Newbie needs towing advice

[SharonBrune]

I have bought a new R-pod 171 which I will tow with my Toyota Sienna. I’d like to drive from Missoula MT to Topeka KS but I’m concerned about crossing the Rockies with a relatively light weight towing vehicle. Toyota has a 3500 lb towing capacity and the dry weight of the r-pod is 2435 lbs. Can I make it? Thanks for your advice.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Welcome to the Trip Advice Planning Forums.

How do you know that your Toyota Sienna has a 3500 towing capacity? The maximum rating capacity for a Toyota Sienna with the full tow package is 3500 pounds, but you have to have the heavy duty radiator and fan and the after-market beefed up engine oil cooler. Plus, you would need to heavy duty tongue on your vehicle. Do you have all of that?

Those R-pod 171 trailers are pretty dang cute. Generally, the value I use is 80% of the rated towing capacity as being a reasonable load for a given vehicle. On paper, at least, you should be OK, but can't store any gear in the trailer.

Do you have experience in towing trailers?

I don't know how well the trailer handles cross-wind -- hopefully one our members with more recent towing experience will jump in soon.

Mark

[Midwest Michael]

My initial reaction is that you should be fine. If you're properly set up, a vehicle with a 3500 towing capacity should be able to handle an RPOD pretty easily. That's the same capacity as a compact pickup like the Tacoma. Just for comparison sake, I towed a teardrop, (1100 lbs dry, probably closer to 1500 loaded), to Missoula last summer with a 2000lbs towing capacity CX-5 and other than a little sluggishness in the mountains between Helena and Missoula, I had no issues.

Of course, that assumes you have the proper equipment. Do you have the towing package that mark mentioned? Do you have a 7 pin wiring connection and a brake controller? Those are as important of factors as the vehicle itself.

Are you from Missoula or are you going there to pick up the camper? The areas you're most likely to have difficulty are right around Missoula, so if you're from there, give yourself a test run in the area and get a feel for how it handles before getting out on a long trip.

[SharonBrune]

Thank you for your answers. I’m having a trailer hitch installed with weight distribution and sway bars for at least 4000 lbs, wiring (7 point? I’ll check but I think so), brake controller and transmission cooler. No, I have not towed a trailer before - my last rv was a 26 ‘ motorhome. I thought I would find a place for some instruction in Missoula when I picked up the trailer and spend a few days getting up to speed before setting out.

[Midwest Michael]

If you're having a brake controller installed, then you'll get the correct wiring. The difference between a 4 and 7 pin connection is extra connections for both the trailer brakes and to send power to charge the camper's battery.

A weight distributing hitch is probably overkill for a relatively small trailer like the RPOD. It probably won't be an issue for your Sienna, but double check your owners manual. A lot of smaller, especially AWD, tow vehicles actually recommend against them. A regular class III (2 inch, 5,000 capacity) hitch would probably be sufficient.

But all in all, you should be fine. Take things slow, especially to start. The biggest thing to watch out for is making sure the trailer/load is balanced. You want about 60% of the weight in front of the axle. Too much weight in front and it will put a lot of strain on your car, too much weight in the back and the trailer will be very hard to control. If you start heading down the road and you're fishtailing, stop and readjust your load.

[SharonBrune]

Thanks! I’ll speak to the hitch installer about not going with the weight distribution hitch. It was recommended to me by someone who drives a Sienna/r-pod combo.
I have another weight question: Would it be an advantage to pack things in the van instead of the trailer? I carry bottles of water, groceries, drinks, tools, bbq, folding chairs and table, etc. I’d like to travel light crossing the mountains but I don’t know if it makes a difference if part of the weight is carried in the van. Thanks again!

[glc]

If the WD hitch was recommended by another Sienna/R-Pod owner, then it would probably be advised.

Pack things in the trailer, as long as the loaded (gross) weight of the trailer doesn't exceed 3500# and it's distributed properly. If you pack it in the van, you may exceed the gross weight rating of the van.

This is how the gross weight rating of the van is calculated. It's the total weight of the van and its contents *before* connecting the trailer, *plus* the tongue weight of the trailer. The ideal tongue weight of the trailer is 12% of the total weight of the trailer (should never exceed 15% or be less than 8%). So - let's say you have 500# of stuff to pack. If you pack it in the van, that's 500# added to its gross weight. If you pack it properly in the trailer, it only increases the gross weight of the van by 60#.

The max gross weight rating of the van should be on the door jamb sticker, it will be listed as "GVWR".

If you want to make sure you are not overloading the van and have the trailer packed correctly, load everything up including passengers, fill the gas tank, and connect the trailer. Go to a truck stop that has CAT scales and run the rig over the scales and get the weight slip. It will show front axle weight, rear axle weight, and trailer axle weight. Disconnect the trailer and run just the van over the scales and get the slip.

Math is below.

FV = front van axle with trailer not connected
FVT = front van axle with trailer connected
RV and RVT as above
TR = trailer axle

FVT + RVT should not exceed van GVWR
(FVT + RVT) - (FV + RV) is the trailer tongue weight.
Tongue weight + TR is the trailer gross weight.

[SharonBrune]

Thank you so much! You’ve spelled it all out clearly for me - much appreciated!

[Mark Sedenquist]

GLC, that was a great summation!

Sharon, the other thing I would add is don't be intimidated by the other trucks in line to use the scales -- the scale operator is happy to weigh your vehicle and trailer.

Sounds like you will be well-prepared. I hope you come back here after the trip and let us know how it went.

Mark

[SharonBrune]

Thanks for saying that about the trucks - I’ll probably feel a little out of place! I love adventure but I do believe in being well prepared. “Make fast the trellis and let the roses fall where they may.”
Hopefully all will go well and I’ll report back when I return! Thank you all!