Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Okie/Dave,
If Scott, Renee, and the Toyota engineers all say the RAV4 can pull the trailer, then I believe it. I also know someone who used a Ford F250, but with the "small" in-line 6, to tow a much larger trailer than that truck was rated for with that engine. She used the gears appropropriately (no towing in OD, for example), and got great service out of the vehicle.

Your fuel economy will go down dramatically pulling a trailer with a smaller vehicle; I saw this when I hooked up a tiny motorboat trailer to my Corolla. But since we only pull a trailer 1 or 2% of the time we own a vehicle, this one is not a show stopper in my opinion.

But even if the rig has the power to pull the trailer, one thing you can't change is the physics. As the weight of the vehicle gets smaller, then you will have greater need for a trailer with brakes to bring it all to a stop. And your ability to control the vehicle under emergency conditions will degrade as the ratio of trailer/vehicle weight increases. To stay safe, be prepared to compensate by slowing down a lot more than you would if pulling the same trailer with your large truck!

Thanks Cowper,

Your advice is always appreciated and makes a lot of sense. I noticed when I went from the small chassis Tacoma to my 2005 Tundra that the trailer towing stability was much improved - you just explained why that happened. Bigger Chassis!

I have had lots of Tacomas and 4Runners. Wish Toyota had kept the small chassis 4Runner in their line up. The RAV4 is beginning to look a lot like the small 4Runners I used to drive. And, the more I research the better that RAV4 is looking.

I trust Scott and Renee's feedback a lot more that the Toyota Engineers tho.