Hello from Toronto

flanagan · 01-20-2021, 11:58 AM

Just purchased a 2014 Passport 238ML and will be pulling it with a 2020 Toyota Highlander. ( save the you need a bigger truck stories unless you’ve tried it lol) .

New to travel trailers but have drove just about everything with wheels.

We are a family of four planning to head west for the summer and won’t stop until the highlander explodes or we reach the sea!

Glad to be here and look forward to chatting with everyone and getting any advice and tips yall are willing to share.

Joe

Gary R. · 01-20-2021, 12:02 PM

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Enjoy your travels with that Passport!

flanagan · 01-20-2021, 12:43 PM

Thanks Gary!

Camping family · 01-20-2021, 12:59 PM

Welcome and enjoy your travels be safe.

Northofu1 · 01-20-2021, 01:12 PM

Congrats and

**sourdough** · 01-20-2021, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flanagan

Just purchased a 2014 Passport 238ML and will be pulling it with a 2020 Toyota Highlander. ( save the you need a bigger truck stories unless you’ve tried it lol) .

New to travel trailers but have drove just about everything with wheels.

We are a family of four planning to head west for the summer and won’t stop until the highlander explodes or we reach the sea!

Glad to be here and look forward to chatting with everyone and getting any advice and tips yall are willing to share.

Joe

Congrats on the new to you trailer. As far as the highlighted above.....does a 4Runner count?

It's got a bigger engine and is body on frame and.....I wouldn't do it. With a 5400lb. trailer behind it (over its capacity) the Highlander very well could explode....or go skidding down the highway on its side....with the family. But hey, you don't need a bigger truck....

Have fun on your trip but never forget their (the family) safety resides with you.

travelin texans · 01-20-2021, 03:14 PM

Welcome! Good luck!
As Elmer Fudd says "be bery bery careful" traveling in your EXTREMELY overloaded Highlander so when it blows up you're the only ones involved....
Nope, never tried it, never would!!

notanlines · 01-20-2021, 04:25 PM

Since we’re not allowed up there yet our safety won’t be compromised, but this horse has been lead to water and he’s not drinking.

markcee · 01-20-2021, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flanagan

( save the you need a bigger truck stories unless you’ve tried it lol) .

.....look forward to chatting with everyone and getting any advice and tips yall are willing to share.

Joe

Are you sure you are willing? Family of 4, loaded for camping, you are likely over weight without even getting in the driver's seat. Seems like you may know that already though.

**flybouy** · 01-20-2021, 06:08 PM

I can only think of one word, foolish. O.k. two words, foolish and reckless. I can also think of some words to proceed those but it's against forum rules so I'll refrain from using them.

flanagan · 01-20-2021, 07:20 PM

Thank you for the kind welcomes. And I guess for the concern if that’s what it is and not some kind of strange ego or jealousy of some sort, I really can’t understand.

When I am 1000lbs under the towing rating and over 3000lbs under the GVWR why is this a reckless move?

I have hauled an 8000lb loader behind a 1979 blazer across an ice road. Was that reckless? maybe. Is pulling a travel trailer on a well maintained highway with a vehicle who’s manufacturer says you’re well within the limit? I personally don’t think so. But maybe I should get a rocket launcher to hunt an ant.

Sarge2 · 01-20-2021, 07:26 PM

from Michigan.... enjoy but be safe...

**flybouy** · 01-20-2021, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flanagan

Thank you for the kind welcomes. And I guess for the concern if that’s what it is and not some kind of strange ego or jealousy of some sort, I really can’t understand.

When I am 1000lbs under the towing rating and over 3000lbs under the GVWR why is this a reckless move?

I have hauled an 8000lb loader behind a 1979 blazer across an ice road. Was that reckless? maybe. Is pulling a travel trailer on a well maintained highway with a vehicle who’s manufacturer says you’re well within the limit? I personally don’t think so. But maybe I should get a rocket launcher to hunt an ant.

What's your experience with calculating cargo capacity? What's the load capacity that's listed on the yellow and white sticker on the driver's door jamb? What's your trailer's actual weight, not published but scaled? What does your family of weight?

I can understand your defending tone as you started out on that foot. Expecting a warm and fuzzy "all good and attaboy" when your first post has a tone like that? Your op was indicating that you are aware of it being too much for the lightweight vehichle and that you just don't care. Jealous of that, I don't think so.

**sourdough** · 01-20-2021, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flanagan

Thank you for the kind welcomes. And I guess for the concern if that’s what it is and not some kind of strange ego or jealousy of some sort, I really can’t understand.

When I am 1000lbs under the towing rating and over 3000lbs under the GVWR why is this a reckless move?

I have hauled an 8000lb loader behind a 1979 blazer across an ice road. Was that reckless? maybe. Is pulling a travel trailer on a well maintained highway with a vehicle who’s manufacturer says you’re well within the limit? I personally don’t think so. But maybe I should get a rocket launcher to hunt an ant.

See above ^^^. I doubt there is a soul here that actually tows an RV that has any jealousy for your predicament, nor ego trip. We just know what it takes to tow A with B; not "I'll make it work and don't care how without regard for the family".

Your towing example just illustrates what we are worried about - and what I did when I was young...and without a family. It would do you well to actually study the specs of your vehicle - payload (sticker in the inside of the driver door), gvw, gcvwr, etc. of which I'm sure you're aren't aware - brochures (and Toyota, which I've owned many) are meaningless. As important, what is the MAX weight allowed on the Highlander receiver? 500 lbs? I'm pretty sure that is what it is - didn't take the time to look because the situation is ... You are not in a good place for the family.

travelin texans · 01-20-2021, 08:02 PM

Post the numbers from the yellow/white tag & the manufacturer weights from the drivers door post of your TOYota & the manufacturer tag of your rv, these are the pertinent numbers for YOUR vehicle.
The vehicle advertised max tow weight & the dry rv weight are absolutely useless sales gimmick numbers to determine your tow vehicles ability.
Unfortunately the majority of SUVs of any size or brand, especially the unibodies like the Highlander, were not designed to be tow vehicles using weight distributing hitches or towing any rv of significant weight.
I'm not on any ego trip, most definitely not jealous & unlike you & your family I have no skin in this game, just trying to make those that tow in this blatantly unsafe manner to to do so with extreme caution.
I also have driven about any/all types of vehicles & have towed about any/all types of trailers/rvs for over 50 years so I'm not a newbie or trying to be a jerk, just passing on educated information from experience that you'll have to decide to heed or not.

flanagan · 01-20-2021, 08:47 PM

Not sure if the photo attached but there it is. I am still confused about the hostility as well as the problem here.

flanagan · 01-20-2021, 08:50 PM

Oops. Sorry about it being upside down, not sure what happened there. Trailer I don’t have with me but I am positive it is actual weight lighter than advertised online or in the manual.

pikespeakviewer · 01-20-2021, 08:52 PM

The Rockies and mountain passes in BC are beasts. Good luck on your travels and I do recommend that you research BC camping before you set out as last year camping was for BC residents only and there's talk of that again this summer.

And BC is essential travel only right now, including the ferries.

flanagan · 01-20-2021, 08:59 PM

Thank you! We are going to take the southern route and stay away from the mountain passes for sure. And yes we are following BC public health closely. Talks of a BC bubble.

pikespeakviewer · 01-20-2021, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flanagan

Thank you! We are going to take the southern route and stay away from the mountain passes for sure. And yes we are following BC public health closely. Talks of a BC bubble.

There are passes on all routes to the coast.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/t...ons/elevations

Anarchist Summit is known for it's fire stained asphalt from vehicles overheating in the desert heat.

Salmo Creston is a bitch of a hill.

You may also like: