Towing 172 with a Toyota Sienna - Event Date: 25 May 2020

Hi all!  I am new here, and I currently do not own an R-Pod, but I've come to like everything about them.  I have a question though.  My hope is for anyone who has done this to share their experience as I am trying to determine if this will be ok to do.  I'm seeing differing opinions on other forums, so real life experience here is appreciated.  We have a 2016 Toyota Sienna, and I am strongly leaning towards the 172 model as it is both light weight and can fit our family needs.  My Sienna was not purchased with the tow package, so I am already aware of the extras I'll need to do to it to get it tow ready.  Has anyone out there pulled with their minivan and how does it do on hilly/curvy roads?  I live in the PNW, we camp at the coast and mountains so there's no way to stay on a flat surface pulling the trailer.  I'd love to hear your experiences so I know whether this is at all possible. 

What you have to remember is that towing load specs assume that there is no load at all besides a skinny driver in the tow vehicle. So while in theory you should be able to tow a 172 (which has a max gross weight less than 3500) with your Sienna in practice that is going to be really restricting your ability to put any people or gear in the Sienna. Not saying you can’t go it, but I agree with Lostagain that you will be pushing things. If you want to proceed I’d suggest you get actual weights fully loaded for the Sienna and for the trailer and tongue, and be sure those are all within specs.

Also, is your Sienna FWD or AWD? If FWD you will probably not be very happy towing on anything other than pavement , because load and traction on the front axle is reduced when towing.

Very helpful information, thank you all for your feedback. It’s certainly along the lines of what I was thinking. From what I’ve read, those who’ve had success towing with a sienna or other comparable vehicles were in areas outside of my region where, I suppose, the terrain is mostly flat. I’ve also read of individuals who struggled when taking on hills in their sienna. That’s unavoidable where I live for sure.

Offgrid, to answer your question, it is a FWD.

2WD towing is fine for most folks if the drive wheels are the rears, but FWD not so much. The hitch weight of the trailer pivots the front wheels up and reduces the load on them. Traction is proportional to load. So its self-defeating. If you do want to try it, check to see if Toyota approves use of a weight distribution hitch on the Sienna. If it does then by all means get one, that will move load back to the front wheels. 

Thanks Dave! Can I ask how often you tow through mountain ranges? Like I stated above, in the NW they are pretty much unavoidable if going to the coast or to lakes. I’m concerned about how taxing it would be on the vehicle pulling a trailer and gear over and over on hills curvy roads.