midsize 3-row SUV

Toyota Highlander towing capacity (2014–2026)

Toyota Highlander towing ranges from 1,500 lb (2014–2019 2.7L four-cylinder LE) to 5,000 lb (every 3.5L V6 from 2016 on, and every 2.4L turbo from 2023 on). Hybrids — 3.5L V6 hybrid through 2019, 2.5L four-cylinder hybrid from 2020 — are rated 3,500 lb across the board. On 2014–2015 V6 models the 5,000 lb rating required the V6 Towing Prep Package (standard on XLE/Limited); LE and LE Plus were rated 2,000 lb. Third-generation (2014–2019) ratings carry Toyota's SAE J2807 footnote; fourth-generation documents state the rating without a J2807 claim.

Rated range, 2014–2026

1,500–5,000 lb

Depends on engine, drivetrain, and packages — find your exact configuration below.

Towing capacity by configuration

Years	Engine	Config	Max tow	Payload	Grade
2023–2026	2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp)	—	5,000 lb¹	1,485 lb	OEM
2020–2022	3.5L V6 (295 hp)	—	5,000 lb²	1,485 lb	OEM
2020–2026	2.5L I4 hybrid (243 hp net)	—	3,500 lb³	1,405 lb	OEM
2017–2019	3.5L V6 hybrid (306 hp net)	AWD	3,500 lb⁴	1,305 lb	OEM
2016–2019	3.5L V6	—	5,000 lb⁵	1,280 lb	SAE J2807
2014–2015	3.5L V6 (270 hp)	XLE / Limited · V6 Towing Prep Package	5,000 lb⁶	1,385 lb	SAE J2807
2014–2016	3.5L V6 hybrid (280 hp net)	AWD · Limited	3,500 lb⁷	1,305 lb	OEM
2014–2015	3.5L V6 (270 hp)	LE / LE Plus	2,000 lb⁶	1,455 lb	SAE J2807
2014–2019	2.7L I4	FWD · LE	1,500 lb⁸	1,455 lb	SAE J2807

Ratings as published by the manufacturer for properly equipped vehicles; superscripts link to the source of each figure below.

The payload reality check

Take the 2023–2026 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) rated at 5,000 lb with 1,485 lb of payload. Load a family (550 lb of people, 150 lb of gear) and the honest limit becomes 5,000 lb — limited by tow-rating, computed the same way as our calculator.

Run your own load in the towing calculator →

Can this Highlander tow these popular trailers?

Each trailer's published GVWR (fully loaded) run through our engine against the 2023–2026 2.4L turbo I4 (265 hp) , loaded with two adults, two kids and gear (700 lb) and a conservative tongue weight — the same math as the calculator.

Trailer	Loaded (GVWR)	Verdict
Casita Spirit 17 compact molded-fiberglass travel trailer · 17 ft	3,500 lb	Yes — 1,500 lb to spare limited by tow rating
Grand Design Imagine XLS 17MKE light half-ton travel trailer · 21 ft 11 in	6,395 lb	No — over by 1,395 lb limited by tow rating
Big Tex 70CH (18 ft) tandem-axle car hauler / utility trailer · 18 ft	7,000 lb	No — over by 2,000 lb limited by tow rating

Trailer weights are the manufacturers' published GVWR (linked). A “yes” here is a planning estimate for this configuration — your own truck's door-jamb payload and your trailer's real loaded weight decide it. Start from your trailer →

What owners actually tow

Real-world reports from owner communities — experiences, not ratings. Your configuration and load decide what's safe.

A V6 Highlander with a weight-distribution hitch handles a ~3,300 lb travel trailer even over 10,000-ft mountain passes — at 45 mph uphill, with the trailer tanks kept empty until camp.

An owner towing a Lance 1575 (3,700 lb GVWR, ~3,360 lb on the trailer axle at a scale) behind a 2017 V6 AWD reported no white-knuckle moments over Wolf Creek and Monarch passes in Colorado, downshifting to keep revs up and using manual mode for engine braking on descents. The counterweight in the same thread: several families found a 20-ft trailer leaves too little payload margin and moved to a truck.

r/traveltrailers thread
Payload runs out before the 5,000 lb tow rating — a ~400 lb tongue weight plus two adults and dogs already put one owner near the limit, and a 4,500 lb trailer "didn't like the highway."

The owner shopping a Lance 1475 calculated he would be near max payload before loading any gear. Another owner who towed 4,500 lb with a 2018 Highlander sat right at the payload limit and called it acceptable for short trips only. The thread's working formula: sticker payload minus people, cargo, and ~75 lb of WDH hardware is your real tongue-weight budget.

r/traveltrailers thread
Crosswind is what the ratings don't capture: a tall, light trailer becomes a sail behind the Highlander's short wheelbase even when every number checks out.

One owner towed a ~4,000 lb GVWR bunkhouse with a 2015 Highlander XLE after the math all worked out, then quit after ~35 mph gusts pushed the rig around and replaced it with a Tundra. Others in the thread run 5,000 lb GVWR trailers on V6 Highlanders with anti-sway hitches, empty fresh-water tanks (200+ lb saved near the tongue), and patience for 50 mph interstate climbs.

r/GoRVing thread

How to read these numbers

Every figure above is the manufacturer's rating for that specific configuration — engine, drivetrain, cab, and package — not a model-wide maximum. Two things still matter before you hitch up: your individual vehicle's door-jamb sticker (options change payload truck by truck), and your real load — on most vehicles, payload runs out before the tow rating. Estimate your trailer's loaded weight with the trailer weight calculator, then check the full picture in the tow-match calculator.

Sources

Cross-checked per our methodology; conflicting sources resolve to the lower figure. Spotted a discrepancy with your towing guide? Send a correction — that's the email we most want.

Before you tow: confirm the ratings for your exact vehicle on the driver's door-jamb label and in the owner's manual or towing guide for its model year. Never exceed any single rating — see the disclaimer.