Towing Capacity and Parts Needed to Tow with a 2002 Toyota Sienna

Question:

I have a 2002 Toyota Sienna that runs well. I want to pull an R-Pod with it and the models I like best are the 177 - dry weight 2437, the 179 - dw 2756, the 180 - dw 2662, and the 189 - dw 2792. The towing capacity of my Sienna is 3500 lbs. I am very confused about what this means because of varying interpretations. Clearly the dry weight of the trailer and everything I pack into it is part of that 3500 lbs. What about the tongue, batteries and propane tank on the tongue? And the contents of the tow vehicle? I do dog sports and I carry two kennels, two medium-sized dogs and all their lure coursing gear plus a 5x5’ exercise pen. The salesman told me the contents of my vehicle was not part of the towing capacity. Most sources tell me it is. What do you recommend to be the maximum dry weight of the trailer I purchase? My Sienna does not have a tow package. I would have to have everything installed to be safe. I’m thinking that would be a receiver, sway bars, wiring for brakes and transmission oil cooler. Anything else? Thank you so much. You are incredibly helpful!

asked by: Sharon D

Expert Reply:

The first place to look in regards to weight ratings for any vehicle is the owner's manual. I took a look at the online version of the owner's manual for your 2002 Toyota Sienna and it states on page 244 that if you have the factory towing package your max trailer weight capacity is 3,500 lbs. Without the factory towing package your max trailer weight rating is reduced to 2,000 lbs so unfortunately you will need to look for a lighter trailer.

From what I could tell it looks like the only thing the factory towing package included was extra oil and transmission coolers but there could have been other things as well. Adding a dual cooler like the Derale Econo-Cool Combo Engine and Transmission Cooler Assembly # D15230 will help but I wouldn't be the one to say if this actually increases the amount you can tow. That would be up to the manufacturer.

The trailer weight includes the tongue weight (TW) of the trailer. Trailer TW is affected by batteries and propane tanks but if you are careful how you load it you can achieve the 9-11% of the loaded trailer that is found in the owner's manual for your Sienna. A TW scale like part # e99044 can help you find the best way to load your trailer no matter where you are at.

The only time that the TW of your trailer is combined with the weight of cargo in your van is when you are choosing a weight distribution (WD) system. To choose the correct WD system for your application you need to take the loaded TW of your trailer and add that figure to the weight of any cargo sitting behind the rear axle of your Sienna. For example, the Equal-i-zer # EQ37060ET has a TW range of 200 lbs - 600 lbs so if you plan on towing a trailer close to the 2,000 lb max rating this would be an excellent choice as it allows you to carry some additional weight in the cargo area of your Sienna. It is recommended to use the thin-walled socket # EQ70-00-4800 to install the included 2" hitch ball for this unit.

You are correct about the rest of the equipment for your Sienna. I recommend using the 2" Curt Trailer Hitch # C13511 which offers a no-drill installation along with the popular Curt wiring # C55418 and the Universal Wiring Kit # ETBC7. This gives you all of the wiring needed to add a brake controller.

If you don't already have a brake controller then I recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 # 90885 which is a very popular choice on our site due to how easy it is to install and use. The Tekonsha controllers are also very reliable so you can be confident in your purchase of this unit.

Attached are installation videos of the trailer hitch, wiring, and brake controller for you to reference. I have also linked some helpful articles to this page that you can check out. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.