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Towing with rav4 LE awd

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tin_tin

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have 2021 Toyota rav4 and am planning to move from Med hat to Toronto. It is almost 4,000 km one way. I have some stuff with me that i would like to take along that will not fit inside my car.

I am looking to renting a uhaul trailer 4' X 8 " . It has an empty weight of 850 lbs and based on the car manual it can tow up to 1,500 lbs. I prefer not to get close to the maximum.

Is it okay to tow around 1,400 lbs for four days on the highway? Would it damage the transmission? I realize it is hard on the transmission but would that be okay ?
 
#2 ·
it's fine

if you can plan around the steepest routes and pick flatter ones that is a good idea

if you have been maintaining the tranny properly. could use a service either before or after the trip

just don't floor it... and use your gears to ease up to speed should be OK

it is not a race, be the slow guy in the slow lane is best
 
#3 ·
tin_tin said:
I have 2021 Toyota rav4 and am planning to move from Med hat to Toronto. It is almost 4,000 km one way. I have some stuff with me that i would like to take along that will not fit inside my car.

I am looking to renting a uhaul trailer 4' X 8 " . It has an empty weight of 850 lbs and based on the car manual it can tow up to 1,500 lbs. I prefer not to get close to the maximum.

Is it okay to tow around 1,400 lbs for four days on the highway? Would it damage the transmission? I realize it is hard on the transmission but would that be okay ?
Click to expand...
You can tow 1,500lbs as that is a safe number that Toyota gives the RAV. It can tow more, but they have a safety margin built in when they say 1,500lbs.

Wanting to stay cautious and tow under max reminds me of when I was in the military. Battalion formation at 0700, but the company CO wants to make sure everyone is there on time so he tells his company to show up at 0630. The platoon CO wants to make sure everyone is on time for the company CO's time so he has the platoon show up at 0600. The platoon SNCO wants to make sure everyone is on time to the platoon CO's, so he has the platoon show up at 0530. The platoon NCO knows that 0530 is super early and might be hard for some to get up and there on time, so he has everyone show up at 0500 to make sure there is time to get everyone there for the SNCO time. Now people are showing up at 0500 and waiting 2 hours for battalion CO to show up.
 
#4 ·
tin_tin said:
I have 2021 Toyota rav4 and am planning to move from Med hat to Toronto. It is almost 4,000 km one way. I have some stuff with me that i would like to take along that will not fit inside my car.

I am looking to renting a uhaul trailer 4' X 8 " . It has an empty weight of 850 lbs and based on the car manual it can tow up to 1,500 lbs. I prefer not to get close to the maximum.

Is it okay to tow around 1,400 lbs for four days on the highway? Would it damage the transmission? I realize it is hard on the transmission but would that be okay ?
Click to expand...
U-Haul have a U-Box you may want to consider. Towing does put more wear and tear on the car especially very long distances. Fuel mileage will suffer quite a bit. You will not see behind you when you are driving due to the trailer blocking your view. Parts of Ontario along the lake have many turns and hills.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
DL175 said:
U-Haul have a U-Box you may want to consider. Towing does put more wear and tear on the car especially very long distances. Fuel mileage will suffer quite a bit. You will not see behind you when you are driving due to the trailer blocking your view. Parts of Ontario along the lake have many turns and hills.
Click to expand...
Thanks DL175. U-box looks like a much better idea, I rather not tow.
 
#6 ·
I would listen to the advise on flooring it. I picked up a super cherry 2011 Limited V6 last summer, only had 56,000 miles. I decided to take a road trip pulling my 5x8 enclosed trailer with my dirt bike from Spokane to Boise and back. Have made that trip numerous times before in a Duramax Silverado. It didn't like going slower than 75mph. So I kept the Rav4 at 70-75 the whole way there and back. It pulled it no problem though the revs were just a wee bit higher than on the truck. It has not been the same since. Still runs strong but has a rough feel to it. It now has 62,000 so I'm going to service the tranny next week. And it has a 3500lb towing capacity
 
#8 ·
Big Daddy said:
Just a suggestion how about renting a small U-Haul truck with a dolly for the front wheels of the Rav4, & tow it??
Click to expand...
You cannot dolly tow an AWD RAV4 as the OP has. All four wheels MUST be off the ground.
 
#9 ·
Vehicle tow rating of 1,500Lbs???

Those U-Haul trailers are heavy-dead weight all on their own.

Might be better off buying one of those cheap Harbor Freight trailers......they weigh 300ish pounds. Overall, probably cost less to buy/own one of these than rent a U-Haul trailer.
 
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