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BruceP View Drop Down
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Joined: 27 Oct 2018
Location: Texas
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Posts: 2 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: New Member
    Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 7:08pm
Hi all:

We are considering purchasing an R-POD. We are looking at one of the heavier ones (maybe an R-180). We have a 2009 Highlander Hybrid. Does anyone have experience with pulling an R-POD with a Highlander Hybrid?

We would like to hear any/all experiences.

Bruce in Texas
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Posts: 6422 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 8:09pm
The specs on the 2018 Highlander Hybrid list a towing limit of 3500 lbs. The heavier R-Pods would easily be pushing that limit. The non-hybrid models have a limit of up to 5000 lbs. I think the CVT is probably the reason for the lower limit as the drivetrain should otherwise be more than capable. I looked more and found the same 3500 lb limit for the 2009 model.

Admittedly, this is not a Toyota blog, but the information is probably appropriate.  http://www.nissantechnicianinfo.mobi/htmlversions/2015_CVT_Special/Towing.html
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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BruceP View Drop Down
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Posts: 2 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 9:10pm
I am aware of the 3500 lb manufacturer's rating. My fear is that hybrids could be a little querky shifting between gas and electric power. I am hoping someone has experience here.

Thanks for the response.
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6422 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 9:31pm
The biggest issue I think you would have is that the drivetrain is FWD. You will definitely need a weight distribution hitch, preferably one with sway control like the Progress E2 or the Equal-i-zer 4 point sway control hitch or equivalent. Otherise, you will find the trailer taking too much weight off the front end and making traction difficult. That was our experience when we were towing with a 2016 Ford Escape. Even with a WD hitch (we had the Equal-i-zer), I had to be really careful taking off from a stop as it was easy to spin the front wheels, especially if conditions were less than ideal. As for switching between gas and electric, I doubt you would have any trouble there. If you can't tell when it is switching now, you probably won't be able to while towing either. I suspect that the gasoline engine will be running most of the time anyway, especially at highway speeds due to the need to overcome wind resistance. I definitely would be interested in hearing if anyone has tried it what the results were.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
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Posts: 2707 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Oct 2018 at 9:49pm
Originally posted by BruceP

I am aware of the 3500 lb manufacturer's rating. My fear is that hybrids could be a little querky shifting between gas and electric power. I am hoping someone has experience here.

Thanks for the response.
I think you've answered your own question there. The full-up weight of an RP180 is going to be in the neighborhood of 3800 lbs. That means that you'd be potentially 300 lbs above the limit of your vehicle. Much better to have the vehicle at 110-115% of the full-up weight of the R-pod. I'd be looking for a TV that had 4200-4400 lb limit as a minimum.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Oct 2018 at 5:00am
Welcome to the group!
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Jul 2018
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Oct 2018 at 6:27am
I tow my 179 at a full up weight of about 3850 and a tongue weight of 570 lbs. I really wanted to get a HiHi to tow it as I'm a big fan of the Toyota hybrid drivetrain (10 year plus Prius owner). I decided against it and bought a conventional ICE 3.5l Highlander instead. 

While many folks on the Toyota forums have said they tow fine with the HiHi I decided the risk just wasn't worth it. Since the HiHI is all wheel drive and has a rear electric motor, I doubt the real problem is going to be either starting torque or the transition between all electric and combined electric/ICE operation. Electric motors have plenty of torque, and the driver can manage the torgue and stress on the drivetrain by being light on the go pedal. 

I think its more likely that the limiting factor is something more mundane, like available ability to carry tongue weight. The HiHi weighs several hundred pounds more than the conventional Highlander, and much of that is going to be rearward in the battery.  That is going to come right off the tongue weight, easily taking it from the 550 lb range to the 350 lb number. 

So, if I already had a HiHi would I try it? Yes probably, but I'd be looking for a trailer with a very low tongue weight. The 179's and 180's aren't that, and don't believe the ridiculous numbers in the marketing literature. Those are taken with no water, no batteries, and no propane in the tank.  And I'd be sure to have my weight distribution hitch tensioned to bring that tongue weight as low as I reasonably could without creating too much stress elsewhere in the rig.

One more thing, don't expect to get much if any better fuel economy towing with the HiHi than you would with a conventional rig going down the highway. Your hp requirements will be essentially the same as mine, maybe even a little higher because of the extra weight of the hybrid, and you would be operating it well above its normal cruise hp demand so the ICE will be operating all the time. I get about 14 mpg (flat ground, no wind, 60-62 mph) btw. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Oct 2018 at 8:51am
Welcome to the forum.  Lots of good advice here.
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
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Live2Camp View Drop Down
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Joined: 17 Apr 2017
Location: No. California
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Posts: 240 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Oct 2018 at 1:12pm
Originally posted by lostagain

Welcome to the forum.  Lots of good advice here.

Yeah, what he said.
2017 R-Pod 179 HRE (the green one)
His:Ford F150 double cab 4WD; Hers/mine:Tacoma V6 double cab 4WD
Still love rugged, diggin' comfy too
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