Need advice...have a 2008 Toyota Sienna

[joesonio]

without the towing package. I've done some research, and it looks like the "towing package" which was standard on all Sienna's until 2007 at which time it was dropped. On some forums, people say that the max tongue weight is 120lbs, others say it doesn't matter. I'm in the Puget Sound area and will be mooring in a wet slip, so it's not crucial, but I would eventually like to do some trailering to some local lakes. Any advice?

[mastreb]

Toyota rated the 2007 Sienna as having a tow capacity of 3,500 lbs, which is just at the tow weight of an EMPTY Mac. I think even with a tow package, you wouldn't have enough tolerance to safely tow with this vehicle because people invariably have options and extras like water tanks, fuel tanks, etc. that way many hundreds of pounds extra and frequently store quite a bit aboard.

Also consider that the Sienna sits quite low compared to a typical tow vehicle. You won't be able to back as far down a tow ramp with a Sienna as you would with a typical truck, which makes getting the boat back onto the trailer a lot more time consuming. The front-wheel drive is an advantage compared to rear-wheel drive on the ramp in theory, but if the tongue weight plus angle on the ramp makes the front wheels lose traction on the ramp, you could slide into the drink. 4x4 is far better for safely getting up out of an algae and mud crusted ramp.

Can it do it? Probably. Will it be safe? Maybe. But it's a risk and you will be loading your CV joints and brakes quite a bit more than usually, probably leading to early failure of those components in your vehicle.

Consider buying a used ten-year-old Ford or Chevy 4x4 truck as a tow vehicle at the $2000 or so price point. It'll cost you less than anything going wrong with your current rig.

[joesonio]

Thanks Mastreb. That's kind of what I've been reading elsewhere. I'll just have to white knuckle it down to my marina and then look at other options. I'll probably take your advice and look around for an old workhorse.

[mastreb]

Also kind of depends on how long of a tow we're talking about. If you're five miles from the marina, then fine. If it's a two-hour tow and there's a mountain in-between then that's trouble.

Consider looking for storage nearby the Marina that will make the tow very short?

[beene]

Kevin uses his Sienna to tow his Mac.

I had a 2001 Sienna and towed mine from Milwaukee to Northern Ontario.

I added a spring kit that Kevin steered me to.

It is an air bag that goes inside your rear springs
You inflate when trailering.

G

[Tomfoolery]

I'm using a 2003 Honda Odyssey to tow my , but it travels light. 2-axle trailer with light tongue load and no sway issues at highway speeds.

It's not ideal by any means, but it does have a long wheelbase (and wide track, compared to 4Runners and Pathfinders), and with disc surge brakes on one axle, it's not scary to drive, though as a tractor-trailer driver used to hauling oversized and overweight dirt machines in a former life, I may be a bit jaded.