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Old 06-07-2010, 10:21 AM   #16
Mr. Adventure
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Posts: 668
Default Toyota tow ratings

Bill,
I concur that there is nothing magic here. What you're missing is that Toyotas are rated with a Gross Combined Weight Rating that is equal to the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating plus the max tow rating, unlike the way most other manufacturers do it, where the max tow rating plus the GVWR would come out well in excess of the GCWR. In other words, a Toyota tow vehicle loaded at less than it's gross weight rating towing a trailer that's less than the maximum rated tow capacity is within spec (potentially constrained further of course by load distributions, hitch loads, etc.). These things are on the door posts, the spec sheets, and in the owners manuals.

Figuring it your way instead of Toyota's way, my old reliable Toyota Highlander has a tow rating of only 3500#. But, there are 4700# between the empty weight of my TV and the Gross Combined Weight Rating, which is plenty of room for me, my bride, and a Trailmanor. I guess I could stick a Desoto badge on it and say that I have a 4700# tow rating, but the more important point is that when Toyota says you have a 3500# tow rating, you have a full 3500 pound tow rating unless you're overloading some aspect of the tow vehicle.
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2003 Toyota Highlander 220hp V6 FWD
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