blind) side whenever possible, you may stand less chance of damaging the bar as it will be extending instead of compressing. 

zelda

Thank you for your advice, you are probably right about attaching the sway bar on the right side, I read a post last night where a person couldn’t remember to put the step up. I hope I remember the sway bar because it’s supposed to be unhooked before backing up the trailer. I see a few sticky notes in my future🤪😳😬.

AirBoss

You can back with the bar in place but you need to be cautious about your angles. The bar slides back and forth and it doesn't know or care if you're turning the corner in your neighborhood or in a campground, or backing up into a spot. 

And yep...sticky notes are alive and well. Actually some folks I've seen place a label (remember the old label makers?) next to the gear indicator on their TV that says "Bar!" You look down (or into your instrument panel) to make sure you're in "R" and there it is...

You'll do great! And if your forget and jack-knife it...you'll only forget once! ;-)

Horigan

We tow a Tab 400 with a 2013 V6 Highlander and it's fine.  It's a bit slow on high altitude passes, but over all we like the overall flexibility of this SUV compared to a pickup truck or bigger SUV.  You just need to get used to higher revs when climbing passes and gas mileage down around 12 mpg.  It will be even easier if you have a Tab 320.

We don't use a sway bar and haven't found a need for it, though this is likely partially due to the high tongue load our Tab 400 (2019).

We're about to install some Supersprings (link below) to help address the rear sag since Highlanders can't accommodate airbags.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009JC42PE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

zelda

Thanks so much for the great ideas, the label maker would be much more permanent which would work well for me. Thanks for the encouragement, I am excited to have a trailer, but also a little nervous (who am I kidding, a lot nervous).Thanks again @Horigan.

zelda

@Horigan, woops  I got my people mixed up. Thanks for your comments, I will be towing a Tab 320, and I believe my Highlander requires me to have a sway bar. I hope I won’t have to add Supersprings on it, I guess I will just have to wait and see. Hopefully the dealership will help me determine that. My dealership has been awesome so far. Thanks again.

zelda

@AirBoss,  thanks so much for your help, I sent your  thanks to the wrong person. Appreciate your great ideas. 

Sharon_is_SAM

@zelda - what year and model Highlander do you have?

Horigan

zelda said:

I hope I won’t have to add Supersprings on it, I guess I will just have to wait and see. Hopefully the dealership will help me determine that. My dealership has been awesome so far. Thanks again.

@zelda, The issue I'm addressing with the Supersprings is rear sag that points my headlights up too high.  May not be an issue with the 320.  

zelda

@Sharon_is_SAM I have a 2016 3.5LV6 with 6 speed automatic transmission; 5000lb tow capacity. It’s a Toyota Highlander.

Sharon_is_SAM

@Zelda - you really should not need a sway bar unless you plan to travel 80 mph.  Try towing your 320 without it first.  

zelda

@Sharon_is_SAM Thanks that is kind of what I was wondering about. I will probably keep it around 60-65mph. My main highway is interstate, and with the trucks even now I stay back from them and the fast drivers. I am more about safety.