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Toyota Sienna Towing/Trailer Hitch Questions

50 messages,  Last post on May 31, 2013 at 2:13 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Towing, Van

Messages Page 1 of 5

#1 of 50 trailer hitch capacity by dohrmc

Aug 17, 2007 (8:52 am)

I often carry a 1980 Honda 110 Trail motorcycle on the back of my 2002 Ford Expedition. I can't even tell the bike is back there. I am thinking of replacing the Expedition with a minivan in search of better mileage. Does anyone have any experience using a hitch carrier like this? I don't know if the Sienna can hack hauling an [approx.] 190-200# bike on a hitch. It will have to be a Class III hitch to fit my equipment. Any of you use a hitch on your Sienna like this?

#2 of 50 Re: trailer hitch capacity [dohrmc] by ateixeira

Aug 17, 2007 (9:05 am)

Replying to: dohrmc (Aug 17, 2007 8:52 am)
Looks like 350 lbs tongue weight for class II, 525 for a class III hitch with weight distribution:
 
http://www.siennaclub.org/forum/lofiversion/index.php?t518-50.html

#3 of 50 Re: trailer hitch capacity [dohrmc] by subewannabe

Sep 11, 2007 (8:35 am)

Replying to: dohrmc (Aug 17, 2007 8:52 am)
I had an after-market Class III hitch installed on my 2005 SLE AWD for my bike rack, but not the wiring harness. Thinking I might want to haul a small trailer, I picked up the OEM wiring harness from my dealer's parts department..YIKES!
 
Its a big bag of wires and parts with no instructions, and it looks like I have to pull off panels and hide wires all the way from the dash to the left rear interior panel
  Anybody attempt this on their own or should I let a pro do it, dealer or otherwise?

#4 of 50 Re: trailer hitch capacity [subewannabe] by ateixeira

Sep 11, 2007 (1:55 pm)

Replying to: subewannabe (Sep 11, 2007 8:35 am)
Search for instructions on-line. You'll probably find them in the forum I mentioned above.

#5 of 50 Wiring for 2007 Sienna Van by odickman

Jun 05, 2008 (6:47 pm)

I installed a class III hitch from curt manufacturing and installed a 2" ball on a 4" drop hitch turned upside down (elevates 2 3/4") to prevent scraping the ground with my trailer. I works like a charm.
 
I opted to not buy the ~$150 OEM wiring harness and decided to do it myself. I got a HOPPY #48845 Trailer Wiring Converter (cost ~$20) and watched the video on how to get to the brake and turn signal wiring on www.etrailer.com. With that information, it was easy to wire the Sienna. FYI - on the 2007, the green with yellow stripe is right turn, green with black stripe is left turn, green with white stripe is brake light, and solid green is running/tail lights. Hope this helps someone out, as I couldn't find this info on the 'net before I installed it myself.

#6 of 50 which hitch and from where? by jimmibondi

Aug 19, 2008 (3:18 pm)

I am planning to add a hitch mounted bike rack to my 00 Sienna. I am not planning to tow anything. What aftermarket hitch should I get? Is there someone who sells them cheap?
 
Cheers
jb

#7 of 50 2004 Sienna by giffweav

Aug 20, 2008 (7:25 pm)

We just picked up a new to us van. Have been towing our 2002 Coleman Sunvalley with our '99 Windstar previously. So on the new van which has the 3.3 engine, we have the class III hitch installed as well as the wiring harness. There have been differing opinions on transmission coolers. I have heard from a few that the Siennas already had an adequate tranny cooler on them?
 
The rear end is a bit lower than the Windstar so we will probably opt to purchase a Wight Distributing Hitch as well to pull the rear end up.
 
Anybody have any experience towing campers with the Sienna?
 
Appreciate any thoughts and help!!

#8 of 50 Re: 2004 Sienna [giffweav] by dnbqee

Aug 24, 2008 (5:44 pm)

Replying to: giffweav (Aug 20, 2008 7:25 pm)
This may help somewhat-we have towed our almost 4000lb 17' Starcraft all over the west with ..........a Honda Odyssey.....I know its not a Sienna but we used the weight distributing hitch with a very heavy 500 lb tounge weight and it worked like a dream. We also have a new to us 04 AWD Sienna but haven't installed the hitch/harness yet. I parked the Sienna side by side with Honda last night (both empty) and the rear of the Sienna is much higher so that helps a little. There are also aftermarket airbag suspension kits (installs fairly easily) available. Our experience with the Odyssey both with and without the weight distributing hitch: drives MUCH better, better traction and safer with weight dist. hitch. Hopes this helps a little. Let us know how it goes.

#9 of 50 Towing and transmission coolers??? by dnbqee

Aug 24, 2008 (5:57 pm)

Does any one know if the Siennas have transmission coolers already installed (going to be towing) or are they even required. I dont see any mention of them in the owners manual, so want to be sure. We will be towing a fairly heavy trailer. Had to install a cooler on our Odyssey. We have a 04 AWD Sienna. Wondering if the AWDs need more cooling etc. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

#10 of 50 Re: Towing and transmission coolers??? [dnbqee] by ateixeira

Aug 27, 2008 (11:29 am)

Replying to: dnbqee (Aug 24, 2008 5:57 pm)
Yes, up until the 2007 model year, the tow prep package was standard.
 
For 2008, they made this an option, but most vans in my region still got it.
 
I know 07s had them standard, though.

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