The Toyota hybrid drive isn't a conventional CVT with a belt and variable diameter pulleys if that's what you're thinking. Those are limited to pretty low power capacity. 

The hybrid drive is actually a planetary gearset which is continuously engaged. The ICE is connected to the planetary gear carrier, one electric motor (MG1) is connected to the sun gear, and one (MG2) to the ring gear, which is also connected to the final drive. By varying the speed and direction of rotation of the two motors, the system can keep the ICE operating in the desired rpm range, as well as change the power flow to either draw from the battery to augment the ICE if high power is needed or charge the battery from the ICE if there is extra power available, or shut off the ICE entirely. MG2 runs in reverse to back up the vehicle, and MG1 is used to start the ICE. 

Toyota calls it an e-CVT but it really has nothing in common with a conventional CVT. It is a very robust and reliable drivetrain, with far fewer moving parts than a conventional transmission. 

So, why not tow with one? For me, the answer was simple, Toyota limits the Highlander Hybrid to 3500/350 which is a show stopper. 

Other reasons not to tow with one:

in early HiHy's when Toyota first scaled up the drive system from the Prius there were some cases where the cars bricked themselves on the highway due to overtemp shutdown in the ac motor drives (which are essentially the same thing as  inverters but with variable frequency output). Not good. I haven't heard that to be a problem in more recent models but I haven't checked either.

The hybrid drive is FWD only, to get AWD Toyota adds an electric motor for the rear wheels. Rear drive is for me essential for towing, but the rear motor is pretty low horsepower, IIRC about 60. That might be fine for those low traction situations but I didn't want to take that chance. 

Hybrids do the most to improve efficiency under light to moderate power demand, where the extra power available from the ICE can be used to charge the battery and it can be shut off part of the time. At high power demand the ICE has to run all the time so they don't improve efficiency much. So towing on the highway is not their strong suit. I doubt the fuel economy towing would be much different between the hybrid and standard versions. 

The HiHy has a smaller fuel tank than the standard Highlander (17 vs 19 gal). That doesn't sound like much but its actually a significant improvement in range while towing. 

All that being said, I would definitely consider a hybrid if the towing capacity could be bumped up in the 5000/500 range and the cars had proven reliable after a few years of operation at those higher loads. No way I'd buy a new one anyway, way too expensive for me.  

It might be doable. This site says it is possible as long as weights are not exceeded.

+1, that would bring trailer brake technology from 1930's tech into the second half of the 20th century. Even 1930's farm tractors have braking systems comparable to what rPods have. Then we couid also have ABS on our trailers. 

All electric brakes have are a couple of electromagnets and some wires, gotta be a lot cheaper for the trailer manufacturer, although overall cost including the brake controller is probably not much lower. 

Regardless, Lexus is absolutely within their rights as a manufacturer to refuse to install aftermarket equipment in their vehicles. If I were them I wouldn't do it either. Why accept the liability? 

I look at it this way: by dissuading customers from getting trailers that require electric brakes and will weigh more than 3000 lbs, Lexus is doing its customers a favor. We all know that the tow vehicle ratings are bogus because they allow for nothing to be loaded in the TV. The extra 500 lbs provides at least a little margin for carrying stuff and people and towing a trailer. 

Lexus is giving you wrong information. If the vehicle is rated to 3500, the law requires brakes to be working if they are on the trailer. In NC, a house trailer (I read that to include camping trailers) of 1,000 lbs or more is legally required to have brakes controlled by the driver of the tow vehicle. Other states say that any trailer over 3,000 lbs must have brakes. That includes Washington. If Lexus gives the vehicle a 3500 lb tow rating, and if the law states trailers over 3000 lbs requires brakes, then Lexus needs to install a brake controller.

Now, I do agree that the Lexus is marginal for the task though. You would be better served with a vehicle of higher tow capacity.

That being said, you should be able to have any trailer shop install a brake controller for you if you want to proceed, its not difficult. 

Regardless of who you have put it in, you as the driver need to understand what a brake controller does and how to set it up properly and confirm it and your trailer brakes are working as they should. Its not hard, just part of what you need to know to tow safely. So, after you get your rig back from whoever, get out the manual, go to a big empty parking lot and do the set up and test procedure yourself before your next trip. 

I wold hope so. If you have not already purchased a brake controller, make sure you get a proportional controller and not a time delay controller. The proportional one will apply the trailer brakes in proportion as needed to match the rate the tow vehicle is slowing. Time delay just starts out and builds the braking force without consideration of how much braking force the tow vehicle is using. Time Delay controllers are as one might expect, cheaper. Proportional ones are more expensive, but you do get what you pay for. Don't let them talk you into a time delay one.

Ones to consider: Tekonsha Prodigy P3; Tekonsha Prodigy P2/ Hopkins InSIGHT Flex-Mount (the one I have), Redarc Tow-Pro Elite (can be mounted with only a small control button visible); or Curt Spectrum (similar to Redarc with only small control knob visible). There are others, but take a look at these on etrailer.com and read up on them before you let the U-Haul dealer talk you into something that you would find inadequate later on.

You can't bank on Lexus thinking you would be towing a trailer that required a 7-pin connector to operate electric brakes. I had a 2016 Ford Escape SE with factory installed tow package. It came with a 2" receiver, but only  a 4 pin connector like your Lexus has. In order to add the brake controller, I had to purchase a wiring kit from eTrailer to add the missing 7-pin connector myself along with the required wiring for the brake and 12v power.

Looking on the Lexus site, the towing prep package includes things like heavy-duty radiator and cooling fan plus oil and transmission coolers. It says nothing about heavy-duty alternator or wiring for trailer brake system. Etrailer says that without the 7-way, you need this kit to install a brake controller:

Without a brake controller, you run the risk of an accident. Please install one. If the trailer comes with electric brakes, and the RPods do, you are required to have them operational, especially since the weight of a loaded RPod is most likely to exceed 3,000 lbs. Don't tow without a working controller please. There are wireless ones now that make installing a controller easier, but that does not eliminate the need for a 7-way connector.

Yep, incorrect assumption. If you don't have a brake controller you need one. You can buy one and install it yourself if you feel comfortable, or have an RV or trailer place do it. They will install a 7 way connector on the Lexus at the same time, and you'll be good to go for both charging and brakes. If you decide to do it yourself I recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2. Does everything you need it to without a lot of frills. 

Old thread...but...

Some vehicles like my 4Runner only charge when lights are on. Weird, huh?

To clarify one thing, do you have a brake controller in the Lexus? A flat 4 connector doesn't provide an output to control the electric brakes.  You need to have that in order to legally and safely tow a trailer the weight of ab rpod. 

         Moe