Has anyone towed with their RAV4? I know its not really built for it. I have a 2019 LE with AWD. I am wondering if I found a popup camper under 1500 pounds if it would work?
Thelt
depends on a lot of things.
how far and how fast.
and popup design.
some are way more aero.
i have a 4.1 (2000) and adding a hitch for around town low speed tow on an aluma 6x10 trailer.
light weight aluminum trailer.
most of the time it is just boxes to storage, or parts from menards.
handy trailer.
just adding on the hitch this week.
it should be an easy and handy pull.
just watch the weights
rav and trailer as a combo.
if you have an option for electric brakes i would say yes!
that would be a BIG help!
most do not have them on the small trailers but...
any help on braking would make the rav last longer!
how far and how fast.
and popup design.
some are way more aero.
i have a 4.1 (2000) and adding a hitch for around town low speed tow on an aluma 6x10 trailer.
light weight aluminum trailer.
most of the time it is just boxes to storage, or parts from menards.
handy trailer.
just adding on the hitch this week.
it should be an easy and handy pull.
just watch the weights
rav and trailer as a combo.
if you have an option for electric brakes i would say yes!
that would be a BIG help!
most do not have them on the small trailers but...
any help on braking would make the rav last longer!
Ugh, this is just like the truck forums. haha
Your vehicle has a gross weight and a maximum payload. You need to look at your payload rating (found on the door stickers on the driver door jamb).
Payload means the summed weight of you and your passengers and any other things you added to the car for weight, including 5 lbs of charging cords!
Next you need to figure out the exact weight of the trailer, or at least know the gross weight of the trailer. You have a hard time buying a trailer without a saleman ensuring you it weights less than the average. haha
Your car has a max towing weight which could be useless if your tongue weight is too heavy. You need to know the tongue weight of the trailer. For an RV, it is usually 13% of the trailer weight.
Take that 1500lb trailer at 13% and you have about 200lbs of tongue weight. Now add the weight of the stuff in your car including you and a wife and one child, that's about 400lbs. 400+200=600 lbs of payload. Your car probably has greater than 600lbs of available payload but not by a lot.
So, if you find a trailer that is at or lower than the maximum towing weight allowed AND if the tongue weight and your cargo will not exceed the cars payload rating then yes you could tow a 1500lb trailer.
The variables here are that you dont know you payload right now and you have zero idea of the trailer weight without passing it over a scale.
Your vehicle has a gross weight and a maximum payload. You need to look at your payload rating (found on the door stickers on the driver door jamb).
Payload means the summed weight of you and your passengers and any other things you added to the car for weight, including 5 lbs of charging cords!
Next you need to figure out the exact weight of the trailer, or at least know the gross weight of the trailer. You have a hard time buying a trailer without a saleman ensuring you it weights less than the average. haha
Your car has a max towing weight which could be useless if your tongue weight is too heavy. You need to know the tongue weight of the trailer. For an RV, it is usually 13% of the trailer weight.
Take that 1500lb trailer at 13% and you have about 200lbs of tongue weight. Now add the weight of the stuff in your car including you and a wife and one child, that's about 400lbs. 400+200=600 lbs of payload. Your car probably has greater than 600lbs of available payload but not by a lot.
So, if you find a trailer that is at or lower than the maximum towing weight allowed AND if the tongue weight and your cargo will not exceed the cars payload rating then yes you could tow a 1500lb trailer.
The variables here are that you dont know you payload right now and you have zero idea of the trailer weight without passing it over a scale.
"Time Out" makes a pop-up tent trailer that is designed to be towed by a motorcycle or small car. It weighs less than 400lbs
Time Out Trailers | Official Site
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Time Out Trailers | Official Site
I tow my camper (Intech Flyer Pursue, loaded weight about 2000lb) with my Prime (rated for 2500lb) - no problems at all, although obviously heavier on gas. I don't use the electric drive for towing - it's not advised and only lasts for about 20-25 miles anyway. I was looking at a Highlander in order to get the towing capability that I needed, but then realized that the Prime would do it - one of several reasons that pushed me to the Prime. If a future camper were heavier than the Pursue, I would go with the Highlander.
Interesting. Cars are so much different than trucks.
Nobody other than the owner can ever answer the payload question of a truck because you'll almost not find 2 trucks with identical payload.
I expected the Prime to be a heavier vehicle than the XSE. The car I own (hybrid) has a 600lb payload. Surprising the XSE is so heavy that it has 50% capacity. eek.
Nobody other than the owner can ever answer the payload question of a truck because you'll almost not find 2 trucks with identical payload.
I expected the Prime to be a heavier vehicle than the XSE. The car I own (hybrid) has a 600lb payload. Surprising the XSE is so heavy that it has 50% capacity. eek.
I have a new 2022 Rav4 Adventure with 3,500 towing capacities. I got it specifically for towing my aluminum Hyde drift boat that I have outfitted with two 8 hp evinrudes and usually have 12 to 18 gallons of fuel and a large cooler in it. I figure it is about 1,800 pounds and so far I have only towed it to the boat lauch 3 miles down the secondary road and back. No problems and too short a drive to get a good MPG reading. I figure I take the boat out 12 to 20 times a year.
I also expect to take longer trips without outboards and fuel for drift boat river fishing.
I also have a heavy duty tandem axle cargo trailer (800 pounds empty) that I expect to tow my 4 wheelers short distances and use for general moving and hauling, including firewood collection, although I do not want to approach the trailer capacity with the Rav4.
I have not towed on the highway or speeds above 55 mph yet but will let you know how I do.
Regards,
Crankster
I also expect to take longer trips without outboards and fuel for drift boat river fishing.
I also have a heavy duty tandem axle cargo trailer (800 pounds empty) that I expect to tow my 4 wheelers short distances and use for general moving and hauling, including firewood collection, although I do not want to approach the trailer capacity with the Rav4.
I have not towed on the highway or speeds above 55 mph yet but will let you know how I do.
Regards,
Crankster
I have a '20 XLE Hybrid and I've towed over 2,000lbs comfortably with it on the highway going 70mph. After watch Alex on Autos' video (see below), and with Iowa being not too hilly, I pulled a trailer with a bunch of lumber about 60 miles on the interstate. I had the Hybrid Assistant app open with my OBDII reader to keep an eye on all the temps and everything was happy. The reason the US has a lower towing rating than other countries in the world is because they test for ALL conditions (hot weather, cold weather, going up and down mountains, and different speed limits). I've seen some people on here say that their hybrid in their country has a 3,000lb rating for essential the same vehicle, but due to lower max speed limits, milder weather, and not as mountainous, the RAV doesn't have to work as hard.
The biggest difference between the Adventure and the lower trims on the non-hybrid models is the oil and transmission coolers. Since the Adventure can run cooler, it has more headroom to tow more.
The biggest difference between the Adventure and the lower trims on the non-hybrid models is the oil and transmission coolers. Since the Adventure can run cooler, it has more headroom to tow more.
I have a lifted 2019 XLE awd and I am running into he same issue as you are for towing. It didnt look like there are many options for a 1500 pound towing vehicle. I really didnt want a small pop up, although the timeout trailers dont look bad, I just wanted something more then canvas/plastic walls. After researching this for quit a while I found there are some tear drop trailers that fall under our weight limit, some of them well under. They do run a little more then that small pop up but not a ridiculous amount more. You might want to check these:
roadtoadcampers.com
superiorlitecampers.com
www.tinycampercompany.com
www.hikertrailers.com
These range from 460 pounds for the lightest, Roadtoad , to the heaviest is just over 1000 pounds. The come 4x8, 5x8, 6x8, 5x9, 5x10. They can fit real queen size beds and come with rear storage or rear kitchenette. Some come with a/c. Many of them come made with off road trailers available. Prices range from 6K to just over 10k. You can add options and load one out over 16 for the hiker, but since there are not many options and if you are looking for something as close to a comfortable camp experience without an RV, I dont think we can get better then these.
![Image]()
Hop In - Hit the Road With the Toad!
Teardrop travel trailers, built for light weight, strength and durability. Several Models and Options to choose from.
roadtoadcampers.com
Home - Superior Lite Campers
Why Superior Lite Campers? Superior Lite mini campers are light weight and easy to tow behind compact vehicles. The 5′ x 8′ model weighs just 850 lbs and the 5′ x 10′ model weighs 1,000 lbs. Interior height inside the … Read More
superiorlitecampers.com
TINY CAMPER COMPANY
www.tinycampercompany.com
Home - Hiker Trailers - Custom Teardrop Trailers
Discover Hiker Trailers: Top teardrop trailers, small campers, and affordable trailers. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts seeking quality and budget-friendly options.
www.hikertrailers.com
These range from 460 pounds for the lightest, Roadtoad , to the heaviest is just over 1000 pounds. The come 4x8, 5x8, 6x8, 5x9, 5x10. They can fit real queen size beds and come with rear storage or rear kitchenette. Some come with a/c. Many of them come made with off road trailers available. Prices range from 6K to just over 10k. You can add options and load one out over 16 for the hiker, but since there are not many options and if you are looking for something as close to a comfortable camp experience without an RV, I dont think we can get better then these.
Well I know someone here in AUS that towed an 18ft lightweight caravan with a 2019 Rav from right down south in state of Victoria, right up to Townsville North Queensland, then across the middle to Alice Springs Northern Territory, south down to Adelaide South Australia then east back home to Victora. He was rapped with it and had no problems. With side trips as well he did somewhere around 7,000 kms and we don't have your nice formed roads here in Aus!
For what it is worth, I tow my boat on a double axle trailer around town. Trailer is roughly 800 lbs. Boat is about 3000lbs. Trailer does not have brakes. Trailer hitch is a modified Curt hitch. 2021 Rav4 XLE AWD 2.5. I just take it slow and easy. I would not be concerned with a 1500lb trailer at highway speeds unless you get into some steep hills.
These are just my opinions and not to be taken as gospel
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These are just my opinions and not to be taken as gospel
I would take it out of 6th gear or overdrive and run it in the 5th gear. I say this because I have jeep v8 and when you go to tow mode it puts it in 5th gear for towing and also take it out of econo mode for towing. I have a hitch but have not towed yet but this what I plan to do when I tow. I haven't looked but the manual it should have some max towing numbers.
scamp
scamp
I towed a 16ft Airstream Bambi (dry weight 3000lb, added 150lb of water and camping gear). Towed really well.
MPG was 11L/100km (21mpg). (Usually get 7L/100km / 33 MPG)
Towing with a Trail/Adventure - max towing is 3500lb. Trailers GVWR is also 3500lb. Electric brake controller wired and installed.
Tongue weight was on the high side at 12% (Toyota say 10%, everyone else says 10-15%). Rear sag not ideal but airbags will fix that next time.
Wouldn't like to tow this much weekly, or on super long trips but for occasional, local camping trips it did great.
MPG was 11L/100km (21mpg). (Usually get 7L/100km / 33 MPG)
Towing with a Trail/Adventure - max towing is 3500lb. Trailers GVWR is also 3500lb. Electric brake controller wired and installed.
Tongue weight was on the high side at 12% (Toyota say 10%, everyone else says 10-15%). Rear sag not ideal but airbags will fix that next time.
Wouldn't like to tow this much weekly, or on super long trips but for occasional, local camping trips it did great.
I hope you’re bumping the oil weight up to 5w-30 or something for towing over the rated capacity (for non-Adventure trims). I’m fine with 0w-16 but it has its limits. The Adventure has an additional oil cooler and a beefier radiator to accommodate a higher tow capacity.
On flat roads I agree, no problems likely towing 3000 pounds. However, my area is too hilly. Going downhill without trailer brakes would not be a good time in northern AL lol!
On flat roads I agree, no problems likely towing 3000 pounds. However, my area is too hilly. Going downhill without trailer brakes would not be a good time in northern AL lol!
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